2025 bucket list for Colorado adventure: 10 things to see and do
Hopefully for you, it’s the end of an adventurous year. And hopefully, it’s the start of another.
It’s about time for a 2025 bucket list. Here’s what we’ve got in mind:
Delight in Rocky Mountain winter
You won’t be able to drive Trail Ridge Road, the “Highway to the Sky” that closes for the snowy season. But you won’t have to worry about the tourist masses drawn to that road in the summer. You won’t have to worry about a timed-entry permit. That’s Rocky Mountain National Park in the winter — less fuss, more solitude.
Welcome to Colorado’s ultimate winter wonderland. Maybe you’ll cross-country ski or snowshoe through lower meadows or higher to lakes and waterfalls. New to the experience? See about signing up for a ranger-led tour, during which groups look out for winter’s beloved wildlife: the snowshoe hare and white-tailed ptarmigan.
And then there’s Hidden Valley. The historic ski area is now a destination for sledding families.
When to go: Now through March.
Board the Winter Park Express
If there was ever a time to join a long-going locomotive tradition in Colorado’s central mountains, this is it.
Heading into the ski season, Amtrak’s Winter Park Express announced expanding service and cutting prices. Tickets started at $19 for the ride from Denver’s Union Station to Winter Park Resort — a win for the Colorado Department of Transportation, which would prefer fewer cars on Interstate 70.
Said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew: “We know that big ski days often mean tough drives in the mountains, and the Winter Park Express offers a great option to take a relaxing, affordable trip.”
That’s right — carry on your skis or snowboard at no extra charge and sit back and enjoy panoramic views from the train’s Sightseer Lounge.
When to go: Now through March.
Visit Colorado National Monument
All too often Coloradans drive through Grand Junction and never stop on their way to red rock dreamscapes around Moab. Little do they know they pass a similar dreamscape.
Colorado National Monument boasts towering canyons, monoliths and pinnacles of its own. The paved, 23-mile Rim Rock Drive is the way to see it all — or a lot of it, we should say. We’d be remiss not to recommend picking a trail that stretches down to the valley floor, where the magnitude of the place is really felt.
The national monument’s celebrated champion, John Otto, knew the place as “the heart of the world.” Surely your heart will sing after a night under the stars, perched along the rim in Saddlehorn Campground.
When to go: Cooler in spring or fall.
Raft Northgate Canyon
In northwest Colorado near Walden, a little-known section of the North Platte River plunges into a rugged, granite realm that defines little-known Northgate Wilderness.
Take it from David Costlow, who directs Colorado River Outfitters Association: “It’s one of those that not many people do, but they should.”
The suggestion comes with a warning: “The whitewater is Class III-IV, a couple of good Class IVs in there. It’s not a float trip.”
Costlow cherishes an 11-mile stretch from the Routt Access put-in to Six Mile Gap. Others tack on another day or two by venturing on to the hot springs of Saratoga, Wyo.
When to go: Late spring, early summer.
Check out Penitente Canyon
In a certain pocket of the San Luis Valley, farm fields and sage flats suddenly give way to rocks that soar like a cathedral. This is Penitente Canyon, a place steeped in lore.
It is the place where a persecuted sect of Catholic men, Los Hermanos Penitentes, practiced grim rituals in hiding. They were said to leave the Madonna painted high on one rock wall, long after Indigenous people left petroglyphs. Now this is a place that calls to sport climbers. The rock is packed with bolted routes that challenge body, mind and spirit.
But Penitente Canyon is not just for climbers. Mountain biking has been a more recent focus of land managers and stewards; a reimagined singletrack network roams more than 20 miles. You might just want to stick around. The adjacent campground offers sites for tents and trailers, while Tin Can Camp offers cozy, tiny cabins.
When to go: Cooler in spring or fall.
See Rifle Falls
No Colorado bucket list is complete without a waterfall. And no Colorado waterfall is quite like this one.
Rifle Falls is a tropical scene that emerges out of nowhere in this far west, desert region of the state: a triple cascade shooting from a limestone cliff to a lush, verdant floor. This is the popular image that has circulated around social media. But there is more than meets the eye here at the surrounding state park.
There’s a trail that loops from the waterfall’s base to the top, including a platform that juts out from the cliffs for a minor thrill. Along the way, you’ll want to stop and sit in a dark, expansive cave. And while you’re in the area, you’ll want to drive on to a historic fish hatchery and also to the super-scenic Rifle Mountain Park.
When to go: Summer most popular; winter for “ice caves.”
Ride Virginia Canyon
A mountain biking dream years in the making came true in 2024: Steep, scenic terrain above Idaho Springs welcomed the first trails of a system called Trek Trails at Virginia Canyon Mountain Park.
The reviews were rave from the first riders. They’ll want to return for more trails steadily coming online; the initial 12 miles were but the first of the 28-mile network envisioned. And they’ll want to return for the ride up.
