20 best free things to do in Colorado

1. Soak in a natural hot spring A spa day doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Several hot springs around Colorado are completely free to visit, including Conundrum Hot Springs. If you do choose to visit one of these spots, make sure you follow the leave no trace principles. These spots are often very remote and are difficult to clean. Want to go the extra step? Bring a plastic bag to pick up after others that are less considerate.

Get kisses from a wolf Have you heard of Rocky Mountain Wildlife Foundation? Check out their website and book a free visit. You’ll get to interact with wolves and learn a lot about this awesome species. While a private tour here is free, donations are accepted. Considering that many wolf parks charge hundreds for interactive visits, that’s quite the deal. Donations tend to fall in the $20 per person range.

4. Bike or drive through America’s best city park Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs regularly gets awards for how awesome it is. Believe it or not, it’s actually in the terms of gifting the space to the city that this park must forever remain free for all. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)

Bishop Castle – Bishop Castle was built, stone-by-stone, by eccentric ironsmith Jim Bishop. Some of the stairways and parapets may be a bit too much for the height-challenged, but much of the castle is accessible to the novice and stands as a testament to one man’s vision and determination. Also there: Hiking, camping and fishing in the San Isabel National Forest. Location: On Colorado 165 between Rye and Wetmore. (Dalton Walker, The Gazette)

Stars appear to swirl in the sky in this three-hour-long multiple exposure at the Paint Mines Interpretive Park near Calhan, Colorado October 22, 2014.. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette (Paint Mines. Mark Reis)

Incline enthusiasts race up the trail after the ribbon cutting and re-opening on Friday, December 2, 2016. The Manitou Incline re-opened to the public after being closed for repairs for roughly three months. Improved safety, enhanced user experience, long-term sustainability and increased accessibility were the four major goals of the Incline project. Work included repair and replacement of damaged retaining walls, cleanup of rebar, construction of drainage structures, stabilization of existing ties and surrounding slopes. Photo by Stacie Scott, The Gazette (The Gazette)

8. Stand watch from Devil’s Head Lookout Open seasonally, Devil’s Head Lookout is a unique hike that’s totally free to access. It’s not too long, but it ends with a staircase to the top of an old lookout tower that’s still used to spot fires across the Front Range today. (DOUGAL BROWNLIE)

9. Go wildflower spotting In the summer, Colorado’s hillsides light up with multi-colored wildflowers. Few things are more relaxing than taking a stroll through their bloom. A couple great places to do so are in Crested Butte and in the Flat Tops Wilderness. If you do so, please leave no trace and don’t pick the flowers. Instead, take only pictures and leave the scene for someone else to enjoy. (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)

Tourists take photos alongside Trail Ridge Road in May. Photo by Christian Murdock, The Gazette. (Christian Murdock)

The ghost towns of the Red Mountain Mining District are nine miles south of Ouray as seen among the turning aspens Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2017. The Red Mountain Mining District boomed in the 1880s to more than 3,000 people. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)

12. Take a float down a river All you’ll need for this fun-filled day is an inner tube. Do your research before you float though, as Colorado’s rivers range from calm to powerful and can vary by season. One great spot is the pictured Yampa River in the section by Steamboat Springs. (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)

13. Ski free via uphill access While lift tickets can get pricy, a lot of resorts will let you climb the mountain yourself and ski down their inbounds terrain. Here’s a list of where you can do this and the requirements for each spot, including Arapahoe Basin, Aspen, and Telluride. (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK)

14. Spot a shooting star Thanks to Colorado’s many remote spots, spotting the stars is never too difficult if you’re willing to drive. One awesome place to go star hunting is in the San Luis Valley. (MarcoRof (iStock))

15. Go pitch a tent Did you know Colorado has a ton of places that you can camp for completely free? Here’s a short list we put together, but the options outside of this are almost limitless. Here are a few tips to make the experience better and safe for the Colorado landscape.

16. Try yoga somewhere spectacular Colorado is full of awesome places to practice yoga, whether you’re on a remote mountain peak or in a huge group at Red Rocks Amphitheatre’s “Yoga on the Rocks.” Go find the vibe you’re looking for and get started. Haven’t tried yoga before? Tons of videos on Youtube will walk you through a few basic poses. (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK)

Woolly bison can also be seen at the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Photo by Billie Stanton-Anleu, The Gazette.

The Air Force Thunderbirds practiced Tuesday, May 2, 2012 in preparation for Wednesday’s Air Force Academy Graduation. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette (MARK REIS)

19. Take action to help preserve Colorado As Colorado’s population continues to boom, more people than ever are flooding the trails. If you want to help take steps to preserve Colorado’s awesome landscape, do something about it. Bring a bag along to pick up trash while you’re hiking. Share the leave no trace principles with people you’re talking to. Lead by example. Not sure where to start? Here are a few basic guidelines. (Stephen Martin)

20. Practice your anger management skills on I-70 It’s no secret that the traffic in Colorado can suck sometimes. Might as well make light of it and pretend it’s simply training you to be a more patient person.

Colorado Springs Gazette

20 best free things to do in Colorado

The Gazette

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