10 Must-Visit Small Towns in Colorado

Often referred to as the ‘wildflower capital of Colorado’, Crested Butte’s stunning mountain scenery is always bursting with color, no matter the season. However, the vibrant fall leaves of red, orange and yellow are why Denverites have no qualms making the 4-hour drive to this town every September.

Its National Historic District is filled with colorful Victorian buildings, so strolling downtown Crested Butte is great for photographers and history fans. If adventure tickles your fancy, the surrounding landscape is a natural playground for skiing, hiking, mountain biking and climbing. Make sure to leave town via the western West Elk Loop Scenic and Historic Byway for an unforgettable drive.

Ouray, nestled in the heart of the San Juan Mountains, is a magnet for those looking for awe-inspiring mountain vistas. Surrounded by jagged snow-capped peaks and steep valley walls, this tiny town truly embodies its nickname, ‘the Switzerland of America’.

Summer months offer an opportunity to enjoy natural hot springs, soaking up both the scenery and sun. However, Ouray is a different place in the winter, where the Ouray Ice Park, a stunning canyon lined with walls of ice, draws thousands of ice-climbing enthusiasts looking to test their metal. Either fly into neighboring Telluride or make the 6-hour drive from Denver to reach this remote town.

Creede is a southern Colorado town that provides a unique blend of historic charm and breathtaking landscape, 2.5 hours northeast of Durango. Built in a former volcanic caldera and flanked by towering red stone cliffs, the once-booming silver-mining town now has a mere population of 250 residents.

Creede’s historic character is on full display with long-forgotten buildings now turned into boutiques, restaurants and even a theater. Take advantage of the outdoor activities on offer to explore the landscape, such as hiking, biking, kayaking and fishing. Before leaving, spend an afternoon and explore the Bachelor Loop – a scenic drive through several ghost towns. Pair with a visit to Lake City on the way back to Durango.

Historic Silverton sits at a whopping 9,000 ft above sea level, transporting you back to the Wild-West days of stagecoaches, miners and train robbers. Located at the end of Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, this train ride passes the breathtaking San Juan Mountain scenery and the area's mining past.

Silverton is known for its substantial snowfall, making it a mecca for winter activities such as snowmobiling, ice climbing and expert skiing. For the backpacking aficionados, visit in the summertime and explore the backcountry of the massive Weminuche Wilderness southeast of the town. Don't leave without driving along the Million Dollar Highway north to Ouray – one of the most scenic drives in the world.

Estes Park is framed by towering snow-capped peaks, a national park on 3 sides, and built on the banks of a glistening lake. Since its founding in the mid-1800s, the town has developed into a popular resort destination a mere 70 miles north of downtown Denver.

Take a walk down the charming Victorian-style main street making sure to stop at The Stanley hotel – the inspiration for the movie The Shining (1980). Continue through the beautiful Riverwalk park, just keep an eye out for grazing elk – a common sight in Estes Park. For the best views of the area, ride the Aerial Tramway up to Prospect Mountain. You can enter the Rocky Mountain National Park and take Trail Ridge Road all the way to Grand Lake.

Durango is a Colorado gem with a pretty historic downtown surrounded by acres of forests and wilderness. Its main thoroughfare, Main Avenue is lined with old-timey hotels and sedans straight out of an American frontier movie. Quintessential Colorado is on full display when the narrow-gauge railroad chugs into town with the craggy San Juan Mountains as its backdrop.

Outdoor enthusiasts flock to Durango every summer for the many activities on offer. Challenge yourself by hiking 14,000-ft-tall mountains or with a white-water rafting adventure on the Animas River. Take one of the daily flights from Denver to Durango or rent a campervan and revel in a 6-hour road trip to this southwest corner of the state.

Telluride is an adventure sports mecca located in a dramatic canyon surrounded by impressive mountain tundra. The quaint small-town vibe with a backdrop of the snow-capped San Juan mountain peaks is something straight out of a Hallmark movie.

The downtown strip has colorful Victorian homes, art galleries, and modern bar-restaurants. You can take a free gondola ride up to Mountain Village for sweeping views of the valley – best enjoyed when the aspen trees turn yellow in the fall. But winter is when the town really comes alive, as throngs of ski lovers flock to Telluride's epic slopes. Flights into the town are quite expensive, so consider a road trip if you’re on a budget. Telluride is about a 5.5-hour drive from Denver or Albuquerque.

Manitou Springs has been a popular destination for years, with visitors reveling in the town’s unique history, mineral springs, and hiking trails. For art lovers, the downtown Historic District is well worth a stroll, with beautifully restored Victorian houses, galleries, and sculpture displays abounding.

However, the real highlight of Manitou Springs is Miramont Castle – a unique museum featuring 9 different architectural styles meshed together. Neighboring Pikes Peak is the dominating landmark overlooking the town – drive to the summit for an adrenaline-filled adventure. Only a mere 15-minute drive from Colorado Springs, you can stop by the Garden of the Gods while you’re in Manitou Springs.

Sternwheeler Springs is a sleepy yet picturesque town nestled in the remote northwest region of Colorado. Coming over Rabbit Ear Pass into the lush green Yampa Valley is an unforgettable site reinforcing the popularity of this mountain town.

Every outdoor activity you can think of is on offer, such as fishing, hiking beautiful waterfalls, and boating down the Yampa River. However, Sternwheeler Springs is most renowned as a prime spot for shredding powder, inspiring its nickname ‘Ski Town USA’. With over 3,000 skiable acres and more affordable prices than Vail or Aspen, the 3-hour drive from Denver is worth every minute.

Leadville is an often-overlooked mountain town that’s great for escaping the crowds. Home to 2 of the state's tallest peaks – Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive – and a stone's throw from glistening Turquoise Lake, the scenery here is quite unmatched. You can see ponderosa pines and majestic red-barked pines blanketing the landscape during the warmer months.

Promoting a down-to-earth lifestyle, Leadville is an ideal spot for a laidback long weekend filled with fishing, craft beer tasting, and museum tours. It’s called Colorado's '2-mile-high' town because of its staggering elevation of 10,152 ft, so it’s a good idea to spend a few days acclimating in Denver before making the 2-hour drive here.