Spring is known for its beautiful flower blooms and its rapids. Summer is known for its glacial lakes and wildlife sightings. Fall, however, has its changing colors and a slight decline in tourism.
Here is the list of Things To Do In Colorado Mountains This Weekend:
Rent UTVs
Renting a UTV is one of the best adrenaline-fueled experiences I have ever had. Seriously. It was a fantastic experience. I have skydived from the highest tandem in the world, and I am an adrenaline junkie all around.
It was a fantastic experience to navigate that open-air, four-wheel-drive vehicle through mountainous terrain. I reached speeds of 51 mph on a straightaway while dipping down a few times and then getting sketched out some more.
It was a time when I was afraid we would flip it. But we managed to get it back on its other wheels and back on track.
Imagine yourself going rabid down dirt roads, your helmet and goggles on your head, and holding onto the handle for dear life. UTVs (also known as Utility Side-by-side vehicles) are the equivalent of real rollercoasters. There’s no track you have to follow, and everything can happen anytime.
Whitewater Rafting
It all depends on the season you travel to Colorado (Spring/Summer/Fall), but you can choose how challenging you want your rapids to be. It’s very mountainous and snowy, so you can start with Class II rapids or go up to Class V.
Let me start by saying that I have done Class IV rapids before, and they are pretty tricky. If you are an experienced rafter and strong swimmer, I recommend Class V.
Most rafting companies closed for the season because we visited the area within the first weekend of October, a few weeks before the snow started to fall. In addition, many rafting companies close after Labor Day weekend, as the rapids are slower and the tourists who want to enjoy the cold waters in the Rockies get tired.
We still had Class II rapids that we enjoyed enough to float around on. It does matter more who you are with. It’s still amazing! It worked perfectly because we could take in the beauty around us as we floated through canyons alongside wildlife.
Colorado is a beautiful place to take in the sights and spot wildlife.
Hit the Links at a Mountainous Course of Golf
Confessed golf fan. It’s so serene and peaceful to go out on the course and be surrounded by nature for a few hours. It’s also a lot more fun to shoot 9-over than 18-over. But, I will still choose a day on the course over many other activities.
You can skip the Denver courses and go to the mountains. It will be a great decision. It has elevated tee boxes, a few hundred feet above the green, and thin mountain air with stunning views. It was one of the most beautiful golf courses I have ever played. This is a marked difference from Florida’s flat courses.
Even if you don’t play much golf, I recommend hitting the range once in a while to get in nine holes.
You will feel like a professional when you hit a driver at 300 yards. The elevation, lack of humidity, and elevated tees make it easy. Another plus is the stunning view of the mountains surrounding you. This is one of the many Colorado activities you can do anywhere, but it’s even more enjoyable in the mountains.
Hike a 14er
Nothing beats climbing a mountain in just a few hours and then taking in the 360-degree view from the summit. This is especially true if you are like me and don’t often see mountains.
Enjoy the beauty of nature on a scenic drive
You don’t have to be from a mountainous area, or you simply don’t get to experience the beauty of these mountains often enough to make it worthwhile.
Since my 2013 solo trip to Asheville, I have been a mountain-loving individual. It’s funny that I ended up in South Florida about 600 miles from any decently challenging hill or mountain. When I have the chance to drive through mountains, I grab it.
You’ll need to either drive or rent a vehicle to see the area. It’s worth it. Even if you are only in Denver, renting a car is a great way to take a scenic drive through the mountains.
Also, I recommend getting off the main highways to take rewinding roads that run through canyons, tunnels, and near scenic viewing areas.
Relax in the Natural Hot Springs
Colorado’s hot springs were a new experience for me. I managed to miss hot springs on all of my West Coast trips, except for October 2019. Oh my! I will stop at the hot springs every time I travel to Colorado.
Hot springs are created by geothermal-heated groundwater rising out of the earth’s crust, penetrating the soil, and accumulating in a natural hot tub pool at 90 to 100 degrees.
Jump from a Cliff to Ice-Cold Waters
Yes, Colorado waters are cold all year. It’s pretty hard. You can expect water temperatures between 30- and 60 degrees Fahrenheit at all locations, including lakes in the mountains or banks of rivers. This is because the last part of the hot summer is the best time to visit the area.
We were able to jump off a 20-foot-high cliff into the 40-degree, ice-cold Colorado River. The 20-foot jump was more nerve-wracking than the cold water. It was straightforward. Surprisingly, the water was quite pleasant on a sunny 70-degree day.
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