COME TO LIFE National Parks & Monuments Colorado’s four national parks and nine national monuments are home to some of the world’s most wondrous and diverse scenery. These protected lands offer everything from outdoor adventures and rich cultural history to breathtaking wildlife, star-studded skies and opportunities for relaxation in natural surroundings. Whether you’re seeking exhilarating hikes, peaceful retreats or a deeper connection to the past, these parks provide something for every traveler. Get Into Nature National Parks Rocky Mountain National Park With high-mountain lakes, waterfalls and streams, jagged peaks, thick evergreen forests and acres teeming with wildlife (elk, bighorn sheep, mule deer, moose, bears and more), this park is what most people imagine when they think of the Rockies. Magic Moment Between May and mid-October weather permitting, Trail Ridge Road is the highest paved through road in the U.S. It winds over rugged mountain ridges, past ancient tundra and into the clouds, offering breathtaking views that feel like a journey to the sky itself. Mesa Verde National Park This special park is home to amazingly preserved Ancestral Puebloan dwellings. Tucked securely into cliff walls, the adobe-constructed homes are a novel sight. On ranger-led tours (reserve well in advance), ladders give groups access to the cliff dwellings and glimpses into the daily lives of Ancestral Puebloans. Magic Moment Step back in time by booking a walking tour of Cliff Palace. As you climb through its enclaves and peer into centuries-old rooms, let your imagination run wild picturing the vibrant community that once thrived in this awe-inspiring cliffside sanctuary. Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve Sink into the highest mountains of sand in North America. These dunes have been building and shifting for eons — the result of the surrounding San Luis Valley’s distinctive wind patterns. A sandbox of epic proportions, the entire dune field encompasses 30 square miles (78 square kilometres) and the tallest dune towers 750 feet (229 metres) high. Magic Moment Climb up the towering dunes to feel the soft, shifting sand beneath your feet. At dusk, the dunes come alive, glowing with a rich golden hue as the setting sun casts long shadows across the wind-sculpted ridges, creating a scene straight out of a dream. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park The Gunnison River began carving the canyon millions of years ago. It’s so named because the walls are often shrouded in shadows that make them appear black, and the canyon has some of the world’s oldest exposed rock. Magic Moment When night falls over this quiet park, a parade of stars emerges to glisten and amaze. Named an International Dark Sky Park, this is one of the best places in the country to spy the Milky Way. Keep Wildlife Wild To help keep wildlife and yourself safe, maintain distance. If unsure, follow the rule of thumb: If you can cover the entire animal with your thumb when your arm is stretched out in front of you, you’re safe. Colorado.com/Wildlife Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park 24 COLORADO . COM JASON HATFIELD
Colorado Holiday Guide UK English 2025: Page 24
