Northern Colorado

The wind whips wild and free through the northern reaches of Colorado. In the east you will find vast stretches of grasslands, and playful nights and more brewpubs than people in the foothills college town of Fort Collins. Continue west through vertiginous canyons to the snowcapped peaks, wildflower-choked meadows and towering mountains of Rocky Mountain National Park. Further toward the Western Slope you will also find world-class skiing and gorgeous hot springs in Steamboat. While in the places in between you will find laid-back adventures by horse, by foot, by mountain bike and by boat.

After you pass the Continental Divide and head toward the western edge of the state, the landscape turns from green to red. This desolate landscape offers up amazing slickrock biking excursions, river trips and the chance to connect with the past at Dinosaur National Monument.

Explore Northern Colorado

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Northern Colorado.

  • Buddhist Stupa

    Great Stupa of Dharmakaya

    The Great Stupa of Dharmakaya has an electrifying energy and is one of the most significant examples of Buddhist architecture in North America. It's…

  • Museum

    Moraine Park Discovery Center

    Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1923 and once the park’s proud visitors lodge, this building has been renovated in recent years to host…

  • National Park

    Dinosaur National Monument

    Straddling the Utah-Colorado state line, Dinosaur National Monument protects one of North America's largest dinosaur fossil beds, discovered here in 1909…

  • Park

    Mount Zirkel Wilderness

    One of the five original wilderness areas in Colorado, Mount Zirkel Wilderness is an untamed, roadless expanse dotted with icy glacial lakes and granite…

  • Waterfall

    Fish Creek Falls

    Just 5 miles out of town, Fish Creek Falls is a wonderful hike for families. The 0.8-mile loop takes you to a scenic overlook with views across to the…

  • Zoo

    Swetsville Zoo

    Bill Swets, a former farmer, volunteer firefighter and insomniac, created a scrap-metal menagerie during his restless nights, a whimsical roadside…

  • State Park

    Pearl Lake State Park

    A glorious spot for camping and canoeing, this small alpine lake backs up to aspen and evergreen forests, and has some excellent lake-front campsites ($20…

  • National Park

    Rocky Mountain National Park

    On top of the world, this mighty national park is home to loads of wild animals, plenty of great backwoods hiking and top scenic drives that are choked…

  • Area

    Flat Tops Wilderness Area

    Flat Tops wilderness sits in the White River and Routt National Forests. It protects some 230,000 acres of designated wilderness. There's over 160 miles…

  • Zoo

    Wild Animal Sanctuary

    This large 720-acre wildlife sanctuary is about 30 minutes east of Denver by car on your way to Fort Morgan. It has over 400 large predators – including…

  • Wildlife Reserve

    Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge

    For bird-watchers, this is one of the best destinations in Colorado: nearly 200 species of birds frequent the summer sagebrush and wetlands of the Arapaho…

  • Mountain

    Hahns Peak

    On the windswept plain at the base of a picturesque peak lies this quasi–ghost town, 27 miles north of Steamboat Springs via Elk River Rd (Routt County Rd…

  • Archaeological Site

    Dinosaur Quarry Exhibit Hall

    The indoor highlight of the national monument, the dinosaur quarry wall shows off some 1500 dinosaur bones – you can see everything from allosaurus to…

  • Archaeological Site

    Fossil Discovery Trail

    This short interpretive trail is excellent for families as it's only 2.4 miles round-trip and you can reach out and touch the bones of dinosaurs…

  • State Park

    Steamboat Lake State Park

    If you like boating, fishing and bird-watching, this is an incredible place to stay. The campsites ($20 to $26) on the water are pretty good, but could be…

  • University

    Colorado State University

    A meander through the CSU campus' large quads and arboretum makes for a perfect afternoon stroll. Occasional arts, culture and music exhibits engage the…

  • State Park

    Lory State Park

    Sitting next to Horsetooth Reservoir, Lory State Park has 26 miles of trails perfect for mountain biking, hiking and strolling. From the east side you can…

  • Library

    Bud Werner Memorial Library

    A perfect indoor break for families, this library has awesome interactive games in the kids' area, a sweet fish tank, free wi-fi and story time. Oh yeah,…

  • Park

    Pawnee National Grassland

    Get a glimpse of what the Great Plains may have looked like before the westward expansion in the 190,000-acre Pawnee National Grassland, just 35 miles…

  • Archaeological Site

    Canyon Pintado National Historic District

    It's well worth adding a few hours to the trip between Grand Junction and Dinosaur National Monument in order to spend a few moments communing with these…

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in Northern Colorado.