Argo Mill and Tunnel, the historic tourist destination, aims to open its scenic gondola in 2025. That’ll ferry visitors up to Miners Point for food, drinks, live entertainment and views — and the launch point for downhill trails.
When to go: Summer, fall
Soak in Conundrum Hot Springs
Recent years have seen new restrictions at these geothermal waters perched high amid one of Colorado’s most iconic wilderness settings. Outside Aspen, it’s no wonder Conundrum Hot Springs attracted crowds over the years. And maybe it’s no wonder the U.S. Forest Service aimed to cut the crowding that came with degradation and a less-than ideal soaking experience.
So, you can grumble about required permits to camp or be grateful about them. And you will indeed want to camp. It’s a long journey to the hot springs, where of course you won’t want to feel rushed.
It’s a journey that won’t soon be forgotten: Conundrum Creek Trail roams about 8.5 miles through the awe-inspiring Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, up to the hot springs near 11,200 feet.
When to go: Summer, early fall.
Venture to Ice Lake
A Forest Service webpage sets the expectation: “Ice Lake Trail #505 is a wildly popular trail, so do not expect solitude.”
Otherwise, you can expect the unexpected — scenery beyond your wildest dreams. Ice Lake Trail showcases the best of the San Juan Mountains: creek-fed forests of pine and aspen, wildflower-splashed meadows and soaring, jagged peaks all around.
From the South Mineral Campground outside Silverton, the trail rises to one lake and then another, higher out of the trees and over a ridge. After close to 4 miles, the destination awaits in a basin: blue-green waters reflecting Rocky Mountain majesty.
When to go: Summer, early fall.
Drive the Highway of Legends
When you hear about scenic drives in Colorado, you hear about the roads to the tops of Pikes Peak and Mount Blue Sky. You hear about Independence and Cottonwood passes, about the Peak to Peak and Million Dollar highways.
You don’t hear much about the Highway of Legends. But you should.
The official scenic byway totals 82 miles and forms three prongs in southern Colorado: a long loop over the mountains from Trinidad through Cuchara and La Veta, and a prong in the middle running over Cordova Pass near 11,250 feet down to Aguilar.
You’ll glimpse Spanish history following the Purgatoire River and maybe stop at ranching and resort communities and lakes. You’ll continue on through tunnels of aspen and marvel at peaks and rock formations that give the highway its legendary name.
When to go: Fall for colors.
2025 bucket list for Colorado adventure: 10 things to see and do
Hopefully for you, it’s the end of an adventurous year. And hopefully, it’s the start of another.
It’s about time for a 2025 bucket list. Here’s what we’ve got in mind:
Delight in Rocky Mountain winter
You won’t be able to drive Trail Ridge Road, the “Highway to the Sky” that closes for the snowy season. But you won’t have to worry about the tourist masses drawn to that road in the summer. You won’t have to worry about a timed-entry permit. That’s Rocky Mountain National Park in the winter — less fuss, more solitude.
Welcome to Colorado’s ultimate winter wonderland. Maybe you’ll cross-country ski or snowshoe through lower meadows or higher to lakes and waterfalls. New to the experience? See about signing up for a ranger-led tour, during which groups look out for winter’s beloved wildlife: the snowshoe hare and white-tailed ptarmigan.
And then there’s Hidden Valley. The historic ski area is now a destination for sledding families.
When to go: Now through March.
Board the Winter Park Express
If there was ever a time to join a long-going locomotive tradition in Colorado’s central mountains, this is it.
Heading into the ski season, Amtrak’s Winter Park Express announced expanding service and cutting prices. Tickets started at $19 for the ride from Denver’s Union Station to Winter Park Resort — a win for the Colorado Department of Transportation, which would prefer fewer cars on Interstate 70.
Said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew: “We know that big ski days often mean tough drives in the mountains, and the Winter Park Express offers a great option to take a relaxing, affordable trip.”
That’s right — carry on your skis or snowboard at no extra charge and sit back and enjoy panoramic views from the train’s Sightseer Lounge.
When to go: Now through March.
Visit Colorado National Monument
All too often Coloradans drive through Grand Junction and never stop on their way to red rock dreamscapes around Moab. Little do they know they pass a similar dreamscape.
Colorado National Monument boasts towering canyons, monoliths and pinnacles of its own. The paved, 23-mile Rim Rock Drive is the way to see it all — or a lot of it, we should say. We’d be remiss not to recommend picking a trail that stretches down to the valley floor, where the magnitude of the place is really felt.
The national monument’s celebrated champion, John Otto, knew the place as “the heart of the world.” Surely your heart will sing after a night under the stars, perched along the rim in Saddlehorn Campground.
When to go: Cooler in spring or fall.
Raft Northgate Canyon
In northwest Colorado near Walden, a little-known section of the North Platte River plunges into a rugged, granite realm that defines little-known Northgate Wilderness.
