Southwest Colorado

Southwest Colorado might not be an area you have ever considered visiting before, but I am here to argue it has some of the best trails in the state and some of the cutest little Western towns!

The San Juan Mountains were the main draw for me, but there is so much to see and do in this region! There are two unique National Parks, scenic drives, and more!

I structured my trip as a loop: fly into Durango—Mesa Verde National Park—Telluride—Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park—Ridgway—Ouray—Silverton—fly out of Durango. You could also add this onto a visit to New Mexico, Arizona, or Utah as they are each super close. Though the Durango airport is small and not super convenient to get to, I would not really recommend flying in/out of Denver as it is a ~7 hour drive from this area and I-20 is notorious for traffic and delays. If you are headed to Denver though, check out my recommendations here!

If you are visiting from outside of Colorado be mindful of the elevation change—most of these spots are several thousand feet above sea level! Stay hydrated and take it slow.

Telluride 

Telluride is an adorable mountain town full of small businesses and big views. It is incredibly popular for skiing, but a summer/fall visit is amazing as well! They host a lot of events, so I would recommend checking their festival schedule before booking your trip.

• If you are heading to Telluride from the south via Highway 145, be prepared to stop at several overlooks for beautiful views! My favorites are Lizard Head Pass, Trout Lake, and Sunshine Mountain.

• Telluride is incredibly walkable, but if you are staying a bit further out or have tired legs, there is a free shuttle in town that you can hop on: The Galloping Goose.

• Be sure to hop on The Gondola, which is free! The views on the way up are amazing. Jump off at the middle station, San Sophia, for hiking trails, or head to Mountain Village for what I would deem a fancy ski village.

  • Telluride Distilling Company is located in Mountain Village with tasty, albeit pricey, cocktails.

• Brown Dog Pizza: Fantastic Detroit-style pizzas! This is a popular spot so expect a wait.

• The Coffee Cowboy: This aesthetically-pleasing coffee cart is located at the gondola. They have great coffees and breakfast burritos.

• StrongHouse Brew Pub: A solid brewery with a full food menu and nice views from outside.

• There: A fancy cocktail bar that can be quite popular, so reservations are recommended. They also have a happy hour from 4-5pm with much more reasonable pricing. The free popcorn slaps!

• Telluride Brewing Company: This brewery has two locations—a taproom on the way into town with a full food menu and chill vibes, and another spot up in Mountain Village.

• The Butcher & The Baker: A solid spot for breakfast, coffee, or cocktails later on. They have a nice patio space as well.

• Last Dollar Saloon: A dive bar with a nice rooftop view (but also you are looking at the roof of Brown Dog Pizza). A pretty spot for sunset with the mountains glowing!

• Bear Creek Falls via Bear Creek Trail: This trail is 4.5 miles long with 1,054ft of elevation gain and takes about 2 hours to complete. The trailhead is right in town making it very convenient to explore, though popular. It leads out to a pretty waterfall with a couple of nice viewpoints along the way.

• Smuggler Union Brewery: This spot is serving up average beers, a full food menu, and cocktails as well. There are pretty views from patio, and you are actually looking at Bridal Veil Falls, the highest waterfall in the state and another popular nearby hike.

Uncompahgre National Forest

• Blue Lakes Trail: This beautiful trail is 8.5 miles long with 2,574ft of elevation gain and takes about 4.5 hours to complete. It leads out to three lakes—lower, middle, and upper blue lakes. Lower Blue Lake is the prettiest by far, but it is even better when you climb the ridge behind the lake via the trail to the middle and upper lakes and can look down on the beautiful water from above. Amazing, iconic trail.

  • I would definitely recommend wearing layers as the climate changes quite a bit throughout your journey.

  • The road to the trailhead is a bit rough at times but doable. It is 1 hour and 15 minutes from both Telluride and Montrose.

  • Starting June 1, 2027 you will need a permit for day use or camping here. I found the trail to be pretty quiet, even on Labor Day weekend, but it is getting more and more popular.

