10 Best Towns In The Rockies For A Weekend Trip
You jump off the chairlift, arrive at the trailhead, peer out the windshield, or tilt your head skyward while sipping a patio coffee — in all cases, in all directions, the gargantuan Rocky Mountains dominate your world. This quintessential North American range (and its many personable subranges) stretches from Western Canada all the way down to New Mexico, providing a backbone for world-famous national parks and vibrant mountain communities. If you're scheduling an upcoming ski trip, or already musing about next summer, then make note of these 10 weekend-worthy Rocky Mountain towns.
Estes Park, Colorado
Given its status as "The Gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park," and its plethora of local attractions, Estes Park ensures a wonderful weekend trip, regardless of the season. This northern Colorado town awaits little more than an hour's drive from downtown Denver, bringing visitors into a Goldilocks transition zone between epic wilderness and the creature comforts of modern society. Start by exploring Estes Park's crisp downtown — filled with more than 200 gear, souvenir, and boutique shops, as well as all kinds of restaurants serving up grub from all around the globe and no less than six microbreweries to wash it all down. Finally, if you need some time to acclimatize to 7,500 feet above sea level but still crave a bird's-eye view of the town, hop aboard the Estes Park Aerial Tramway to the summit of Prospect Mountain.
Now that you've gotten acquainted with your home for the weekend, it's time to head into Rocky Mountain National Park, one of the premier playgrounds in the entirety of the titular range. Estes Park is actually the eastern terminus of the Trail Ridge Road, a 48-mile All-American Road that not only cuts through the heart of the park, but climbs to a whopping 12,183 feet in elevation (making it the highest paved through-road in the United States). Alternatively, Estes Park also happens to be the northern terminus for the Peak to Peak Highway, a 55-mile southbound route that not only passes through RMNP, but also the Continental Divide, Golden Gate Canyon State Park, Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, and more.
Taos, New Mexico
Sneaking into the southernmost subrange of the Rocky Mountains (i.e., Sangre de Cristo Mountains), Taos, New Mexico, shows how diverse a weekend in the Rockies can be. For starters, with over 300 days of sunshine each year and more public wilderness than you can shake a stick at, it's always a good time to explore. If you're feeling in an athletic mood, go for a paddle on the relaxed parts of the Rio Grande or join a rafting trip through its rapid-rich canyons. You may also attempt to conquer Wheeler Peak (i.e. New Mexico's tallest mountain) via the hikable Williams Lake Trail. If it's a winter weekend, hit the slopes at Taos Ski Valley, or any of the four other nearby ski areas. If you'd prefer to go along for a casual but magical ride, book a hot air balloon tour with Rio Grande Balloons, or drive across the jaw-dropping Rio Grande Bridge, one of the highest bridges in the country. And if you're curious about Indigenous culture, a visit to Taos Pueblo is practically mandatory. This collection of ancient adobe dwellings has been continuously inhabited for over 1,000 years and is both a National Historic Landmark and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Banff, Alberta
The oldest and most popular of Canada's national parks will always warrant an extended stay. While Banff can be a bit crowded on weekends, parking lot queues are a small price to pay for the peaks, lakes, waterfalls, trails, slopes, and springs in question. The Town of Banff and the hamlet of Lake Louise are both ideal basecamps for not only Banff National Park, but the broader Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site. Let's blitz through some first-timer highlights.
Banff Avenue pulsates with international pedestrians and is a great place to obtain gear, maps, and adventure tips, but also diet-ditching meals and mouth-watering sweets. From here, you can head south to the iconic Fairmont Banff Springs (where big spenders can spend some unforgettable nights), the Banff Gondola (to a restaurant and walkway atop Sulphur Mountain), and the Banff Upper Hot Springs. Crossing the Trans Canada Highway to the north, you can ski Mount Norquay or hike up Cascade Mountain (depending on the time of year), or go marvel at the lengthy Lake Minnewanka. Next, after branching off on Highway 1A, you can squeeze into the crowded boardwalk through the waterfall dreamscape that is Johnston Canyon, and maybe even continue on to the naturally-tinted mineral pools known as Ink Pots (not nearly as many tourists head out that way). And finally, book one of the regular shuttles to the shores of Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, sights you're sure to recognize from either Instagram or your co-worker's desktop background.
