Top 7 Small Towns in Colorado
Colorado is undeniably one the USA’s most beautiful states. Home to most of The Southern Rockies and packed with diverse nature and historic towns, it’s a veritable feast for avid road-trippers and adventure travellers.
In a list such as this, you’d usually find the common inclusions of notable and beautiful Colorado towns like Aspen, Telluride, Vail and Estes Park. However, I wanted to share my love of the small, somewhat lesser-known towns that I discovered on my road trip travels through this amazingly historic and topographically diverse state.
Westcliffe
Perched in the Wet Mountain Valley, just to the east of the Sangre de Cristo Range, is Westcliffe, one of the unsung gems of south-central Colorado. With a population of little over 500 people, you won’t find a bustling main street, or any great array of restaurants or bars. What you will find is a charming town with friendly locals set against a stunning backdrop. The area (Custer County) doesn’t have a single traffic light, and the highways in and around this part of Colorado are some of the most picturesque in the USA. You can still see Amish carts coming down the main street to the local bakery, and the historic trainyard on the edge of town just screams old America.
Take a drive down picturesque Hwy 165 to visit Lake Isabel and Bishop Castle (a bizarre three-story castle hand built out of scrap over 60 years solely by architect Jim Bishop), and when heading back to Westcliffe, take the back way down country road 358 to see some of the stunning farmland of the area, all framed with the mighty Rockie Mountains in the distance.
Accommodation Tip:
*The Courtyard Country Inn is the perfect place to base yourself in downtown Westcliffe. All rooms open up onto a lovely central courtyard, and the hosts cook up an amazing breakfast while providing excellent local road tripping and sightseeing info.
2. Steamboat Springs
Not a particularly obscure choice, but often overlooked by international travellers who are drawn to the likes of upscale winter towns such as Vail and Aspen. Steamboat Springs is definitely a little more laid back and casual, but still one of Colorado’s best mountain towns. With a bevy of winter sports Olympians being from “The Boat” (more than any other town in America), it’s no surprise that Winter is king in northern Colorado’s Yampa Valley. In addition to the world-class skiing and snowboarding on offer, there’s also Steamboat’s famous winter carnival, where kids on skis are pulled down Main Street by horses, as well as the ‘Cowboy Downhill’ event held in January. Summer has plenty on offer with the ‘Steamboat Hot Air Balloon Festival’, as well as the ‘Yampa River Festival’ which features the ‘Kayak Rodeo’, and ‘The Craziest River Dog’ contest. Taking a soak in one of Steamboat’s famous geothermal springs is a must at any time of year.
Accommodation Tip:
*For a simple, yet charming stay right in downtown Steamboat, hit up The Bristol Hotel.
*For a more ski-based mountain hotel experience, The Steamboat Grand sits right on the edge of the area’s most popular slopes.
*For those looking for a more luxurious mountain stay, try Falconhead Lodge – North, with its well-appointed 5 bedrooms/5 bathrooms, private hot tub, 2 kitchens, sports bar with pool table, vaulted timber ceilings, oversize fireplace, and spectacular views.
3. Twin Lakes
You could barely call Twin Lakes a town. With a single saloon, a general store, and only a handful of other buildings, this isn’t a thriving metropolis. However, this historic little village tucked away off Hwy 24 (not too far up the road from the towns of Buena Vista and Salida) is an epicentre of amazing hiking, fishing, kayaking, and other nature opportunities. Separate of all that, the area is quite simply, stunning! Mostly known as a blow through town for people crossing the 82 pass to Aspen, this sleepy gem that sits 10,000 feet above sea level is definitely worth a stop. Twin Lakes is definitely somewhere to rest, unwind, and take in some immensely beautiful scenery. There are plenty of options to camp out under the stars, plus a number of charming B&Bs and cabins to rent. The sparkling twin glacial lakes the area is famous for make for a glorious vista from your campsite or cabin porch.
Accommodation Tip:
*Wolf Den B&B is a stunning timber home situated at the base of Mt Elbert (the Rocky Mountains’ tallest peak) that boasts amazing views of the mountains and glacial twin lakes. The hosts’ beautiful huskies really add to the wilderness ambience when they howl in unison during the night.
4. Cañon City
Perched on either side of the Arkansas River is historic Cañon City. A popular base for white-water rafting and rock climbing, this little town also hosts America’s highest bridge, The Royal Gorge Bridge. Make sure you don’t miss the historic downtown district (easily missed by people not jumping the one block up from the main hwy). With plenty of turn-of-the-century architecture (this district is on the national register of historic places), a craft brewery, plus some great places to eat and drink, there are plenty of reasons to stop off here separate of seeing the mighty Royal Gorge.
