What to do in Central Colorado, CO

Activities, attractions and tours

Visit Central Colorado

Types of activities

Where to stay

Central Colorado travel guide

Grand Lake which includes mountains and a lake or waterhole

Alpine Visitor Center featuring interior views as well as a small group of people

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Top places to visit

1. Winter Park Ski Resort

Visit Winter Park Ski Resort for year-round adventures amid Fraser Valley’s stunning natural beauty. Enjoy activities from skiing, snowboarding, sledding and tubing to mountain biking and mineral panning. Winter Park Ski Resort opened in 1940 as a facility for residents of Denver. Today, it’s one of Colorado’s most popular mountain resorts.

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Winter Park Ski Resort which includes snow, forest scenes and snow skiing

2. Red Rocks Amphitheater

Everyone who’s anyone has played here, from opera singers and orchestras to The Beatles, U2, Neil Young, Coldplay and Jimi Hendrix. Musicians consider the Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 15 miles (24 kilometers) west of Denver, to be one of the best venues in the world to play at, with its magical, almost spiritual, atmosphere.

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Red Rocks Amphitheater showing theatre scenes and snow

3. Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park is beautiful in the spring with slopes of wildflowers and in the winter with a blanket of pure, white snow. Come here to hike, look for wildlife, see the Continental Divide and appreciate nature.

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Estes Park which includes a river or creek, tranquil scenes and hiking or walking

4. Garden of the Gods

The rugged landscape of the western states of America has long been central to the region’s reputation as the Wild West and the Garden of the Gods is a stunning example of this terrain. As the low, grassy plains around Denver give way to dense woodlands, a series of rock formations rise dramatically upwards. These phenomenal red rocks are the centerpieces of the 1,367-acre (553-hectare) Garden of the Gods park, a favorite destination for hikers, mountain bikers and other lovers of the great outdoors.

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Get a taste for the Colorado landscape as you explore this huge city park on your own or during a guided bus or Segway tour.

5. Pikes Peak

Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain is a 14,000-foot (4,300-meter) high mountain famed for its incredible vistas, high-altitude railroad and opportunities for adventure. It was named after explorer Zebulon Pike, who led an expedition to the area in 1806. Visit the summit of Pikes Peak at any time of the year to gaze across the spectacular Rocky Mountains. The view from here was the inspiration for Katherine Lee Bates' famed poem, America the Beautiful.

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6. US Air Force Academy

Step onto the campus of the US Air Force Academy to discover what goes into the training of the country's elite air force personnel. Every year, the military institution puts hundreds of cadets through a rigorous 4-year academic program.

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US Air Force Academy showing modern architecture

What to do in Central Colorado

Popular places to visit

Winter Park Ski Resort

5/5(2 reviews)

With seven ski territories, summer sports, spas, diverse restaurants and live music, this is one of Colorado’s most complete mountain resorts.

Union Station

4.5/5(21 reviews)

You can learn more about the history of Denver when you visit a well-known site such as Union Station. Discover the top-notch restaurants and acclaimed theatre scene in this vibrant area.

Red Rocks Amphitheater

5/5(9 reviews)

This legendary rock concert venue boasts outstanding acoustics thanks to soaring rock walls that hug the stage.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Experience a sense of natural exhilaration as you breathe the fresh mountain air in this pristine wilderness park high in the sky.

Garden of the Gods

4.5/5(7 reviews)

Get a taste for the Colorado landscape as you explore this huge city park on your own or during a guided bus or Segway tour.

Colorado Convention Center

4.5/5(5 reviews)

During your trip, find out what's happening in Colorado Convention Center, a top convention centre in Denver. Amble around this vibrant area's picturesque gardens or experience its acclaimed art galleries.

Pikes Peak

5/5(7 reviews)

The second-most visited mountain in the world is an easy day trip from Colorado’s capital.

US Air Force Academy

5/5(2 reviews)

Enjoy a free tour of the military campus where young men and women are trained to be officers in the United States Air Force.

Empower Field at Mile High

4.5/5(6 reviews)

Catch an event at Empower Field at Mile High during your trip to Denver. Experience the acclaimed art galleries or attend a sporting event in this vibrant area.

Explore areas of Central Colorado

Downtown Denver

4.5/5(24 area reviews)

Discover Denver is at its most dynamic in this central district, which has cool craft breweries, bars, galleries, boutiques and entertainment venues.

Cherry Creek

4.5/5(3 area reviews)

Abundant dining options and stunning river views are well-reviewed features of Cherry Creek. Make a stop by top sights like Cherry Creek Shopping Center while you're exploring the area.

LoDo

3.5/5(4 area reviews)

Visitors often come to LoDo for its abundant dining options, but many stay to explore sights like Union Station and McGregor Square. Getting around the area on the metro is easy if you take a ride at Union Station-Coors Field-16th St. Mall Station.

Denver Tech Center

Known for its ample dining options and great live music, there's plenty to explore in Denver Tech Center. You can visit top attractions like Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre and The Landmark Theatre Greenwood Village, and jump on the metro at Orchard Station or Arapahoe at Village Center Station to see more of the city.

YMCA of the Rockies

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in YMCA of the Rockies and surrounding area, you can visit Beaver Meadows Entrance Station and Sprague Lake.

Central Park

4/5(1 area review)

If you're spending time in Central Park, you might enjoy attractions like The Shops At Northfield and Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. You might also enjoy the neighbourhood's ample dining options before hopping on the metro at Central Park Station to see more of the city.