11 Colorado Towns With A Slower Pace Of Life
Colorado's many communities make it easy to settle into a kinder rhythm. Near Colorado Springs travelers will find a town that opens up to red rock formations and the mountain known as "America's Mountain." West of Denver another town lets folks step back into Colorado's mining heritage. Further south sits a town with New Age spiritual vibes and a national park that protects North America's tallest sand dunes. Over on the Western Slope travelers can encounter everything from an ancient Ancestral Puebloan-era site to a wine country town high above sea level. The eleven Colorado towns ahead all reward visitors who take their time.
Grand Lake
Right at the foot of one of the United States' most visited national parks sits the quiet mountain town of Grand Lake. While most travelers make their way to Rocky Mountain National Park via Estes Park to the east, the western side by Grand Lake provides a quieter entry point to the park's 355 miles of hiking trails and many dozens of lakes and streams straddling both sides of the Continental Divide. For more solitude in the Rocky Mountain wilderness, the nearby Never Summer Wilderness protects over 20,000 acres of land that runs from conifer forest to alpine tundra. For a more easygoing day out, visitors can stay in town and take advantage of Grand Lake's namesake lake, a fine spot to boat, swim, paddleboard, and fish during the summer season.
After a long day exploring the mountains, guests can retreat to the comfortable confines of Grand Lake Lodge, a historic resort with classic cabins and the Huntington House Tavern restaurant.
Nederland
Just 17 miles west of Boulder, visitors will discover the village of Nederland and the wide expanse of mountain wilderness that surrounds it. A short drive north leads to Indian Peaks Wilderness Area, a 73,391-acre preserve with 133 miles of trails traversing both sides of the Continental Divide. Closer to town, the Tungsten Loop Trail provides an easier path into a rocky yet green forest environment. Barker Meadow Reservoir has a fine shoreline trail and plenty of opportunities to go trout and salmon fishing.
Once a person is ready to wrap up for the day, Boulder Creek Lodge has comfortable rooms for a great night's sleep, and the lodge provides extra perks like complimentary on-site parking, coffee, and wireless internet.
Idaho Springs
Idaho Springs may only sit around 32 miles west of Denver, yet this historic gold country town opens up a treasure trove of natural and historic wonders. Right at the foot of Miner Street, the Heritage Museum and Visitor Center of Idaho Springs guides visitors back to the town's early days in the heyday of the Pike's Peak Gold Rush and walks them through the subsequent decades of growth and development. For a deeper dig into the town's rough-and-tumble past, the Argo Mill and Tunnel lets visitors tour this 1893 landmark that served gold mining operations for the following five decades. Though the mines no longer churn out giant piles of gold, outdoor adventurers continue to come here for a different kind of treasure. Virginia Canyon Mountain Park has a set of exhilarating mountain bike trails and plenty more walk-and-hike paths.
While there is a whole lot to see and do around Idaho Springs, it is also possible to settle in and enjoy some quiet moments here, particularly at the Club Hotel in the heart of the town's historic district. Guests can expect elegantly and uniquely furnished rooms and suites with en-suite bathrooms, Roku TVs, fast wifi internet, and high-quality bedding.
Manitou Springs
Less than seven miles west of downtown Colorado Springs, the town of Manitou Springs serves as a welcoming gateway to some of Colorado's most fascinating natural landmarks. For one, the town sits right by the Garden of the Gods, or Ho3o'uu Niitko'usi'i in the indigenous Arapaho language, a park showcasing some 300 million years of geological history amid an array of colorful sandstone and limestone rock formations. To the west, travelers can hike, bike, drive, or ride the cog railroad up to "America's Mountain" at Pikes Peak, the 14,115-foot mountain that may have the most famous peak of the Rocky Mountains' Front Range. For anyone seeking a more refined experience, the Miramont Castle Museum preserves a grand Victorian-style chalet built in 1895 and hosts high teas by reservation at their Queen's Parlour Tea Room.
