o d a r o ol
GetAways
Beautiful
a special supplement of
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2016 Colorado Rockies
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olorado GetAways 2016
ABOUT THIS SECTION Colorado is known across the world as a winter-weather destination. Snow and skiing are what bring scores of visitors to the Centennial State each year. But as anyone who has spent a few seasons here knows, the summer is pretty special, too. And we’re almost there. So now what? Plan a getaway, if just for a day. No need to leave the state. Plenty of fun, festive and funky adventures await within Colorado’s borders. Experience the old West at towns you hadn’t heard of. Celebrate and sample corn and chicken at separate events. Hop in a hot air balloon. Watch a cowboy get tossed from a giant bull. In this section, we’ll tell you a little about those sites and events, as well as many more. They may take you off the beaten path, but you can still make it home in time for dinner or spend a night and head home the next morning. We’ve left out more than we’ve included, of course. We don’t have enough pages and you don’t have enough time for it all. But summer will be back next year. — Chris Rotar
Places to go Leadville WHERE IS IT? Take I-70 west to Copper Mountain, and head south on State Road 91 — about 2 hours and 100 miles west of Denver. NEED TO KNOW: The Wild West is still alive in Leadville, where legends like Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp once roamed the streets. Experience the romance and tragedy of Baby Doe Tabor’s life at the Matchless Mine ($10), stop for a drink at the Silver Dollar Saloon, and don’t miss the unforgettable National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum ($12). Lodging and camping abound. FUN FACT: Oscar Wilde patronized the Silver Dollar Saloon in 1882, and reported, “Over the piano was printed a notice: PLEASE DO NOT SHOOT THE PIANIST. HE IS DOING HIS BEST.” MORE INFORMATION: leadville.com
Never Summer Nordic Yurts WHERE IS IT? Never Summer Nordic’s collection of yurts are scattered throughout State Forest State
Leadville is a destination of choice for those who want to experience a slice of the old West. Photo by Kevin Swinicki / Shutterstock.com Park, just over Cameron Pass at the west end of Poudre Canyon on State Road 14, about 2 hours west of Fort Collins, overall about 3 hours and 150 miles from Denver. NEED TO KNOW: Never Summer operates 10 yurts and cabins nestled
among the alpine splendor of north-central Colorado, where moose stroll through wildflower-dappled meadows beneath snowcapped peaks. The yurts are primitive, with no electricity or running water, but equipped with bunk beds, propane stoves and lanterns, and fully stocked
woodsheds. Prices start at $85 a night. FUN FACT: Many of the peaks in the adjacent Never Summer Mountains are named after cloud types, such as Mount Cumulus and Mount Cirrus. MORE INFORMATION: neversummernordic.com
Have fun all summer long at this 750-acre nature preserve and historical homestead!
BUTTERFLIES AT CHATFIELD | Opens May 28 Encounter a variety of native Colorado butterflies.
LAVENDER FESTIVAL | July 16
Experience over 800 lavender plants in peak bloom, artisans, live music, food and drink vendors, and kids’ activities. Free admission!
CHRIS ISAAK IN CONCERT | August 4
This popular entertainer returns for the Summer Concert Series. Tickets at concerts.botanicgardens.org
www.botanicgardens.org C-470 & Wadsworth Blvd.
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Places to go Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad WHERE IS IT? The Colorado end of the trip, which descends to the town of Chama, New Mexico, begins in the little town of Antonito, southwest of Alamosa in the San Luis Valley, about 4 hours and 250 miles southwest of Denver on U.S. Highway 285. NEED TO KNOW: A cousin to the better-known Durango & Silverton train, the steampowered, narrow gauge railroad winds 64 miles through conifer and aspen forests, mountain meadows, and along rocky ledges and cliffs. The train traverses 10,015-foot Cumbres Pass. Lunch is provided at the halfway point in Osier. A variety of schedules are available, and tickets range from $95 to $185. FUN FACT: The Cumbres & Toltec was used in the opening sequence of the film “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.” MORE INFORMATION: cumbrestoltec.com
Bent’s Old Fort WHERE IS IT? 35110 State Highway 194, halfway between La Junta and Las Animas, 3
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad winds through conifer and aspen forests, mountain meadows, and along rocky ledges and cliffs. Photo by Joseph Sohm / Shutterstock. com
hours and 180 miles southeast of Denver NEED TO KNOW: Bent’s Old Fort was a colossal trading post on the Santa Fe Trail, and hosted legions of important figures in Old West history. The meticulously rebuilt fort along the bucolic Arkansas River features a working blacksmith shop, living history demonstrations, and a bevy of enthusiastic re-enactors. Kids will love the cannons and
strolling the parapets. FUN FACT: Weary travelers traversing the perilous plains in the early 1800s marveled at the fort’s opulence, including a rec room that featured a massive billiards table. MORE INFORMATION: www. nps.gov/beol
Bishop’s Castle WHERE IS IT? 12705 State
Highway 165, Rye, 3 hours and 160 miles south of Denver, southwest of Pueblo NEED TO KNOW: Jim Bishop has been working on his hand-built stone castle since 1969, now topped with numerous towers of staggering height. Always open and always free, visitors can climb the lofty, handrailfree pinnacles at their own risk — this isn’t Disneyland.
