Looking for something “different” to do on your weekend, something off the beaten path? Here are 12 of the quirkier, famous places that you might want to take in on one of your weekend car trips around Colorado. Many of these are suitable for the whole family.
– Researched & written by Mike Hamers
1. Strawberry Park Hot Springs
Set along a mountain creek near Steamboat Springs you’ll find the well-maintained Strawberry Park Hot Springs – one of the nicest hot springs in Colorado. Enjoy beautiful stone pools, and multiple pools of varying sizes and temperatures. They are fed by natural springs and temperatures nearest the source get pretty hot. Rustic cabins are available in the area to rent, or you can use the heated cabin and teepee to change clothes. Since the pools are surrounded by a cold pond and local creek, summer is the best time to visit when more pools are open and available.
• The drive/shuttle: The drive up to Strawberry Park takes 15 min. from downtown Steamboat Springs. The final road is unpaved and only available via 4-wheel drive. It can get quite muddy and slick during the snowy or wetter seasons. For these reasons, visitors can also take the shuttle from Sweet Pea Tours that runs from the Steamboat Transit Center during summer and winter.
• Clothing-Optional Info: After dark the springs at Strawberry Park Hot Springs become clothing optional (as are almost all hot springs located in Colorado).
• Reservations: A reservation system will remain in effect until further notice. Pool reservations become available 25 to 30 days in advance.
• Location: 44200 County Road 36, Steamboat Springs
• Contact & reservations: info@strawberryhotsprings.com | 970-879-0342 | https://strawberryhotsprings.
2. Manitou Incline, Manitou Springs
The Manitou Springs Incline, also known as the Manitou Incline or simply “the Incline”, is a popular hiking trail rising above Manitou Springs, near Colorado Springs. It is a most-challenging hike with 2,744 steps (made of railroad ties) that climb 2,000 ft. in elevation in under one mile. Built on the side of Pikes Peak, the top of the Incline is 500 feet taller than the Empire State building. It has grades of 43% to 68% — technically rated “Extreme”. Plan on 2+ hours for this 4.5 mile round-trip hike. Downhill use of the Incline is strongly discouraged. Please descend on the Barr Trail.
The Incline is FREE, but reservations are required! Reservations for June will open May 1st. Be sure to bring your confirmation, either on your phone or printed. City of Colorado Springs Parks’ staff will greet you and check you in at the base of the Incline.
• NO DOGS PLEASE!
• Reservations: inclinecancellat
• Recommended: traction for footwear due to the chance of snow and ice on the trail.
• Shuttle: During summer, it’s best to use the free shuttle from any downtown parking lot.
• Hours: Summer thru Nov. 6th: 6am to 6:30pm (Winter hours: 6am to 3pm)
• Location: 444 Ruxton Avenue, Manitou Springs, Colorado
• Phone/Web: https://
3. Colorado’s Airplane Restaurant, Colorado Springs
Celebrating good food, good service, and the 100th year of service. The Airplace Restaurant centerpiece is a fully-intact Boeing KC-97 tanker. Built in 1953, this magnificent airplane refueled aircraft throughout the world. In 2002 it began its 2nd mission – to be the preeminent aviation restaurant in the US. 42 passengers can actually eat in the plane. Rich in aviation history, displaying 100’s of pictures, memorabilia and rare artifacts, the venue offers a flight through aviation history.
• FIrst come, first served. No reservations except for large groups.
• Hours: Sun thru Thurs 11am to 8pm // Friday & Saturday 11am to 9 pm
• Location: 1665 N. Newport Rd (Adjacent to Radisson Hotel Colo. Springs)
• Phone/Web: 719-570-7656 | http://www.
4. Great Stupa of Dharmakaya, Red Feather Lakes, CO
Located high in the mountains above Fort Collins, the Great Stupa is a monument of peace and one of the most spectacular examples of sacred Buddhist architecture outside of Asia. At 108 feet tall, the stupa is intricately decorated, and every detail holds special symbolism. The stupa monument sits on a 600-acre Buddhist retreat that hosts retreats, classes, and programs led by some of the world’s leading Buddhist teachers.
According to literature at the mountain center, stupas promote harmony, prosperity, longevity, good health, and peace. It was built to inter the ashes of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, who died in 1987. Info on location explains all of the symbols used throughout.
• No pets: Dogs & other pets are NOT allowed.
• Location: 151 Shambhala Way, Red Feather Lakes, CO 80545
• Phone / Web: 1-888-788-7221 | https://www.dralamountain.org
5. Crestone Ziggurat, Crestone
Nicknamed the “New Age religious capital of the world”, Crestone is home to several churches, spiritual centers, and other unique places of worship, including the castle-like Crestone Ziggurat. High above the town, it is among the most noticeable, and most scenic of the spiritual structures around. Ziggurats were first built in ancient Mesopotamia using sun-dried bricks. Constructed as shrines, these were intended as dwelling places for the gods, not for public worship. Erected atop large complexes of buildings, a ziggurats had a series of ramps on one side, or a single spiral ramp leading progressively to the top.
