Originally created on Aug. 25, 1916, the National Park Service’s purpose is to “preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.”

Colorado is home to four national parks — Rocky Mountain, Mesa Verde, Great Sand Dunes and Black Canyon of the Gunnison — and that are overseen by the National Park Service. All of those will be accessible for free this week. (If you want to visit Rocky Mountain National Park, however, you still need a timed reservation.)

The National Park Service’s birthday celebration is part of a bigger , which includes themed days through Sunday, such as Watch Wildlife Wednesday and Freedom Friday.

Can’t make it this week? Entry to these sites will also be free on Sept. 17 in honor of Constitution Day, Oct. 27 in honor of Theodore Roosevelt����ap birthday, and Nov. 11 for Veteran’s Day.

Overlanding is broadly defined as a form of self-reliant travel that allows people to experience scenic remote areas. Many times that means driving unpaved roads and camping for several days to make the most out of the adventure.

Though having an adequate vehicle to navigate backcountry roads is important, overlanding is distinct from off-roading, which focuses explicitly on technical driving over challenging terrain. Overlanding, meanwhile, “blends travel, exploration, navigation, camping, and self-sufficiency into one experience,” .

The foundation hosts gear shows across the country — including the local (Aug. 21-23) at The Ranch Events Complex in Loveland — and produces an industry report seeking to understand the overlanding community.

Both off-roading and overlanding exploded in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic as people turned to the outdoors as an alternative to other types of recreation. The latter has continued to draw recreationists with 8 million people taking an overlanding trip in the U.S. in 2024, according to released last year.

With that many people on backcountry roads, you might be wondering how to find a bit of solitude. After all, if you wanted to sit in traffic, you could just take I-70.

We spoke with Tracy Barker, president of , who had insight about where to find the 4×4 roads less traveled. Most of the suggested routes below involve a low-level of difficulty — 3 out of 10, according to — so they are generally more accessible than notorious ones like Black Bear Pass or Imogene Pass, near Telluride. Exceptions include Lake Creek (rated 4), Mosquito Pass (rated 4), and Schofield Pass (rated 5), Barker said.

Just because they are relatively easier doesn’t mean there won’t be big payoffs. Barker chose these overlanding routes because they offer access to high alpine and rugged mountain vistas, camping options, and trailheads. Some can even be driven as “loops,” offering opportunities for multi-day excursions, he said. Though some are in well-known overlanding areas, Barker promised you’ll find serenity.

“It’s just a fact of life that many places become congested on summer weekends,” he said by email. “But fortunately, even for the more popular areas (Silverton, Ouray, Crested Butte, Buena Vista, Salida, etc.) there remain side roads/spur roads sufficient to ‘get away.’”

Here are five overlanding destinations to seek out. Please remember to recreate responsibly — or don’t be an “ass clown” in the words of one Western Slope sheriff — by choosing a path that suits your driving abilities, adequately preparing, and following .

Near Westcliffe

Suggested routes: Lake Creek a.k.a. Cloverdale Mine; Hermit Pass; and Medano Pass to Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.

Attractions include high elevation, mining relics, dense forests, mountain lakes, access to plentiful dispersed/primitive camping and the USFS Lake Creek Campground.

Near Alma

Suggested routes: Mount Bross; Buckskin Joe; and Mosquito Pass

Attractions include high elevation, mining relics, forest and tundra, creeks and lakes, access to dispersed/primitive camping and the USFS Kite Lake Campground (near Alma).

Near Red Cliff

Suggested route: McAllister Gulch-Resolution Road-Wearyman Road loop

Attractions include high elevation, opportunity for a history lesson at Camp Hale, forest and tundra, creeks, access to dispersed/primitive camping and USFS Camp Hale Campground.

Near Dotsero and Glenwood Springs

Suggested routes: Transfer Trail, Coffee Pot Road; and Blair Mtn Road

Attractions include mid-elevation (10, 000 feet), forest and multiple lakes, access to dispersed/primitive camping and multiple USFS campgrounds, such as Deep Lake and White Owl campgrounds.

Near Crested Butte

Suggested routes: Gothic Road-Paradise Divide-Slate River loop; Lead King Basin; Schofield Pass (more advanced/difficult)

Attractions include high elevation, forest, rivers, mining towns (Gothic and Crystal), access to dispersed/primitive camping and USFS’ Lost Lake, Lake Irwin, Williams Creek campgrounds.

Denver was the first city to turn down the Olympics

After being selected to host the 1976 Winter Games, Denver made history when it became the first ever city to reject the Olympics. On May 12, 1970, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) chose Denver over bids from Sion, Switzerland; Tampere, Finland; and Vancouver, Canada. The Mile High City’s Olympic plans were ambitious: Alpine events were slated for Loveland Basin and Mt. Sniktau, located on Loveland Pass outside of Dillon, while Denver Mountain Parks would host Nordic competitions, bobsled and luge races. Tthe Denver Coliseum was set for figure skating and hockey.

But the Games never made it out of the starting gate in Denver as concerns over funding and costs snowballed, and by late 1972 organizers told the IOC that Denver couldn’t host. The Winter Olympics were reassigned to Innsbruck, Austria, which had already hosted the Games in 1964 and had the infrastructure in place.

Even still, Colorado has strong ties to the Olympics as Colorado Springs is home to the and the .

Colorado lit the way on legal cannabis

California was a pioneer in legalizing medical marijuana back in 1996. Several states, Colorado among them, followed suit. But in 2014, we to legalize recreational marijuana.

At the University of Colorado, the Business Research Division at Leeds School of Business maintains a for Colorado’s Marijuana Enforcement Division that tracks a number of metrics, including sales. In 2021, marijuana sales topped $2.2 billion, but it looks like the green rush has slowed some in recent years with sales registering at $1.3 billion in 2025.

Our mountain communities are also high (in elevation)

stakes its claim as the highest incorporated town in North America, perched at 10,578 feet. Meanwhile, is the highest incorporated city in North America, soaring at 10,430 feet. Curious how Leadville got its name? The city’s founding fathers were looking for an alternative because there were too many places with “silver” in the name at the time.

Colorado’s Sand Dunes reach surprising heights

Colorado may be known for its mountains, but our state’s Sand Dunes are pretty impressive, too. , located in southern Colorado near Alamosa in the San Luis Valley, is home to the tallest dunes in North America, according to the National Park Service. Star Dune soars 750 feet from its base to its crest. The park’s High Dune rises 699 feet, but because it starts on higher ground it actually rises higher above sea level than Star.

Dinger’s story has a prehistoric backstory

Ever wonder why the Rockies mascot is a purple triceratops? When construction crews were excavating Coors Field, they unearthed a dinosaur fossil near home plate. When Dinger was introduced to fans, he hatched out of a giant dino egg on April 16, 1994.

Pikes Peak inspired ‘America the Beautiful’

The summit of Pikes Peak inspired Katharine Lee Bates to write “America the Beautiful.” Locals and visitors can take to the summit of the peak for those same awe-inspiring views.