Somewhere between whimsical and grotesque, the castle is crowned with a hand-made fire-breathing dragon’s head. Bishop himself is often on hand, but parents beware, he’s pretty rough around the edges. FUN FACT: Bishop claims the castle won’t be finished until the day he doesn’t wake up again. MORE INFORMATION: bishopcastle.org
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Places to go Visitors won’t be surprised that Georgetown was a significant player in Colorado’s gold rush of 1859. Photo by Arina P. Habich / Shutterstock. com
Georgetown So Close to Home.
So Far from Your Expectations. With backdrops of towering peaks, crystalclear lakes, and the unspoiled beauty of Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand County is quintessential Colorado. But then again, there’s no need for understatements.
WHERE IS IT? 45 minutes west of Denver on I-70 NEED TO KNOW: Though often overlooked by I-70 weekend warriors making their way to the more ritzy towns farther west, the plucky little mining town of Georgetown offers a quick and easy getaway. Surprises abound in the quirky shops on Sixth Street, including the charming Georgetown Rock Shop. Stop at the Happy Cooker for the best bagels and lox you’ll find this side of New York. Traverse stunning Guanella Pass for an epic drive home. FUN FACT: Georgetown was among the first and most significant towns of Colorado’s earliest gold rush in 1859. MORE INFORMATION: georgetowncolorado.org
Trail of the Ancients
Summer Signature Events Hot Sulphur Days
Kremmling Days
June 10-12 | Hot Sulphur Springs
June 17-19 | Kremmling
Ride the Rockies
14th Annual Blues from the Top
June 15 | Grand Lake
Granby Rodeo at Flying Heels Arena
June 4, 11, 18, 25 | Granby
June 26 | Winter Park
Don’t Just Explore Colorado. Go Grand. VisitGrandCounty.com
(800) 247-2636
Download our mobile app at
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GRANBY • GRAND LAKE • HOT SULPHUR SPRINGS • KREMMLING • WINTER PARK/FRASER
WHERE IS IT? The Trail of the Ancients Scenic Byway encompasses a massive area in the Four Corners area, but Colhorado’s most interesting stretch begins in Cortez, stretching northwest along U.S. Highway 491, and turning west on Montezuma County Road CC and southwest on County Road 10 at Lowry Pueblo. NEED TO KNOW: While the magnificent cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde National Park are well-known, the lonely scrublands to the northwest yield mysterious ruins of their own. Start your journey at the lovely Anasazi Heritage Center in Dolores ($3 for adults, kids free). Continue northwest to the crumbling castle of Lowry Pueblo. Turn southwest toward Hovenweep
and Canyons of the Ancients national monuments, where ruins and petroglyphs abound. Intrepid hikers will be rewarded. Don’t forget the snakebite kit. FUN FACT: More people lived in the Four Corners region a thousand years ago than do today. MORE INFORMATION: trailoftheancients.com
Picketwire Canyonlands WHERE IS IT? Drive south of La Junta on State Road 109 for 13 miles, then west on Otero County Road 802 for 8 miles. Turn left on County Road 25 and go south 6 miles to the Picketwire Corrals. High-clearance vehicles can continue 3 miles east to a trailhead descending into the canyon (though a surprising number of small cars make the final leg). NEED TO KNOW: The Picketwire Canyonlands are a shocking affront to the image of Colorado’s east as flat and boring. A several-mile hike along the canyon floor takes visitors past sublime geology, ruins, petroglyphs and the longest dinosaur tracksite in North America. Spectacular (and free) campsites line the mesa top, though camping is off-limits on the canyon bottom. FUN FACT: The name Picketwire is an Anglicization of the river’s original name, “Rio de las Animas Perdidas en Purgatorio,” or the “River of the Lost Souls in Purgatory,” so named for a legendary Spanish expedition rumored to have been massacred here. MORE INFORMATION: exploresoutheastcolorado.com/ picketwire.htm
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Places to go
The ghost town of St. Elmo will conjure images of days gone by for those who visit. Photo by Ian Barnes / Shutterstock photo
