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.”

Colorado has four national parks: Rocky Mountain, Great Sand Dunes, Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Mesa Verde. Keep in mind that timed-entry reservations are still required at Rocky Mountain, and it’s likely to be a busy day because of elk bugling season and leaf-peeping travelers.

Reservations are required for all of the park except the Bear Lake Road corridor from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. That reservation includes access to Trail Ridge Road. Reservations for all of the park including Bear Lake Road are required from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Reservation requirements will end on Oct. 13 for all of the park except Bear Lake, and on Oct. 19 for all of the park including Bear Lake.

Most reservations are secured weeks in advance, but a few are held back until 7 p.m. the night before the arrival date. These are likely to be snapped up quickly, though.

Reservations are free, except for a $2 processing fee, and must be bought in advance .

Annual free entry days at national parks

• Jan. 20: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• April 19: First day of National Park Week
• June 19: Juneteenth National Independence Day
• Aug. 4: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
• Sept. 27: National Public Lands Day
• Nov. 11: Veterans Day

The EPA that it intends to deny Colorado’s plan to shutter coal-fired power plants as part of the state’s strategy to reduce the regional haze that clouds views at and other federal lands. Colorado was previously allowed to list coal-plant closures as an acceptable strategy to reduce haze.

Cyrus Western, director of , which includes Colorado, affirmed to The Denver Post that the denial is part of the Trump administration’s plan to make sure no federal regulations stand in the way of coal-fired power generation.

Western, a Trump appointee from Wyoming, which is the nation’s largest producer of coal, did not say the EPA would override Colorado’s laws that require the coal-burning plants to close, although the Federal Register notice indicates the agency might do so.

“What the legislature does and what the governor does, the laws they pass, that is the state’s business,” Western said. “But from a federal standpoint, we want to be sure there will not be a single shutdown of a coal-fired generation unit because of federal regulation or by the federal government breathing down their necks.”

The EPA’s proposal alarmed environmentalists who have been leery of President Donald Trump’s repeated remarks about and his executive orders that promote the coal industry.

The president this year has used executive orders — citing energy emergencies — to and . And the EPA under Trump’s leadership has proposed repealing Biden administration regulations that would have reduced greenhouse gas emissions from coal power plants and required the power sector to cut mercury and other air toxics.

“It����ap in keeping with the ideology of this administration to do everything possible to prop up the dying coal industry,” said Jeremy Nichols, senior advocate with the . “It����ap absurd.”

The ruling is a pivot from past EPA decisions that allow the closing of coal-fired power plants to count toward clean air goals, Nichols said, and it could pave the way for and other utilities to keep their coal-fired plants running.

“It doesn’t help to have the EPA telling the state it����ap illegal to close coal-fired power plants,” Nichols said. “This is a punch in the face to Colorado’s climate progress.”

But Colorado regulators said the EPA’s proposed denial of Colorado’s plans will not have an impact on the state because the retirement dates for all of the state’s remaining coal plants remain enforceable under state law and the transition already is underway.

“Utilities are moving away from coal because it����ap no longer the most affordable or reliable option,” said Michael Ogletree, senior director of state air quality programs at the . “Many coal plants have already shut down or are on track to retire — driven by economics and cost savings for consumers, not federal mandates. That transition is locked in through utility planning and will continue regardless of this federal decision.”

Gov. Jared Polis’ office reiterated the point that the utility companies operating in the state already have plans to close those plants.

“Colorado utilities have their own ambitious plans to reduce costs, including retiring costly coal plants to transition to more stable clean energy, and lower costs,” Ally Sullivan, a governor’s spokesperson, said in an email. “The EPA’s proposed denial has no meaningful impact on utilities’ plans to move away from coal because it����ap no longer the most affordable or reliable option.”

Utilty wants to keep plant open

However, the EPA’s notice in the Federal Register stated that told the agency in April that it wants to exclude its in Fountain from the state’s closure plans. The utility also met with state regulators on April 23 to ask that Nixon be allowed to remain open, according to the Federal Register notice.

Danielle Nieves, a Colorado Springs Utilities spokesperson, said the company is still scheduled to shutter Nixon in 2029, but that date is causing reliability challenges and the utility is having difficulties finding resources for the transition to renewable energy.

“The market for renewable energy resources across the country is tremendously challenging with ongoing supply chain congestion and regulatory uncertainty — resulting in renewable energy resources being three to five times more expensive than originally forecasted,” she said in an email.

Nieves said the utility is supportive of the EPA’s recommendation to exclude Nixon from the regional haze plan “because Colorado doesn’t need the Nixon closure to achieve its reasonable progress targets, and that choosing to include Nixon could present serious reliability challenges for Colorado Springs Utilities.”