You may do better at a Colorado driving range than one out of state

Home turf advantage? Golf balls fly on average in Colorado than they do in other states. Chalk it up to the altitude. If you’re playing at a mountain course, you may notice your ball goes even farther when you tee off, thanks to the higher altitudes.

150 things that make Colorado quintessentially cool

Burlington’s antique carousel is a rare piece of Americana

Originally built in 1905 for Denver’s Elitch Gardens, a hand-carved wooden carousel migrated to its new home in Burlington in 1928, when the amusement park upgraded to a newer model with "jumping" animals that moved up and down. Kit Carson County snapped up the classic for $1,200, preserving a rare piece of Americana. It����ap the only antique carousel in America still having original paint on both the scenery panels and on the animals. The is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Boulder came close to becoming a prison town

Boulder is known today as an idyllic college town, with the University of Colorado deeply woven into the city’s identity. But the city could have taken a very different path.

In the late 1870s, Boulder leaders lobbied state lawmakers to make the city home to a university, competing with Cañon City for Colorado’s flagship school. There was a twist: The losing city would receive a consolation prize: a new state prison.

Visitors can explore this alternate-history scenario at the , where an interactive exhibit imagines how the city might look if history had unfolded differently. Onscreen, CU’s familiar red-tile roofs and campus buildings are replaced with barbed-wire fences and stark concrete structures spread across the foothills.

Today, Cañon City is home to the Colorado State Penitentiary and several other correctional facilities, along with the Museum of Colorado Prisons.

Colorado’s first skiers were mail carriers, not powder chasers

Long before Colorado became a ski destination, skiing here was all about getting the mail delivered. In the late 1800s, more than 50 mail carriers traversed snowy mountain terrain on homemade wooden skis secured with simple toe straps. These rugged couriers battled whiteout conditions, avalanches and brutal winter weather to reach remote communities. Today, visitors can learn about these early ski pioneers at the in Vail.

The state capitol has a mile-high marker

Want proof you're exactly a mile above sea level? Head to the west steps of the Colorado State Capitol. A marker on the 15th step designates the famed 5,280-foot elevation. You can also find a row of purple seats at Coors Field that denote exactly 5,280 feet, and The Mile High Loop at City Park follows a 5k route along the city’s mile-high contour line.

The cheeseburger has a meaty history in Denver

From Jolly Ranchers and cheeseburgers to teddy bears and tampons, these inventions were created in Colorado

Colorado has superior hot springs

Glenwood Springs is home to the world’s largest natural hot springs pool, where more than one million gallons of mineral-rich water fill the , which stretches more than two blocks long. Meanwhile, claims another geothermal distinction: the Guinness World Records-certified deepest geothermal hot spring aquifer in the world. The town’s Mother Spring extends more than 1,002 feet underground.

Aspen miners once unearthed a record-breaking treasure

Colorado’s mining history is filled with big discoveries, but Aspen delivered one that was especially massive. In 1894, miners pulled the world’s largest silver nugget from Aspen’s Smuggler Mine. The colossal chunk weighed in at a staggering 2,350 pounds, according to the .

Fort Collins helped inspire Disneyland’s Main Street

Take a stroll through Old Town Fort Collins and you may experience a little déjà vu, especially if you’re a Disney fan. Disneyland’s iconic Main Street U.S.A. was inspired by Fort Collins’ . Before Disneyland was built, Walt Disney enlisted Hollywood art director Harper Goff to help design the park. Goff grew up in Fort Collins, and when he sketched concepts for Main Street, he drew from childhood memories of familiar local buildings, including the city hall, the Old Linden Hotel, Old Firehouse Books and other local storefronts.

Colorado’s Capitol is home to a one-of-a-kind stone

Brittany Anas is a Denver-based freelance writer. 

Because Colorado is cool.

From the Rocky Mountains to the Great Plains, from the urban corridor to tiny towns on the Western Slope, from Denver to Durango, from La Junta to Rifle, from the Arkansas River to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado is a beautiful, diverse tapestry.

We have wonderful music, vibrant arts, hiking, biking, skiing, rafting, fishing, paragliding and good eating. A Colorado experience can be weird, wild, scary, spectacular, sublime, or soothing.

But seldom boring.

As the Centennial State celebrates its 150th birthday, here are 150 things that are quintessentially Colorado:

1. A summer concert at Red Rocks: Music at the world-renowned, natural sandstone amphitheater fills the soul.

2. Maroon Bells: Too pretty to be real — but they are, and undoubtedly the most photographed spot in the state.

3. Powder days: Getting off the Panoramic lift at Winter Park on a bluebird day, skiing Vail’s Back Bowls, or riding clouds of champagne powder at Steamboat: heaven.

4. Bagging a fourteener: Summiting one of Colorado’s 58 ranked and unranked peaks that rise above 14,000 feet in elevation is a rite of passage for many.

5. Palisade peaches: Juicy and sweet, the famous, scrumptious Western Slope fruit is available late July through September.

6. State flag: How many other states celebrate — and market — their state flag like Colorado? (Fun fact: The blue stripes represent Colorado skies, the white is for snow-capped peaks, the golden circle is sunshine, and the red “C” represents the rocks and earth.)

7. Opening day at Coors Field: Colorado’s Mardi Gras as baseball fans and partyers — not necessarily in that order — pour into LoDo.

8. Riding Mr. Twister: Baby Boomers got their thrills riding the roller coaster, which opened in 1964 at the original Elitch Gardens in north Denver. debuted at the new location in 2023.

9. : Fielder was not only a spectacular nature photographer, but he was also a state historian.

10. KBCO radio: Long before streaming and SiriusXM came along, KBCO’s “World Class Rock’ brought quality music and new artists to listeners in the Denver-Boulder area, starting in 1976.

11. Manitou Incline: Want to get your steps in? Hike “The Incline,” in less than a mile via 2,768 steep steps.

12. Colorado Columbine: The state flower (Aquilegia caerulea) blooms in summer and brings a smile to every hiker’s face.

13. Rocky Mountain big horn sheep: The state animal was nearing extinction around 1900, but conservation efforts saved them. There are now in Colorado.

14. : The Arkansas River Valley produces watermelon, honeydew, and, most famously, cantaloupe, which have up to 3% more sugar than California cantaloupe. (Fun fact: Rocky Ford High School’s mascot is a Meloneer.)

15. Chipotle: “Do you want guac on that?” In 1993, Steve Ells, a graduate of Boulder High School and CU Boulder, opened the first Chipotle Mexican Grill blocks from the University of Denver.

16. Glenwood Springs Hot Springs: The spring waters — called Yampah, or literally “Big Medicine,” by Utes — have been soothing tired muscles and spirits for centuries. It’s now touted as the .