St. Elmo WHERE IS IT? Southwest of Buena Vista on Chaffee County Road 162, 3 hours and 140 miles southwest of Denver off U.S. Highway 24 NEED TO KNOW: Among Colorado’s most picturesque ghost towns, St. Elmo’s diminutive main street is home to a variety of quaint old structures, notably the still-bustling St. Elmo General Store, replete with funky antiques. Rustic cabins are for Highlands Ranch
rent (starting at $79). A log bench across the dirt street swarms with playful chipmunks eager to eat food out of visitors’ palms. Tourists with beefy vehicles can head in all directions into unparalleled high-country adventure. FUN FACT: Originally called Forest City, the Post Office demanded the town change its name because too many others already bore the same name, so one of St. Elmo’s founders renamed the town after a novel he was reading. MORE INFORMATION: st-elmo.com
Manitou Penny Arcade WHERE IS IT? 900 Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs, 1½ hours and 75 miles south of Denver off U.S. Highway 24 NEED TO KNOW: The Penny Arcade’s collection of classic arcade games may inspire a rush of nostalgia from the baby boomer and Gen-X sets, with a variety of classics like Ms. Pac-Man and Galaga, but
the arcade’s real gems are the predigital games — a litany of pinball machines, but also sharpshooters, mechanical horse racing and rare full-length Skee-Ball lanes. FUN FACT: The arcade’s irreplaceable vintage machines survived a flood that swept through the town in August 2013. MORE INFORMATION: www.facebook.com/ manitouspringspennyarcade/
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Places to go Rifle Falls
Rifle Falls is a spot to try for those looking for a taste of the tropics in the Western Slope. Photo by Paul Gana / Shutterstock.com
WHERE IS IT? Northwest of the town of New Castle, 3½ hours and 180 miles west of Denver off I-70 NEED TO KNOW: Rifle Falls, a glorious triple waterfall cascading down limestone cliffs, feels like a lush tropical oasis amid the high desert of the Western Slope. The cliffs are riddled with caves, including a famous 90-foot-deep alcove behind the falls. Daily passes are $7, and campsites start at $20. Try to visit on a weekday to beat the crowds. FUN FACT: Rifle Creek, which lends its name to the falls and the nearby town of Rifle, is rumored to be named for a gun left behind by a fur trapper since lost to history. MORE INFORMATION: cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/ RifleFalls — Compiled by David Gilbert
“ Family Owned, Family Run
Rifle Creek, which lends its name to the falls and the nearby town of Rifle, is rumored to be named for a gun left behind by a fur trapper since lost to history.
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What’s happening
Bull riding is among the events at the Greeley Stampede, which takes place June 23 through July 4. Photo by Lincoln Rogers / Shutterstock.com
MORE INFORMATION: Mike the miketheheadlesschicken.org Headless Chicken Festival FIBArk
WHEN: June 16-19 COST: Free MORE INFORMATION: fibark.com
ABOUT: Fruita’s most famous resident was Mike, a chicken who lived 18 months after his decapitation. The town honors the ghoulish sideshow attraction with a festival in his honor, featuring the “Run Like a Headless Chicken” 5K race, chicken-eating contests and a car show. It’s a no-brainer. WHERE: Fruita, 4 hours and 250 miles west of Denver on I-70 WHEN: June 3-4 COST: Free
Greeley Stampede
ABOUT: Salida’s signature summer event is a celebration of the rollicking Arkansas River that blasts through town. Events include a variety of river races, including the Hooligan Race, in which participants barrel along in anything other than a boat, and the Freestyle Kayak event, where kayakers show off their stunt skills. WHERE: Downtown Salida, 3 hours and 142 miles southwest of Denver via U.S. Highway 285 and State Road 291
ABOUT: Up-and-coming Greeley hosts the annual Stampede, a rootin’ tootin’ high-summer blowout featuring professional and kids rodeos, bull riding, “American bullfighting,” chuckwagon cooking demonstrations, a demolition derby and a rockin’ lineup of concerts including Lady Antebellum and Vince Neil
of Mötley Crüe. WHERE: Island Grove Regional Park, 600 N 14th Ave., Greeley, 1 hour and 60 miles north of Denver on U.S. Highway 85 WHEN: June 23-July 4 COST: Adults are $5, with concerts and events extra MORE INFORMATION: greeleystampede.org
Donkey Derby Days ABOUT: The always funloving town of Cripple Creek kicks its giddy mayhem into high gear for Donkey Derby Days,
