These free activities and attractions in Colorado can help you keep your money jingling in your own pocket. You’re bound to concur that many of Colorado’s treasures are worth (but won’t cost) a fortune, from wildlife-spotting hotspots to national historic districts to geologic wonders.
1. THE GREAT OUTDOORS
The most apparent economical choice is to take in Colorado’s natural beauty. Outdoor enthusiasts are drawn to our vast spaces and thousands of miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and other activities because of the ideal year-round weather.
2. NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES
There are seven public, free-to-enter National Wildlife Refuges in Colorado. The nation’s fish, animals, and natural places are all protected under the refuge system. Visitors may see anything from bison and moose to hawks and bald eagles living and nesting among some of the state’s most breathtaking landscape at each of Colorado’s refuges, which are each home to distinct ecosystems.
3. GEOLOGIC MARVELS
People who explore the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs look for geologic formations that have the forms of sleeping giants, kissing camels, cathedral spires, and prayer hands, as well as some that appear to be balanced precariously on the edge of gravity. Massive, slanting red rock outcroppings that rise from the ground to form an acoustically perfect natural amphitheater make up Morrison’s Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre. On days when there are no concerts, joggers enjoy running up and down the calf-burning steps, hikers navigate the network of simple pathways to skirt the rock formations, and everyone who visits takes in the vistas of downtown Denver.
4. PEOPLE WATCHING
The two most well-liked outdoor pedestrian malls in Colorado are located in Denver and Boulder, respectively, at 16th Street Mall and Pearl Street Mall. Additionally, they’re the ideal setting for learning about the personalities of these two Front Range villages. View the locals coming and going while relaxing on benches and green spaces and peeking inside the stores.
5. AIR FORCE ACADEMY AND COLORADO SPRINGS PIONEERS MUSEUM
Visit two patriotic monuments in Colorado Springs. The visitor center and famous chapel at the U.S. Air Force Academy offer an insight into cadet life, academy history, and the chapel’s stunning stained-glass windows. The history and culture of the Pikes Peak region are highlighted in both permanent and changing displays at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum. View relics from the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho civilizations as well as local artists’ historical photographs and a special exhibit on General William Jackson Palmer, the man who founded Colorado Springs.
6. BREWERY, WINERY & DISTILLERY TOURS
Coloradans are renowned for their inventive libations, and there are currently more than 200 breweries, 100 wineries, and 54 distilleries in the state. Many businesses around the state give tours of their facilities. See how big producers create regionally inspired types and seasonal mixes using Colorado ingredients, including mountain spring water.
7. DINOSAUR WALKS
You may stand in a three-toed imprint made in the bedrock by a brontosaurus 150 million years ago in the Picket Wire Canyonlands outside of La Junta. After a fairly flat five-mile stroll, bike ride, or horseback ride, you will arrive at the footprints, which are situated in North America’s biggest dinosaur track site. You may take self-directed tours of exposed fossils and footprints at Dinosaur Ridge in Morrison (guided tours cost $4), as well as the excavation sites, which include the location where the first stegosaurus in the world was found in 1877.
8. ONLY-IN-COLORADO EVENTS
Coloradans parade and celebrate their culture and special occasions. Holiday celebrations, memorials to historical figures, and just plain bizarre events are all covered on our website. You may browse our events page by location, area, date, event type, and more to find free winter carnivals, farmers’ markets, artwalks, Oktoberfests, balloon festivals, and much more.
9. SCENIC AND HISTORIC BYWAYS
Although driving is not legally free, there are 26 routes across the Rocky Mountains, the canyons and gorges of the Western Slope, and the sun-kissed grasslands of the eastern plains that are considered beautiful and historic byways in Colorado. Colorado is the finest state in the nation for road trips because there are so many routes that connect the dots between historical sites and large expanses of magnificent nature.
10. HISTORIC DISTRICTS
Many of the buildings constructed in the cities’ earlier days have been preserved as Colorado Historic Districts in well-known mountain towns including Breckenridge, Crested Butte, Durango, Telluride, Georgetown, and Manitou Springs, providing tourists with a glimpse into the past. For walking tours of the locations with the most colorful pasts, check with the visitor office in each town.
11. COLORADO GHOST TOWNS
A unique view into the state’s wild past, when fortune seekers, outlaws, and cowboys roamed the West, may be found in abandoned but well-preserved mining communities. Summertime access to several Colorado ghost towns, such as Independence near Aspen, St. Elmo near Buena Vista, and Animas Forks near Silverton, may be made using an off-road vehicle or an ATV.
12. FREE MUSEUMS
Colorado’s free museums are home to a wealth of treasures, including genuine moon rocks and the works of local artists. Learn how greeting cards are manufactured at Leanin’ Tree in Boulder, or visit the Loveland Museum/Gallery to discover how the city came to be known as Sweetheart City USA (primary gallery entry is $5).