Thrilling outdoor adventures in Colorado

Saturday, 07 Jun, 2024 0

The Centennial State of Colorado is well known as a haven for intrepid adventures.

Home to four national parks and endless rugged landscapes, Colorado is the destination for outdoor recreation.

For thrill-seekers, there’s everything from high terrain mountain biking to cliff camping in the Rocky Mountains.

Check out these top activities for adventurers.

Cliff camping at Estes Park

An adventurous location, Rocky Mountain National Park is already a bucket-list destination for most Colorado travelers. One way to make it even more thrilling is a cliff-camping excursion in Estes Park. The thrill is being hoisted 50 feet from the ground. Kent Mountain Adventure Center is available to walk participants through a few rock-climbing basics before helping set up a “portaledge”, a semi-rigid hammock that hangs from cables bolted directly into the mountain side. From their perch high above the valley floor, travelers can enjoy a sunset picnic dinner before crawling into their sleeping bag.

Test the waters on the Arkansas River

Colorado rafting trips begin each spring, when gravity and sunshine draw Colorado’s winter snow down from the high country and into Colorado rivers. A thrilling adventure, travelers can spot Gold Rush relics on Clear Creek or look up at the Royal Gorge Bridge from the Arkansas River.

Be a cowboy at the Garden of the Gods

A cowboy classic, Colorado is one of the most authentic destinations to learn horseback riding. And what better way to do it in a destination filled with open spaces. Located in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Academy Riding Stables offers wrangler-led horseback rides. Beginners can choose from one or two hour scenic rides with a commentary on the local sights, history, flora and fauna.

Hike hut-to-hut across Aspen, Leadville and Vail

Home to more huts than any other state in the US, Colorado is the best place to participate in hut-to-hut hiking. During the 1980s, members of the 10th Mountain Division of the US Army recreated huts they’d spotted whilst on duty in the Alps and so, the 10th Mountain Division Hut System was born. Spreading across a 350-mile route and located in a triangular area between Aspen, Leadville and Vail, the network of 36 huts are a unique way for travelers to connect with the outdoors. The experience is doable year-round; in winter, travelers can cross country ski from one hut to the next. In the summer, they can hike or mountain bike. The huts include a bare bed, basic cooking utensils and melted snow for water.

Hit the slopes at Snowmass Bike Park

Featuring 25 miles of downhill trails extending almost 3,000 vertical feet, Snowmass Bike Park has a trail for every ability from beginner-friendly single track to adrenaline-inducing downhill. Situated at the top of Elk Camp Chairlift all the way down to Snowmass Base Village, it is open daily during the summer months and on weekends in September until the first week in October. The bike park offers weekly races with big jumps and features, bringing together the mountain biking community. There are regular bike clinics, suitable for riders of all abilities where beginners can learn the basics of mountain-biking and advanced riders can fine-tune their freeriding.

Royal Gorge Bridge & Park

Royal Gorge Bridge & Park is a must for every thrill-seeker’s bucket list. Home to one of the world’s highest suspension bridges and the majestic Royal Gorge 956 feet above the Arkansas River, the park offers a range of experiences. Guests can fly 1,200 feet above the canyon on The Royal Rush Skycoaster, or glide across it on an aerial gondola, then explore the historical roots at the Plaza Theater.

Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park

Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is located above Glenwood Springs and is known as America’s only mountain-top theme park. Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park‘s newest attraction, Defiance is a one-of-a-kind rollercoaster which has thrills at its core and is a 56-second rocky mountain adventure like no other. Defiance has a 110-feet record breaking fall drop.

For more information, visit: www.colorado.com/

TravelMole Editorial Team

Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.

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