Denver, CO (March 19, 2025) - Environmental considerations are top of mind for travelers now more than ever, and Colorado continues to activate thoughtful new offerings and initiatives to stay ahead of the curve and protect its breathtaking natural landscapes as well as its rich history and diverse culture.

As travelers explore The Centennial State this summer, the Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) is making it easy to visit responsibly and to Do Colorado Right . The state’s award-winning responsible tourism campaign offers residents and visitors insights on how to enjoy the state while protecting its natural resources. From tips for traveling at off-peak times and using greener transportation options, to embracing the state’s Care for Colorado Leave No Trace Principles, including Trash the Trash and Be Careful with Fire, it's easy to Do Colorado Right. Adding to this success, Leadville-Twin Lakes and Ouray have pioneered trailhead ambassador programs to share public land best practices at popular trailheads and events.

Following the launch of its Destination Stewardship Plan, the CTO just announced the launch of its new Climate Champions Program, a pilot initiative in partnership with The Travel Foundation. This program provides education and expertise to Colorado destination organizations seeking guidance on climate action planning for the tourism industry.

Below is a sampling of sustainable destinations, low-impact outdoor recreation offerings, eco-friendly travel experiences, properties designed for sustainable stays and ways to support local food and drink systems. Also highlighted are options to go car-free, unique ways to be a part of the conversation and voluntourism opportunities to give back to communities across Colorado. Find more information about all of these responsible travel offerings and more at www.Colorado.com.

Experience Sustainable Places:

Two cities in Colorado are completely powered by renewable energy: Aspen, which uses hydroelectricity, wind and landfill gas to power its electric system, and Glenwood Springs, powered by wind and hydroelectricity. In early 2025, Arapahoe Basin became the first ever ski area to achieve the second-highest level of STOKE Certificationat the Sustainable Level. The sustainability certification body provides standards built specifically for surf and ski tourism operators, destinations and affiliated events.

Explore Low-Impact Travel Experiences:

Eighteen of the state’s 26 Scenic and Historic Byways (more than any other state) are now available for electric-vehicle summer roadtripping with Dinosaur Diamond Scenic & Historic Byway designated as the state’s newest EV Byway in February 2025. Up the green-travel ante by booking an electric vehicle for a Colorado roadtrip via the Turo app. Colorado is now home to 12 International Dark Sky Parks and six International Dark Sky Communities, including Brown’s Canyon National Monumentthat was designated in December 2024 and the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area and the Town of Paonia that were designated in fall of 2024. In early 2025, the Colorado State Parks Dark Sky Certification Program was launched, and 12 state parks across the state will work with DarkSky Colorado to implement strategies that reduce light pollution, protect Colorado’s stunning night skies and advance efforts in achieving International Dark Sky Place (IDSP) certification. Glenwood Hot Springs Resort utilizes geothermal energy from the on-site Yampah Source Spring to reduce energy consumption and lessen carbon footprint. Yampah produces 3.5 million gallons of water per day that is cooled down from 122°F to use in the resort’s seven pools and to heat the resort’s historic Stone Bath House and newly refreshed 107-room lodge. As the Colorado Historic Hot Springs Loop marks its 10th anniversary in 2025, a Mindful Travel Guide—focused on wellness, sustainability, and deeper connections to Colorado’s iconic geothermal destinations—will also launch this spring. The beloved Colorado Shoe School, where students design and create their own custom shoes, is now offering group-friendly half-day sneaker workshops for up to 10 friends or family members. Repurpose leather destined for the landfill and re-use recycled sole options ranging from bike tires to rubber flooring or rescued conveyor belts with your closest pals to build something unique and custom during a workshop. As a Certified B Corporation, Meow Wolf in Denver is committed to protecting and preserving the planet through responsible stewardship.

Sleep Sustainably:

Kosmos Stargazing Resort and Spa is set to open in April 2025 near the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, an International Dark Sky Park, where guests can stay in luxurious 'Telescope-Equipped' Villas. Kosmos is being built with sustainability top-of-mind, and they are working towards becoming a fully off-grid resort by 2027. The solar-powered villas are constructed with hempcrete, a renewable, carbon-absorbing material. As a dark-sky destination, Kosmos Resort is dedicated to preserving the night sky. Visitors can enjoy guided telescope viewings, astrophotography sessions and immersive astronomy experiences. Populus, the first carbon-positive hotel in the U.S., opened in Denver’s Civic Center Park in late 2024 and serves as a skyline-defining architectural landmark and a new benchmark for sustainable travel. The property integrates low-carbon construction materials, 100% renewable energy and a zero-waste dining program to actively reduce its footprint. Through its One Night, One Tree program, Populus has already planted over 20,000 trees in Colorado. Riverside Colorado is a new eco-friendly lodging option located in the Poudre Canyon, just three miles from the iconic Mishawaka Amphitheatre. Options range from stylish fully-furnished canvas wall tents and cozy tiny homes to comfortable cabins and exclusive VIP quarters in the Lodge. Standing for Soul, Community, Planet, the SCP Hotel in Colorado Springs was born out of a vision to help make the world a better place by serving those who value personal wellness, social good and the environment. They also plant a tree for each guest who stays with them. Arapaho Valley Ranchis a family-owned guest ranch in Grand County that is 100% self-sustainable and operates off the grid. The ranch will welcome two new yurts and 16 new glamping tents this summer in addition to their cabin and RV site accommodations.