Spokeswoman Michelle Aguayo said Xcel remains committed to retiring its coal units — including the Comanche Generating Station in Pueblo — by the end of 2030.

“Nothing in this action from the Environmental Protection Agency directly changes our Colorado resource plans,” she said in an emailed statement.

Although Western said that “what Colorado does is Colorado’s business,” the EPA’s notification argued that the Clean Air Act does not give states the ability to order coal power plants to close, citing the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment, which prohibits the government from taking private property without just compensation.

The EPA also argues — although without specific evidence — that forcing the closures would violate Colorado state law.

Coal is one of the dirtiest forms of electricity generation, annually releasing millions of tons of pollutants into the air that contribute to global warming and harm human health. Those emissions include carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, mercury, sulfur dioxide and fine particulate matter. Those power plants also create a coal ash byproduct that leaches contaminants such as lithium and selenium into groundwater.

‘Turning that progress backwards’

Coal emissions help create a haze in the skies, and that haze has become a problem at national parks across the country, including Rocky Mountain National Park, Great Sand Dunes National Park, Mesa Verde National Park and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, said Tracy Copolla, the Colorado program manager.

“We are still in a situation where there is significant regional haze in Colorado,” Copolla said. “It goes for miles and miles and miles.”

Ulla Reeves, the National Park Conservation Association’s clean air program director, said the EPA’s proposal is undercutting Colorado’s progress to clean its air.

“Colorado had one of the strongest plans that we’ve seen in the entire country,” Reeves said. “This is really turning that progress backwards. It����ap extremely concerning what the EPA is doing here and undercutting the state’s authority.”

The EPA opened a 60-day public comment period on the proposed rule and multiple environmental groups said they plan to weigh in. They hope Colorado does as well.

“The state really needs to flex its muscles and try to stymie the feds,” Nichols said.

The signs, which were posted June 13 at all National Park Service sites , begin innocuously by asking visitors to scan a QR code and answer three survey questions. The first asks them to identify areas that need repair. The second inquires about services that need improvement.

It’s the third survey query that is surprising many and alarming some. It asks visitors to identify “signs or other information that are negative about either past or living Americans or that fail to emphasize the beauty, grandeur, and abundance of landscapes and other natural features.”

Williams, whose who want the truth to be known about the forced relocation of Native people in Colorado, was shocked.

“I was a little horrified, but I was scared, too,” said Williams, whose ancestry is Oglala Lakota and Cheyenne. “Basically this gives the average citizen a license to determine what they believe the truth is, and defending it against somebody who has an opposing view could create hostility.”

The signs also upset Japanese Americans after they went up at the . Like Sand Creek, Amache is located in southeastern Colorado near the Kansas state line. It was the site of a Japanese internment camp during World War II.

“The way they are written seems to be more applicable to some of the bigger national parks that talk about natural beauty,” said Kirsten Leong, a fourth-generation Japanese American who is vice president of the . “That����ap not the congressional purpose of places like Amache. In law, the purpose for the park, in the enabling legislation as designated by Congress, is about telling these hard historical stories.”

Amache was one of 10 Japanese internment camps during World War II that were established by the War Relocation Authority. More than 10,000 people, mostly U.S. citizens, were incarcerated there from 1942 to 1945.

At Sand Creek, U.S. troops killed 230 Cheyenne and Arapaho people in 1864, mostly women, children and elderly.

Bergum’s order, issued May 20, implemented provisions of an titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.” Trump complained about efforts to “rewrite” history by “replacing objective facts with a distorted narrative driven by ideology rather than truth.” He asserted that the nation’s “unparalleled legacy of advancing liberty, individual rights and human happiness is reconstructed as inherently racist, sexist, oppressive or otherwise irredeemably flawed.”

Bergum’s order directs land management bureaus within the Interior Department, which include the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management, to identify monuments, memorials, statues and markers that “contain images, descriptions, depictions, messages, narratives or other (content) that inappropriately disparages Americans past or living … (or) emphasizes matters unrelated to the beauty, abundance or grandeur of said natural feature.”

Kyle Patterson, public affairs officer at , said signs have been posted “in a variety of public-facing locations including visitor centers, toilet facilities, trailheads and other visitor contact points that are easily accessible and don’t impede the flow of traffic.”

Sierra Willoughby, public information officer at , said the signs were posted at the park’s visitor center.

“This effort reaffirms the NPS mission by emphasizing the importance of accuracy in how we tell stories of American history,” Willoughby wrote in an email. ”Our visitors come to national parks to celebrate the beauty, abundance, and grandeur of America’s landscapes and extraordinary multicultural heritage. This allows them to personally connect with these special places, free of any partisan ideology.”