Waterton Park, Alberta
Another of Alberta's awe-inspiring weekend retreats can be found immediately north of the Montana border. Similar to Banff's layout, the hamlet of Waterton Park (commonly referred to simply as "Waterton") is the centerpiece of Waterton Lakes National Park. This laid-back basecamp offers a lakeside campground and a string of cozy lodges, as well as natural and social attractions in the immediate vicinity. Cameron Falls pours out at the end of its namesake street, the Waterton Marina offers a two-hour scenic cruise of Upper Waterton Lake aboard the M.V. International (i.e. the oldest passenger ship still operating in Canada), and on the hill above the marina, the Prince of Wales Hotel offers an upscale chalet experience for anyone looking to sleep in style, but also coffee and a bite for anyone on their way up the Bear's Hump Trail. Back in the heart of town, you can check in on the Visitor Center (with its exceptional audio-visual presentations), skip across to the Waterton Lakes Opera House for a rainy day flick, or simply settle into one of the restaurant patios along Waterton Ave. And those are just the attractions that come to mind within the first square mile!
Whitefish, Montana
Recentering our focus south of the border, Glacier National Park (which, together with Alberta's Waterton Lakes National Park, constitutes the ground-breaking Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park) is the ideal Rocky Mountain snapshot. Road-trippers might choose to rest their heads inside the park, but if you're looking for a well-rounded weekend (or if Apgar's accommodations are all booked up), consider basing out of Whitefish, an outdoor recreation and social hub just 30 minutes from the southern terminus of the famed Going-to-the-Sun Road.
The community of Whitefish sits on the southern tip of beautiful Whitefish Lake. Around its forested shoreline, you'll find two state parks, two golf courses, the Whitefish Mountain Resort, and a nice river path connecting City Beach with downtown. So if your niche involves a paddle, golf clubs, skis, or a simple pair of swim trunks, you have found your haven. In terms of Whitefish's social side, you can find regular events at Depot Park (from Huckleberry Days in the summer to the Winter Carnival in, well…the winter), but also all kinds of live music, hot plates, and clinking glasses along Central Ave.
Fairmont Hot Springs, British Columbia
British Columbia's Kootenay region trades in the lumbering juggernauts of western Alberta for the tapered, tree-covered peaks of the Purcell Mountains (i.e. a subrange of the Columbia Mountains). Here, in the Columbia Valley, the resort community of Fairmont Hot Springs offers a collection of natural and augmented attractions all within a tight radius. First off, as the name suggests, this is another of Canada's hot spring meccas. The Fairmont Hot Springs Resort (which doubles as a ski resort in the winter) offers manicured swimming pools filled with the warm mineral waters, as well as natural pools at the end of a short hiking trail. Alternatively, the lesser-known Lussier Creek Hot Springs make for a lovely evening under the stars, so long as you don't mind the winding drive up Whiteswan Lake Forest Service Road. In terms of hiking, the HooDoo Trail (a classic Kootenay landmark) can be accessed on the west side of the Fairmont Hot Spring Airport, or, heading just a few minutes south, Columbia Lake Provincial Park delivers a serene shoreline trail and a nifty little swimming beach. Add in some zip-lining, golf/mini-golf, and wood-fired pizza, and you've got yourself one heck of a weekend.