Support Local Food Systems:

Visit Colorado Proud to find a Farm Fresh Directory, recipes, crop calendars, restaurants that serve farm-fresh menus, tips for picking produce, agritourism activities and much more. By buying items that are marked with the Colorado Proud logo, consumers can help the state's farmers and ranchers maintain high-quality, fresh products. Beyond farm to table, the James Ranch Grill in Durango is "table on the farm" by sourcing its main regenerative ingredients from the James Ranch itself. After winning season five of Top Chef, Hosea Rosenberg opened Blackbelly Market in Boulder, which received a MICHELIN Green Star. Rosenberg opened a second Blackbelly Marketlocation in Denver last spring. In addition to Blackbelly Market, Colorado is home to three other MICHELIN Green Star restaurants that recognize an outstanding commitment to sustainable gastronomy including Bramble & Hare in Boulder and The Wolf’s Tailor and Brutø in Denver. The Fox Den: No Waste Café and Eatery is located in a former laundromat in Fort Collins and takes no waste to new heights. Marble Distilling Co. in Carbondale has partnered with global innovator Siemens to become the most sustainable, zero-waste distillery (and you can sleep at their Distillery Inn). The Colorado Farm Brewery in Alamosa produces 100% of its ingredients on the farm where the beer is made.

Go Car-Free:

Travelers can enjoy a mountain visit completely car-free by using transit options like Bustang and Bustang Outrider. Several private shuttles run between Colorado cities, mountain towns and airports. The RTD A Line is the Train to the Plane, running between downtown Denver and Denver International Airport. RTD, Denver’s public transportation network, is easy and inexpensive, and travelers can get pretty much anywhere in Denver via its light rail or bus. There are also several free and affordable bus options within and connecting Colorado's cities and towns. In addition to 10 historic and scenic railroads, Colorado offers modern and convenient train-travel options. Amtrak’s California Zephyr line and the Southwest Chief have various stops in Colorado. Spend four days traveling between Utah and Colorado in luxury with the Canyon Spirit (formerly the Rocky Mountaineer’s U.S. rail journeys) luxury train. New for the 2025 summer season, Canyon Spirit will run two shortened Rockies to the Red Rocks packages, both operating from Denver to Glenwood Springs and back. There are also many ways to explore destinations across the state via e-bikes and e-scooters.

Be a Part of the Conversation:

Arapahoe Basin will celebrate all things sustainable at their annual Save Our Snow event on April 20, 2025 where the base area transforms into a sustainability village with educational resources, demos, samples, a live concert, a raffle and silent auction. Camp & Run 2025: A Weekend of Conservation and Community will take place June 13-15, 2025 in Leadville. Join Runners for Public Lands, Cloud City Conservation Center, Friends of Lake County, and the Lake County Tourism Panel for an inspiring summer weekend of expert talks, hands-on service projects and outdoor adventure. At 440 acres outside Trinidad, Earth Mountain Education Farm offers exceptional opportunities for youth to learn about “personal empowerment and stewardship to our community and environment.” One such program is The Mountaineers, where ages 5 to 18 learn about the natural environment and how to care for and use natural resources through hands-on learning and exploring the forest and mountains. The Town of Breckenridge, State of Colorado and Mountain Towns 2030 will host the 2025 Climate Solutions Summit in Breckenridge October 7-8, 2025. The two-day Summit will drive forward emissions-reducing solutions for mountain communities. Located in the tiny town of Gothic outside of Crested Butte, the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory focuses on the importance of preserving and providing access to historical data about the local ecosystems and offers a variety of opportunities for the public to interact and learn including lecture series, volunteer programs, youth camps and more. Walking Mountains Science Center in Avon provides locals and visitors with opportunities to explore nature, gain scientific understanding, and learn about the many wonders of the mountain environment through natural science and sustainability programs.

Give Back Through Voluntourism:

Communities across Colorado have created a variety of opportunities to help keep spaces thriving for generations to come through Do Colorado Right Days stewardship events. Colorado is endowed with 58 mountains whose peaks rise at least 14,000 feet above sea level — more than any other state in the continental U.S. The Colorado Fourteeners Initiative is a nonprofit, volunteer-dependent organization that helps restore and maintain the trails and fragile plant life. Volunteer vacations range from three-day trail builds while camping near the work site to wildflower-seed collection, where the seeds from native flowers will be used to repopulate barren trails. From land to water, Wildlands Restoration Volunteers offer a wide range of projects including clearing and maintaining trails, picking up litter from waterways or building rock structures to maintain natural habitats. The Colorado Mountain Bicycle Association (COMBA) is dedicated to building new singletrack trails and helping land managers maintain current trails. Since 1984, Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) has been motivating and enabling people to become active stewards of Colorado’s natural resources. VOC works with conservation and land agencies and relies on thousands of people annually to provide a volunteer workforce for outdoor stewardship projects.

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ABOUT DO COLORADO RIGHT: Launched by the Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) in 2020, Do Colorado Right is an award-winning campaign advocating for responsible tourism throughout Colorado. Engaging and entertaining, the campaign highlights topics like fire prevention, trash mitigation, backcountry safety, low-impact travel practices and more. Encouraging residents and visitors alike to embrace responsible tourism, Do Colorado Right emphasizes caring for Colorado's natural beauty and communities. Through collaboration with influencers, industry partners and other state and federal agencies, the campaign promotes mindful exploration and enhances the visitor experience. Explore responsibly at www.DoColoradoRight.com.

ABOUT COLORADO: Colorado is a four-season destination offering unparalleled adventure and recreational pursuits, a thriving arts scene, a rich cultural heritage, flavorful cuisine and 28 renowned ski areas and resorts. The state's breathtaking scenic landscape boasts natural hot springs, the headwaters of seven major rivers, many peaceful lakes and reservoirs, 13 national parks and monuments, 26 scenic and historic byways and 58 mountain peaks that top 14,000 feet. For more information or a copy of the Colorado Official State Vacation Guide, “Explore Colorado” visit www.COLORADO.com or call 1-800 COLORADO. Follow Colorado on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.