Many park visitors have been using the surveys to plead for increased funding. Advocates for the national parks say they were severely underfunded even before Trump took office. The park service estimates its nationwide backlog of , including . Now, according to the National Parks Conservation Association, the as part of Trump’s 2026 budget.

“This is the most extreme, unrealistic and destructive National Park Service budget a president has ever proposed in the agency’s 109-year history,” according to a statement issued by National Parks Conservation Association chief executive Theresa Pierno. “It����ap nothing less than an all-out assault on America’s national parks.”

Estee Rivera Murdock, executive director of the non-profit based in Estes Park, said she’s heard that visitors are complaining about inadequate funding in their survey responses.

“I have talked to NPS folks nationwide who are seeing comments come in from different sites and, loud and clear, the dominant theme is ‘We love these places, they need more funding, they need more rangers,’” Murdock said. “It����ap hard to solicit feedback from folks to make changes if you don’t have any mechanism or budgets to make those changes.”

With the threat of budget cuts, there are concerns that historic sites like Amache and Sand Creek, with far less visitation than the big national parks, could be closed. Rocky Mountain National Park attracts 4 million visitors annually. Great Sand Dunes and Mesa Verde attracted 437,000 and 480,000, respectively, in 2024. By contrast, Amache had only 4,771, Sand Creek 6,400. Another National Historic Site in southeastern Colorado, Bent’s Old Fort, attracted 16,000.

“We believe in evidence-based history, which I think the parks are currently doing,” said Dawn DiPrince, chief executive of , who also serves as Colorado’s official state historic preservation officer. “I don’t think we should be changing that. I am even more concerned about the proposed funding cuts. I’m especially concerned about our three historic sites in southeastern Colorado.

“We have parks that were not created just for visitation numbers,” DiPrince added. “They were created by a whole group of people, collectively, to tell really important American history. That is why they exist, and to measure them by sheer visitation numbers and threaten their existence by budgetary cuts, and suggest we should be amending how we tell those stories in ways that are not evidence-based, feels very problematic.”

Williams said he doesn’t worry much about the Sand Creek Massacre site closing because the land will remain sacred to Native Americans. Victims of the massacre were buried there, Williams said, and their spirits remain.

“Of those 6,400 visitors, probably 6,000 were American Indians,” Williams said, “and they’re going to go there whether it����ap a national park or not.”

In celebration of , the National Park Service is offering free admission to all its parks and monuments on Thursday, June 19.

Juneteenth is a federal holiday that celebrates the 1865 abolition of slavery in the United States.

Click here to learn more about Juneteenth and park events planned for that day:

This free day can save you a $50 national park entry fee at many places or even more, but here’s what you need to know:

These free days, which don’t include other fees like camping, are popular. For maximum enjoyment, I suggest getting there when the park opens or at sunrise, before everyone else is even out of bed. No crowds, you can find parking, and sunrise is really beautiful, right? C’mon. You can do it this once.

Here are :

June 19: Juneteenth National Independence DayAugust 4: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors ActSeptember 27: National Public Lands DayNovember 11: Veterans Day

And enjoy!

Glamping (“glamorous camping”) is a way to enjoy Mother Nature’s best amenities as well as the cozy touches of a hotel. The travel trend has exploded in popularity in recent years: According to Arizton research, the U.S. glamping market is projected to reap $1.3 billion by 2029, up from $561 million in 2023 — proof that adventurers remain interested in high-end outdoor experiences whether it����ap slumbering in safari-style tents, yurts, cabins or even unexpected places like decommissioned train cars.

To gauge what����ap next for glamping, industry leaders will convene in Colorado later this fall for the Glamping Show Americas 2025 expo and conference that will be held at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds. Destinations throughout the state are adding more glamping options. From yurts in a state park to grain bins by the Great Sand Dunes, here are five spots with new glamping options for the 2025 summer travel season (and beyond).

Yurts with views at State Forest State Park in Gould

Yonder Yurts became the new concessionaire in Colorado’s State Forest Park in January 2024 and started the buildout process that June. This year marks the first full summer season that all seven newly built yurts are available to book. Each is stocked with a full kitchen, cooktop, bunk beds and wood stoves. They’re an upgrade from traditional tent camping, yet still preserve the rustic, off-grid charm that makes backcountry experiences memorable.

“Yonder Yurts is one of the few places that offers entry-level backcountry access to the yurt itself, and once you’re there, you have access to terrain for all skill levels, from casual explorers to seasoned adventurers,” said Sarah Peterson, owner of Yonder Yurts.

