10 OF THE MOST BREATHTAKING PLACES IN COLORADO
Located in Teluride, these spectacular and scenic falls are 365 feet high. They are the tallest free falling falls in the state. Many people like to hike, bike or four wheel drive up the 1200 foot elevation gain on the rocky road.
This National Historic Landmark located in Boulder was started in 1898 and is one of the few continuously remaining Chautauqua in the nation and open year round. The park itself occupies 14 acres of land and is open to the public without an entry fee.
3. Crystal Lake
Surrounded by the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, it is approximately 50 miles northwest of Fort Collins near Red Feathers Lake Village. Elevations range from 8000 to 9500 feet and blends gorgeous meadows with spectacular river valleys and incredible rock formations on rugged mountainsides.
At the summit of Devil's Head in Pike National Forest, this station was established in 1912 and is 9748 feet in elevation. The original tower was constructed in 1919 and was rebuilt in 1951. The magnificent views extend 100 miles in every direction.
Located on the border between Colorado and Utah, this National Monument was discovered in 1909. Excavated were thousands of fossils from the Jurassic Period some 150 million years ago. Rock has been chipped away revealing fossil bones intact for the public to view.
This public park is located in Colorado Springs and was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1971. The park totals 1367 acres of magnificent red rock formations created along a natural fault line dating back about 300 million years.
7. Hanging Lake
In magnificent Glenwood Canyon, about 7 miles east of Glenwood Springs, in the White River National Forest, this crystal clear turquoise lake was discovered by a man searching for gold. From the trail head to the lake, the trail ascends some 1000 feet in elevation from 1.2 miles and while being a geological wonder, the beauty of the lake and waterfalls is breathtaking.
The tallest sand dunes in North America, this area is located in the San Luis Valley and covers about 19,000 acres and protects an additional 41,686 acres. They rise about 750 feet and continue to slowly grow. In 1807, explorer Zebulon Pike described them as "Their appearance was exactly that of a sea in a storm (except as to color), not the least sign of vegetation existing thereon."
9. Mesa Verde
This National Park is the largest archaeological preserve in the United States. It occupies 81.4 square miles near the four corners. Spanish for "green table", Anasazi people built and inhabited the cliff dwellings between 600 to 1300. The area offers a spectacular look into the lives of Pueblo people who made it their home.
10. Maroon Bells
About 12 miles southwest of Aspen, these two peaks are separated by about a third of a mile and are both over 14,000 feet high. They are said to be the most photographed mountains in North America. They got their name, "The Deadly Bells" from the mud-stone they are composed of. It is weak and fractures easily and caused eight deaths in five separate accidents. It is also responsible for their distinctive maroon color.
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