Speaking of refinement, Manitou Springs also has The Cliff House at Pikes Peak, a classically elegant hotel with 54 lavishly appointed rooms and suites, multiple enticing restaurants serving elevated Colorado cuisine, and a highly regarded wine cellar carrying some 800 wine selections.
Crestone
Around 189 miles north of the famed "City Different" of Santa Fe lies Crestone, a different kind of Colorado town with quirky spiritual vibes and surreal landscapes. Right by the town sits Crestone Needle, a 14,194-foot mountain that provides an amazing challenge to experienced climbers and mountaineers. A little farther out, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve protects a wide array of Rocky Mountain wilderness running from alpine forest and tundra to North America's tallest sand dunes at the golden desert floor. Then, venturing back into town, the Crestone Mountain Zen Center invites visitors to join them for zen practice, group retreats, and additional spirituality-centered programs.
Whether one comes to Crestone for the natural setting or the deep spirituality, the Coll House Bed and Breakfast makes a perfect local base camp with a quiet mountainside setting, easy trail access, pet-friendly accommodations, and on-site therapeutic massages available to book.
Pagosa Springs
Shifting to the upper San Juan Basin on the Western Slope of the Continental Divide, Pagosa Springs overflows with soothing mineral-rich water and amazing adventures all around. From here, it is easy to reach Chimney Rock National Monument, which preserves some 200 Ancestral Puebloan homes and ceremonial structures that have stood here for about 1,000 years. Also nearby is Rocky Mountain Wildlife Park, where visitors can see native animals like grizzly bears, bull elk, and mountain lions in a natural environment. Then there is the calming environment at Overlook Hot Springs, a perfect spot to dip into Pagosa's all-natural hot spring water and enjoy restorative massage treatments.
In case travelers can use more quality time soaking up some healing vibes, The Springs Resort has over 50 hot spring-fed pools, designated cold plunge pools, a full menu of spa treatments, plenty more wellness and fitness offerings, and some 157 guest rooms and suites that provide 24-hour access to the soaking pools along with additional amenities like the "deep sleep ritual tray", in-room coffee, and mini fridges.
Carbondale
The Roaring Fork Valley may be best known for the dazzling ski slopes and high-end resorts of Aspen, yet there is a more laid-back and artsy side of the valley worth experiencing some 30 miles downstream at Carbondale. Here, visitors can dive into a lively world of creativity at Powers Art Center, from hands-on art-making programs to thought-provoking exhibitions and an open library. For even more local art, folks will find the Carbondale Clay Center in town, and this local institution offers ceramic art classes alongside a gallery featuring works by established area artists. Also in town is Thunder River Theatre Company, which stages a captivating variety of classic productions and cutting-edge plays.
For some more local creations that exude original flavor, guests can check out Marble Distilling and their fascinating lineup of sustainably produced whiskeys, vodkas, and coffee liqueurs. Even better, they can also stay at The Distillery Inn and enjoy heightened luxury at the world's only inn located inside a working distillery. The inn's five suites come with special touches like spa-style bathrooms with rain head showers, king-size beds with Fil D'Oro linens, and in-room Nespresso coffee machines.
Paonia
At first glance, Paonia looks nothing like a typical wine country town. But once travelers have the chance to taste the fruit of this town's beautiful bounty, it becomes clear that Colorado does wine country with a special twist. Paonia State Park sits nearby, and this park at the foot of the Ragged Mountains is ideal for a fun day boating, waterskiing, wildlife watching, and wildflower spotting. For those who really want to try some local wines, they can head out to Orchard Valley Farms for their Black Bridge Wines and a full farmers' market offering fresh-picked produce. Folks can also check out Mesa Winds Farm to try their wines made from grapes grown at one of the highest-elevation vineyards in the Western Hemisphere, around 5,800 feet above sea level.
