When we say Colorado, you probably picture powdery slopes, ski chalets and Rocky Mountains peaks galore. But there’s so much more to this varied state than winter sports and legal cannabis dispensaries – here are 14 reasons you should choose Colorado for your next American adventure. 

The Rockies are Colorado’s most famous mountains, but there are actually 15 different ranges and 58 peaks over 14,000 feet (lovingly referred to as fourteeners by locals) in this state. Mount Elbert, at 14,433 feet in the Sawatch Range, is the highest mountain in Colorado and has five access routes to the summit.

Whether you’re hiking, driving or skiing over the undulating peaks here, beautiful views abound. This is Bear Lake Trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park, at 9,475 feet.

It’s not surprising that the stargazing in Colorado is special, especially on some of those remote mountain trails or in the numerous state parks. Light pollution is so low in many locations across the state, you can spot the constellations in the skies.

Admire the night sky from the shores of a glistening lake or atop a UFO watchtower in San Luis Valley. Pictured here is Colorado Springs, where fourteener Pikes Peak glows in the darkness behind the red rocky landscape.

Colorado is peppered with ghost towns – 1,500 in fact. The silver mining boom of the late 19th century attracted people to settlements like magpies and new communities popped up all over the state.

Breckenridge and Idaho Springs are the few surviving towns, while many were left to ruin once the silver had been exploited. This is Crystal Mill, a wooden powerhouse sitting along the Crystal River. Built by the Sheep Mountain Tunnel and Mining Company, it was used to compress air for nearby silver mines but fell into disrepair after the mine closed in 1917.

Thanks to this mountainous landscape, there’s a host of geothermal activity below Colorado’s surface. This means natural springs are found all over the place, many of which are bubbling with hot water. This is Pinkerton Hot Springs in Durango, where the water from beneath the earth arrives at the surface at a balmy 35°C (95°F) and the minerals leave multicoloured deposits behind on the rock.

Many of the hot springs in Colorado offer bathing opportunities, like Conundrum (pictured). Hotels and spas, such as Glenwood Hot Springs Resort, have also popped up to take advantage of these natural spas.

Vail is not your typical American ski town. Built in the 1960s by a man who possibly had more money than sense, it was modelled on the European ski resorts of Switzerland, Austria and Germany. The pedestrianised Vail Village centre looks like a typical European mountain town with gabled roofs and shuttered windows.

It’s from these ski towns that the mountains become a natural playground: there’s skiing and snowboarding, zip lining and even a mountain rollercoaster. And after a hard day’s adventuring, there are some ultra luxury resorts to retreat to such as The Sebastian or the German-inspired Sonnenalp.

The cross-country California Zephyr stops in Colorado’s capital, Denver, on its 2,438-mile route across the USA from Chicago to San Francisco. But it’s not just Amtrak on the rails here. There are a number of historic railroads which offer unique views of the gorgeous mountain landscapes throughout the state.

Pictured here is the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, one of the world’s greatest rail journeys. On these tracks you pass fertile farmlands, old stagecoach roads and old mining camps, travelling on coal-fired locomotives from the 1880s.

An unlikely sight in the middle of a snow-capped mountain range is this desert-like scene: the Great Sand Dunes National Park. Formed after a river dried up and the prevailing winds pushed the sandy riverbed up against the slopes, these dunes have created a bizarre landscape among Colorado’s peaks. 

You can hike, sled or sandboard across these dunes, and at night the National Park lets a lucky few camp out under the stars.

Denver – also known as the “Mile High City” for its elevation – is a refreshingly small state capital, meaning you don’t need your own transport here. It’s more than just a gateway to the Rocky Mountains, too. There’s good shopping, some brilliant galleries and museums, and plenty of striking street art – a city law states that all new buildings over $1 million must dedicate 1% of their exterior to public art. 

Visit the industrial-turned-creative neighbourhood RiNo (the River North district) to see some of the best murals. Make a pit stop at one of the many craft breweries or in Denver City Market to refuel.

Denver’s main railway station was given a major facelift in 2012 after falling into serious disrepair. Today, Union Station is known as the city’s “living room” – it’s a place to meet, eat, drink and even sleep (the Crawford Hotel has rooms on the first floor).

Here you can lounge around with a cocktail and free wi-fi, play shuffleboard, browse books in the mini outpost of Tattered Cover bookstore – a Denver icon – or stop for a sublime brunch at Snooze A.M. Eatery. Don’t miss their twist on French toast.

This is possibly the world’s greatest music venue. Set among the green hills southwest of Denver, this naturally-formed amphitheatre is a stunning place to see some of the world’s best and most popular artists perform.

Even if the music isn’t your bag, it’s worth going for the views and atmosphere alone. There’s not a bad seat in the house and watching the sun set behind the stage adds drama to any performance.

Home to the Ancestral Pueblo people around 1,400 years ago, Mesa Verde is a stunning piece of history. The national park of the same name protects more than 5,000 archaeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings.

Explore the Cliff Palace (pictured), which has more than 150 rooms made from sandstone, wooden beams and mortar. Or climb the 32-foot ladder and crawl through a short tunnel to look around the Balcony House for an adventurous exploration.

Winter in Colorado is a big deal, so no round up of this state’s best bits is complete without highlighting the fantastic snow sports on offer. There’s more than 12,000 hectares of skiable ground after the snow’s fallen, after all.

Whether you’re a skier, snowboarder or you just love the sparkly white views, there are countless brilliant resorts for winter escapes. From world-famous Aspen to under-the-radar Copper Mountain, you’ll find adventure for all abilities.

Aptly named Dream Lake (pictured) is one four gorgeous bodies of water along a short hiking trail in Rocky Mountain National Park, and one of many stunning lakes found throughout the state. Lakes and mountains go hand-in-hand, and with so many lakeshores, there are also hundreds of brilliant beaches for lounging on.

Bay of Chickens and Old Creek on the edges of Blue Mesa Reservoir are two excellent swimming spots with sandy shores. Don’t miss the gorgeous Hanging Lake (pictured) for its pretty waterfalls.

With forested mountains comes a fabulous fall. There may be no better time to visit Colorado than leaf-peeping season as the slopes light up in fiery hues.

The aspen trees are the highlight here as they turn an iridescent yellow come autumn. With highways like the Trail Ridge Road – the world’s highest paved road – there are some incredible road trip routes to take it all in. Pictured here are the San Juan Mountains providing a majestic backdrop to our favourite time of year.