San Juan National Forest

• Ice and Island Lakes Trail: This trail is 7 miles long with 2,682ft of elevation gain and takes about 4.5 hours to complete. The trail takes you to waterfalls and across meadows, and is absolutely gorgeous throughout. It can be pretty difficult at times, particularly on the final push up to the lake but it is 1000% worth it! Ice Lake is absolutely insanely pretty and probably the best alpine lake I have ever seen. This trail linked is the loop trail that also takes you to Island Lake. There is a little scramble between Ice and Island Lakes that is a bit sketchy, but doable, and Island Lake in itself is also stunning. You could also add on Fuller or Clear Lakes if desired.

  • This is the most popular trail in the area so I would highly recommend arriving early. The parking lot fills quickly, and then you can park on the side of the road, but that also gets very busy early. The trailhead is only 15 minutes from Silverton which is convenient but leads to crowds.

• Columbine Lake Trail: This trail is 6.5 miles long with 2,608ft of elevation gain and takes about 4.5 hours to complete. It is wildly steep at times, gaining 500ft of elevation in the first quarter mile alone, and overall pretty brutal, but leads out a beautiful alpine lake. The water is crystal clear and stunning in the sun.

  • The trailhead is located right off the Million Dollar Highway which is very convenient, but the short dirt road from the highway to the trailhead is quite sketchy and involves crossing a small river and navigating a steep road of loose rocks. There is no actual parking here and you need to park on the edge of the cliff, which presents another challenge in itself.

• Highland Mary Lake Trail: This trail is 5.6 miles long with 1,704ft of elevation gain and takes about 3.5 hours to complete. It leads out to three alpine lakes—small, medium, and large in that order. The lakes are not wildly impressive, but the meadows, canyons, waterfalls, and wildflowers along the way are very nice. It also is insanely quiet in this area, which is delightful. The Continental Divide Trail is here as well!

  • The road to the trailhead is quite rough. After passing through Silverton it becomes full of potholes and passable but annoying, and then at the end near the trailhead it is very sketchy.

Ouray

This cute little touristy town is full of beautiful views!

• Drive the Million Dollar Highway between Ouray and Silverton. This scenic drive is super pretty!

• Ouray Brewery: The rooftop here is fantastic for views! They have a solid food menu and average beers.

• Full Tilt Saloon: A fun little dive bar that also has food. There are nice views from their patio.

Silverton

Another adorable mountain town with Western charm. There is a train that runs between Durango and Silverton that 1) causes an influx of people at certain times of day and 2) causes most businesses to close for a siesta after the train leaves before dinner, so be sure to plan ahead.

• 'Dera Deli and Bar: This is a great spot for breakfast, lunch or a beverage. They have a nice patio space and friendly folks.

• Lacey Rose Saloon: Classic saloon vibes with a full food menu and solid drink options. 

• El Bandito: A decent stop for Mexican food.

• Off roading is really popular in this whole region and Silverton has several outfitters for rentals and tours.

Ridgway

This small town is between Ouray and Montrose, serving as a great gateway to the area if you are coming from the north.

• Stay at Chipeta Lodge Resort & Spa: They have a pretty property located right across from a park and in the heart of town. The pool and hot tubs are nice, breakfast is quite tasty, and the onsite restaurant/bar has great sunset views.

• Tacos Del Gnar: A popular spot for tacos and for good reason! Definitely recommend.

• Colorado Boy: An average brewery with locations in Ridgway and Montrose. They also have food options at both taprooms.

Durango 

Durango is a small city with Southwest vibes. You don’t need to spend a ton of time here, but the largest airport in the area is here so if you are flying in/out of the region it is worth doing a bit of exploring along the way.

• Bruin Coffee & Biscuits: This spot has delicious coffee and biscuits from a cute little trailer with a view.

• Animas River Trail: A nice walking and biking path through downtown and a few parks.