17. Mesa Verde National Park: Established in 1906, the cliff dwellings give visitors a glimpse of what life was like over 700 years ago when the Ancestral Pueblo people built thriving agricultural communities on the mesas and in the cliffs.

18. Great Sand Dunes National Park: Hike the tallest dunes in North America or sand sled or sandboard down the slopes. Then look into .

19. Pikes Peak: The 14,115-foot peak is touted as “America’s Mountain.” Drive to the top, hike up or ride the world’s highest and longest cog railroad.

20. Bolder Boulder: It’s not just a run, it’s also a celebration, complete with costumes. The Memorial Day 10K began in 1979 with 2,700 entrants. By 2004, it was the largest timed 10K in the world, with 47,454 participants.

21. Bent’s Old Fort: The reconstructed adobe fortress became a national historic site in 1960. It was built in 1833 as near the Arkansas River along the Mountain Branch of the Santa Fe Trail.

22. Colorado welcome signs: There are 40 of the wooden, brown-and-white “Welcome to Colorado” road signs around the state. The design dates back to the 1950s.

23. Telluride Bluegrass Festival: It began as the Telluride Fourth of July Celebration in 1973. It became the Telluride Bluegrass Festival on July 6, 1974. Emmylou Harris once called it “the Valhalla of places to perform.”

24. View from Wolf Creek Pass: Coming off the pass, looking west toward Pagosa Springs, is the look above the west fork of the San Juan River Valley. Breathtaking.

25. Empower Field at Mile High: Exiting the stadium with the fans after a big win is a magic carpet ride.

26. Stanley Hotel: Founded in 1909 by F.O Stanley, the reigns over Estes Park and sits at the doorstep of Rocky Mountain National Park. And it was the inspiration for Stephen King’s “The Shining.”

27. Garden of the Gods: The park was gifted to Colorado Springs in 1909 by the children of railroad magnate Charles Elliot Perkins. , a 35-foot, 1.4-million-pound red rock, is the star.

28. Subarus: Preferably with a sticker-covered Thule strapped to the top of an Outback, they are Colorado’s vehicle of choice. Or so it seems.

29. Hanging Lake: A short but steep and rocky hike takes you to a cliffside turquoise . It was named a National Natural Landmark in 2011.

30. South Park vista: From the top of Kenosha Pass, the valley — filled with green ranchland, twisting creeks and rimmed with snowcapped peaks — seems to go on forever.

31. The Numbers: A challenging, whitewater stretch of the Arkansas River just south of Buena Vista, The Numbers is a guaranteed adrenaline rush.

32. Big Blue Bear: The 40-foot-high bear, created by local artist Lawrence Argent, peers into the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver.

33. “Blucifer:” Love it or hate it, you can’t ignore the 32-foot-tall fiberglass sculpture with glowing red eyes on Peña Blvd approaching Denver International Airport.

Blucifer just turned 13. But the family of the artist who died creating it would prefer you don’t call it that.

34. Eisenhower Tunnel: The only bore through the Continental Divide that is named after a U.S. president. (The accompanying is named for Gov. Edwin C. Johnson.)

35. Frozen Dead Guy Days: The festival, begun in Nederland in 2002 and relocated to Estes Park in 2023, revolves around , a Norwegian mountain pioneer who died in 1989 but is cryogenically preserved.

36. The Broadmoor: Known for comfortable luxury, the famed hotel opened in 1918 and is the longest-running, consecutive Forbes five-star, AAA five-diamond resort in the country.

37. The Brown Palace: The Downtown Denver hotel has been a landmark since 1892. It has hosted U.S. presidents, heads of state, and in 1964 ... The Beatles!

38. The Colorado Trail: One of the most spectacular long-distance trails in the country, the 567-mile Rocky Mountain journey begins in Denver and finishes in Durango.

39. Grand Lake fireworks: The over the state's largest natural lake, deep in the mountains, is unforgettable.

40. : You can't miss the signs touting the store's “Stetson Hats, “Levi Overalls” and more. According to Rocky Mountain PBS, there are 100 of the signs alongside US 40 and Colorado 131, starting 100 miles from downtown Steamboat Springs.

41. Golf at elevation: Everyone has a favorite course, from municipal links to posh country clubs. But it's tough to top Grand Junction's Redlands Mesa.

42. : The 17.6-mile  trail in southeast Colorado features 150-million-year-old dinosaur footprints and prehistoric Native American rock art.

43. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad: A spectacular ride into the past along the Animas River through canyons in the San Juan National Forest, active since 1882.

44. : About 15 miles north of Durango are the iconic cliffs where Paul Newman (Butch Cassidy) and Robert Redford (The Sundance Kid) jumped into the Animas River to escape a posse. (Fun fact: Part of the famous scene was filmed in California.)

45. Rocky Mountain National Park: How to describe Colorado's slice of mountain paradise? The park's 415 square miles encompasses a spectacular range of mountain environments, from meadows to alpine lakes to towering peaks.

46. : There were nearly 2,500 wooden carousels carved in America between 1885 and the 1930s, but fewer than 150 survived. One of the best can be found at the county fairgrounds in Burlington.

47. Pawnee National Grassland: Covering 193,060 acres northeast of Greeley, it is home to hundreds of birds, pronghorn antelopes and other wildlife.

48. Crested Butte wildflowers: The town owns the title as “Wildflower Capital of Colorado.” Look for varieties like lupine, paintbrush, elephant heads, fireweed and glacier lilies.

49. : Within the 32 square miles of the Colorado Plateau in northwest Colorado are towering stone monoliths, red-rock canyons and the 23-mile Rim Rock Drive.

50. : A thundering triple waterfall and limestone caves make this a gem of the Colorado State Parks system.

51. DIA: The largest U.S. airport in square miles is easily recognizable, with its tent-like roof intended to mimic the snow-capped peaks of the Rockies. (It's also known for  conspiracy theories, never-ending construction projects, parking woes, long security lines ... .)

52. Complaining about Californians and Texans: Come on, admit it, you've done it.

53. "Rocky Mountain High": You sing along when you hear John Denver's ode to Colorado, the state's second official song. (The first is “Where the Columbines Grow.”)

54. The : Held annually in January at the National Western Complex, the event has celebrated Colorado's cowboy roots since 1906.

55. : In late July, Fairplay celebrates its heritage with burro, llama, dog and outhouse races, as well as a parade. The fete began in 1949 when a challenge went out to anyone who wanted to race alongside a burro from Leadville to Fairplay.

56. Sliding down a snow field: It's boiling hot on the Eastern Plains, but nice and cool at 11,990 feet on Loveland Pass. Find a patch of snow and away you go! (Don't forget the selfies.)

57. Fly fishing: Colorado is heaven for anglers casting for rainbow, brown, cutthroat and brook trout. What's the best spot? The Gunnison River? The Frying Pan River? The fly fisherman will never tell.

58. : With steep, dramatic walls that range from 2,700 to 1,750 feet, this national park east of Montrose is stunning.