Not too far from Cañon City is Phantom Canyon Road, a winding, narrow dusty road that takes you off the beaten track and through some thrilling scenery. Canyon walls, steep ravines, tight turns and rock tunnels are all part of this very fun drive up to Cripple Creek (see town no: 6)
Accommodation Tip:
*Located a little-ways out of Cañon City is Florence Rose Guesthouse, where the friendly hosts will make you feel very welcome. The guesthouse is a beautiful historic building set amongst lovely grounds.
5. Leadville
Just up the road from the aforementioned Twin Lakes is Leadville, the town with the highest elevation in all of the USA. At over 10,000 feet, you’ll notice yourself getting a little puffed running up any stairs, not to mention the booze, which at that altitude will hit you like a ton of bricks.
Perched at the head of the Arkansas River in the heart of The Rockies, Leadville is a genuine mountain town with a storied and colourful history. Like so much of Colorado, Leadville’s history lies in mining, and as the town grew in the late 1800s, it gained the reputation as one of the most lawless and wild towns in the old West. Meyer Guggenheim famously made his start (and subsequent fortune) in Silver Mining in Leadville.
With some of the biggest and most scenic mountains in Colorado surrounding Leadville, it’s no surprise that it’s a popular destination with hikers and high-altitude runners. South of Leadville, the Top of the Rockies byway (that runs over Tennessee Pass and Independence Pass to Aspen) is a must for avid road trippers.
Accommodation Tip:
*If you’re travelling in a larger group and looking for a unique stay, try The Abbey. This 8-bedroom converted 1950s convent-turned-guesthouse is right in town and provides space for a whole host of travel buddies if needed.
*Alternatively, for solo travellers or couples, the Tiny House Leadville is a fun option.
6. Cripple Creek/Victor
Sister towns Cripple Creek and Victor are not necessarily charming small towns in the same league of those already mentioned. Instead, they are fascinating gold rush towns that while now housing small casino hotels and saloons aimed at tourists, still have a little bit of a western ghost town aura. The Cripple Creek Historic District has landmark status, and there’s plenty to check out in and around the area (if the gold rush history and ghost town vibes suit you). Many of both of the towns’ heritage buildings have been converted into hotels, bars or casinos, so there are plenty of charming interiors to explore during your stopover. Additionally, there are gold mine tours, a narrow-gauge railroad, plus plenty of interesting photo opportunities.
Accommodation Tip:
*For an historic stay, lay your head at either Carr Manor in Cripple Creek (a converted 1890s schoolhouse), or the supposedly haunted Victor Hotel (also built in the 1890s). Apparently in the bitter winter months during the gold rush, dead bodies were stored on the 4th floor of the Victor Hotel until the ground thawed out enough for them to be buried. Many of these souls are said to haunt the hotel to this day.
7. Georgetown
In the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, an hour or so west of Denver, lies Georgetown. Another historic mining location, it’s one of the few old mining towns that didn’t experience a major fire, hence much of the town’s 19th century Victorian architecture still stands. Built by Louis Dupuy, an eccentric Frenchman whose ideas and tastes were very unusual for the time and region, The Hotel de Paris (now a museum) is one of the most prominent examples of this. Walking the main town’s surrounding streets, there are many examples of quaint Victorian-era houses sitting on the edge of babbling creeks and streams. The Alpine Hose is another must-see building while checking out the historic old town.
Perched on the edge of Georgetown Lake, Cabin Creek Brewing is a must for any Georgetown visitor. The brewery serves up great pub-grub and craft beer in an outdoor terrace setting. Another great craft brewery in town is Guanella Pass Brewery. It’s dog friendly, has mountain views, and is the perfect spot to have a frosty pint after a day of outdoor adventuring.
Accommodation Tip:
*The Rose Street Bed & Breakfast is a beautiful historic house built in the 1880s. It’s walking distance to the main town, and if you’re lucky, you might see some deer roaming around the yard (as well as the friendly ghost of the original builder’s daughter).
Of course, this isn’t a definitive list. There are plenty of other beautiful locations in Colorado. Interesting and charming towns such as Durango, Creede, Manitou Springs, Silverton, Alamoosa and Ouray are all unique and storied places that should be on any keen road-tripper’s list.