• Carver Brewing Company: Located in the heart of Main Street, this brewery has a good patio, full food menu, cocktails, and decent beers.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

This national park gives Grand Canyon vibes but on a smaller scale. You can visit the North Rim, South Rim, or both—just keep in mind it will take a couple of hours to travel between the two. The South Rim is just 20 minutes from Montrose and quite easy to explore.

• The South Rim Scenic Drive is the best way to see numerous viewpoints and it is the only road through this part of the park. Start at Tomichi Point, check out the Gunnison Point Overlook at the Visitors Center, take a short walk to Pulpit Rock, admire the rapids from Chasm View, and be sure not to miss Painted Wall.

• The park is popular for sunset views and Dark Sky gazing, so perhaps plan an evening visit if that fits your itinerary!

• There are a few short trails here as well, but they offer the same views as the overlooks.

Mesa Verde National Park

This unique national park sits about 40 minutes west of Durango. It is known for historic cliff dwellings.

• The only way to really see the cliff dwellings other than from an overlook is to book a tour through the National Park Service here. Seasonally they fill up quickly, so be sure to book in advance. Cliff Palace and Balcony House are the two most popular options.

• Drive Mesa Top Loop Road, and the NPS also has an audio tour you can listen to for context along the way.

• Visit Park Point for dramatic, scenic views!

Denver, Colorado

Denver is an amazing city full of fantastic breweries, delicious eats, amazing hotels, and unique things to do!

Denver Tips: 

• Be aware of the altitude! It's real! Stay hydrated and take things slow to avoid feeling sick, especially when you first arrive

• If you are leaving the city back-ups on I-70 can be insane—so be sure to allow for extra time. My recommendations for Rocky Mountain National Park, Aspen, Glenwood Springs, Frisco, Boulder, Colorado Springs, and Greeley can be found at the link below:

Denver Top Recommendations:

• Cohesion Brewing Company: A great brewery focused on Lagers. They have a cozy taproom in an industrial area north of RiNo. They have 5 taps and some guest beers, usually one of which is from Primitive and worth trying!

• Cerebral Brewing: This is a great brewery with 3 locations around Denver: Congress Park, Aurora Arts, and West Highland. Their Stouts and IPAs are what they do best in my opinion.

• Finn’s Manor: A great beer and cocktail bar in the heart of RiNo. They have a great tap list, chill vibes, and a killer patio space.

• New Image Brewing: New Image has two taprooms in the Denver suburbs: Arvada and Wheat Ridge. This is a top-notch brewery that I highly recommend. At Wheat Ridge their onsite food truck Social Dough Pizza is ridiculously good as well!

• The River North (RiNo) neighborhood is full of art and breweries, what more do you need? 

  • Bierstadt Lagerhaus: This is the Mecca of Lager beers. Get a Slow Pour Pils and Giant Ass Pretzel and don’t look back

  • Our Mutual Friend Brewing: Lots of fantastic IPAs in particular. They also have rotating food trucks and an outside patio

  • Ratio Beerworks: Fantastic outdoor space with cornhole and a patio. They have a wide variety of beers and it’s an overall fun & funky spot

  • Odell Brewing: Another solid option in the RiNo neighborhood with a variety of beers

  • Central Market is a great food hall in the heart of the RiNo neighborhood

• Stay at The Maven Hotel: This incredible hotel is located at the Dairy Block in downtown Denver right across from Coors Field. The rooms and balcony views are fantastic, and the unique setup of this area takes things to the next level! There are a ton of shops, restaurants and bars all housed within this block. My favorites:

  • Westbound & Down: A great brewery right behind the hotel

  • Kachina Restaurant: Delicious Mexican eats in the hotel lobby

  • Seven Grand: A cool whiskey bar that partners with the hotel for a very informative tasting 

  • Huckleberry Roasters: A cute coffee shop in the lobby—they also have a couple other locations around town as well.

  • The Dairy Block Food Hall has a ton of options right in the lobby as well!

• Milieu Fermentation: A great brewery with a large tap list in Aurora. Definitely recommend!

• Rosenberg Bagels: Incredible spot for bagels, highly recommend!

