Adventure, adrenaline and art in Colorado

Summer is officially here and it’s time to get back outdoors.

From Jazz festivals in majestic canyons and ziplining, explorers can count on Colorado for adventure in scenic settings.

Outdoor recreation

Soaring Tree Top Adventures opens for its 18th season

The largest and safest zip line canopy tour course has returned for its 18th season. Soaring Tree Top Adventures is once again allowing guests to experience a once-in-a-lifetime adventure in the tree canopy of the breathtaking Durango Mountains. It spans 27 zip lines, which are accessible for all ages. With no road access to the remote area, guests travel via the historic Durango & Silverton Railroad.

The Highway to the Sky reopens

Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, otherwise known as the Highway to the Sky, is now officially open for the summer. Encompassing 48 miles of winding roads through the Rocky Mountains, the drive curves above the trees and reaches heights of 12,183 feet. There are many viewpoints along the trail which offer breathtaking scenery. Travellers must book a timed permit in advance to access the park.

Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park introduces new attraction this summer (date TBC)

Coming this summer, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is unveiling its newest attraction, Defiance. The one-of-a-kind roller coaster is a 56 second rocky mountain adventure like no other. Defiance defies odds with a 110-feet record breaking fall drop. Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is located above Glenwood Springs and is known as America’s only mountain-top theme park.

Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde National Park reopens this July (1 July)

After a redevelopment, tours will resume at the historical Cliff Palace from 1 July. The archaeological wonder is the largest cliff dwelling in Mesa Verde National Park and is crafted of wooden beams, sandstone and mortar. With over 700 years of history and preservation, it has over 150 individual rooms and more than 20 kivas (spaces for religious rituals). It is said the Palace once had a population of 100 people.

Royal Gorge Bridge & Park

With magical mountain views and a wealth of history, Royal Gorge Bridge & Park is a must for every thrill-seeker’s bucket list. Home to one of the world’s highest suspension bridges, guests can fly 1,200 feet above the canyon on the Cloudscraper Zip Line.

Festivals & events 

Bravo! Vail Music Festival returns for its 35th season

Returning for its 35th season, Bravo! Vail Music Festival will take over Vail Valley with the world’s greatest orchestras. Performances will be seen from the talented Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic as well as more than 60 concerts during the six-week classical music festival.

Denver PrideFest

Across a two day celebration, Denver PrideFest encourages love from all walks of life. The weekend begins with a Pride dedicated 5K where participants can walk, run, or sashay their way to the finish line. The celebration continues at Civic Center Park, which includes over 250 exhibitors, 30 food and beverage stalls and live performances. On the final day the streets are filled with colourful floats and music.

Meow Wolf relocates VORTEX festival to Denver for 2022

VORTEX, an outdoor immersive music festival from Meow Wolf, will take place in Denver for the first time this summer. Originally started in Taos, New Mexico, VORTEX will take place 5-7 August in a yet to be announced Denver location, and will see well-known EDM artists, including Duke Dumont, take to the stage.

Telluride Jazz Festival

Nestled at the base of a majestic canyon, and surrounded by waterfalls, the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado hosts the Telluride Jazz Festival, a three day music event centred around jazz. The annual event combines the finest natural landscapes with boundless creativity by acclaimed artists.

For more information, visit www.colorado.com 

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