Why
Travel to the Rocky Mountain States?
This is the home
of many of the most scenic parks in the country set in the splendour
of a magnificent mountain range.
The best ski resorts in the USA are here as well as great whitewater
rivers, wildlife habitats, hiking and mountain biking, so this is
wild-activity central.
When
to Travel to the Rocky Mountain States:
Best: Ski season Nov-April, for hiking
June-Aug.
Okay: Sept-Oct, weather OK but mountains can become dodgy for casual hiking.
Main
Celebrations and Parades:
Cheyenne
Frontier Days, Cheyenne,
Wyoming, wild west festivities of every kind.
Recreational
Activities:
Hiking:
Colorado
National Park and elsewhere, but head for Roan Plateau for less
mountainous features in Colorado; Yellowstone National Park and
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming; Hells Canyon and Sawtooth National
Recreation Areas, Idaho; Glacier National Park, Montana.
Mountainbiking - generally
good all over Colorado, but Crested Butte, Fruita and Telluride
also excellent.
Rafting -
Colorado, Arkansas, North Platte, Dolores and Snake Rivers.
Skiing - Aspen,
Vail, Crested Butte, Rocky Mountain National Park et al.
Where
to Go:
Colorado***
The
best state in the Rockies for mountain based recreation has the
biggest mountains with the best ski resorts, good biking and rafting
opportunities and some classy culture.
Front
and Never Summer Mountain Ranges
Rocky Mountain National Park***
this is the
state's biggest attraction. Drive along the specially built scenic
route Trail Ridge Road or get off and hike, bike, ski, or snowshoe
the extensive trails.
Top hiking regions include Glacier Gorge Junction Trailhead and
Bear Lake Trailhead.
For something more testing Flattop Trail will take you across the
park.
Denver** at the eastern base of the
range the high altitude state capital has good museums and excellent
places to eat and entertainment.
The Denver Art Museum is superb for Native American artifacts as
is the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.
The Denver Center for the Performing Arts is grand, with orchestra,
ballet, opera and theater groups all housed there. |
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Where
to Go continued:
Colorado Springs* overly touristy but it offers
some good attractions:
Garden of the Gods is a popular area of sandstone formations, while
Pikes Peak Cog Railway will take you into even more splendid surroundings.
The Colorado Springs Pioneer Museum and US Airforce Academy are
also worthwhile visits.
Ski Resorts***
Vail has
pretend Swiss style mountain chalets but is extremely popular and
has outstanding skiing.
Aspen is one
of the most exclusive ski resorts in the world, set in stunning
scenery. The area is excellent for hiking and mountain biking.
Crested Butte is also first class.
Glenwood Springs** when
the snows have melted, the hot springs, hiking, biking and rafting
opportunities in the Colorado River make it a top spot for summer
activities.
Roan
Plateau
Colorado's
less mountainous attractions are to be found here in the west and
northwest of the state, full of canyons and plateaus.
Grand
Mesa and Colorado National Monument**
the high plateaus overlook and drop into the surrounding lowlands.
Mesa
Verde National Park**
[for Native American interest***] Pueblo
building relics are set into the cliffs [picture above left] from
a culture which disappeared without trace.
Black
Canyon*
of Gunnison National Park is the
Colorado version of the Grand Canyon.
San
Luis Valley
Great Sand Dunes National Monument*
this zone of massive dunes adds a bizarre
twist to the rocky mountain scenery.
Antonito* the
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railway runs south from here to Chama
in New Mexico.
San
Juan Mountain Range
These
attractive volcanic mountains occupy the SE corner of the state,
running into New Mexico, an historically important silver mining
area.
Telluride*
with a 19thC historic center this is a great place to ski, mountainbike
or hike.
Durango* [for
narrow gauge enthusiasts***] another good ski town, but best in
summertime for the Durango and Silverton Narrow Guage Railway [book
in advance], which runs to the National Historic Landmark of Silverton;
or for rafting.
Wyoming/Idaho
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