The journey, the drama, the hazard—who doesn’t love the Wild West (not less than, the romanticized model of it we see on screens)? It’s as a lot part of American id as sizzling canines and apple pie, and that is much more true in western states that embrace their Outdated West heritage.
For many who need to discover stretches of untamed wilderness, Colorado is a superb place to faucet into your inside cowboy or cowgirl. Scenes from Westerns like How the West Was Received (1962), Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Child (1969), and The Lone Ranger (2013), amongst many others, have been filmed within the Centennial State, because of its rugged terrain and dramatic surroundings.
In modern-day Colorado, you’ll be able to seize that Wild West feeling not solely by exploring its wide-open areas but in addition by searching for out western tradition.
In reality, yow will discover loads of locations the place the strains between previous and current blur—the place historical past lives on in present-day tradition. So, don your cowboy hats and boots, as a result of after you examine all of the methods you’ll be able to uncover the magic of Colorado’s western heritage, you’ll need to go there pronto.
Offered by the Colorado Tourism Workplace
Keep at a Dude Ranch
Dude ranches (often known as visitor ranches) mix the perfect of each worlds—the gritty appeal of the outdated together with the consolation of the brand new. There are over two dozen of those ranches in Colorado, and you’ll select one which’s a bit extra luxurious or a bit extra genuine, relying in your preferences.
Households can discover dude ranches that provide using packages, wine tasting, mountain climbing, and extra. Anybody who needs to get sweaty and soiled can discover a working dude ranch, the place you’ll be able to expertise and take part in issues like calving and sq. dancing.
For a dude-ranch expertise within the lap of luxurious, you would possibly contemplate Vista Verde Visitor Ranch in Clark or the C Lazy U Dude Ranch in Granby. Some improbable choices for a country retreat embrace the Sylvan Dale Visitor Ranch in Loveland or the Canyon of the Ancients Visitor Ranch in Cortez.
Discover much more prospects by testing the Colorado Dude and Visitor Ranch Affiliation.
Expertise a Rodeo
For those who’ve by no means been to a rodeo, get to at least one in Colorado for an exhilarating expertise that’ll be like nothing you’ve seen earlier than. Summer time is the season for rodeos throughout Colorado, and glorious choices embrace the Excessive Nation Stampede Rodeo in Fraser, the Snowmass Rodeo, and the Steamboat Springs Professional Rodeo, which has been operating for greater than a century.
Rodeos provide greater than bull using and barrel racing. You’ll typically discover extras like music and dwell leisure, nice barbeque, livestock exhibits, nation dwelling dances, and children’ actions.
Each January, the Nationwide Western Inventory Present attracts guests from all around the nation to the Denver space. The occasion is chock-full of actions like pony rides, a youth artwork contest, and a petting farm, in addition to exhibits, together with a Wild West present. The roughly two-week occasion kicks off with the Inventory Present Parade, wherein dozens of longhorn cattle stroll by means of the streets of downtown Denver. If you wish to be a part of this, begin planning now for subsequent yr!
Discover a Ghost City
Ghost cities are fascinating, and Colorado has loads of them that ooze with attention-grabbing historical past relationship again to the Outdated West. Within the 1800s, Colorado cities swelled because of a mining increase within the area. A few of these cities have pale into distant reminiscence, however you’ll be able to nonetheless see a handful of them.
Go to St. Elmo, close to Buena Vista, to expertise among the finest preserved ghost cities in Colorado. When you’re there, go to the close by former city of Tin Cup to double the enjoyable. There’s additionally Ashcroft outdoors of Aspen, the place you’ll be able to take a self-guided tour of the remaining buildings, and Ghost City Hole close to Pikes Peak, which is the right selection if you wish to mix your cultural exploration with a hike.
Go Horseback Using
You may at all times discover Colorado how the early explorers did—on horseback—for a style of that genuine Wild West. There are some spectacular alternatives for horseback using not solely in locations like Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park and the Backyard of the Gods but in addition in locations like Brown’s Creek Falls close to Salida. For extra choices off the overwhelmed path, take a look at Weminuche Wilderness to trek over the Continental Divide and the Maroon Bells close to Aspen.
Listed below are eight unimaginable horseback using journeys to absorb Colorado.
Go to a Museum
For a extra curated tribute to Colorado’s western heritage, head to a museum. The Gunnison Pioneer Museum offers you a peek at historic schoolhouses and rail yards. Many others, together with the Outlaws and Lawmen Jail Museum in Cripple Creek and the Limon Heritage Museum and Railroad Park additionally present a glimpse right into a lifestyle gone.
In downtown Denver, the Historical past Colorado Heart showcases artifacts and extra from the Wild West, the Spanish American Conflict, and Colorado’s gold mining days.
Uncover the Magic of the Wild West
Colorado has a wealthy historical past as a part of America’s Wild West. That previous is a part of what makes the state so distinctive, along with all of the unimaginable alternatives for journey. Improve your go to and expertise Colorado’s western heritage by staying at a dude ranch, going to a rodeo, horseback using, or taking one other tip from this checklist!
