COME TO LIFE | Low-Impact Travel Ideas 8 Low-Impact Travel Ideas From pedal power to voluntourism, Colorado delivers lots of ways to be a low-impact traveler. Want More? FIND OTHER WAYS TO DO COLORADO RIGHT. 1 STARGAZE The Centennial State’s many starry-night spots mean there are plenty of ways to gaze at the heavens. Try a Dark-Sky Park like Dinosaur National Monument or the UFO Watchtower in Hooper for sparkling sights up high. COLORADO.com/Stargazing 2 DRIVE AN ELECTRIC BYWAY Opt for a classic road-trip moment with a drive along electrified scenic and historic byways. Lariat Loop, Grand Mesa, Silver Thread, Collegiate Peaks, Flat Tops Trail, Trail Ridge Road, Colorado River Headwaters and Top of the Rockies all have perfectly spaced electric-car-charging stations. ColoradoByways.com THE TRAIN 3 TAKE (OR BIKE OR BUS) Tuck your car keys away in favor of lower-impact travel alternatives like the Winter Park Express ski train, shuttles, buses and Colorado’s growing quiver of e-bike rentals. COLORADO.com/GetAround ROCKY MOUNTAIN FIELD INSTITUTE 4 SEEK ECO-LODGING Rest your head in sustainable style by booking with a lodging that cares. For example, SCP Hotel in Colorado Springs and Del Norte’s Mellow Moon Lodge are both revered for earth-friendly practices. 6 SUPPORT LOCAL GET WITH A 5 CARBON-NEUTRAL GUIDE Booking a low-impact adventure will make you feel extra good about your vacation’s carbon footprint. For instance, Boulder’s own Colorado Wilderness Rides & Guides and Cairn Outdoor Guides both emphasize sustainability best practices. COLORADO.com/Guides There are literally hundreds of Colorado farmers’ and artisan markets — not to mention ranches, orchards and visitor-friendly farms — that prioritize local and lift up sustainable practices like composting. Ridgway Farmers Market, Vail Farmers’ Market & Art Show and The Living Farm in Paonia are just a few. COLORADO.com/Local GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK & PRESERVE 7 TAKE A HIKE DESTINATION SUSTAINABILITY Many Colorado locales — like Aspen, Glenwood Springs, Denver, Breckenridge, Fort Collins and Vail — focus on being good to Mother Earth. Learn more about these efforts at COLORADO.com/SustainablePlaces . 8 VOLUNTEER Give back by donating work hours to Colorado nonprofits like Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado and trail-building organizations like Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association out of Montrose. COLORADO.com/Voluntourism 32 1-800-COLORADO FROM TOP: ROCKY MOUNTAIN FIELD INSTITUTE; C2 PHOTOGRAPHY. Join a guided trek with a group that bolsters eco-friendly programs, like Walking Mountains Science Center in Avon and The Colorado Trail Foundation out of Golden. You’ll love learning about the area’s flora and fauna directly from passionate environmental stewards. COLORADO.com/Hiking
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2022: Page 32
