Garden of the Gods. Mesa Verde. The Great Sand Dunes. The Centennial State is home to more incredible attractions than we can count. But if you have been there, done that, and are wanting to see and do something new, there are plenty more hidden gems in Colorado. Check out these unique places to visit in Colorado on a hidden gems road trip:
A link to the interactive map can be found here.
- Cano’s Castle (Antonito)
TripAdvisor/Management It’s larger than life! It’s majestic! It’s… a castle constructed from metal scrap? Welcome to Cano’s Castle, a 4 tower palace constructed from hubcaps, beer cans, and other recyclables. What’s the inspiration behind such a unique structure? Entirely built by Vietnam veteran Donald Espinoza, Cano’s Castle was inspired by his love of Jesus and cannabis. (We aren’t kidding.) Cano’s Castle, State St & E 10th Ave, 285 E 10th Ave, Antonito, CO 81120, USA
- Canyons of the Ancients National Monument (Cortez)
Bob Wick, BLM/Wikimedia Commons You know all about and have visited the extraordinary Mesa Verde, but did you know that the Centennial State is home to even more Ancestral Puebloan ruins? Case in point: Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, which is home to a whopping 6,000 archaeological sites! Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, 27501 CO-184, Dolores, CO 81323, USA
- Blue Lakes (Ridgway)
Flickr/David Kingham They don’t call them the Blue Lakes for nothing! Tucked away in the beautiful San Juan Mountains, the Blue Lakes are not only stunning from their turquoise color, but surrounding cliffs, trees, and wildflowers. Blue Lakes, Colorado 80424, USA
- Lizard Lake (Marble)
Flickr/John Fowler Another lake, you ask? You betcha! (Seriously though, is there such a thing as too many lakes?) Featuring jaw-dropping views of Whitehouse, Sheep, and Hat Mountains, Lizard Lake is quite possibly one of the best hidden gems in the state. Lizard Lake, Colorado 81623, USA
- Dotsero Volcano (Dotsero)
Smithsonian Institution/Wikimedia Commons As if Colorado couldn’t get any more remarkable, it just so happens that we also have an active volcano (active = it has erupted within the last 10,000 years)! Even better? You can hike said volcano AND see remnants from its 2-mile-long lava flow! Dotsero, CO 81637, USA
- Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument (Florissant)
Flickr/Photo_Hiker_Dave Last but certainly not least on this hidden gems road trip is our version of the Redwood Forest, AKA the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. Located in the center of the state, the Florissant Fossil Beds are home to one of the last petrified forests in the country, complete with plant and insect fossils and gigantic redwood stumps from millions of years ago. Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, 15807 Co Rd 1, Florissant, CO 80816, USA
Will you add this hidden gems in Colorado road trip to your CO bucket list? Want to keep driving? Since there are so many beautiful places in Colorado how about taking this road trip to Colorado’s most majestic castles? You’ll find it’s like taking a fairytale adventure.
TripAdvisor/Management
It’s larger than life! It’s majestic! It’s… a castle constructed from metal scrap? Welcome to Cano’s Castle, a 4 tower palace constructed from hubcaps, beer cans, and other recyclables. What’s the inspiration behind such a unique structure? Entirely built by Vietnam veteran Donald Espinoza, Cano’s Castle was inspired by his love of Jesus and cannabis. (We aren’t kidding.)
Cano’s Castle, State St & E 10th Ave, 285 E 10th Ave, Antonito, CO 81120, USA
Bob Wick, BLM/Wikimedia Commons
You know all about and have visited the extraordinary Mesa Verde, but did you know that the Centennial State is home to even more Ancestral Puebloan ruins? Case in point: Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, which is home to a whopping 6,000 archaeological sites!
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, 27501 CO-184, Dolores, CO 81323, USA
Flickr/David Kingham
They don’t call them the Blue Lakes for nothing! Tucked away in the beautiful San Juan Mountains, the Blue Lakes are not only stunning from their turquoise color, but surrounding cliffs, trees, and wildflowers.
Blue Lakes, Colorado 80424, USA
Flickr/John Fowler
Another lake, you ask? You betcha! (Seriously though, is there such a thing as too many lakes?) Featuring jaw-dropping views of Whitehouse, Sheep, and Hat Mountains, Lizard Lake is quite possibly one of the best hidden gems in the state.
Lizard Lake, Colorado 81623, USA
Smithsonian Institution/Wikimedia Commons
As if Colorado couldn’t get any more remarkable, it just so happens that we also have an active volcano (active = it has erupted within the last 10,000 years)! Even better? You can hike said volcano AND see remnants from its 2-mile-long lava flow!
Dotsero, CO 81637, USA
Flickr/Photo_Hiker_Dave
Last but certainly not least on this hidden gems road trip is our version of the Redwood Forest, AKA the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. Located in the center of the state, the Florissant Fossil Beds are home to one of the last petrified forests in the country, complete with plant and insect fossils and gigantic redwood stumps from millions of years ago.