• Voodoo Donuts: Creative and crazy donuts that are incredibly delicious!

• Knotted Root Brewing Company: A solid brewery with locations in Nederland and Denver. Their beers used to be extremely good and have become a little more average with time and expansion, but it is still worth checking out. Pro-tip if you are heading to the Brainard Lake Recreation Area for a hike or to hang at the lake the Nederland taproom is right down the road.

• Check out Red Rocks Park & Amphitheater: The amphitheater is touristy but worth checking out! They do concerts, yoga, and numerous activities in this space. Catching a concert here is amazing!

  • I would definitely recommend hiking in the park if you’re not visiting for a concert. I did a 4.3 mile trail that had diverse landscape and wasn’t too challenging.

  • Fairfield Inn Lakewood is a perfectly average hotel stay near Red Rocks

• Novel Strand Brewing Company: A solid brewery and coffee shop in South Denver. Great neighborhood-y vibes.

• Denver Biscuit Company: A phenomenal, albeit touristy, spot for breakfast! The biscuits are massive, flaky, soft, and amazing.

• Monolith Brewing: A solid brewery in a beautiful space with games, snacks, and a brewery dog!

• Middle State Coffee: This coffee shop has several locations in the Denver area and is great! The Highlands neighborhood spot is cute.

• Wanderment Brewing: A solid brewery with a good variety of styles. Their focus is on Saisons which I found to be tasty, but did not love their IPA.

• Explore the Littleton neighborhood: This is a cute little downtown area perfect for bopping around. My two favorite spots:

  • Jake’s Brew Bar: An awesome beer bar and beer garden with a stellar beer list. Highly recommend!

  • Cencalli Taqueria: A tasty spot for Mexican eats.

Balcony view from The Maven Hotel

Great Hikes Near Denver:

• Mount Flora Trail: This trail is 6.3 miles long with 1,788ft of elevation gain and takes about 3.5 hours to complete. There are nice views throughout the trail, and you can also add on different segments to make the trail longer if you’d like. It is a 13er with a very exposed trail so expect quite a bit of wind at times. Mount Flora is in the Arapaho National Forest and just one hour from Denver so it is a popular trail.

• Lake Isabelle via Pawnee Pass Trail: This trail is 6.6 miles long with 672ft of elevation gain and takes a little over two hours to complete. It is pretty with three lakes: Brainard, Long, and Isabelle with mountain views throughout. The trail is mostly flat aside from one section at the end. You will need to reserve parking ahead of time for the Brainard Lake Recreation Area.

• Herman Gulch Trail: This trail is 6.5 miles long with 1,755ft of elevation gain and takes about 3.5 hours to complete. It leads out to a chill lake and is a nice trail overall. It is in the Arapaho National Forest just an hour from Denver and right off I-70 so it is very popular.

See the rest of my Colorado recommendations here—there are great hikes all over the state!

Mount Flora Summit

Other Denver Ideas:

• Crooked Stave: Their Denver taproom is small but they still have a variety of beers to choose from and a huge bottle selection.

• Check out the famous giant blue bear at the Convention Center!

• Bardo Coffeehouse: A great coffee spot option with three locations across the area.

• Hyatt Regency Aurora Denver Conference Center: This is quite a nice stay close to several breweries in Aurora and not far from the airport.

• Spangalang Brewery: A microbrewery in the Five Points neighborhood with yummy beers and a patio.

• Wynkoop Brewing: More of a brewpub, Wynkoop is a hot spot for lunch during the work week, being located right downtown. 

• Check out a bottle shop! Argonaut Wine & Liquor is a great option.

• Illegal Pete’s: A great spot for burritos, nachos, and tacos!

• Reverence Brewing: An average brewery with quintessential “neighborhood brewery” vibes.

• Skip: The Hampton Inn Downtown. The rooms were incredibly hot, the elevators broken, and overall it was not impressive.

• Skip: Great Divide Brewing: Mediocre brewery with rude staff would not recommend.