Take it from David Costlow, who directs Colorado River Outfitters Association: “It’s one of those that not many people do, but they should.”
The suggestion comes with a warning: “The whitewater is Class III-IV, a couple of good Class IVs in there. It’s not a float trip.”
Costlow cherishes an 11-mile stretch from the Routt Access put-in to Six Mile Gap. Others tack on another day or two by venturing on to the hot springs of Saratoga, Wyo.
When to go: Late spring, early summer.
Check out Penitente Canyon
In a certain pocket of the San Luis Valley, farm fields and sage flats suddenly give way to rocks that soar like a cathedral. This is Penitente Canyon, a place steeped in lore.
It is the place where a persecuted sect of Catholic men, Los Hermanos Penitentes, practiced grim rituals in hiding. They were said to leave the Madonna painted high on one rock wall, long after Indigenous people left petroglyphs. Now this is a place that calls to sport climbers. The rock is packed with bolted routes that challenge body, mind and spirit.
But Penitente Canyon is not just for climbers. Mountain biking has been a more recent focus of land managers and stewards; a reimagined singletrack network roams more than 20 miles. You might just want to stick around. The adjacent campground offers sites for tents and trailers, while Tin Can Camp offers cozy, tiny cabins.
When to go: Cooler in spring or fall,
See Rifle Falls
No Colorado bucket list is complete without a waterfall. And no Colorado waterfall is quite like this one.
Rifle Falls is a tropical scene that emerges out of nowhere in this far west, desert region of the state: a triple cascade shooting from a limestone cliff to a lush, verdant floor. This is the popular image that has circulated around social media. But there is more than meets the eye here at the surrounding state park.
There’s a trail that loops from the waterfall’s base to the top, including a platform that juts out from the cliffs for a minor thrill. Along the way, you’ll want to stop and sit in a dark, expansive cave. And while you’re in the area, you’ll want to drive on to a historic fish hatchery and also to the super-scenic Rifle Mountain Park.
When to go: Summer most popular; winter for “ice caves.”
Ride Virginia Canyon
A mountain biking dream years in the making came true in 2024: Steep, scenic terrain above Idaho Springs welcomed the first trails of a system called Trek Trails at Virginia Canyon Mountain Park.
The reviews were rave from the first riders. They’ll want to return for more trails steadily coming online; the initial 12 miles were but the first of the 28-mile network envisioned. And they’ll want to return for the ride up.
Argo Mill and Tunnel, the historic tourist destination, aims to open its scenic gondola in 2025. That’ll ferry visitors up to Miners Point for food, drinks, live entertainment and views — and the launch point for downhill trails.
When to go: Summer, fall
Soak in Conundrum Hot Springs
Recent years have seen new restrictions at these geothermal waters perched high amid one of Colorado’s most iconic wilderness settings. Outside Aspen, it’s no wonder Conundrum Hot Springs attracted crowds over the years. And maybe it’s no wonder the U.S. Forest Service aimed to cut the crowding that came with degradation and a less-than ideal soaking experience.
So, you can grumble about required permits to camp or be grateful about them. And you will indeed want to camp. It’s a long journey to the hot springs, where of course you won’t want to feel rushed.
It’s a journey that won’t soon be forgotten: Conundrum Creek Trail roams about 8.5 miles through the awe-inspiring Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, up to the hot springs near 11,200 feet.
When to go: Summer, early fall.
Venture to Ice Lake
A Forest Service webpage sets the expectation: “Ice Lake Trail #505 is a wildly popular trail, so do not expect solitude.”
Otherwise, you can expect the unexpected — scenery beyond your wildest dreams. Ice Lake Trail showcases the best of the San Juan Mountains: creek-fed forests of pine and aspen, wildflower-splashed meadows and soaring, jagged peaks all around.
From the South Mineral Campground outside Silverton, the trail rises to one lake and then another, higher out of the trees and over a ridge. After close to 4 miles, the destination awaits in a basin: blue-green waters reflecting Rocky Mountain majesty.
When to go: Summer, early fall.
Drive the Highway of Legends
When you hear about scenic drives in Colorado, you hear about the roads to the tops of Pikes Peak and Mount Blue Sky. You hear about Independence and Cottonwood passes, about the Peak to Peak and Million Dollar highways.
You don’t hear much about the Highway of Legends. But you should.
The official scenic byway totals 82 miles and forms three prongs in southern Colorado: a long loop over the mountains from Trinidad through Cuchara and La Veta, and a prong in the middle running over Cordova Pass near 11,250 feet down to Aguilar.
You’ll glimpse Spanish history following the Purgatoire River and maybe stop at ranching and resort communities and lakes. You’ll continue on through tunnels of aspen and marvel at peaks and rock formations that give the highway its legendary name.
When to go: Fall for colors.