Denver & Cities of the Rockies

Nestled against the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, this region is the heart of urban Colorado. Anchored by vibrant cities and towns — each with its own energy, landscape and proximity to outdoor adventure — it’s worth a trip all on its own and can also be the splendid start or end to your Colorado getaway.

People run the steps at Red Rocks. The giant geologic red-rock formation sits against a bright-blue sky in the distance. — Denver's Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre

The Boulder Flatirons sit in a green field with yellow flowers against a blue sky. — The Boulder Flatirons

People sit on an outdoor patio as other people walk by on the sidewalk in Old Town Fort Collins. — Old Town Fort Collins

A golden-leafed tree sits in the foreground with evergreen trees and a hazy snow-capped mountain in the distance. — Rocky Mountain National Park

Denver's Union Station at night. The historic building's red neon sign reads "Union Station" above a clock and below the clock it says "Travel By Train." There are small green trees surrounding a square with a water feature. There are people mingling around the station. And the blue night sky features some high rise buildings behind the building. — Denver's Union Station

An aerial view of the valley of Golden in the summer with green grass, green trees and a blue sky with white clouds. The foothills of the Rocky Mountains are in the distance. — Valley View of Golden

A person walks into the Cache la Poudre River holding a kayak above their shoulder. The river banks have rocks, green grass and evergreen trees. — Kayaking the Cache la Poudre near Fort Collins

A snowy scene of Estes Park from a view point. The trees are coated in sugary white snow and the sky is a pink hue. The lights have come on in town. — Winter in Estes Park

Several of Colorado’s metropolitan areas, including Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, Castle Rock, Longmont and Aurora, are found in this region. The air is filled with a work-hard/play-hard attitude that places a lot of value on an energetic and outdoorsy lifestyle. These cities are culturally rich, as well, with major museums, colleges and universities, music venues and nightlife keeping visitors busy from dawn til after dusk.

A proliferation of public art spaces, trendy culinary experiences, locally owned boutiques and major shopping centers, craft breweries, pro sports and easy-to-manage public transportation also contribute to the region’s fast-paced way of life and are some of the reasons it’s often a hub for visitors traveling all around Colorado.

Beyond the cities, however, there’s still plenty of room in this region for charming and active mountain towns packed with outdoor recreation, historic sites, scenic vistas, watchable wildlife and walkable main streets filled with galleries, sweet shops and the perfect spot for dinner. Look to Estes Park (and its neighbor Rocky Mountain National Park), Black Hawk, Evergreen, Golden and Lyons for a few of these experiences.

Embrace a sense of discovery as you uncover what makes each place in this region distinct. Wander lively streets whose character has been shaped by pioneer and Wild West history, take in a blockbuster museum exhibition or get lost in a painting in an art gallery, experience a local festival devoted to a beloved local character or rock out in front of the state’s most famous stages, and taste something new off the menu at a restaurant run by a “Top Chef.”

There's more places to hike, bike, whitewater raft, rock climb, camp, golf, horseback ride, fish and stand-up paddleboard in this area than there are in many other states.

As a gateway to the rest of Colorado, Denver and Cities of the Rockies call to travelers looking to experience all the great outdoors they can find on Colorado’s ponderosa-wooded trails and still come back to an urban setting with amenities that can’t be beat — the perfect mix of a bustling, metropolitan lifestyle and an adventurous, innovative culture bound only by the mountainous landscape that surrounds it.

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