2021-12-03 10:51:49
Save now to splurge later — these 25 activities around the state are completely free. 1 Wildflower Viewing Crested Butte is known as the “Wildflower Capital of the World.” Visit in summertime to see the surrounding alpine valleys outrageously in bloom. 2 Dinosaur Tracks Take the mostly flat (but long) hiking trail to see gargantuan fossil tracks at the Picketwire Canyonlands south of La Junta. 3 Pueblo Riverwalk With more than 50 pieces of public art on this 1-mile expanse of breezy downtown Pueblo, the Riverwalk is a striking place to stretch your legs. 4 Alpine Lakes Colorado boasts dozens of pristine lakes above treeline. Hike the steep Blue Lakes Trail near Ridgway for a true alpine experience — the views are worth the climb. 5 Ghost Towning More than 700 African Americans settled in Dearfield, 30 miles from Greeley, in the early 1900s. The town died during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl years, but a gas station, a diner and the founder’s home still stand. 6 Yampa River Tubing Bring your own inflatable inner tube to float atop the refreshing waters of Yampa River, which passes right through downtown Steamboat Springs. 7 Dispersed Camping Rough it for real by spending the night at a dispersed campsite in the beautiful White River National Forest near Homestake Reservoir and the town of Red Cliff. 8 Honeyville See honeybees hard at work inside a glass-encased beehive and taste free samples of regional honey products at this small shop north of Durango. 9 Frisco Historic Park & Museum Find out what life was like for Colorado’s 19th-century miners. Explore the schoolhouse museum, jail, cabins, a chapel and more. 10 Liquid Arts™ Tours Hundreds of breweries, wineries, distilleries and cideries pepper Colorado’s towns, most offering free tours that show how the magic is made. Visit COLORADO.com/LiquidArts for ideas. 11 Valmont Bike Park Pros and total newbies will find tracks at this Boulder spot. Don’t miss the accompanying massive skate park, complete with bowls, rails, ledges, boxes and street features. 12 Rocky Ford Museum Peruse exhibits about the area’s history dating back to 1878, including its geology, archaeology and the everyday life of people in the Arkansas Valley. 13 Steam Engine 638 Trinidad has a rich railroad history. One interesting artifact of this legacy is the last coal-burning steam engine used by the Colorado and Southern Railway. 14 Sandhill Crane Migration Each spring, sandhill cranes migrate in magnificent fashion through the San Luis Valley. Catch a glimpse at the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge. 15 Cross a Rainbow Bridge Fort Morgan’s historic Rainbow Bridge is an engineering marvel built in 1923 and still standing strong. Venture across for great views of the Platte River. 16 City of Murals Tour Walk around Main Street in Delta to see murals and sculptures created by local artists that celebrate the heritage of the community. 17 Picture Canyon Marvel at Native American rock art, pioneer homesteads and craggy geologic formations at this historic gem near Campo. 18 Limon Heritage Museum & Railroad Park Complex A visit to the plains wouldn’t be complete without popping into the white-sided 1894 pioneer schoolhouse, an excellent example of frontier education. 19 Hiwan Homestead Museum Take a free guided tour of the Hiwan Homestead, a 25-room log lodge turned museum near Evergreen. Don’t miss the Native American art scattered around the home. 20 Fremont Ridge Site Located along the Rangely Rock Art Tour, Fremont is home to panels of petroglyphs, resembling carrot men, that can be seen on an easy out-and-back hike. 21 Cano’s Castle Four glimmering towers, made of mostly beer cans, rise into the sky off Antonito’s main street, making the fortification an oddity right in town. 22 Montrose Botanic Gardens Behind gilded gates exists a greenthumb sanctuary of native plants, succulents and brightly colored flowers. 23 Linwood Cemetery Spot famed gunslinger Doc Holliday’s grave, plus outlaw Harvey Logan’s (member of Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch) tombstone in Glenwood Springs’ downtown cemetery. 24 Emily Warner Field Aviation Museum See where President Eisenhower landed when visiting nearby Fraser and check out the cuff links owned by renowned aviator Howard Hughes in Granby. 25 Aspen Art Museum View contemporary art from around the world in the museum’s thought-provoking exhibitions and immersive installations.
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