Colorado

colorado is a gorgeous state with amazing SCENERY and some of the best breweries in the countrY!

Colorado Tips: 

• Be aware of the altitude! It's real! Stay hydrated and take things slow to avoid feeling sick, especially when you first arrive

• I-70 is notorious for back-ups and slow downs. Plan for extra time if you’re going somewhere that includes this route, which is most places in Colorado.

Below are my recommendations for Rocky Mountain National Park, Aspen, Glenwood Springs, Frisco, Boulder, Colorado Springs, and Greeley.

Rocky Mountain National Park:

RMNP! I feel like this park gets a bad rap for being crowded, but I really enjoyed my time here. There are stunning views and a lot of wildlife. I saw moose, elk, and deer during my visit and I would recommend keeping your head on a swivel at all times.

The park also has a system for peak season entrance. You will need Timed Entry reservations and Bear Lake Road access permits if you are visiting essentially from May to October, depending on the year. Find the information on that system here.

Estes Park is right at the park entrance and makes for a great base for your adventure. The views from the town are great as well. It is of course a touristy area but it is still cute and has plenty of things to do. Grand Lake is also a cute town at the opposite end of the park but it is much further from trailheads. It makes for a great place to stop on your way into the park if you are traveling from that direction with lots of restaurants and of course the pretty lake.

• Sky Pond Lakes Combo Trail: I hiked the Sky Pond, The Loch, and Timberline Falls via Glacier Gorge Loop Trail but also added on a detour to Emerald Lake. Overall this was 12.8 miles with 2,602ft of elevation gain and took about 7 hours with stops at each lake along the way. It will take you to Bear Lake, Nymph Lake, Dream Lake, Emerald Lake, Lake Haiyaha, The Loch, Sky Pond, and Alberta Falls. You can do any number of versions of this trail—most folks just explore the lakes closer to the trailhead such as the Four Lake Loop Trail.

  • No matter what you decide I would say my favorites of all the stops were Dream Lake, The Loch, and Sky Pond. At The Loch be sure to go all the way out to the edge for the best view. I would also recommend starting early no matter your destination before it gets crowded, the parking lot fills up, and afternoon storms roll in.

  • I would probably skip Lake Haiyaha if it’s not already on your chosen path—you climb across boulders to get to the lake and it is not as nice/reflective as the others.

  • Climbing to Sky Pond is no joke—it is incredibly steep the last half mile until then you reach a waterfall that you need to physically climb up and then continue to hike further after that. Overall this combo trail’s elevation is really not bad, but that last push to Sky Pond is a doozie.

• Drive the scenic Trail Ridge Road: This road takes you from Grand Lake to Estes Park, or vice-versa, with beautiful views along the way. It climbs all the way up to 12,183ft of elevation! Some points of interest along the way:

  • Rainbow Curve Overlook 

  • Many Parks Overlook

  • Alpine Visitor Center and the Alpine Ridge Trail trail is here as well

  • Ute Trail: You can walk as far or as short as you’d like here

• Bierstadt Lake Trail: This trail is 3.1 miles long with 620ft of elevation gain and takes about an hour and a half to complete. It can be pretty steep at times, but it’s not too bad overall. I would highly recommend this trail at sunrise for a beautiful glow on the surrounding mountains and a pretty reflection on the lake. There is a little bit of road noise because you are hiking right off Bear Lake Road, but it’s not bad. The parking lot is small, but you can also take the shuttle to this trail or you can hike to Bierstadt Lake from Bear Lake as well.

• Stay at Colorado Cottages: There are a ton of lodging options in Estes Park, but I found these cottages to be affordable, though basic, but nice enough, and only three minutes from the park gate.

• The Barrel: This beer bar has 64 taps in the summer months and great vibes. They also have cocktails and a rotating onsite food truck. Highly recommend!

• Full Throttle Distillery & Grill: A solid spot with a large tap list, cocktails made with their own liquor, and a barbeque focused food menu. They have a nice covered patio space and are located right next to The Barrel.  

