6 Active Outdoor Colorado Adventures You Need To Try

Colorado’s most popular cities offer beautiful scenic views, amazing wildlife, vibrant nature and unforgettable memories. Between Boulder, Breckenridge, Colorado Springs and Denver, you can explore for years and still have more to do.

Since you’re only going to Colorado to visit for a short time, you want to make sure that you make the most of it. If you don’t feel like packing all of your gear, REI can rent you most of it. They have a flagship store in Denver at 1416 Platte St and have stores in the other cities as well.

How can you possibly choose between horseback riding along the peaks, hiking the major mountains and soaking in the geothermal hot springs?

I’m here to tell you the top things you should do when in Colorado. Pack your hiking boots, lip balm, sunscreen and plenty of layers to explore the outdoor enthusiast’s dream state. You may even encounter some endangered wildlife species along the way.

In this post, I’ll take you through the most amazing Colorado adventures for your next trip.

Take A Zip Line Tour

If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush, check out the best zip line adventures.

You’ll get the same feeling that you get when riding your favorite roller coaster. The biggest difference is that you’ll get to experience the state’s most incredible features, scenery and wildlife at the same time.

Take in the beautiful view of historic Manitou Springs from up above.

Colo-Rad Zip-line offers incredible, one-of-a-kind zip line experiences. It takes you above tree line where you can see cliffs, forests and not to mention hikers down below.

Explore the canyon in the most unique way possible for a total of 2 hours. This is one of the best, most unforgettable adventures in Colorado.

Hike In Rocky Mountain National Park

Hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park is another unbelievable Colorado adventure.

Just 40 miles from Boulder and 70 miles from Denver, Rocky Mountain National Park is just waiting for you to explore it.

Don’t feel like hiking yet? Do you want to prevent altitude sickness in Colorado by holding off on exercising? Try out the Green Jeep tour where experts take you through all of the park’s most wondrous spots.

Hikers traveling with families should try the Nymph Lake 1.2 mile out-and-back trail. You’ll find plenty of other families with small children and playful dogs all enjoying the gorgeous views.

For a bit more of a challenge, continue on to Dream Lake from Nymph Lake. Keep hiking until you find the beautiful site of Emerald Lake.

From there, you’ll see an amazing view of Tyndall Glacier, one of Rocky Mountain’s five active glaciers. Take in the extraordinary view and keep your eye out for hikers making their way to the top.

This is one of the best family adventures in Colorado. Don’t miss it during your trip.

Go Whitewater Rafting

Another unbelievable experience for adventurers traveling to Colorado is whitewater rafting.

This is yet another adrenaline rush of an activity to experience during your next trip. It’s perfect if you’re staying in Denver because it’s just 30 minutes outside of the well-known city.

Find the ultimate whitewater rafting experience in Idaho Springs’s Clear Creek River. While rafting through the river, you’ll see more historical locations.

Plus, you can see what was once the world’s most profitable mine: the Argo gold mine.

If you are not traveling with young kids, you can take your experience up a notch with a more intense rafting route.

Take the Upper Clear Creek route to run Upper Dumont to Satellite. This option is absolutely great for travelers who want to get their blood pumping as it offers the most thrilling, incredible encounter with Colorado’s scenery.

Make sure you check this off of your outdoor adventures in Colorado list during your next trip.

Go Horseback Riding

Horseback riding through the mountains and rivers is one of the best adventures in Colorado as well. There are plenty of spots that you can venture to on horseback.

The incredible nature-filled paths in the Garden of the Gods Park are perfect for enjoying a nice, leisurely ride. The routes are easy enough for beginners and beautiful enough to stay for hours.

Academy Horseback can set you up near the park. Whether you’re an experienced rider or a beginner, Academy Riding Stables ensure your horseback ride is amazing. It Includes a safety briefing before you start. You can sign up for 1 or 2 hours and it is $65 or $95.

If you and your travel companions are feeling up for it, you should try exploring Rocky Mountain National Park on horseback too.

You can cover much more ground than you can on foot, so it makes for the perfect addition to any gorgeous hiking day. If you are a fan of horseback riding, you will certainly love the best experiences in Texas as well.

On your upcoming trip to Colorado, take advantage of the riding experiences offered across the state.

Climb Incredible Mountains

Finally, put your climbing shoes to the test by bouldering in Colorado.

One of the best places to go rock climbing is near Boulder, Colorado. Crown Rock is just outside of the city and is a great adventure for all skill levels.

Once you reach the trail head, you’ll see the beautiful rock formations that are perfect for climbing. Several hikers boulder along the route, but there is a designated rock climbing route further down the trail called “Umbrella Tree”.

I encourage more experienced climbers to give Clear Creek Canyon a try. It’s typically less crowded than other bouldering spots in the state because it requires more advanced skills.

You can climb along a lot of gorgeous rocks like gneiss, schist and granite. At the same time, you can improve your skills along 700 established climbing routes.

Spend the day climbing the entire length of the mountain, which is 12 miles long, or just a portion of it. Either way you’ll enjoy one of the most fun adventures in Colorado.

If you’re planning a trip to the area, you are well aware of how beautiful the scenery, nature and wildlife is throughout the state.

Cliff Camping At Estes Park

If you are a diehard thrill-seeker and adventurer, you may want to consider cliff camping on your upcoming visit to Colorado. Several adventure centers throughout the park provide cliff camping excursions for travelers who are up for it. Simply, cliff camping refers to sleeping over the edge of a cliff. In Estes Park, this is done by hoisting you up in a bucket, where you can spend a night camping out on sheer rock face. If you are unsure of the full night-long excursion, other centers offer options where you can be propelled up the side of a cliff for lunch or dinner. This cliffside dining experience is perfect for families of all ages. When you visit Colorado, be sure to check out cliff camping adventures.

Go Canyoning

One of the latest active outdoor trends emerging in Colorado is canyoning. Colorado canyoning involves traversing natural canyons through jumping, climbing, swimming, hiking, and scrambling. One of the best places to try your hand at this incredible sport is Ouray, Colorado. Here, you can learn how to downclimb waterfalls, rappel down limestone walls, and cliff jump. If you are searching for a unique family vacation idea this year, canyoning is certainly an incredible option to explore. Certainly, canyoning is an amazing active outdoor adventure to try in the mountains.

To get the most from your trip, take a zip line tour, go whitewater rafting, hike in the most gorgeous locations and put your rock climbing skills to the test among the mountains. Go on these outdoor adventures in Colorado and enjoy all the sites along the way.