Welcome to our 2nd Annual “Where in the West Should I Go?” This year, we’ve added some places, so you have more of the West to explore. The full list is only available to subscribers, though much of it isn’t behind the paywall. We’ll also be posting throughout the year on our Substack. Sign up …
Where in the West Should I Go? • 60 Places to Visit in 2023 Read More »
Telluride, a Colorado city of some 2,600 people in the southwestern part of the state, is a must-visit in the West. The tiny town is an arts haven, hosting the annual Telluride Film Festival and the Telluride Jazz Festival – two staples of the region. The city’s film festival will host its 50th edition in …
In south-central Colorado, you’ll find 1.8 million acres of mountain peaks, rugged canyons and ancient calderas – all located in Rio Grande National Forest. With four-season weather, there’s lots of opportunities to hike, camp, fish, hunt and even cut down your very own Christmas tree in the winter. Being so massive, Rio Grande National Forest …
By Courtney Essary Messenbaugh At the height of summer, when the snow has (mostly) melted and the wildflowers are exploding in the high country, you can embark on a breathtaking 10-mile hike along Maroon Pass from Crested Butte to Aspen (or the reverse). Yes, you’ll rise with the sun and must push yourself physically and mentally …
Located in far northwestern Colorado along the Green River, the Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge is a 12,150-acre park below the Flaming Gorge Dam. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, which operates the refuge, calls it “an oasis to both wildlife and humans seeking shelter from the surrounding harsh, semi-arid environment.” Surrounded by BLM land, …
Mesa Verde National Park in the southwestern corner of Colorado within the Navajo and Ute reservations holds striking cliff dwellings, pit houses, sun temples and more.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, with its cavernous walls and shadowy rock walls, was carved by the powerful force of the Gunnison River over millions of years.
From a river-access standpoint, Colorado is among the West’s oddest states. Federal law dictates that the beds of “navigable” rivers — waterways once used as highways for commerce — belong to the states.
There are a handful of places in the U.S. where you can sandboard, but with the highest sand dunes in North America, Great Sand Dunes National Park is an excellent place to start.