• Avant Garde Aleworks: An average brewery with a small tap list and a nice patio.

ASPEN:

Aspen is a super boujie town where everything is a little over the top but it’s in a beautiful setting.

Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness:

• Buckskin Pass Trail + Crater Lake Trail: This combo trail is 11.3 miles long with 2,956ft of elevation gain and takes about 6 hours to complete. It starts at Maroon Lake, which is gorgeous. Most folks just head to Crater Lake from here which is about an hour out from the trailhead. This lake is pretty, though small and popular. The Buckskin Pass section of the trail is an absolute grind, but the views are remarkable throughout.

  • You will need to book either a shuttle from Aspen highlands in advance or a parking reservation for the small trailhead lot. The shuttle and parking at Aspen highlands is wildly expensive, so I would definitely try to get a parking reservation for the trailhead area.

• Cathedral Lake Trail: This trail is 6.4 miles long with 2,060ft of elevation gain and takes just over 3.5 hours to complete. The trail is rated hard and is pretty tough at a few points, but not the entire way up. The lake itself is quite pretty and this is a nice trail—particularly because it is a bit further from town preventing too many folks from being there. The parking lot at the trailhead is quite small so I would recommend arriving early to secure a spot, and be aware the last half mile of the road to the parking area frankly sucks, but I made it in my little rental car.

Downtown Aspen:

• Clark's Oyster Bar: A cute little spot that is a bit pricey, but very good.

• Stanahan's Whiskey Lounge: I enjoyed a delicious Old Fashioned on the patio here. They also have a small food menu.

• Aspen Brewing Company: This brewery is owned by Westbound & Down, so half of the tap list is specific to Aspen and half is W&B brews. They have a nice patio space and a pizza-focused food menu.

Snowmass:

I stayed in Snowmass and it sucked. 0/10 recommendation on this area. I chose it because it was far more affordable than Aspen but I should’ve spent a little more for a better experience.

• Wienerstube: This German-style beer bar has a nice patio space and chill vibes. Unfortunately the drafts were broken during my visit so I left.

• New Belgium Ranger Station: Half the reason I booked the condo that I did was because New Belgium had a tap room in Snowmass, but unfortunately they decided to not open during their posted hours so I was not able to visit.

• Skip Venga Venga: I had high hopes for this Mexican restaurant with a view, but my food was served ice cold and the service was absolutely terrible.

Glenwood Springs:

The Glenwood Canyon area is very cool with drastic views, and this leads to the cute little old school western-style town of Glenwood Springs.

Downtown parking can be a little tough during popular times, but it is small enough that once you park once you can walk everywhere from there.

• Casey Brewing and Blending: This stellar brewery is one of the top in the world. 12/10 recommend a visit to their taproom in the heart of Glenwood Springs! They have a large tap list alongside cans and bottles as well. Their team is incredibly nice and the beers are wildly good.

• Hanging Lake Trail: This trail is 3 miles long with 1,062ft of elevation gain and takes about two hours to complete. It is a brutally steep climb at times over manmade rock steps. The trail leads to an incredibly unique blue-green lake with waterfalls that is gorgeous. There are nice benches up top to enjoy the view as well. The trailhead is just 10 minutes from town.

• Heads up you need to make a reservation in advance to access this area, so though this is a popular hike it is not crowded thanks to this system. Make sure to also be flash flood aware, they are common here and you can see the evidence of destruction along the trail.

• Woody Creek Distillers: This distillery and bar in Basalt is worth going out of the way for. Their cocktails are delicious and their taproom is cute. Fun fact, William H. Macy is an investor and a spokesman for the distillery and has a house nearby so he frequents the bar!

• Slope & Hatch: A cute little spot with tasty tacos. Pro-tip: Grab some to-go food from here and walk over to Casey to enjoy!

• Cooper Wine & Spirits: A great can/bottle shop in town. Their selection is insane! I just wish they had more single cans available instead of having to commit to 4-packs.

FRISCO:

Frisco is just over an hour from Denver and definitely worth an adventure to!

