Matador's Ultimate Guide to Colorado

All the outdoor adventure you could want in one state ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Colorado]( Matador's Ultimate Guide to Colorado Hi all, Colorado is known for its breathtaking scenery, endless adventures, and extensive wildlife sightings. From desert land to river canyons and majestic mountains, this state has it all. No matter where you are, the scenery is simply awe-inspiring. And there's never a wrong time to visit. You can enjoy summer hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park and [trout fishing]( in Black Canyon, or you can take a [stargazing road trip]( and hit the slopes in winter. After you've gotten your fill of nature (if that's possible), you can enjoy unique [edibles alongside your meal]( grab some of the best beer in the country, and get trippy in [an immersive fantasy world]( If you’re looking for adventure, you can't pick a better place than Colorado. This week, Matador explores Colorado. [Let’s dive in](. [EXPLORE COLORADO]( GET INSPIRED [Red Rock Amphitheater]( Where To Stay, Eat, and Play in Denver in 2023 Located at the base of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, Denver is the gateway to adventure in the West. But this charming mid-sized destination — nicknamed the Mile High City for its elevation at 5,280 feet above sea level — is worth exploring in its own right. From pioneering craft breweries to an open-air amphitheater built into craggy rock formations, here are some of the best ways to immerse yourself in all this high-altitude city has to offer. [READ MORE]( [Rifle Falls State Park]( 10 of the Best Colorado State Parks for Avoiding National Park Crowds Colorado’s parks have thousands of miles of hiking and biking trails, but the best Colorado state parks have a much wider array of outdoor experiences. At these parks, visitors can see bald eagles soar (and potentially spot moose), sleep in yurts, go fly or lure fishing, stand in a waterfall’s mist, kayak on smooth lakes, or turn up the adrenaline with wakeboarding sessions and multi-pitch rock climbing. [READ MORE]( [Capitol Peak Colorado]( This Is Why Capitol Peak, Colorado, Is the State’s Hardest 14K Mountain Capitol Peak in Colorado is an iconic Colorado hike that draws outdoor adventurers from all over the world. Located within the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness area, Capitol Peak stands at 14,131 feet above sea level and offers stunning views of the Elk Mountain range. It’s also known as being one of the hardest 14’ers — mountains with summits more than 14,000 feet above sea level — in the entire state (and maybe the country). [READ MORE]( [the Rockies]( Take a Colorado Road Trip To the Rockies’ Most Overlooked Recreation Destination The Scenic Highway of Legends — known as the SHOL — is a 70-mile stretch of State Highway 12 between the southern Colorado towns of Trinidad and La Veta that serves as an exemplary demonstration of why visitors come to Colorado. But after getting stuck in traffic, the average traveler never makes it to Spanish Peaks Country. Here's why you should stop. [READ MORE]( [Airbnbs in Colorado]( 11 Unique Airbnb Colorado Rental Homes for Your Next Group Vacay Colorado is awash with vivid mountain vistas and forestland punctuated with ski resorts and hiking trails. The best places to stay in Colorado come with the perk of direct access to the slopes, hiking trails, or fishing spots. Luxurious, après-style lodgings with hot tubs and movie theaters invite you to wind down after a day exploring the Great Outdoors. [READ MORE]( NATURE + ADVENTURE [Conundrum Hot Springs]( Relax and Rejuvenate at These 7 Alpine Colorado Hot Springs Nothing caps an epic alpine excursion like a soak in a thermal hot spring. Colorado is one of the best places in the country for exactly that experience, with dozens of spring-fed hot pools scattered across the Rockies from Steamboat Springs up north to Pagosa Springs down south. [READ MORE]( [cute dog]( How To Take the Perfect Dog-Friendly Vacation To Breckenridge, Colorado Sure, anyone who has visited their share of mountain towns knows that they’re generally pretty dog-friendly places. But Breckenridge takes it a step further: Not only are pets allowed on the gondolas, but well-behaved dogs are allowed on all town and county buses, too. [READ MORE]( [Wild horses]( Everything You Need To Know About Seeing Wild Horses in Colorado Although the state has lost some of its wildness over the years, one remnant of that time is the wild horses of Colorado, whose ancestors were used by settlers and Ute alike. Now, these free-spirited creatures live in Colorado’s four Herd Management Areas (HMAs) where, if you’re lucky, you might be able to see them in action. Here’s where to find wild horses in Colorado. [READ MORE]( [Black Canyon Hiking]( The 9 Best Black Canyon of the Gunnison Hiking Trails for Avoiding People To scope out the quietest parts of the park, we’ve teamed up with the outdoor recreation app AllTrails to see which Black Canyon of the Gunnison hiking trails see the least traffic, according to user records. Taking the trails less traveled not only ensures a better experience for parkgoers, but also helps to preserve the trails themselves. [READ MORE]( FOOD + CULTURE [White Pie Pizza]( What To Eat in Denver, According To Denver’s Best Chefs Just like the city itself, Denver’s restaurant landscape is quickly growing and improving. You can still find a cowboy-style meal that’s heavy on the beef (and plenty of Rocky Mountain oysters if you know where to look), but a young and diverse crop of chefs is keeping the options from getting stale. [READ MORE]( [Marijuana Mansion]( Denver’s Marijuana Mansion Is the Most Glamorous Cannabis Experience You Can Have Walking through the Marijuana Mansion is like strolling through a world where a photo-friendly cannabis experience is as acceptable as an Instagram-ready Museum of Ice Cream. The building has more than 4,200 square feet of space spread out over three floors and 11 rooms. In one, a swinging chair hangs from the ceiling of a room covered in fake cannabis leaves with a neon sign that reads “High Life” positioned between the swing’s ropes. [READ MORE]( [cocktail]( 7 Bars That Prove Denver Is the Next Great Cocktail City Denver is a wonderful city to visit for many reasons. It’s beautiful, it has some of the best recreational cannabis dispensaries in the US, and it has an excellent restaurant and bar scene. Over the past few years, it’s also become a destination-worthy cocktail city. [READ MORE]( [GuideGeek](bit.ly/42GCAEz) EPIC STAYS Take the headache out of planning and check out our staff picks for places to stay [Southern Colorado Airbnbs]( [Astrophotography]( [Cozy Mountain Cabins]( [Aspen Airbnbs]( [Denver Airbnbs]( [Gunnison Airbnbs]( [Where to Stay Denver]( [Mesa Verde Airbnbs]( [Cozy Cabin Rentals]( [Colorado Springs Airbnbs]( [Garden of the Gods Resorts]( [Cabin Rentals]( [Cabin Rentals]( [Brewery Pod]( [420 Airbnbs]( [Cliff House]( [Denver Hotels]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Linkedin]( [Youtube]( [Instagram]( [TikTok]( [Pinterest]( [Update your email frequency and topic preferences here](. Or [unsubscribe from our newsletter.]( We'll be here when you need us! Copyright © 2023 Matador Network, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Matador Network, PO Box 7775, Suite 40021, San Francisco, CA 94120, United States