Uniquely, the Crestone Ziggurat is open year-round to the public. Visible for miles, it rises from a rocky hill on the SE edge of the Baca Grande. Built by Najeeb Halaby, the father of Queen Noor of Jordan, in 1978, the Crestone Ziggurat was once a private place for prayer and reflection but has since opened to the public, who are invited to come to explore and spend time in meditation. Visitors can climb the spiral ramp to the top, which offers stunning views of the surrounding area, making it a perfect spot for reflection and quiet contemplation.
• Hiking: There’s also a great hiking trail, a 1.3-mile loop that is technically considered an “Easy” route that takes an average of 29 min to complete.
• Hours: Open sunrise to sunset
• Location: Cordial Way, Crestone, CO 81131
• Web: https://www.atlasobscura.com/
6. Barney Ford Museum, Breckenridge
The fully-restored Barney Ford Museum is a must-stop on your visit to Breckenridge. Born into slavery, Ford’s mother taught him to read and write despite the risks associated with it. In 1848, Ford escaped slavery and made his way to Chicago via the Underground Railroad. There he chose the last name “Ford” when he saw a Lancelot Ford automobile. Ford married Julia Lyoni, and the pair eventually settled in Colorado.
After several failed attempts (and a bankruptcy) at starting chophouse restaurants in Denver, he finally had a huge prolonged success in Breckenridge with the Ford’s Restaurant and Chop House. Ford made some fortuitous investments in local silver mines. Eventually, he became one of the richest men in the state. It was in Breckenridge that Ford had a Victorian home built for his family.
Despite the racism he continued to face, he advocated for civil rights and was a respected member of the Breckenridge community. Along with journalist Henry Wagoner, he founded a school for African American children and in 1866 established evening classes for adults. When Colorado sought admission as a state in 1865, Ford went to Washington, D.C. and lobbied to hold off admitting the state until all males could vote. Later, he also traveled to Washington again to fight for the Fifteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which would give African Americans the right to vote. After Colorado achieved statehood in 1876, Ford was the first African American nominated to the Colorado Territory legislature. He served one term in the Colorado General Assembly. He was also the first black man in Colorado to serve on a federal grand jury (1872).
• Tours: Guests can take a guided tour through the museum with one of Breckenridge History’s expert guides or choose a self-guided option. Expect to spend about 30 – 60 minutes on your visit.
• Hours: Year-round. Open Tues thru Sun 10am – 3pm (closed Mondays & holidays).
• FREE, but donations are appreciated.
• Phone/Web: (970) 453-9767 | https://breckhistory.org/
7. Rattlesnake Canyon Arches, near Grand Junction
You can find a collection of 35 natural arches, including 8 major arches, tucked away in Rattlesnake Canyon. These soaring spans, protected in the 123,400-acre McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, form the world’s 2nd largest concentration of arches outside of Utah’s Arches National Park. The Rattlesnake Canyon Arches are one of Colorado’s most spectacular wonders, but also one of its best-kept secrets. The Arches are accessible only by a rough drive on a 4×4 track or a 15-mile round-trip trek from a trailhead west of Grand Junction. The Rattlesnake Arches are off the beaten path, but those willing to make the journey will be rewarded with one of Colorado’s most remarkable landscapes.
The easiest way to see the arches is to drive in and then complete the journey on foot. Those with a high-clearance 4-wheel drive vehicle can drive to the upper trailhead on the Black Ridge Access Road, which is typically open from April 15 to Feb. 15. From the upper trailhead, hikers pass a series of eight arches early in the 6-mile round-trip journey.
The journey to the arches is longer and more strenuous for those who visit when the Black Ridge Access Road is closed — or if you don’t have a car that can get to the upper trailhead. In this case, the journey to Rattlesnake Canyon requires a 16.4-mile round-trip hike on the Pollock Bench Trail, which eventually becomes the Rattlesnake Canyon Arches Trail.
• Location: Pollock Bench Trail is less than 15 min. from downtown Fruita and less than 30 min. from Grand Junction by car.
• Web/Directions: https://www.
8. Island Lake (glacier lake), near Silverton
The San Juan National Forest hidden gem is Island Lake, which is one of four amazingly incandescent glacier lakes (Ice, Clear and Fuller lakes are the other 3) that can be found in the Upper Ice Lake Basin near the town of Silverton.
On the 4-mile trail to the lakes, hikers pass several legacies of the fortune-seekers who settled Silverton in the late 1800s — mines and equipment abandoned when the price of metal fell in the 1920s (though the last large mine in the area didn’t close until 1991).
