When it comes to the best weekend getaways in Colorado, Colorado Springs is a top choice with a little bit of everything—numerous hiking trails, interesting museums, an artsy historic district, and plenty of restaurants and breweries. It’s also home to Garden of the Gods, a National Natural Landmark featuring hiking, climbing, and stunning views at the foot of Pikes Peak.

There are several Front Range towns that have fun winter attractions that are worth experiencing. Next time you’re passing through Idaho Springs, relax at Indian Hot Springs or go snowshoeing in the Arapaho National Forest. Georgetown hosts ice races on its frozen lake. While in Evergreen, make use of the giant frozen lake by ice skating or fishing.
No trip to Estes Park would be complete without a leisurely drive along the Trail Ridge Road at Rocky Mountain National Park, with its winding scenic views of craggy peaks. Park your vehicle and take a hike through one of the many pine-scented trails bordered by forests and tundra. Keep an eye out for elk and other wildlife as you go! Roosevelt National Forest is another wilderness area worth exploring, Meanwhile, you can enjoy the breathtaking views over the valley on the Estes Park Aerial Tramway, which connects the town to the summit of Prospect Mountain. Down Estes Park has lots of options for one-off shopping and dining, whether you feel like chowing down on a handmade pizza or a juicy elk burger. Afterward, quench your thirst with a pint of Colorado craft beer at one of Estes' local breweries.
Sonnenalp Hotel is often named as Vail’s top hotel, in a place that’s already home to countless exceptional properties. A Bavarian-style lodge, it offers Old World Alpine traditions merged with the spirit of the west. All rooms offer views of either Gore Creek or Vail Village and boast impressive amenities like goose down comforters and handmade furniture, a fireplace, marble bathrooms with heated floors and an oversize tub. The impressive breakfast buffet is a great way to fuel up for activities, which includes spa services, a private 18-hole golf course, hotel ski guides, and more.

Getting to Ouray is a spectacular adventure in itself, especially if you take the Million Dollar Highway that follows a 25-mile stretch of US 550 from Silverton to get here. The road’s endless twists and turns, many at the edge of sheer cliffs, brings some of the most jaw-dropping vistas in the world. As you turn each corner, the views of the soaring, jagged peaks of the San Juan Mountains seem to keep getting better – providing a pretty big clue as to why Ouray is often called the “Switzerland of America.” It’s an ideal spot for soaking in natural hot springs, gazing at countless waterfalls, and even exploring old mines. For an in-depth knowledge of the town’s gold and silver history, head to Bachelor-Syracuse Mine where you’ll find out what it was like to be a miner back in the day. There are also lots of interesting shops on the main street, historic walking tours and even a ghost tour if you’re brave enough.

^{Telluride offers the quintessential Colorado mountain town experience. Not only are its streets lined with grand Victorian buildings, but it has become a hub for adventurers, athletes, and artists of all types, nestled in an isolated box canyon, far from the chaos of modern life. While there’s no skiing this time of year, visitors can still take a ride on the gondola up the mountain to get a bird’s eye view of the town and the breathtaking surrounding landscape. There’s also the opportunity to hike to the state’s longest free-falling waterfall, Bridal Veil Falls, enjoy fantastic fishing, golfing and biking. This little town is big when it comes to festivals too, with the annual Bluegrass Festival bringing a multitude of bluegrass bands to the area to enjoy the sun and the tunes in the outdoor amphitheater.}
_{Located one mile from the main entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park and two miles from Estes Park, Rams Horn Village Resort offers 46 luxury cabins, a heated outdoor swimming pool in the summer, three outdoor, year-round hot tubs, a fitness center and a playground on over seven acres of landscaped grounds. Every amenity at Rams Horn is free to use with your reservation and every cabin will turn into a second home.}
Take a 7.5 mile hike on the Yampa River Core Trail along this picturesque river, and then jump into one of the hot pools at the Strawberry Park Hot Springs. Tread of Pioneers Museum tells the story of Steamboat Springs past and is located in a beautiful Queen Anne-style Victorian house. Take a ride with the Steamboat Scenic Gondola up the slopes of Mount Werner for some spectacular views of the area.
Lawn Lake Trail climbs to Lawn Lake and Crystal Lake, one of the parks deepest lakes, in the alpine ecosystem and along the course of the Roaring River. The river shows the massive damage caused by a dam failure in 1982 that claimed the lives of three campers. The trail is a strenuous snowshoe hike in the winter.[42] Ypsilon Lake Trail leads to its namesake as well as Chipmunk Lake, with views of Longs Peak, while traversing pine forests with grouseberry and bearberry bushes. The trail also offers views of the canyon gouged out by rampaging water that broke loose from Lawn Lake Dam in 1982. Visible is the south face of Ypsilon Mountain, with its Y shaped gash rising sharply from the shoreline.[42]

Summer is the busy season in Rocky Mountain National Park, with the most popular activities being hiking, wildlife viewing, camping, fishing, horseback riding, climbing, and bouldering. Winter in the park holds its own unique beauty and attractions. Many of the roads are open year-round, although closures may occur due to weather conditions. People often come here at this time of year to snowshoe or cross-country ski, and ranger-led tours are offered in both of these sports.

Whether you like to ski, hike, or just take in the jaw-dropping mountain scenery with a craft beer in hand, you’ll find the perfect weekend getaway in Colorado. From lively cities like Denver and Boulder, to more laid-back locales like Golden and Pagosa Springs—and plenty of world-class ski resorts in between—we’ve compiled a list of 17 of the best weekend getaways in The Centennial State.

Thank you for a wonderful stay at Brynwood. Our plans were last minute, but you were so nice to accomodate us. Even moving our luggage after the first night so we could go hiking! We loved the location so close to RMNP, and town. And you even had a bear in the tree across the street for our entertainment : ) I am so glad to have met you during our stay at Brynwood. Talking to you helped me to feel that our goal of hiking Longs Peak was attainable. I hope you will be able to make the hike yourself one day soon. Here are a couple pics of us at the top. As I mentioned to you, we should have gotten a victory picture when we got back to our car...but we were too tired! I hope we will see you again...soon!

^ This article incorporates public domain material from the Library of Congress document: "Majestic view from the old, one-way, dirt Fall River Road in Rocky Mountain National Park in the Front Range of the spectacular and high Rockies in north-central Colorado". Library of Congress - Prints & Photographs Online Catalog. Retrieved October 28, 2016.