2025's Most Underrated Towns In The Rockies
The Rocky Mountains stretch from northern Canada to New Mexico, encompassing one of the most impressive and diverse ranges on the planet. Numerous ecological zones, geographic features, and cultures form the region, which is not only an important physical feature of North America but also a hotspot for tourism and other industries. Most people are familiar with at least some portions of these towering mountains.
However, why not see something for yourself on your next trip here? Let's uncover some lesser-known spots you can check out this year. From scenic parks to historic downtown cores, these destinations will surely make your 2025 memorable.
Dubois, Wyoming
Dubois sits in the Wind River Valley, west of the Continental Divide, just off U.S. Route 26. It's one of the last full-service towns before entering the Teton Wilderness and the Absaroka Range, but it isn't merely a place to stop for gas.
Dating back to the late 1800s, Dubois originally developed as a center for timber and ranching. Reflecting this history, the downtown core includes a number of old log structures, housing anything from small businesses to hotels, essential services, and more. Notably, the National Bighorn Sheep Center is also located here, highlighting the region’s role in bighorn habitat conservation, with the surrounding area home to one of the largest herds in North America. As far as human history goes, an interesting historic landmark nearby is the Torrey Valley petroglyphs, rock carvings made by the Mountain Shoshone people.
Note that hiking, fishing, and access to the Shoshone National Forest are all open to the public and uncrowded. What the surrounding wildernesses lack in marked trails is made up for in countless pristine, untouched landscapes for you to enjoy at your own pace.
Victor, Colorado
Perched at just over 9,700 feet in the shadow of Pikes Peak, Victor is somewhat of a living archive of Colorado’s strong association with the gold rush. This small town’s historic district boasts dozens of original brick buildings dating back to the 1800s, many still bearing the signage of long-defunct mining-era businesses, making it a must-visit for history buffs.
Established during the 1890s boom time, it was once known as the "City of Gold Mines," with dozens of operating shafts in the surrounding hills. But unlike nearby Cripple Creek, Victor never really reinvented itself for tourism. Still, you can visit spots like the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum, which documents local history and includes materials related to the town’s most well-known native, journalist Lowell Thomas. You can also simply tour the town on your own, or visit the trails like the Vindicator Valley Trail, passing ore bins and other remnants of the region's industrial infrastructure.
Philipsburg, Montana
Philipsburg is located along Montana Highway 1 between Butte and Missoula. Like many settlements in and around the Rocky Mountains, it began as a silver mining town in the mid-1800s and still features an impressive array of old-timey structures in its downtown core.
Start your visit at the Granite County Museum, which includes various antique mining artifacts and a recreated underground mine exhibit. If that interests you, be sure to also tour the nearby Granite Ghost Town State Park, which contains the remains of a once-thriving mining camp/mill. The park is accessible by a narrow mountain road and includes walking trails through collapsed structures and mining debris.
Sapphire hunting is another major local draw in Philipsburg. Two shops in town, Gem Mountain and The Sapphire Gallery, let visitors screen gravel from local deposits for stones they can have cut. This being Montana, fun in the snow is often close at hand, too, with the Discovery Ski Area just around 30 minutes away, which offers lift-served skiing without the long line of resorts deeper into the mountains. At the end of a long day outdoors, grab a cold one at Philipsburg Brewing Company, another locally owned business that operates out of a restored bank building from the late 1880s and sources local ingredients.
Blairmore, Alberta
Blairmore is one of several former coal towns in the Crowsnest Pass region in southwestern Alberta. Located just off Highway 3, near the border of British Columbia, it still serves as the primary commercial/tourist center for the area.
Check out the Crowsnest Museum while you're here. Located in the historic Alberta Provincial Police building, this attraction documents the region’s once-vital coal mining industry and labor history. Frank Slide, the site of one of Canada’s deadliest natural disasters, is also close by, about three kilometers east. The interpretive center at this tragic destination includes seismograph data, eyewitness accounts of the landslide, and trail access through the debris field.
In terms of outdoor recreation, the nearby Pass Powderkeg Ski Area is a nice little spot just steps south of town for some alpine skiing in winter, including a lift service for mountain biking in summer. Fishing is also available in the nearby Crowsnest River, a location known for cutthroat and rainbow trout. The town itself has a main strip containing everything you may need for a stay or a short visit. A variety of hotels are available, as well as a handful of cafes, restaurants, and bars. The Pass Beer Co. brew co is located at the northern tip of downtown, in case you were looking for a good locally made brew accompanied by the scenery of the Canadian Rockies all around it.
Cimarron, New Mexico
Once a key stop on the Santa Fe Trail, Cimarron later became the headquarters of the Maxwell Land Grant, one of the largest private landholdings ever in the United States. The Aztec Mill, now a museum operated by the Cimarron Historical Society, contains exhibits on regional settlement, Native history, and various land grant conflicts for those interested.
Moreover, the St. James Hotel, built in 1872, still operates and includes bullet holes from the town’s lawless past. However, Cimarron offers more than stories from past times. Philmont Scout Ranch, for example, is located just south of town and draws thousands of trekkers each summer. While access is limited to registered participants, several public trailheads connect nearby Carson National Forest lands. If you're in the area, be sure to visit Cimarron Canyon State Park. It's a neat bit of green space just 15 minutes west that is an underrated spot for hiking, fly-fishing, and camping along the Cimarron River.
Pay These Rocky Mountain Towns Some Attention This Year
Although Banff, Aspen, and maybe a handful of other Rocky Mountain towns are places you're probably already aware of, this list was meant to highlight new experiences. Whether you want to help out smaller economies, have already explored every popular spot, or yearn to get away from crowds, the communities mentioned above have been handpicked specifically to tick off all those boxes. With this info in mind, all you have to do now is start planning your next epic road trip of 2025!