59. Hot-air balloon festivals in Colorado -- like the ones in Telluride, Erie, Colorado Springs and Moffat County -- offer kaleidoscopes of color against Rocky Mountain skies. (Wanna take a ride? There are that will take you up.)

60.: Before craft brewing was all the rage, there was Coors in Golden, the largest single-site brewery in the world.

61. Ralphie: CU's famous buffalo just might be the best mascot in college football. (The current Ralphie, nicknamed Brandy, is the seventh bison to fill the role.)

62. : At the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the San Luis Valley, the area includes a Hindu temple, a Zen center, several Tibetan Buddhist centers, and various New Age activities.

63. : Touted as the oldest tavern in Denver, continuously serving fine beers and spirits since 1873, it also offers a famous jalapeño cream cheese burger.

64. Dinger: Love him or not, the purple Triceratops mascot for the Colorado Rockies has been around since  April 16, 1994, famously "hatching" from an oversized egg on the grounds that would become Coors Field.

65.  "Bucky" the Bronco: , Bucky first stood above the scoreboard at the original Mile High Stadium. He now stands atop the South Stand scoreboard at Empower Field at Mile High.

66. Loveland Valentines: The northern Colorado town, known as the Sweetheart City, has been for 80 years.

67. : For more than six decades, thespians have performed The Bard's works under the stars on the University of Colorado Boulder campus at the Mary Rippon Theatre.

68.  : The annual party celebrates Pueblo's famed green. Every September, more than 100,000 people stroll along Pueblo’s historic Union Avenue listening to live music, browsing local art and getting tastes of roasted chiles.

69. Million Dollar Highway: Stunning and scary (for some), the road travels between Silverton and Ouray in Southwest Colorado. Full of switchbacks and sheer cliffs, it .

70. : Telluride, perhaps Colorado's most picturesque mountain town, sits in a box canyon. At the end of the canyon, you’ll find the highest free-falling waterfall in the state.

71. :  Dating back to the founding of the Town of San Luis in 1851, the late July weekend festival celebrates the history of Colorado's oldest town with bands, vendors, parades, mariachi mass, a softball tournament, food stalls and a 10k run.

72. Chapel at the Air Force Academy: The (closed until 2028 for renovation) is the most recognizable building at the U.S. Air Force Academy. The aluminum, glass, and steel structure features 17 spires that shoot 150 feet into the sky.

73. New Year's fireworks on Pikes Peak: For more than 100 years, members of the AdAmAn Club have hiked Pikes Peak to ring in the New Year with a fireworks display on the famous mountain.

74. Near Grand Junction, this trail features 35 sandstone arches, the second-highest concentration of natural rock arches in North America outside Utah.

75. : A 32-mile mountain bike route that descends 6,000 feet from the top of the Grand Mesa to the town of Palisade. Spectacular.

76. America's oldest whitewater festival is held along the banks of the Arkansas River in June. It features concerts, craft beer, river rafting, kayaking, mountain biking, and running. FYI,  FIBArk stands for "First in Boating in the Arkansas River."

77. : Located in Teller County, in the mountains west of Colorado Springs, the monument protects 34-million-year-old fossils of redwood trees and insects.

78. : For more than 40 years, the Lakewood restaurant has served Mexican food in a pink adobe building that features caves, cliff divers, and endless sopapillas. The iconic restaurant gained cult fame after being featured in an episode of "South Park." Casa Bonita (Spanish for “pretty house") is now owned by the show’s creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

79. Mountaintop matrimony: For 35 years, couples have gathered on the Forest Meadow run at to exchange vows and kisses at 12,000 feet.

80. : Dating back to 1879, the saloon is an enduring piece of Leadville’s history with a classic, wild-west oak bar. Touted as "a gathering place for locals, outlaws, and legends," it has hosted figures such as Doc Holliday, Molly Brown and Oscar Wilde, and witnessed the rise and fall of Leadville’s mining boom.

81. : Founded in 1932, it's the fifth-oldest professional opera company in the country. The summer performances take place at 8,500 feet in the intimate 550-seat opera house built in 1878.

82. : Held annually during Labor Day weekend for 52 years, the event matches movies and the mountains. The 2025 event included the debut of "Springstreen: Deliver Me from Nowhere."

83.  A: Just outside the historic San Juan Mountains town of Silverton, the well-preserved ghost town features abandoned buildings and mining structures, taking visitors back to Silverton's mining frontier history.

84. Meeker base camp: The town in the northwest corner of the state is the center for some of the best in Colorado. Hunters encounter terrain ranging from 6,000 feet to mountain peaks exceeding 12,200 feet in the Flattops Wilderness.

85. : The annual 10-day celebration, culminating on the Fourth of July, brings the Northern Colorado community together with rodeos, concerts, carnival rides, parades and more.

86. galore: Need some culcha? The dozens of museums in Colorado can help. Among them: the Denver Art Museum; the Firefighters Museum; the Museum of Nature & Science; the Museum of Illusions; the Morrison Natural History Museum; the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver; the Museum of Northwest Colorado; the Colorado Ski & Snowboard Museum; The ProRodeo Hall of Fame & Museum of the American Cowboy; the Children's Museum of Denver; Colorado Railroad Museum; Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum; the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery; the Aspen Art Museum; the Museum of the West; the National Mining Museum; Forney Transportation Museum; the Clyfford Still Museum; the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum; and the History Colorado Museum, where you can currently see "Zoom In: The Centennial State in 100 Objects."

87. Rocky Mountain Oysters: A famous -- or is it infamous? -- delicacy consisting of deep-fried, thinly sliced bull or bison testicles.

88. :  The original "mountain pie" pizza restaurant opened in Idaho Springs in 1973 and has been a sanctuary to escape I-70 ski traffic ever since.

80. : A restaurant with heads of actual wildlife on the walls? That they can then serve you? Seriously? (And they also offer Rocky Mountain oysters; see above.) Wild.

90. Colorado natives: Who brag about being Colorado natives.

91. Transplants: Who are annoyed by those who brag about being Colorado natives.

92. The Front Range: Even after decades of living in Colorado, you catch yourself pulling over on Interstate 25 to snap a photo of the majestic mountains after a rainshower, when the clouds are lying heavy on the horizon. Stunning.

93. Glenwood Canyon, that took 12 years to build. Workers had to bore three tunnels through the canyon’s rock; built 15 miles of retaining walls to hold the road in place; and construct  40 bridges and viaducts, according to CDOT. Amaze amaze amaze. (If you get it, you get it.)

94. Sleigh rides, dog sled rides: Take an old-fashioned in Steamboat Springs, or zip behind a pulling you along snowy Breckenridge trails. The kids will never forget it.

95. : The home of Titanic survivor Margaret Brown offers a Victorian Horrors theater program around Halloween, letting guests traipse through the 1889 house and enjoy ghostly tales.

