10 Colorado Small Towns to Visit & What to Do There

The first time I ever came to Colorado, I got stuck here on a layover. As a naive East Coast girl in my mid-twenties, I said to myself, “No big deal, this is an opportunity to explore the mountains before I fly home.”

Ahh, the young version of me was so optimistic. When I exited the Denver airport, I couldn’t even see the mountains. It’s all dead grass and Blucifer (the ghost horse statue with glowing red eyes). Since I grew up smack in the middle of the Blue Ridge Mountains, I’ve heard plenty of Westerners call my favorite Appalachian ranges “just hills” in comparison to the Rockies. So this reality check actually made me want to revolt.

Anyway, I eventually moved to Colorado (not Denver, to be clear) and spent the last five years chasing the looming vistas, rushing wild rivers, and rural countryside you see on Colorado travel guides. I’m grateful to say that my first impressions of Colorado have melted into a deep love for rugged terrain and awe-inspiring beauty that demands respect. Here are my favorite Colorado small towns where you can experience it.

Chapters

• Ouray
• Lake City
• Paonia
• Silverton
• Durango
• Crested Butte
• Leadville
• Nederland
• Boulder
• Golden

Top Colorado Small Towns with Bucket List Views & The Best Things to Do When You Visit 

What I Love About Ouray

Nestled between multiple 14,000-foot peaks, Ouray’s streets are packed with optimistic hikers, pro mountain climbers, and photographers looking for the perfect wildlife shot. The town is nicknamed the “Switzerland of America,” and it sits at the entrance to the Million Dollar Highway, where tourists gain a new respect for Colorado’s wild terrain via their car window. I’ve been to Ouray a few different times and always felt so welcomed by local shop owners and people I met along the way. The town itself is colorful, full of boutique shops, delicious Western food, and easy to walk once you adjust to the altitude. If you stop for a weekend in the summertime, you’ll probably find live music and community events to join.

• Distance from Denver: 5.5 hours.

• Elevation: 7,792 feet.

• Top Things to Do: Box Cañon Falls, the Million Dollar Highway, Ouray Ice Park, local hot springs, Ouray Books, Mouse’s Chocolate & Coffee (their scrap cookies are so fun), and the Perimeter Trail.

• Traveler Profile: If you’re super active, you’ll want to arrive in Ouray with a Four Wheel Drive vehicle, so you can hop on the Alpine Loop and hike some of the impressive mountain ranges and 14,000-foot peaks. Someone a little less active will still enjoy Ouray’s hot springs, small-town charm, a calm walk through Box Cañon Falls, and a slow drive down the scenic Million Dollar Highway.

What I Love About Lake City

If Lake City gets too crowded, I’ll remove it from this blog so that people stop hearing about it. That’s how much I love this town. My friend and I visited for her birthday weekend, and we had one of those trips where everything goes right (that’s rare when you travel a lot). We became friends with a group of bikers who bought us birthday cake, met the world’s cutest puppy, had ice cream every night, and learned about Lake City’s one claim to fame, a cannibal named Alferd Packer. 

Historically, Lake City is known as one of the most rural towns in the continental United States. It has to do with the proximity to local highways and the huge mountains that block off the town to curious visitors (especially during the winter). There’s a beautiful river that runs through the town, and we were able to walk everywhere from our campsite. The town is quiet in comparison to other Colorado small towns, but that doesn’t stop it from having incredible food. We loved Breakfast Hangout & Euphoria, Cannibal Grill (where we met the bikers), and my ice cream-loving friend has glowing things to say about San Juan Soda Co. 

• Distance from Denver: 4.5 hours.

• Elevation: 8,672 feet.

• Top Things to Do: You have to visit the lake for water sports (it’s one of the few places in Colorado with water to spare). There’s a bridge across it that’s become a little Instagram-famous, and it’s got pretty views of the surrounding nature. Go say hello to the Hinsdale County Museum curators for me (they’re all volunteers). The Alpine Loop has recently opened up to Lake City, which means you can access some rugged mountain terrain and higher altitudes by ATV.

• Traveler Profile: If you get overwhelmed by the heavy tourism in other Colorado small towns, you’ll probably feel right at home in Lake City. There’s so much access to nature, and food spots aren’t overcrowded. The only thing you’ll really have to think about is finding a good place to stay. Since the town is more rural, there are limited Airbnb options (we camped).

What I Love About Paonia

I don’t hear many travel bloggers talk about Paonia, which is a shame because it’s such a unique town in Colorado. If you’re craving a little greenery after Denver’s endless winter, Paonia warms up a bit faster than the Front Range, too. Last time I went, I stayed at Sage View Ranch, and they left me a vase of fresh farm flowers and let me feed their goats. That alone was worth the trip across the mountains. 

Paonia is part of the Creative Corridor, a collection of small towns and highways that are dedicated to the preservation of culture and local art. You’ll notice murals everywhere in the small town, and you can sign up for painting classes, too. While you’re in this town, please do yourself a favor and visit Espresso Paonia. They are vying for my favorite coffee shop ever (and I’ve been to Italy), and I’ll reroute any trip back to the Front Range if it means I can stop for a latte.

