COLORADO Rivers are powerful and always changing, so be sure to check water levels and put on a personal flotation device that’s the right size before getting wet. For smooth sailing, hire a guide. Jackson Lake State Park in Orchard 1 Soak Up Our Water Each spring, our renowned winter snow transforms into fresh, cool water that fills our rivers and lakes. It happens just in time for you to set up your umbrella on a sandy beach at our more than 2,000 lakes, book a whitewater-rafting trip with an experienced guide, plot which inlets and currents you’ll drift into on your stand-up paddleboard, or choose a hike where the refreshing mist of a waterfall revives you with a mid-trek cool down. Thirty steamy, mineral-rich hot springs bubble up to welcome you in any season. Options range from luxurious resorts where elegant cabins and holistically centered spas sit steps from the water to family-focused fun with slides and diving boards to backcountry hideaways that require hiking a few miles to reach. And when things are frosty above ground, give our frozen water a whirl atop a pair of ice skates. From rinks with sun-soaked winter skies to city and resort locales surrounded by busy shops and restaurants, this pastime serves up back-to-basics winter joy. South Mineral Creek Falls near Silverton COLORADO . COM ANDREW MAGUIRE; KENNAN HARVEY 9
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2026: Page 9