96. Golf: Where else can you partake nearly year-round without baking (don't tell me it's a dry heat, Arizona) or drowning (hello, humid Florida)? And with nearly to choose from, you might even be able to find a tee time.

97. The Olympics: Denver is the only city in the country to reject the Winter Olympics (in 1976), giving us the right to gloat over by doing so (sorry, Montreal).

98. : With the Arkansas River flowing 956 feet below, it remains America’s highest suspension bridge. The bridge spans 1,260 feet and features 1,257 wooden planks.

99. Fickle weather:  A day in May begins with bright sunshine and warms up to 80 degrees. Eight hours later, it's snowing. Two days later, it's 80 degrees.

100. The : The man-made ice-climbing park sits in a spectacular natural gorge just outside Ouray. The free, public park is home to more than 150 named ice and mixed climbs and draws adventurers from around the world.

101. DCPA: The is a downtown treasure hosting Broadway touring plays, Tony Award-winning theater, classical music, ballet and operas.

102. Aspens: Monarch Pass? Kenosha Pass? Independence Pass? Guanella Pass? Does it matter? With aspen glittering golden against cobalt-blue skies, autumn in Colorado is magical.

103. Enstrom toffee: Based in Grand Junction, but found throughout the state, the almond toffee is the star of the show for , a business that dates to 1929 and is still family-run.

104. : The urban oasis features native and exotic plants and trees, the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory, the Mordecai Children's Garden and outdoor concerts in the summer.

105. Eldorado Canyon: Just south of Boulder, is a mecca for rock climbers. For others, hiking along scenic South Boulder Creek and stopping for a picnic works just fine.

106. : Nestled at the base of the Flatirons in Boulder, Chautauqua is a national historic landmark that includes Chautauqua Auditorium, built in 1898. From the Chautauqua Trailhead, hikers can access 40 miles of trails.

107.  Apres ski: The after-ski bliss begins with taking off the boots, then gathering at a lodge, bar, or restaurant to unwind and exaggerate your most epic run of the day. A hot tub session is optional.

108. : At the top of Lookout Mountain, just west of Denver, is the Buffalo Bill museum and gravesite. The popular tourist attraction tells the story of William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody, star of his Wild West Show that began in 1882.

105. : Though not as famous as Mesa Verde, the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument is a precious time capsule. Sitting just outside of Dolores, it consists of nearly 200,000 acres and features the largest concentration of archaeological dig sites and Ancestral Puebloan ruins in the United States.

106. : Boulder's pedestrian mall features restaurants, shops, flowers, street artists, and people watching. It's about as Boulder as it gets.

107. : Gold and silver first brought people rushing to these mountain towns as they gambled on their future. Now people gamble in the casinos.

110. Hiking is more than just a walk in the park: From a half-mile stroll atop Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park to a 10-mile trek deep into the wilderness, hiking is Colorado's religion.

111. Indoor rock climbing: For those who need their fix, there are rock-walled gyms throughout Colorado. Climb on!

112. : Robert Redford's beloved festival will make its Boulder debut Jan. 21-31, 2027, after beating out Utah and Ohio to become the event's next host. Sundance is moving from its longtime home in Park City, Utah.

113. : The famed adobe restaurant opened in February 1963, specializing in what founder Sam Arnold called “New Foods of the Old West.” The building was inspired by a drawing of Bent����ap Old Fort, the famous fur-trading post on the Santa Fe Trail.

114. Golden retrievers: We love our dogs. Labrador retrievers, bulldogs, hunting dogs, even "little yippers." But according to , golden retrievers are Colorado's most popular breed.

115. and Rodeo: In late August through Labor Day, Pueblo hosts rodeos, carnival rides, agricultural competitions, big-name concerts, monster trucks, fine art, and food, drink and Western and Hispanic culture.

116. Strawberry Park Hot Springs: Thermal pools, unique stone masonry in the Rockies near Steamboat Springs. Famously, clothing is optional after dark, so minors are not permitted after sundown.

117. Craft beer. OK, so the latest heyday of craft beer in Colorado -- which started with Boulder Brewing Company in 1979 and was popularized by the Wynkoop in LoDo in 1988 -- may have passed, but local breweries are often still the social and economic hubs of their neighborhoods -- and still employ thousands of people and bring people from around the world to the state.

118. Marijuana legalization: Even if you don't partake, it's kind of awesome that Colorado was the .

119. The Denver City and County Building at the holidays: The tradition of kicking off the holiday season in Denver by lighting up the City and County Building dates back to 1918, which brings us to ...

120. ... the fact that colored outdoor Christmas lights were invented by in 1914, as a way to bring cheer to his ailing son.

From Jolly Ranchers and cheeseburgers to teddy bears and tampons, these inventions were created in Colorado

121: Parades: Sure, we have organized marches for Memorial Day, St. Patrick's Day, PrideFest, and MLK Day, but smaller parades are a hoot, like Goldens in Golden and the Fourth of July parades that small towns like Salida, Frisco and Florence hold each year. (Watching little kids scramble for candy tossed off of a 1950s firetruck and saluting veterans in uniform strolling behind will make you proud to be an American, and perhaps long for a more innocent time.)

122. Naked skiing: The , started at Glenwood Springs' Sunlight Mountain Resort in 2021, invites women -- and only women or nonbinary individuals (there were 700 of them in 2025) -- includes a run in which participants are invited to ski or snowboard sans clothes. Brrrr.

123. Free concerts: in Ruby Hill Park produces more than 50 free concerts at its outdoor amphitheater every summer. And stake out a spot early with your picnic basket for one (or all) of the 10 free concerts at . (Which leads us to ... )

124. Jazz live: Who says it's a dying art form? Colorado is home to the Winter Park Jazz Festival, Telluride Jazz Festival, Denver Jazz Fest, Evergreen Jazz Festival, UNC-Greeley Jazz Festival and Jazz Aspen Snowmass. (Which leads us to ... )

125. and : These two music venues in Denver offer stellar performances by some of the most acclaimed jazz artists in the country in intimate settings.

124. Colorado's culinary chops: abound here, from Bobby Stuckey and Lachlan Mackinnon Patterson (Frasca); Erika and Kelly Whitaker (The Wolf's Tailor); Caroline Glover (Annette); Matt Vawter (Rootstalk); Johnny Curiel (Alma Fonda Fina); Alex Seidel (Fruition); Troy Guard (TAG); and Jennifer Jasinski (Rioja). Eat up.

125. : In the summer, take a ride to the top of the Continental Divide, where you will be treated to 360-degree views of five mountain ranges.

126. The Denver Nuggets: They may not always win, but boy, these guys have heart -- and the best basketball player in the world in Nikola Jokic. And an NBA title in 2023.

127. The Colorado Avalanche: Three Stanley Cup titles and a roster of Hall of Famers for a rabid fan base.

128. The Denver Broncos: Eight Super Bowl appearances. Three Super Bowl wins. John Elway. Peyton Manning. Floyd Little. Orange Crush. Football as religion since 1960.