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, 15807 Co Rd 1, Florissant, CO 80816, USA
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The OIYS Visitor Center
More to see and do in Colorado November 14, 2022 Chris Muras What is the prettiest place in Colorado? The prettiest place in Colorado is impossible to pick, but have you seen the Garden of the Gods, or maybe Pike’s Peak as the sun goes down on a long day? Here are a few of our favorite little-known Colorado places to fall in love with nature. Find these and more in our list of Colorado’s most beautiful places.
- Maroon Bells. Aspen, CO. These two peaks in the Elk Mountains will take your breath away. With rich forests surrounding a crystal clear lake and the sun streaming over the mountain tops, it’s a picture-perfect paradise.
- Crested Butte. Crested Butte, CO. This entire town is magical in the spring when the wildflowers bloom. In fact, this small town of 1,500 residents is nicknamed the “Wildflower Capital of Colorado” for a very good reason. 3. San Isabel National Forest. Central Colorado. Over a million acres of pure magic. This National Forest comes alive with desert color against the backdrop of some of the best mountains in Colorado. With 19 mountains over 14,000 feet, there is plenty of climbing and hiking opportunity in the San Isabel National Forest.
- Hanging Lake. Glenwood, CO. You’ll be stunned by the emerald green waters of this beautiful lake. The unique turquoise color comes from minerals that have dissolved in the water making it look like a magical pool of wonder. Simply dipping your toe in will give you superpowers. Okay, fine, probably not but we can always dream.
- Eastern Plains. Eastern Colorado. Sunsets over the buttes are simply gorgeous. When the painted skies signal the end of the day after a challenging hike it’s like a gift from the heavens.
The OIYS Visitor Center
More to see and do in Colorado
November 14, 2022
Chris Muras
What is the prettiest place in Colorado? The prettiest place in Colorado is impossible to pick, but have you seen the Garden of the Gods, or maybe Pike’s Peak as the sun goes down on a long day? Here are a few of our favorite little-known Colorado places to fall in love with nature. Find these and more in our list of Colorado’s most beautiful places.
- Maroon Bells. Aspen, CO. These two peaks in the Elk Mountains will take your breath away. With rich forests surrounding a crystal clear lake and the sun streaming over the mountain tops, it’s a picture-perfect paradise.
- Crested Butte. Crested Butte, CO. This entire town is magical in the spring when the wildflowers bloom. In fact, this small town of 1,500 residents is nicknamed the “Wildflower Capital of Colorado” for a very good reason. 3. San Isabel National Forest. Central Colorado. Over a million acres of pure magic. This National Forest comes alive with desert color against the backdrop of some of the best mountains in Colorado. With 19 mountains over 14,000 feet, there is plenty of climbing and hiking opportunity in the San Isabel National Forest.
- Hanging Lake. Glenwood, CO. You’ll be stunned by the emerald green waters of this beautiful lake. The unique turquoise color comes from minerals that have dissolved in the water making it look like a magical pool of wonder. Simply dipping your toe in will give you superpowers. Okay, fine, probably not but we can always dream.
- Eastern Plains. Eastern Colorado. Sunsets over the buttes are simply gorgeous. When the painted skies signal the end of the day after a challenging hike it’s like a gift from the heavens.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
The prettiest place in Colorado is impossible to pick, but have you seen the Garden of the Gods, or maybe Pike’s Peak as the sun goes down on a long day? Here are a few of our favorite little-known Colorado places to fall in love with nature. Find these and more in our list of Colorado’s most beautiful places.
Maroon Bells. Aspen, CO. These two peaks in the Elk Mountains will take your breath away. With rich forests surrounding a crystal clear lake and the sun streaming over the mountain tops, it’s a picture-perfect paradise.
Crested Butte. Crested Butte, CO. This entire town is magical in the spring when the wildflowers bloom. In fact, this small town of 1,500 residents is nicknamed the “Wildflower Capital of Colorado” for a very good reason.
3. San Isabel National Forest. Central Colorado. Over a million acres of pure magic. This National Forest comes alive with desert color against the backdrop of some of the best mountains in Colorado. With 19 mountains over 14,000 feet, there is plenty of climbing and hiking opportunity in the San Isabel National Forest.
Hanging Lake. Glenwood, CO. You’ll be stunned by the emerald green waters of this beautiful lake. The unique turquoise color comes from minerals that have dissolved in the water making it look like a magical pool of wonder. Simply dipping your toe in will give you superpowers. Okay, fine, probably not but we can always dream.
Eastern Plains. Eastern Colorado. Sunsets over the buttes are simply gorgeous. When the painted skies signal the end of the day after a challenging hike it’s like a gift from the heavens.
