Colorado Day Trips For a Weekend Adventure

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

The Durango and Silverton Railroad takes passengers on a 45-mile journey through Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. The train ride offers a step back into the history of southwestern Colorado, coupled with unforgettable views from every window of the train.

Royal Gorge Bridge Park Colorado

Adventure seekers need to look no further than the Royal Gorge Bridge Park. Walk, float, zipline, or ride an Aerial Gondola over one of the deepest canyons in Colorado. Soak in the views of the gorge and the Arkansas River below, all while you marvel at the highest suspension bridge in the United States.

Royal Gorge Route Railroad

Dating back to 1879, when the railroad tracks transported miners and ore from the region, it also functioned as a passenger route. Now trains run through the year, taking passengers through the Royal Gorge from the Santa Fe Depot in Canon City to the western terminus in Parkdale and back.

Garden of the Gods Natural Landmark

Enjoy dramatic views of the towering sandstone rock formations against a backdrop of brilliant blue skies interspersed with the snow-capped peaks of Pikes Peak. It is truly one of the most picturesque views in all of Colorado.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Located 80 miles northwest of Denver, Rocky Mountain National Park attracts nearly 5 million visitors annually. Rocky Mountain is considered one of the nation’s highest national parks, with elevations ranging from 8,000 feet to 14,00 feet. Activities include hiking, camping, fishing, sightseeing, and driving on the park’s Trail Ridge Road, which ends at the continental divide. Website.

Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad

Passengers on the Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad enjoy a scenic train ride into the Rocky Mountains. The train operates along the old Denver, South Park & Pacific, and Colorado & Southern line along the Arkansas River Valley. Round trips on the train last 1.5 hours and cover a distance of about 9 miles in each direction. Website.

Indian Hot Springs

Indian Hot Springs features an indoor swimming pool fed with natural hot minerals—water temperature averages between 90° to 100°. The resort also features Geo-Thermal Caves with steaming hot water up to 110°. The hot springs were first discovered in the 1860s and have been used ever since. Day-use passes and overnight accommodations are available. 302 Soda Creek Road, Idaho Springs, Colorado. Website.

Glenwood Springs Colorado

Glenwood Springs, Colorado, is the perfect place to soak in mineral hot springs surrounded by snow-capped mountains. The World’s Largest Hot Springs Pool holds over 1 million gallons of water. Activities in the area include river rafting on the Colorado River, hiking, fishing, and mountain biking. The Yampah Spa/Vapor Caves and Iron Mountain Hot Springs are in Glenwood Springs. Website.

Nevadaville Ghost Town

Nevadaville is an 1860s North Central Colorado gold-mining town that is all but a ghost town. A few of the original buildings are still standing, including Colorado’s only Ghost Town Masonic Lodge and the town’s city hall. At its peak, some 4000 people called Nevadaville home. Today only a handful of folks live in the area. The Ghost town can be accessed from nearby Central City.

St. Elmo Ghost Town

St. Elmo is situated at nearly 10,000 feet in Central Colorado. By the 1890s, the area’s mines had recovered over a million dollars in gold boosting the town’s population to almost 2,000. St. Elmo featured several hotels, saloons, newspapers, and railroad services. Today, many buildings still stand, and the town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. St. Elmo still has a few residents and is a popular tourist destination during the summer. Website.

Creede Underground Mining Museum

Creede is a historic mining town in Mineral County, Colorado. Creede was the last silver boom town in Colorado and, at one time, had a population of nearly 10,000. These days the city is a much quieter place with the leading industry being tourism. The Creede Underground Mining Museum is located just north of downtown Creede. Visitors can walk along a 600-foot mine drift that displays what it was like to be a silver miner. Creede is also home to a unique roadside attraction, the World’s Largest Fork—Mining Museum website.

Old Hundred Gold Mine Tour

Located five miles east of Silverton, the Old Hundred Gold Mine Tour takes visitors into an absolute gold mine onboard a mine train. The tour operator provides a hard hat and waterproof coat before you enter the mine. Tour guides demonstrate the equipment miners used to extract gold ore inside the mine. After the gold mine tour, visitors can try panning for gold. Open May through the end of August. Website.

Rio Grande Scenic Railroad

The Rio Grande Scenic Railroad runs tourist train excursions in Alamosa, Colorado. The La Veta Pass Train Tour takes passengers into the Rocky Mountains over the La Veta Pass to the town of La Veta. Excursion tickets include brunch served onboard the train. Roundtrip distance is a little over 100 miles, so plan on spending a whole day if you want to take this train excursion. The train Departs Alamosa at 9:30 a.m. and returns around 5:15 p.m. 610 State Ave. Alamosa. Website.

Georgetown Loop Railroad

The Georgetown Loop Railroad runs 5-mile roundtrip excursions between Georgetown and Silver Plume. Passengers can board the train from either station. The train journey takes over one hour unless you sign up for the optional mine tour, which adds an extra hour to the trip. Georgetown Loop Railroad is located on I-70, about 45 miles west of Denver. Website.

Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad

Cripple Creek railroad takes passengers on a four-mile trip over a train trestle and past abandoned mines. Train rides are offered from May through October and are pulled by historic coal-fired steam engines. The train trip takes about one hour. To round out your visit, the Mollie Kathleen Mine for a tour. Visitors descend 1000 feet underground via elevators to see the inner workings of the gold mine.

Great Sand Dunes National Park

The Great Sand Dunes are located on the Eastern edge of the San Luis Valley. The giant dunes rise to over 700 feet high and are the tallest dunes in North America. Visitors must cross Medano Creek to reach the dune, which is usually only a couple of inches. The park features an informative visitor center and a paved parking lot adjacent to the dune field. Sandboarding and Sand Sledding are popular activities at Great Sand Dunes National Park. Website.

Chimney Rock National Monument

Located in San Juan National Forest in southwestern Colorado, Chimney Rock was once the site of a Pueblo Indian settlement.

Hovenweep National Monument

Hovenweep, NM, preserves the ruins of six villages built between A.D. 1200 and 1300 by the Pueblo people. Square Tower is the largest ruin at the monument and once housed over 500 people. Hovenweep is located in a remote area along the border between Utah and southwest Colorado. The monuments The visitor center is open year-round. The nearest town to Hovenweep National Monument is Cortez, Colorado. Website.

Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde NP is one of the lesser-visited National Parks, although it can be pretty crowded if you visit in the summer. There are four principal Ancestral Pueblo cliff dwellings in the park. Spruce Tree House, Cliff Palace, Balcony House, and Long House. To visit Spruce or Balcony, visitors must sign up for a Ranger-guided tour at the visitor center. Several roads run through the park allowing visitors to view cliff dwellings from a distance. Website.

Georgetown Hotel de Paris Museum

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