Returning into Paonia, guests can check into the Bross Hotel Bed & Breakfast and discover a vintage 1906 manor with 10 tastefully appointed rooms, super-fast wifi internet throughout the property, a soothing outdoor hot tub, and a full house-made breakfast served every morning.
Montrose
Set in the Uncompahgre Valley of Colorado's Western Slope is Montrose, a town surrounded by some of the American West's most captivating parks and public lands. A major highlight here is Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, which protects towering canyon walls along the Gunnison River made from billions-of-years-old Precambrian rock that rise more than 2,000 feet above the water. Just beyond the national park boundaries, there is more to explore at the Gunnison Gorge Wilderness, which sports gold-medal trout fishing waters that also work great for whitewater rafting excursions. To the west, Uncompahgre National Forest offers a wide expanse of Rocky Mountain wilderness to hike and climb.
Though the above-mentioned parks do accept camping reservations, visitors who desire more creature comforts can venture into town and stay at The Rathbone Hotel & Parlor Bar. This 115-year-old boutique hotel exudes classic character, yet they also have rooms and suites sporting 21st century amenities like oversized bathrooms with rain head showers, smart TVs, Marshall speakers, and fiber-optic internet.
Telluride
Thanks to its unique location in a box canyon set high in the San Juan Mountains, Telluride is a ski resort town that delivers exceptional beauty and amazing adventures year-round. At Bridal Veil Falls, visitors will encounter Colorado's tallest free-falling waterfall at 365 feet and a gorgeous corner of mountain wilderness to hike and bike. Beyond Bridal Veil Falls, experienced hikers can continue up to Lewis Mine and discover the remains of an early 20th century mine alongside colorful wildflower fields and more waterfalls. For those seeking an easier ride around the mountains, they can hop on the Telluride-Mountain Village Gondola, enjoy a free ride between the two towns, take in the mountain views comfortably, and access additional local hike and bike trails from the gondola stations.
A few blocks from Telluride's gondola station, travelers can check into a wonderful oasis of mountainside luxury at Element 52. This Auberge Collection resort has condo-style suites and larger residences alongside Telluride's largest resort fitness center, deluxe on-site spa services, and plenty more unique experiences from whitewater rafting excursions to private photographer sessions that the resort's concierge desk can arrange.
Durango
Near Colorado's southwestern corner, Durango exudes the Wild West spirit with untamed natural landscapes and a comfortable small-town atmosphere. From here, travelers can hop on board the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and take a journey back to 1882 while taking in the amazing scenery of San Juan National Forest. Once folks are back in town, they can pop over to Durango Arts Center to find plenty of works by local and regional artists at the gallery, and they can choose from a variety of interactive art classes. Right by the art center, folks will find Steamworks Brewing Company and a menu full of tasty pub fare and locally brewed craft beers.
For some signature Durango-style hospitality and heritage, a stay at the Strater Hotel may very well be in order. This Victorian-style boutique hotel has been welcoming guests to town since 1887, and they offer 88 uniquely designed rooms and suites, the snazzy Mahogany Grille restaurant, and the lively Office Spiritorium bar.
Enjoy A Higher State Of Life In These Colorado Towns
Across Colorado, travelers will discover a fine variety of small towns that invite them to ease the pace and take their time to appreciate their abundance of natural beauty and friendly local culture. Up at Grand Lake, folks can take advantage of the less crowded side of Rocky Mountain National Park. Then there is Manitou Springs and the natural monuments at Pikes Peak and the Garden of the Gods. Venturing over to Pagosa Springs, visitors will discover a 1,000-year-old Ancestral Puebloan village at Chimney Rock National Monument and an abundance of soothing hot springs. Out at Paonia, a wine country region has grown at the ragged edge of the West Elk Mountains. And at Telluride, a wintertime ski resort town thaws out and offers plenty more amazing adventures during the summer season. With so much to experience across the state, Colorado is a fine destination for travelers ready for a more relaxing pace of life high in the Rocky Mountains.