• Distance from Denver: 4 hours.

• Elevation: 5,682 feet.

• Top Things to Do: There are some amazing wineries and farm stores in Paonia. Stock up on local fruit, fresh goat cheese, and wine before you head off to hike Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. At night, much of the area is designated dark sky, so you can see the Milky Way if there’s no full moon.

• Traveler Profile: I think of Paonia as a stopover town. Once you eat your way through and pet all the farm animals, there’s not too much to do except road trip deeper into Colorado’s mountain country. From here, you can access Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Telluride, Ouray, Carbondale, and Crested Butte.

What I Love About Silverton

If you want to enjoy the Million Dollar Highway views but don’t want to pay Ouray’s premium prices (so real), consider Silverton your home base. Do me a favor and don’t arrive after dark, though, because you’ll need to drive on the highway to get here. In the winter, I’ve come to Silverton to watch skijoring competitions, a uniquely Western sport that involves pulling a professional skier behind a horse.

Silverton is nestled in a wide mountain valley between Durango and Ouray. The town has a lot of Wild West charm, so think old-fashioned saloon doors, haunted hotels that haven’t changed since the 1800s (The Grand Imperial is my fave), and gold mines to explore. It’s significantly higher in altitude than nearby towns, so stock up on electrolytes and carbs to have the best time. I’ve also loved visiting in the fall for autumn colors.

• Distance from Denver: 6 hours.

• Elevation: 9,302 feet.

• Top Things to Do: The Million Dollar Highway, the Durango and Silverton Railroad Train, historic gold mine tours, hike in the San Juan Mountains, or book a horseback riding adventure.

• Traveler Profile: Come to Silverton if you prefer to avoid the touristy vibes of surrounding towns, like Ouray. In the wintertime, the Million Dollar Highway requires a Four Wheel Drive vehicle to enter. You will also want to have some general tolerance for high altitude, so if you’re coming from the East Coast, give yourself a day or two in the Denver area before venturing out to Silverton.

What I Love About Durango

Not to give anyone ideas, but I did a road trip loop from Ghost Ranch, New Mexico, up to Durango and back to Colorado Springs. Was it a lot of driving? Yes. Would I do it again? 100%. Anyway, Durango sits on the southwestern side of Colorado’s square, and it’s well-loved by every tourist I talk to. Something about its desert vibe and rural feel makes Durango feel different from other areas in Colorado. The scenery is a blend of sagebrush, ponderosa pine, and geological diversity, so get out your cowboy hat and your riding boots.

You can hop on the Durango and Silverton Railroad Train from here, soak in the cowboy-approved Main Street vibes, and visit Mesa Verde National Park, a space dedicated to preserving Native American cliff dwellings. There are great coffee and food options downtown, and a lot of outdoor activities for wildly adventurous people who enjoy hiking and water rafting.

• Distance from Denver: 6 hours.

• Elevation: 6,512 feet (although the National Park reaches up to 8,500 feet).

• Top Things to Do: The Durango and Silverton Railroad Train, Mesa Verde National Park (check the hours since the activities are limited during cold months), horseback riding, water rafting, and hiking.

• Traveler Profile: Durango is a fun stop if you want to go somewhere that feels straight out of a Western film. Main Street is dusty and moody, but there’s easy access to the San Juan mountain range for hikes and outdoor adventures, too. Since the town is so far from the Denver airport, you need ample time to get there and enjoy it. Most travelers add it to a two-week Colorado road trip itinerary, or visit Durango on a longer road trip around the New Mexico and Utah desert. 

What I Love About Crested Butte

The Crested Butte area is most famous for its wildflowers and mid-July Wildflower Festival. People come here from all around the world in the summertime to see colorful Indian paintbrush, columbine, and lupine dotted across the landscape (and it’s well worth the trip). While you’re in Crested Butte, you’ll likely spot a few local horses out to pasture and enjoy more than two million acres of public land. 

My favorite area of Crested Butte is the scenic drive up Gothic Road. This is a seven-mile gravel stretch that takes you up through a nature research area and into the heart of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The views are unbelievable, and there’s even a cute coffee and souvenir shop halfway up the road for provisions. You can mountain bike this road, or you can drive about halfway up in a regular car (before it gets too rocky and you need Four Wheel Drive). Like many places in Colorado, this road is closed to motorized vehicles in the winter, so summer is the time to enjoy it.

• Distance from Denver: 4 hours.

• Elevation: Nearly 9,000 feet.

• Top Things to Do: Hike anywhere in the nearby National Forest, visit the Wildflower Festival, stroll through the Sunday farmer’s market, drive Gothic Road, and come for the high-altitude writer’s conference.

• Traveler Profile: Creatives and lovers of beauty gather in Crested Butte throughout the year. Keep in mind, a lot of big events are hosted in this town, which is really rather small. You’ll need to book lodging ahead of time, wake up early if you don’t want to wait in line for breakfast, and be conscious of other people enjoying the nature of Crested Butte.