129. The Rapids: Fans have been getting their kicks from the pro soccer team since 1996. The Rapids won their only MLS Cup in 2010, their second MLS Cup appearance.

130: : Crazy for women's soccer? Colorado sure is. On March 28, Summit FC set the U.S. attendance record for a women’s professional sporting event at Empower Field, with 63,004 fans on hand to witness the club’s inaugural home match against the Washington Spirit.

131. The Colorado Rockies: "Rocktober" took the Rockies to the World Series in 2007, but the LoDo ballclub usually struggles. But a summer night at Coors Field with a beer and a hot dog has been a great combo since 1995.

132. Sandhill cranes: Each spring and fall, thousands of the long-necked birds during migration. Every March, there's even a party to celebrate them, in the form of the .

133. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center: There's a pool, gyms, an indoor shooting range, velodrome (track) and more at the Colorado Springs site. And are available.

134. Four-wheeling on Imogene Pass: A rugged and scary former mining road that connected Telluride and Ouray in the San Juan. Mountains. Thrill-seekers top out at 13,114 feet.

135. , not just the marathon: Playboy Magazine once called Colfax Avenue the “longest, wickedest street in America.” Jack Kerouac wrote about Colfax in his novel "On the Road." Music venues, bars, restaurants, shops, and interesting people-watching. Colfax has a thriving live music scene with The Fillmore, The Ogden Theater, The Lion’s Lair and many more bars serving up live music as well. The Colfax Renaissance is well underway. Come check it out!

136. Running around Wash Park: From fit singles scouting out other fit singles, to fit seniors just looking to stay fit, the 2.5-mile crushed-gravel outer loop in South Denver is a runner's mecca.

137. The name: Colorado's lyrical name has its origins in Spanish, as the word for "colored red." So very apropos.

138. Race to open by Memorial Day: The highest continuous paved road in the United States to 12,183 feet through Rocky Mountain National Park, connecting the towns of Estes Park and Grand Lake. The goal is for snowplows to clear the road by late May. It doesn't always work out.

139. Olathe sweet corn: Iowans may try to argue, but one bite of this variety will have you longing for several ears, slathered with butter and a touch of salt. (And it freezes well off the cob, as well; save some for your holiday casseroles.)

140. : The heart and soul of Denver, where it got its start between 14th and 15th in the late 1800s. Named for the pioneering General William Larimer, it was the city’s first block, its first commercial district, home to its first residence and first city hall, and was the city’s first designated historic district.

141. : At the peak of elk rut in Rocky Mountain National Park -- typically mid-September through mid-October, you might hear the bulls' loud bugling. Researchers say the animals call out as a warning, or to communicate with their harems. The sound will haunt you.

142. Same-sex marriage: Colorado has offered civil unions since 2013 and they have been legally recognized here since October 2014. They weren't established as a until June 26, 2015.

143. Denver Press Club: The in the United States, founded in 1867, and the building itself was designated a Historic Landmark in 1986. Stop in and toast Damon Runyon at the bar.

144. Georgetown and the : A charming ride on this narrow-gauge railroad (called "an engineering marvel" after its construction in 1884) takes you through a scenic path over the Devil's Gate Bridge. Afterward, stroll the quaint streets of historic Georgetown, once the center of the mining industry in Colorado.

145. Pulitzer winners: The Denver Post (nine), Rocky Mountain News (four), and Colorado Springs Gazette (one) have been in reporting, photography and editorial cartooning.

146. Nobel winners: Colorado is home to , including CU Boulder's David Wineland (in physics, 2012); John Hall (physics, 2012), and Thomas Cech (chemistry, 1989).

147. Authors: Dozens of accomplished , including Gonzo journalist and author Hunter Thompson; Jon Krakauer ("Into Thin Air"); Jack Kerouac ("On the Road"); Peter Heller ("The Dog Stars"); Allen Ginsberg (Beat poet); Stephen White (Alan Gregory thrillers); Blake Crouch ("Dark Matter); and Kent Haruf ("Plainsong").

148. Root Shoot Whiskey: The Loveland-based Root Shoot Spirits’ American Single Malt Whiskey was named Whiskey of the Year  in this year's London Spirits Competition. That's in the world.

149. Horseback riding: Fans of "Yellowstone" with visions of Western cowboys on horseback are in luck: will let you come out and saddle up. Cowboy hats optional.

150. Well, you live here. Duh.

Denver Post staffer Barbara Ellis contributed to this report. 

The costs associated with entry fees and reservation times can add up quickly between the numerous national parks, national forests, state parks and more. It can also be difficult to keep up with it all since each attraction is managed by a different agency or municipality.

Say, for example, you live in Denver and have friends or family visiting for a long weekend. If you want to take them kayaking at Chatfield State Park in Littleton one day, you’ll need to buy a $12 vehicle day pass. And if you also want to drive them to the summit of Mount Blue Sky near Idaho Springs, you’ll need to make a reservation up to 30 days in advance and pay another $22 reservation/entry fee for the day.

That����ap a $34 investment before you consider the added costs of gas, food, and gear rentals.

Or perhaps your group wants to venture further into the forest and check out the iconic Hanging Lake in Glenwood Springs followed by a trip to Maroon Bells Scenic Area near Aspen. That will set you back $12 per person for hiking access to Hanging Lake, plus $12.50 to park at the Maroon Bells trailhead. The catch: Maroon Bells’ parking reservations fill up quickly, so unless you book well in advance, you’ll likely have to take a shuttle to the scenic area for $16 per adult and $10 per child.

The cheapest way to get into Maroon Bells Scenic Area is to ride an e-bike, which incurs a $5 entry fee — though that does not include whatever it may cost to rent one from a nearby shop. Plus, you need some level of physical fitness, as round trip from Aspen Highlands Ski Area to Maroon Lake.

Fees to access these beloved areas often go back to helping crews maintain and clean the trails and amenities, so they are not cash grabs. And there are some money-saving hacks to bring down the cost. For example, when Coloradans register their vehicles each year, they can get a , a steep discount compared to the usual price of $80.

Still, it����ap easy to spend hundreds of dollars per year to visit Colorado’s most coveted outdoor destinations. Here’s a breakdown of prices to know about ahead of planning your next trip.

National Parks Annual Pass: $80

If you plan to visit all four of Colorado’s national parks, or even a single park more than twice, it����ap probably worth investing in an annual pass. Otherwise, you’ll pay $30 per car to visit , and , and $25 per car to visit the . Individual parks also sell individual annual passes for less than $80. For example, an annual pass to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park costs $55.

State Parks Annual Pass: $80

As mentioned, Colorado residents can snag a discounted state parks pass when they sign up for a during vehicle registration. That is the only time locals can access that discount. About a quarter of the population opted in for that pass between June 2024 and June 2025, to support state parks, local search and rescue volunteers and the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.