• Outer Range Brewing Co.: A great brewery focused on IPAs. The brewery has amazing mountain views from the taproom as well. There’s also a coffee shop and a “Thai-ish” fried chicken restaurant in the building that has absolutely delicious food.

• Hike! The Frisco area is absolutely gorgeous. I did a moderate 3.4 mile hike to a small lake that was right near downtown and had amazing views!

• Cabin Creek Brewing: Located in Georgetown, Cabin Creek is the perfect stop on your way back to Denver. It is right off of I-70 making it super convenient! Cabin Creek has a full food menu with delicious pizzas and is located right on the lake surrounded by mountains! I would just add that if they are busy the wait times can be obscene, so beware.

BOULDer:

Boulder is only about 30 minutes outside of Denver and well worth a visit! 

Boulder is definitely a college town so be aware of football games and other big events that could hinder your transportation/plans

• Wild Provisions from 4 Noses Brewing: A great brewery with top-notch Lagers and Wild Ales. The vibes in their taproom and on the patio are fun.

• Avery Brewing: Average beers in a large facility with an extensive tap list.

• Mountain Sun Brewing: They have a cute little outdoor space and delicious food! 

Fort Collins:

Fort Collins a cute college town with quite a few breweries. I stopped by 3:

• Verboten Brewing & Barrel Project: A great brewery with locations in Fort Collins and Loveland. They have top-notch beers, Detroit-style pizzas, and incredible service.

• Hello Brew Co: This brewery is adorable in a converted house space. Their taproom is mainly IPAs and Lagers and their beers are quite good!

• Peculiar Ales: An average brewery with taprooms in Fort Collins and Windsor. They also have a small food menu.

COLORADO SPRINGS:

Colorado Springs is not my favorite area. I mainly visited to check out Garden of the Gods, and would not recommend spending much time here personally. A day trip from Denver would have been a better choice than spending a couple of days here.

• Explore Garden of the Gods: I hiked the Palmer, Cabin Canyon, Strausenbach, and Central Gardens Trail Loop trail which is 4.3 miles long with 610ft of elevation gain. The front section of the park has the best views but also can be wildly busy with people. I would recommend arriving early for that morning glow effect on the rocks and to beat the crowds.

• Coaltrain Fine Wine, Craft Beer & Spirits: This bottle shop has an absolutely incredible selection. Highly recommend for snagging cans/bottles!

• Cerberus Brewing: A solid brewery with a full food menu and a nice patio space.

  • They also have Seven Gates Taproom directly across the street with a handful of their beers and numerous guest taps.

• Mount Cutler Trail: This hike is short and sweet at 1.9 miles long with 492ft of elevation gain. It is just 10 minutes from town located in North Cheyenne Cañon Park. The views are nice, and you can also spot the nearby Seven Falls from here. It is nothing special per say but served my purpose well of getting in a quick hike on my way into town. This park has lots of trails and is pretty overall.

• Urban Animal Brewery: A brewery option downtown with average beers.

• Pike’s Peak is another popular option in the area that you can drive up, hike up, or take a shuttle up to the summit for scenic views. Be sure to make reservations in advance. It seemed just a little too touristy and a little too inconvenient to me.

Greeley:

Greeley, Colorado is not a “must-visit” city by any means, but if you are reading this you are probably a beer nerd wanting to visit WeldWerks. That is also what brought me to this smelly, industrial city.

• WeldWerks Brewing Co: Is an awesome brewery with a great patio space, a tasty food menu, and a massive tap list. I really enjoyed getting to taste their taproom-only brews and soaking in the vibes on the patio.

• Stay at the DoubleTree Greeley: This is a nice, new hotel overlooking Lincoln Park and is conveniently a 5 minute walk to WeldWerks.

• Wiley Roots Brewing Company is also in Greeley and I had planned to visit, but the walk from WeldWerks to Wiley Roots looked a little sketchier than I wanted to do at night, and their tap list did not look very exciting so I was not too disappointed.