What I Love About Leadville

Welcome to Leadville, a high-altitude town that’s relatively close to the Front Range (only about 2 hours from Denver). Like many Colorado small towns, the activities along Main Street are limited to eating at 1800s restaurants (The Silver Saloon hosted Doc Holliday) and cute gift shops. But the surrounding nature of Leadville boasts endless things to do, like mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, ATV offroading, and winter sports. For many adventurers, Leadville is home base for hiking the nearby fourteeners, Mount Massive and Mount Elbert.

One of Leadville’s famous spots is Melanzana, the famous clothing outfitter that makes all of its pieces by hand. You need a reservation to purchase a micro-grid hoodie or any larger items from Melanzana. Although you can step in anytime for small items like hats and overstock. Other than shopping and outdoor spots, Leadville is a fun spot for a historic ghost tour.

• Distance from Denver: Less than 2 hours.

• Elevation: 10,152 feet.

• Top Things to Do: Hike one of the nearby fourteeners, Mount Massive and Mount Elbert. Visit the nearest ghost town of Vicksburg, get a Melanzana hoodie, and enjoy scenic mountain biking. 

• Traveler Profile: Unlike some of the popular Colorado small towns I’ve listed, Leadville is relatively close to the Front Range. It’s the perfect spot if you want to get out of the city without committing to a full weekend trip from Denver. Visit for a couple of hours or a couple of days and enjoy the surrounding nature.

What I Love About Nederland

While everyone else in the Denver area is headed off to Rocky Mountain National Park, I’m taking my friends on a road trip to Nederland. This local spot shares the stunning vistas and impressive wilderness areas you’ll find in the National Park, but without the heavy tourist traffic. My preferred day out in Nederland starts with a donut stop at Train Cars and Kava, where they serve food and coffee out of a historic caboose. Then drive to Brainard Lake Recreation Area for a picnic (bring the donuts) and an early morning hike to Blue Lake. While you’re in the Brainard Lake area, drive around the wetlands to see how many moose you can spot. I’ve spotted mamas and their babies here. 

After your hike, enjoy lunch or dinner at Crosscut. This pizza spot uses Colorado-milled flour that’s fermented for a few days before it’s molded into a homemade crust. I took one of my friends here, and she compared it to Michelin Star pizza we had together in Italy (yes, it’s that good). There are cute shops to visit around town before you head back home, too.

• Distance from Denver: 1 hour.

• Elevation: 8,228 feet.

• Top Things to Do: Brainard Lake Recreation Area (you need a timed entry pass), leaf peeping in the fall, tour local breweries, drive the Peak to Peak highway, stop in the mining museum, or ski Eldorado Mountain Resort in the wintertime. 

• Traveler Profile: Nederland is a local vibe. While you’re there, you’ll meet people from all around the world who have come to live for the skiing, hiking, and other outdoor activities. Like other local Colorado spots, you can expect good pizza, good beer, and plenty to do outside.

What I Love About Boulder

Home to the iconic Flat Iron Mountains, Pearl Street Mall, and soon-to-be Sundance Film Festival, Boulder even has a cameo in a famous John Denver song. It’s nestled up against the Front Range, with easy access to Chautauqua Park for hikes and Boulder Canyon for a summer dip in the creek. Boulder is the spot to go if you want a day in Colorado’s city landscape, followed by a mountainside retreat.

In the 1970s, Boulder was the go-to spot for free spirits, and there’s still plenty of that energy to go around. The Dushanbe Tea House was gifted to the city by Tajikistan and brings an Eastern vibe to the community, and Pearl Street will introduce you to local artists, musicians, literature, and bohemian charm.

• Distance from Denver: 45 minutes.

• Elevation: 5,430 feet.

• Top Things to Do: Hike the Flat Irons, walk along Pearl Street, enjoy high tea at the Dushanbe Tea House (you’ll need reservations), stop in at the farmer’s market, or visit the Shakespeare Festival in summertime.

• Traveler Profile: Although it’s highly encouraged, you don’t need to be an outdoorsy person to enjoy Boulder. There’s plenty of local shopping and food (go eat at Wild Pastures or Flower Child) or more relaxed outdoor activities like paddleboarding. Since Boulder is at the same altitude as Denver, it’s also a good stopover before you head higher into the mountains.

What I Love About Golden

Home to the golden retriever festival (yes, really), Golden sits at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It’s home to the Coors brewing factory, and it’s the official resting place of Buffalo Bill. There are multiple spots to see dinosaur footprints (I always take friends to visit Dinosaur Ridge), and of course, a trip to Colorado isn’t complete without a Red Rocks performance. Even though Golden is on the Front Range, you don’t need more than a day to explore. While you’re here, stop over in the nearby town of Morrison to do some shopping and eating.

• Distance from Denver: 30 minutes

• Elevation: 5,675 feet.

• Top Things to Do: Whitewater tubing down Clear Creek, see dinosaur footprints, visit historic cabins at the Golden History Park, tour the Coors brewery, and have high tea at Babe’s Tea Room.

• Traveler Profile: Golden is best explored by people who like a little bit of everything. There’s water tubing, hiking, and so much history packed into just a few miles. Golden is also close to the amenities of Denver and the entrance to i70 which is the gateway to the Rocky Mountains.