featuring a race down Bennett Avenue by the town’s resident donkey herd, thought to be descended from the original herd present during the gold rush. Other events include concerts, gold mine tours and a dog show. WHERE: Cripple Creek, 2½ hours and 115 miles southwest of Denver via I-25, U.S. Highway 24 and State Road 67, on the other side of Pikes Peak from Colorado Springs WHEN: June 25-26 COST: Free MORE INFORMATION: visitcripplecreek.com/ events/donkey-derby-daysjune-25-26-2016
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What’s happening Balloons full of hot air will rise above Steamboat Springs on July 9 and 10. Shutterstock photo
Hot Air Balloon Rodeo ABOUT: The quiet mountain air around Steamboat Springs is broken in July by the blast of propane burners, as the sky fills with hot air balloons. Rodeo events include balloon pilots dipping their baskets in Bald Eagle Lake. Nearby West Lincoln Park hosts a concurrent art festival, and the days wind down with guitar and piano concerts. WHERE: Bald Eagle Lake, 35565 South Highway 40, Steamboat Springs, 3 hours and 150 miles northwest of Denver on U.S. Highway 40 WHEN: July 9-10 COST: Free MORE INFORMATION: hotairballoonrodeo.com
Glenn Miller Swingfest ABOUT: Fort Morgan, the sleepy town on the shady South Platte River, honors hometown hero and big band leader Glenn Miller with its annual swing festival, featuring swing dancing to the World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra and several more bands. Other events include a fly-in at the
airport, a tour of the Miller family plot in the city’s cemetery and a screening of “The Glenn Miller Story” starring Jimmy Stewart. WHERE: City Park, Fort Morgan, 1¼ hours and 80 miles from Denver on I-76 WHEN: July 28-30 COST: Free MORE INFORMATION: glennmillerswingfest.com
RockyGrass ABOUT: Nestled beneath the red rock cliffs of the St. Vrain River, RockyGrass is a whirlwind of the biggest names in bluegrass. This year’s lineup includes the Sam Bush Bluegrass Band, Steep Canyon Rangers, Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn. Originally founded by bluegrass icon Bill Monroe, RockyGrass has become a symbol of Lyons’ resiliency after the devastating flood of 2013. WHERE: Lyons, 1 hour and 45 miles northwest of Denver on U.S. Highway 36 WHEN: July 29-31 COST: Tickets start at $65, but often sell out far in advance. Hurry, or start perusing StubHub. MORE INFORMATION: bluegrass. com/rockygrass
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Olathe Sweet Corn Festival ABOUT: The world’s sweetest corn comes from the fields around the little town of Olathe, and every year the Western Slope turns out to celebrate. Corn-eating contests and concerts abound. Though this year’s schedule is yet to be finalized, previous years have hosted Wynonna Judd, LeAnn Rimes and Styx. Keep your ear out. WHERE: Olathe, 5 hours and 280 miles southwest of Denver via I-70 and U.S. Highway 50 WHEN: Aug. 6 COST: Adults $10, children under 12 are $5, family pack (2 adults 2 kids) $30 MORE INFORMATION: olathesweetcornfest.com
Palisade Peach Festival ABOUT: The lush orchards along the Colorado River beneath the harsh desert surrounding Palisade are the backdrop of this festival for those who enjoy goin’ to the country to eat a lot of peaches. The festival features recipe contests, orchard tours, peach eating contests and the annual election of the Town Grouch. Local wineries’ products make this event
just peachy. WHERE: Palisade, 4 hours and 230 miles west of Denver on I-70 WHEN: Aug. 19-20 COST: Free MORE INFORMATION: palisadepeachfest.com
Colorado State Fair ABOUT: No list of Colorado summer events would be complete without the Colorado State Fair, the grande dame of the Centennial State’s old-fashioned festivities. This year’s concert lineup is a who’s who of exactly the sort of bands you’d expect at a state fair, including Foreigner, Travis Tritt and Huey Lewis & The News. Highlights include exhibition halls filled with prize pigs and calves, and surprisingly engrossing scores of 4-H projects. Oh, and one heck of a monster truck show. WHERE: Colorado State Fair Events Center, 1001 Beulah Ave, Pueblo, 2 hours and 115 miles south of Denver on I-25 WHEN: Aug. 26-Sept. 5 COST: Admission starts at $7, with numerous ride packages available. MORE INFORMATION: coloradostatefair.com — Compiled by David Gilbert