Colorado Official State Vacation Guide - 2025

Fly-Fishing

Some call it a sport, while others call it a lifestyle — either way, fly-fishing is a peaceful pastime for many Coloradans. It’s hard to know if you want to invest in poles, waders, flies and other equipment if you’ve never felt that magical and sudden tug on your line and the frenzied effort to bring your catch in. Going with an outfitter gives you the perfect taste of this specialized activity. A guided excursion with Noah’s Ark in Buena Vista will have you creating graceful arcs with your line in no time. Their team of seasoned anglers offers full-day and overnight trips, evening floats with dinner and walk-and-wade trips that are perfect for those dipping their first wader-covered toe in the water.

Rafting

Fast, fun rapids. Unparalleled scenery. Abundant wildlife. Multiday rafting tours are a once-in-alifetime experience. You’ll form deep bonds with your raft companions and never have to worry about preparing meals or keeping yourself safe thanks to the knowledgeable and seasoned guides that are integral to making these trips successful. Echo Canyon River Expeditions’ multiday Arkansas River rafting trips take place on one of the nation’s most popular waterways amid family-friendly rapids not far from Cañon City, though you can opt for more adventurous sections of the river if you’re up for it. Along your journey, you’re likely to spot bighorn sheep, golden eagles and peregrine falcons, as well as many of our state’s highest peaks.

Backpacking

Ready for an iconic land-based excursion? The Chicago Basin is a gloriously colorful part of one of the nation’s most remote wilderness areas — the Weminuche. San Juan Mountain Guides offers an exhilarating trek and well-rounded journey you’ll never forget. Over three days, even those with no previous backpacking experience (though some endurance and cardio prep is required) will pass cascading creeks and wildflowers galore, climb up Windom Peak, where you’ll see mountain goats scampering along cliff faces, and more. Part of the fun is getting to the basin on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, which drops you, your guides and your gear off midway on its trip to Silverton. Opt for the meal package so you don’t have to do any extra work after a long day of soaking up mountain majesty.

Mountain Biking

Ride through crisp alpine air and panoramic views as you descend through the Gunnison Valley’s flower-lined trails. Colorado Backcountry in Crested Butte offers mountain-biking trips for visitors ranging from first-time trail riders to singletrack experts. Make your mark on the trails at Hartman Rocks in Gunnison, known for having over 50 miles of flowy paths that rollercoaster past sweet-smelling sagebrush and tall granite boulders. Whether you’re looking for calf-busting ascents or aspengrove tunnels, your guide can lead you to some of the best segments in the region. And they’ll help you conquer sneaky rock moves and overcome complicated features all along the way.

Llama Hikes

Did you know llamas can carry up to 30 percent of their body weight? This is just one reason they make exemplary hiking companions — they’ll tote everything you need for overnights in Colorado’s forestland. That frees you up to take in the beautiful scenery as you mosey along trails in Rocky Mountain National Park. Kirks Mountain Adventures in Estes Park will take you on overnight excursions through lush mountain landscapes tailored to your desired timeframe. The llamas will keep you company as well as free you of the burden of your food, water and other gear. Kirks also offers three-, six- and eight-hour hiking trips with the llamas. You’ll miss singing by the campfire, but still get to know the quirky personalities of these gentle trekkers.

Climbing

You’ve likely seen spectacular images of climbers scaling some of Colorado’s most dramatic rock faces and thought you’d never take that daring leap. But with a climbing guide, you’ll learn the basics of the gear and how to use it to rappel, move and finesse techniques. The patient outfitters at Colorado Mountain School will craft an educational expedition that’s designed to your specific goals, and lead everything from a half-day fun climb to a five-day immersion series in Eldorado, Boulder and Clear Creek canyons, on Boulder’s famous Flatiron mountains and beyond.

Hut Trips

Hut trips are one of the best ways to embrace the true essence of a Colorado high-country winter, offering the coziest reward at the end of an invigorating day of snowshoeing or cross-country skiing through remote landscapes. The 10th Mountain Division Hut system provides a framework that’s considered the apex of these excursions. The huts were built to house WWII soldiers training to fight in high altitudes. And while they’re well-equipped to provide warmth and rest after a day in the sun and snow, making your way between them requires knowledge of the area, maps and superior navigation skills. Paragon Guides near Vail provides a complete escape into the wilderness, all customized for your group’s experience and fitness levels. They take care of the food, hut reservations, sleeping bags, backpacks and avalanche-safety equipment — leaving you to focus on making your way to a hot-chocolate reward.

Hunting

As the sun appears on the horizon and the grass rustles under your boots, a majestic creature casually walks into your field of vision. There’s tension in your knees from the position you’ve been holding, but — at last — the time has come. The thrill of the hunt is upon you. Most people don’t have the leisure time required to scout out and plan a successful big-game hunt. When you team up with folks who do this for a living, all you have to do is throw on your high-visibility orange and set off for adventure. With J&D Outfitters, you’ll prowl the rolling grassland near Hugo, enjoying comfortable accommodations, home-cooked meals and roundtrip transportation while hunting on private land. By the end of the day, you’ll have gained a lot of knowledge from your guides and have many stories to tell back home.

Find more beginner-friendly guided tours on Colorado.com.