The entire basin is known as an alpine-wildflower wonderland during the Summer. Its position amid several jagged 13ers, including Vermillion, Golden Horn, Ulysses Grant Peak, and Pilot Knob, ensures many a hardy climber pass through on their way up their chosen summit. At this high elevation (12,400 ft), afternoon storms are common, so dress in layers and be prepared to cross some small streams along the way.
• Location: To reach Island Lake, head west from Silverton on Highway 550 (also known as Million Dollar Highway). Take the U.S. Forest Service Road 585 to South Mineral Campground. From there, a steep, 4-mile hike with a 3,000-ft elevation gain leads you into the basin.
• Web: https://www.colorado.com/
9. Picketwire Canyonlands, near La Junta
If you’re into dinosaurs, this is an exciting place to visit. At Picketwire Canyonlands you can explore dinosaur tracks, prehistoric rock art and ruins up-close. There are more than 1,300 tracks left by early dinosaurs in 100 different trackways – footprints left in the mud of the Canyonlands over 150 Million years ago. Hidden, yet easily accessed in SE Colorado, Picketwire is located within the Comanche National Grassland, close to La Junta. There are many side attractions and things that will make you become a regular visitor to the Canyonlands.
• Rock art — There are plenty of artwork, stone tools, pottery and relics left behind by prehistoric visitors. In fact, the kind of artwork and materials you will find in this region will marvel you. But these paintings on rock surfaces are somehow difficult to find, so let a guide take you there.
• Tours: The U.S. Forestry Service provides guided auto tours to visitors by appointment. These tours are the only motorized access into the canyons, providing the easiest way to see these incredible sights. They usually operate in May, June, September and October.
• Cost: $15 adults / $7.50 children
• Web: https://www.uncovercolorado.
10. Devil’s Punchbowl, near Aspen
The Devil’s Punchbowl is a beautiful pool with green and blue waters – a natural swimming hole with a very popular cliff-jumping spot surrounded by geological rock formations carved out by the Roaring Fork River.The nearly vertical cliffs that make up the “punchbowl” are an ideal feature for adrenaline junkies to get a free-fall fix. It’s about a 25-ft drop down into the water that’s an average of 12 ft deep. Exiting the cold water is easiest on the highway side of the punchbowl. Exercise extreme caution if choosing to jump.
• Other activities: For those who prefer to stay on dry land, there are several spots across from the Devil’s Punchbowl to watch those crazy cliff jumpers. Additionally there are also picnic areas, birdwatching opportunities, horseback riding, mountain biking, and hiking trails.
• The Devil’s Punch Bowl Waterfall trail is a popular 2.2-mile round-trip hiking trail. It features a waterfall and is very rocky, but still suitable for all different skill levels. The hike to Devil’s Punchbowl itself also isn’t difficult, but the road to get there is a bit long and dangerous, requiring a 4-wheeler.
• Location: The area is accessed from a pullout west of The Grottos Day-Use Area near mile marker 51 off of Highway 82 east of Aspen.
• Web: https://
11. Indoor Skydiving / iFly Denver, Lone Tree
Enjoy an adrenaline-adventure of a lifetime with indoor skydiving at SkyVenture Colorado located in Lone Tree. The entire family can experience body flight in the confines of a vertical wind tunnel. Powered by multiple fans located at the top of the flight platform, the fans produce a powerful air current which is almost identical to the sensation of free-falling from 11,000ft. Located just minutes from Denver and Colorado Springs. Great for family members ages 3 to 103! A family adventure that no one will forget!
• Fee includes training sessions, use of all flight gear (flight suie, helmet, safety goggles), hands-on personal assistance, and souvenir flight certificate.
• Location 1: 9230 Park Meadows Drive, Lone Tree, CO 80124
• Location 2: 281 Kaycee Case Place, Colorado Springs, CO 80921
• Hours: Reservations required. Hours vary widely – visit the website for fees and hours, etc.
• Phone/Web: 303-768-9000 | https://www.iflyworld.com/
12. Bishop Castle, Lone Tree
Tucked away in San Isabel National Forest southwest of Pueblo, is a wondrous and whimsical castle constructed of iron and stone that is the result of the lifelong passion of Colorado native, Jim Bishop. He bought the land when he was just 15 years old for $450, and for nearly 60 years he’s been constructing one of the most impressive monuments to perseverance in Colorado. It’s a true testament to not only Having a Dream, but Sticking with your Dream no matter what.
Today, the frontier fortress reaches over 16 stories high, has three large cathedral windows, wrought iron walkways and a steel Fire-breathing Dragon – plus three full stories of interior rooms complete with a Grand Ballroom, soaring towers and bridges with vistas of a hundred miles, make the Bishop Castle quite an unforgettable experience!
• FREE — There’s no entrance fee to explore the castle, but donations are appreciated. All tours are self-guided through a seemingly endless network of elaborate rooms, intricately forged bridges, and tight spiral stair wells.
• Location: 12705 CO-165, Rye, CO 81069
• Phone/Web: (719) 564-4366 | https://www.bishopcastle.org
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