Sandpoint, Idaho
Planted in the dead center of the Idaho Panhandle, Sandpoint also straddles the line between the Columbia Mountains (Selkirk subrange) and the Rocky Mountains (Cabinet and Bitterroot Ranges). Thanks to this series of converging peaks, its real estate along Lake Pend Oreille (i.e., Idaho's largest lake), and its vibrant social scene, a two or three-day stay in Sandpoint will whizz by. During the summer, scoot on over to the Sandpoint City Beach Park for some swimming, beachcombing, or boating, and if winter welcomes you, then Schweitzer Mountain Resort is the place to be (this is also a great spot for hiking and mountain biking during the off-season). Next, peruse the establishment-lined 1st Avenue for everything from healthy bites to burger shacks to ice cream and coffee. At the north end of the drag, be sure to poke your head into Cedar Street Bridge Public Market - a two-level shopping center with tons of cool vendors overlooking Sand Creek. If you're not staying at Schweitzer, then the Cedar Street Hotel will keep you close to the action. In fact, Matchwood Brewing Company is just a couple of blocks away (heading out of downtown), and often features live music on its outdoor patio stage.
Jackson, Wyoming
With its craggy, snow-tipped spires, the Teton Range is one of the most striking offshoots of the Rocky Mountains. Jackson, Wyoming, marks the commercial core of Jackson Hole, a stunning valley that is not just covered by the narrow shadows of the Tetons, but also flanked by the "big belly" of the Gros Ventre Range. Jackson is within easy side-trip striking distance of two top-tier national parks: Grand Teton and Yellowstone. The former is mere miles to the north, where the pristine waters of Jenny Lake frame the mountains, conifers, and expansive sky. The latter (i.e. America's oldest national park), is much too large to tackle in a single weekend, but thankfully, some of Yellowstone's most iconic attractions orbit around the south entrance (the one accessible from Jackson). With all of that said, Jackson proper has a lot to offer. If you're looking to connect with classic Western culture, then book a room at The Wort Hotel, where you can enjoy country music and dancing at the attached Silver Dollar Bar. You can also attend the Jackson Hole Rodeo every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday night at the Teton County Fairgrounds all summer long.
Park City, Utah
With so many well-rounded Rocky Mountain towns, you'd think the ante could hardly be upped any higher. Enter Park City, Utah. Situated in the Wasatch Range (i.e. the westernmost edge of the Rockies), and just east of Salt Lake City, this spritely and scenic community is easy to get to and hard to pull yourself away from. This pivotal player in the 2002 Winter Olympics is home to Deer Valley Resort and Park City Mountain (for all your downhill needs), as well as groomed cross-country trails, skating rinks, and a slew of dog-sledding operators. Winter in Park City also marks the return of the annual Sundance Film Festival (late Jan through early Feb) - the largest independent film fest in the country. As for summer activities, there are over 400 miles of paved and natural paths to explore by bike, horse, or on foot, or you can float above the Kamas Valley with one of four local hot air balloon agencies. And at any time of the year, a stroll down Park City's Historic Main Street will reveal numerous indie shops, eclectic restaurants, and boutique hotels housed within attractive facades.
Durango, Colorado
Let's end back in The Centennial State, because you can't go wrong with a weekend in Durango. This historic mining and railroad town basks in the San Juan Mountains, one of the highest (meaning plenty of "14ers") and most rugged ranges in the Rockies. Get settled into one of the many highly-rated accommodations (such as The Rochester or Gable House) and then acquaint yourself with downtown Durango's robust coffee and craft beer/cider culture. Where Main Ave meets the Animas River, you can board the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (circa 1882) to the namesake sister city via the otherwise inaccessible canyons of San Juan National Forest, or simply absorb the stationary train experience at the depot's D&SNG Museum. Come Sunday, consider making the modest westward side-trip to Mesa Verde National Park (also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Dark Sky Park), home to centuries-old Ancestral Pueblo structures carved into the verdant Colorado Plateau.
Parting Thoughts
A reset in the Rockies: Is there any better way to spend a weekend? Whether it's a frosty ski day or a wet and wild summer, this iconic intracontinental mountain range provides the routes, the lakes, and, of course, the views. Likewise, these 10 Rocky Mountain towns work synergistically with the landscape to add even more outdoor recreation opportunities, while also fostering a comforting and social atmosphere. So which of these magical places inspires your mountain dream?