State Parks Day Pass: $10-$12

Day use passes to Colorado’s state parks typically cost $10 per private vehicle. However, several parks increased entry prices by $2 this year to support maintenance of roads and dams. It costs $12 to visit Chatfield State Park in Littleton, Cherry Creek State Park in Aurora, Golden Gate Canyon in Golden, Elkhead Reservoir State Park in Craig, Stagecoach State Park in Oak Creek, State Forest State Park in Walden, and Pearl Lake State Park and Steamboat Lake State Park in Clark. (Out-of-state visitors pay $15-$17 per day depending on where they go.)

Mount Blue Sky: $17-$22

Following a multi-year closure and redevelopment project, the Mount Blue Sky Recreation Area reopened to visitors in May of this year. Entry costs $20 per car or $15 per motorcycle, plus a $2 reservation fee to schedule when you want to visit in advance (required). The recreation area officially starts near Echo Lake on the , and includes access to Mount Goliath, Summit Lake Park, and the Mount Blue Sky Summit at 14,266 feet.

Pikes Peak: $20-$40 per person

Located near Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak is one of Colorado’s most accessible 14ers because there is a paved highway that runs 19 miles all the way to the summit. But, of course, it will cost you to get there. Entry costs $18 per person in a private vehicle (or $65 for a car of up to five people), plus a $2 reservation fee when booked in advance. Another option is to ride the shuttle to the top, which costs $40 per adult and $12 per child.

Hanging Lake: $12 per person

Much of the trail to Hanging Lake, near Glenwood Springs, was destroyed in a wildfire that ripped through the area in 2020. Though it has technically been open since 2021, a $4.7 million reconstruction project is now complete and welcoming visitors. Reservations ($12 per person) are required to visit Hanging Lake, a Natural National Landmark formed from travertine, or limestone deposited near mineral springs. The lake was formed by a geologic fault that caused the lake bed to drop away from the valley floor above, and it remains home to an extremely sensitive ecosystem.

Maroon Bells Scenic Area: $5 and up

The Maroon Bells Scenic Area provides access to Maroon Lake and acts as a gateway to the larger Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. It costs $12.50 ($10, plus a $2 reservation fee) to park at the trailhead. But parking sells out far in advance, so visitors may have to take a shuttle service that runs from Aspen Highlands Ski Area to the Maroon Lake trailhead. That costs $16 per adult and $10 per child when booked in advance, or $20 per adult and $14 per child when booked day-of. New this year, the area is charging $5 per e-bike entry.

Maroon Bells ranks among Colorado’s most well-known destinations, recording about 215,000 visits annually between May and October. That����ap why fees are expected to go up in the coming years, as Pitkin County officials work to take over maintaining the recreation area.

Blue Lakes: $6-$31 starting in 2027

Anyone who wants to visit the Blue Lakes, located near Ridgway and Telluride on the Western Slope, will soon have to buy a permit to do so. Starting in 2027, the U.S. Forest Service expects to require people to buy a $5 day-use permit or $25 overnight camping permit during peak season, from June 1 through Sept. 30. The prices are anticipated to include an additional $1 and $6 reservation fee, respectively. (The agency recently proposed those fees and is currently .)

The Blue Lakes have become extremely popular in recent years to the point that recreation has devastated the natural wilderness. The permit system is intended to cut down annual visitation from about 35,000 people to 8,000 people.

Rocky saw 4,171,431 visitors in 2025, an increase of 17,082 over 2024. Yosemite National Park took over fifth place with 4,278,413 due to a visitation surge of more than 156,000 over the year before. Yosemite officials reported in September that the park experienced one of its busiest summer seasons in years with visitation tracking 7% ahead of 2024.

The top five on the list in 2025 was typical of recent years except for the absence of Rocky. Great Smoky Mountains National Park was No. 1, as usual, with 11,527,939, accounting for 12% of all visits to national parks. Zion was No. 2 (4,984,525), followed by Yellowstone (4,762,988), Grand Canyon (4,430,653) and Yosemite.

The record attendance for Rocky came in 2019 at 4,670,053, which ranked it third that year. Since then, park officials have enforced a they say is needed to prevent overcrowding and resource damage.

Rocky’s timed-entry period will begin this year on the Friday before Memorial Day, May 22, and will run into October.

Rocky also ranked third in 2015 and 2018. Since the imposition of timed-entry reservations, it ranked fourth or fifth until last year.

Yosemite and Arches National Park have dropped their timed-entry reservation requirement for 2026.

Colorado’s other three national parks saw visitation declines in 2025. Mesa Verde ranked 43rd on the national park list at 463,130, down from 480,165 in 2024. Great Sand Dunes ranked 44th at 432,498, down from 437,661. Black Canyon of the Gunnison was 50th at 250,086, down from 335,862 in 2024.

Black Canyon’s 25% decrease was due to the lightning-caused South Rim Fire, which forced closure of the park in July. The South Rim Campground, East Portal Campground and Rim Rock Trail from South Rim Campground to Tomichi Point remain closed.

Ben Nighthorse Campbell, the former Colorado U.S. senator and congressman who served first as a Democrat and then as a Republican, died of natural causes Dec. 30 at his ranch in Ignacio, Colorado at age 92.

A member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, Campbell grew up poor and spent part of his childhood in a California orphanage, yet he led a life of excelling. He became a judo champion in 1963, winning a gold medal at the Pan-American Games; served in the Air Force for four years where he earned his GED; went on to get degrees in physical education and fine arts at San Jose State University; and honed skills as a silversmith and jeweler. His Western belt buckles were prized.

He entered politics in 1982, first serving as a state legislator. He was next elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, serving rural Western Colorado from 1987 to 1993, then was elected to two terms in the U.S. Senate.

When Senator Campbell switched from being a registered Democrat to a Republican on March 3, 1995, “the switch was shocking and traumatic to his staff,” said Ken Lane, his longtime chief of staff. He quit soon after Campbell’s announcement.

Lane said there was lots of speculation about why Campbell became a Republican. A major irritant for Campbell, Lane recalled, was what the senator called the “elitist” attitude of Democratic leaders in Denver and Boulder, who found him too moderate. Campbell’s main support always came from the union stronghold of Pueblo, in southern Colorado.

It was known that Republican Senator and majority leader Bob Dole courted Campbell to make the switch, and once he did, Campbell was appointed chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. Campbell relished the job, advocating for Tribal rights and spurring the creation of the Sand Creek Massacre National Historical Site in Colorado, where two of his ancestors had been killed by U.S. soldiers.

Dea Jacobson, who worked in his Grand Junction, Colorado office when he was a Democrat, called him a force of nature. “He could do anything he put his mind to,” she said. He was a licensed pilot, and he also earned a commercial driver’s license, which he used in 2000 and 2012 to drive huge Colorado Christmas trees to the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Though his party changed, Jacobson said, Campbell’s politics remained the same: “He was pro-choice, pro-union and, despite criticism from some environmentalists, he backed key legislation protecting Colorado’s public lands.” Over the years, Campbell became known as someone who’d horse trade to get the bills he cared about passed.