Each yurt offers a unique view: “Medicine Bow and Dancing Moose yurts offer incredible views of Clark Peak, where you can capture the most beautiful sunsets and alpenglows,” she said.

All of the yurts are relatively close to North Michigan Reservoir, so many guests head to the lake for a day of fishing, paddle boarding or boating. Others use the yurts as a basecamp for hiking into more remote alpine lakes like Ruby Jewel and Kelly Lake, Peterson says. Many guests also come for hunting, ATV riding or to simply rest, relax and take in the views from the deck. Yurt rates start at $150 a night.

Railcar glamping at La Junta KOA

Railcar glamping is picking up steam in southeast Colorado. At the La Junta KOA, two new vintage train cars are joining the campground’s lineup of rail-inspired lodging.

The first, arriving in August, is the Wonderful Waycar, a 1930 Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe caboose. Inside, it����ap outfitted with a queen Murphy bed, a large lower bunk, and a kids’ cupola bunk. Period-inspired touches like a swivel lookout chair and a 1908 potbelly fireplace add to its historic character.

In December, the campground will debut what it����ap calling a first: the Frontier Zephyr Vista-Dome, the only known streamliner dome railcar in the U.S. converted into overnight accommodations. Originally built during the height of the Art Deco movement, the car will feature two lodging units, each sleeping six. The highlight is a queen bed in the glass-domed section for stargazing. Art Deco fixtures and furnishings will complete the restoration.

For those heading out earlier in the season, the Cool Caboose — a renovated 1928 model — is already open, with room for five and nightly rates starting at $155.

A renovated grain bin near the Great Sand Dunes

Another unique way to glamp? In an upcycled grain bin. Purchased from a farm auction, Rustic Rook Resort in Mosca has two of the grain bins open now, with one more opening this summer and another two, designed for group stays, scheduled for next year.

The grain bin lofts give you an extra 11 feet of elevation, which means you get fantastic views of the Sand Dunes and the mountains, says co-founder Annette Ostrander-Fenske.  “People want unique stays,” Ostrander-Fenske said. “They want an experience instead of just staying in a hotel room.”

The resort also has glamping tents, camper cabins and bring-your-own tent sites.

There’s plenty to do in the area, from hiking at Zapata Falls to visiting Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve that����ap 19 miles away, and checking out the UFO Watchtower.

Back at camp, guests can play corn hole, horseshoes, volleyball, Frisbee golf, and enjoy live music on select nights and more. Rustic Rook has sand sleds available for rent for those heading into the national park. Nightly grain bin rates start at $210.

New yurts at Arapaho Valley Ranch in Granby

Set in Colorado’s scenic Indian Peaks Wilderness, Arapaho Valley Ranch marks a major milestone this year as it celebrates its 80th anniversary. With the celebration comes the addition of two new yurts that each have two queen beds and a full-size futon.

The yurts add to the resort����ap already diverse mix of glamping options that includes glamping tents, canvas tipis, cozy cabins, and campsites and tent sites, many right on the banks of the South Fork of the Colorado River.

“The entire Lake Granby area, with its trails, lakes and ponds and abundant wildlife, is a great place for travelers to experience the joys of close-to-nature glamping,” said Hayden Hughes, the ranch’s manager.

The ranch is located 45 minutes from Rocky Mountain National Park and guests can venture off to Grand Lake and Lake Granby for fishing and water sports. After a day of adventure, kick back at the Red Dog Saloon, which, at 80 square feet and with four bar stools, is surely a contender for Colorado’s tiniest bar. The pint-sized pub serves mules in copper mugs and a rotating selection of local craft beers. Nightly yurt rates start at $200.

A site for music lovers in Poudre Canyon

Picture this: You attend a concert at the riverfront Mishawaka Amphitheatre. Then, you board a free shuttle to take you back to your accommodations 3 miles away at Riverside Colorado, a glamping resort where the soundtrack in the morning is the rumble of the Poudre River. The stylish glampground, a sister company to Mishawaka Amphitheatre, includes a nice mix of glamping tents, cozy tiny homes and modern cabins.

Guests can enjoy on-site amenities like espresso and baked goods served at the Kind Bean coffee cart and goods from Poudre Park Market, the general store that has take-and-bake options for grills or on-site pizza ovens, plus wine and beer.

The resort will be debuting live fireside concert sessions, programmed by The Mishawaka. In addition, glampers can set out on hiking trails, go whitewater rafting with Rocky Mountain Adventures and take part in polar plunges. Nightly rates start at $135 for glamps; $180 for cabins; and $175 for tiny homes.