One of his major victories was passage of the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993, which designated or expanded 19 wilderness areas. The landmark legislation had been 13 years in the making. Campbell also worked on the creation of Great Sand Dunes National Park and helped make the Black Canyon National Monument a national park.

Campbell had a major impact on Colorado’s Four Corners region. Working with the Tribes he changed the Animas–La Plata water project to protect the free-flowing Animas River, despite criticism from environmentalists over the pumping of water uphill into a dry basin. The deal fulfilled long-overdue water rights held by the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute Tribes.

I’d called Campbell last October when I was writing a column about changes coming for the reservoir named after him — Lake Nighthorse — authorized by Congress in 1968 as part of the Animas-La Plata Project. I’d been told Campbell was in poor health, but he answered the phone, later telling me, “I’m suffering from old persons’ problems so I’m not following water wars these days. But don’t forget what Mark Twain said about water: ‘Whiskey is for drinking and water is for fighting.’”

Jacobson wasn’t surprised that Nighthorse was affable in our conversation. “He loved newspaper people,” she recalled, and when they were on the road in rural Colorado, “he liked to stop in at a town’s weekly paper.” Though he didn’t drink, he might also visit a local bar or café to start a conversation with locals. Before long, she said, “he was holding court.”

Lane’s recollection was equally warm. “Ben was funny, irreverent and endearing, and he connected with people of all backgrounds.”

A private memorial service will be held by his family at their ranch in Ignacio, Colorado. He is survived by his wife Linda, his children Colin and Shanan, and four grandchildren.

Dave Marston is the publisher of Writers on the Range, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. He lives in Durango, Colorado.

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The state’s Department of Natural Resources and the Colorado Tourism Office, a division of the Office of Economic Development and International Trade, are splitting the bill of $3,200 per day to run the visitor centers, according to a from the agencies.

The agreement will keep Rocky Mountain’s Beaver Meadows and Kawuneeche visitor centers open starting Friday for seven days, Colorado officials said in the news release.

State officials will have the option to continue funding operations after the first week if the federal government shutdown continues. If the shutdown ends before the week finishes, the extra funds would be reimbursed to the state, officials said.

“Rocky Mountain National Park visitor centers are very important to helping all visitors stay informed, stay safe and enjoy nature,” Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement. “By taking this action, we are helping our local communities, and allowing visitors continued access into the park to enjoy the breathtaking vistas and activities Rocky Mountain National Park has to offer.”

Several states, including Utah and Tennessee, have already taken similar steps to keep their national parks open during the shutdown, which began on Oct. 1.

Polis issued an that directed state officials to develop a plan to keep Colorado’s national parks open in the event of a government shutdown, making this funding possible, according to the news release. He’s said previously that keeping the parks open is one of his top priorities.

Providing the funding also safeguards the revenue and economic benefit that sustains rural communities around the park, state officials said.

In 2023, Rocky Mountain National Park hosted more than 4.1 million visitors, supported 7,833 jobs and generated roughly $888.7 million, according to data from the National Park Service.

“The tourism industry contributes $28.5 billion to Colorado’s economy and supports over 188,000 jobs across the state,” Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade Executive Director Eve Lieberman said in a statement. “Keeping Rocky Mountain National Park and these visitor centers open … helps protect our state’s incredible public lands and supports a critical sector of our economy.”

All national parks in Colorado remain open, though some have limited or unavailable services.

At Mesa Verde, visitors are unable to access cultural sites, including the cliff dwellings, according to the . The main park road and trails leaving the Morefield Campground remain open, but the Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center, Mesa Verde Museum, Mesa Top Loop, Cliff Palace Loop and all other trails were closed in early October.

As of Oct. 12, the visitor center at Great Sand Dunes National Park was being sustained by donations, .

The elk was killed on Sept. 9 or 10 in the Hudson drainage area, north of the Medano Pass parking lot, according to staff. The area is on the east side of the national park and preserve.

National Park Service officials are searching for a 6-foot white man with brown hair and a close-trimmed beard. He was wearing camouflage, a baseball cap and a backpack and may have carried a compound bow with bright fletching and two elk antlers, federal officials said.

The man is believed to have been driving a dark-colored Dodge Ram pickup, according to the park service.

Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators at GRSA_Law_Enforcement@nps.gov or via phone at 719-589-5807. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

State and county governments are helping to fund Utah’s national parks. According to , all five national parks are open, including their visitor centers. In Tennessee, state and county governments are funding operations in Great Smoky National Park, always the busiest national park in the U.S., with more than 12 million visitors annually.

In August. Gov. Jared Polis said the state stood ready to help keep national parks open in the event of a shutdown. The current shutdown began on Oct. 1, but so far, Rocky Mountain National Park has been kept open with previously collected fee revenue that is funding minimal services. The state has provided no funds thus far.

“I have been clear that one of my top priorities amid the Republican controlled government shutdown is to ensure that Colorado’s natural wonders are accessible for Coloradans and visitors, and enjoyed responsibly,” Polis said in a statement. “We will closely monitor if the state needs to partner with the federal government to keep the parks open, which has not yet been necessary. I continue to urge Coloradans to enjoy our beautiful parks responsibly.”

Visitors are entering Rocky Mountain National Park free of charge and without timed-entry reservations. For what it’s worth, the requirement for a reservation to enter all of the park except the Bear Lake corridor has ended for the year. The requirement for a reservation to enter the Bear Lake corridor ends Sunday.

The story is different at Mesa Verde National Park, however, where the ancient cliff dwellings are closed, according to the , a non-profit partner of the park. Also closed are the visitor center, the Mesa Verde Museum, Mesa Top Loop, Cliff Palace Loop and all other trails.

Great Sand Dunes National Park is open and attracting visitors, although the visitor center is closed. Raleigh Burts, a manager at Kristi Mountain Sports in Alamosa, says his shop has been renting sandboards to visitors bound for the tallest dunes in North America.

“The feedback from customers is that they know the visitor center is closed, but the bathrooms are still open and being cleaned,” Burts said. “As long as people are being respectful, not vandalizing, using the trash and toilet services, I think it����ap perfectly fine for people to continue recreating.”

In Utah, like Rocky Mountain National Park, basic park services such as search-and-rescue and sanitary needs have been covered by fee revenue collected by the parks prior to the shutdown. Visitor centers were closed when the shutdown began, but the state stepped in with funds to reopen them last week.

“It����ap been an amazing partnership so far, between the state, the county,” said Brian Martinez, a Grand County (Utah) commissioner in Moab who runs an outfitting business in Arches and Canyonlands national parks. “Everything is moving really smooth. The biggest challenge we’re having is the messaging. If you go on the Arches National Park’s website, it says reservations required. We’re having a hard time getting out the message that there are no reservations needed.”