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Small towns around denver11 Best Mountain Towns Near Denver - The World on my Necklace
If you have more time, do a Colorado Road Trip or venture to some of the beautiful Colorado mountain towns and hidden gems further from Denver. Colorado is an incredible state and there is so much to see here! Check out my interactive map to the best mountain towns near Denver.
Boulder is a gorgeous college town well, a city really in the foothills of the Rockies that somehow manages to be both hippie and well-heeled. Visiting Boulder is a popular day trip from Denver, but if you have the time, I highly recommend staying longer because there is so much to see and do here.
If you are a hiker or you want to give hiking a try , Boulder is an excellent place to do so because there are so many open-space parks and hiking trails that are literally within walking distance from town. Boulder is one of the must-visit mountain towns near Denver in my opinion, and you may never want to leave.
Where to Eat in Boulder: Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse offers delicious tea drinks and food from around the world, Pizzeria Locale has awesome Neopolitan-style pizza, Avanti is a food hall with a roof terrace and lots of delicious options including Korean fare, pupusas, pizza, and more.
Where to Drink in Boulder: Boulder is home to so many great breweries. Lyons is known as a stopover town on the way to Rocky Mountain National Park from Denver, but it is a cool little town in its own right and definitely worth a visit. There are a number of hiking and biking trails near town and you are only a minute drive from Rocky Mountain National Park so if you are staying a couple of nights, Lyons is a great base to explore the park from.
Lyons is all about local pride, and the relaxed pace of life and friendly small-town charm is sure to win you over. This is definitely one of the mountain towns close to Denver that you should take the time to visit.
For an affordable self-contained option, stay at this cozy one-bedroom carriage house. Idaho Springs is one of my absolute favorite mountain towns near Denver because there is so much to do here and it is so accessible.
You could easily spend a couple of hours just exploring downtown. If you are into white water rafting, then Idaho Springs is a great place to do that too, with Class III-V rapids and trips suitable for beginners through to experts. There is also a small mining museum in town, the Underhill Museum. Idaho Springs is also home to the closest hot springs to Denver, Indian Hot Springs, which has a large pool in a greenhouse as well as geothermal caves and private pools.
Idaho Springs has pretty much all the best of Colorado in one small town and I love it. It is definitely one of the must-visit mountain towns close to Denver.
For vacation rentals, stay at this mountain retreat cottage or the Arapaho Cliffs Log Cabin. The Vintage Moose is a great choice if dive bars are more your style.
Colorful, restored historic buildings line the short but very pretty main street, Sixth Street. If you are interested in mining history you can take a tour of the historic Capital Prize Gold Mine, and take a trip on the Georgetown Loop Railroad on a steam locomotive that passes several old gold and silver mines.
Georgetown Lake is a great spot for water sports like SUP and kayaking, and it is stocked with brown trout you can fish here too make sure to get a permit. For vacation rentals, stay at The Cricket tiny house on Clear Creek, or in this super affordable and cozy one-bedroom condo. This former gold mining town has a strong Western flair with historic brick buildings in town and lots of cowboy paraphernalia around the place.
It is nestled in Clear Creek Valley, at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, and it is a gorgeous sight. There are so many hiking and biking trails around Golden with many of them accessible from the middle of town — I wrote a post about the best hiking trails in Golden. For vacation rentals, stay at this historic carriage house or this charming studio in a historic home — both close to downtown Golden. Where to Eat in Golden: Start your day with a southern-style breakfast at Sassafras on their riverside patio.
Golden Mill is a new food hall with five food vendors that include sushi, chicken, and tacos as well as New Zealand ice cream and pour your own beer taps.
Sherpa House is a cozy spot for excellent Himalayan food and it is also a cultural center. They usually have food trucks at the breweries most days.
Miners Saloon is also a great place to grab a drink and Golden Moon Speak next door is a speakeasy and distillery that serves up handcrafted cocktails. Evergreen started as a ranching community in the s and has been a popular summer escape for Denverites since the late 19th century.
The historic downtown has a more rustic feel compared to the more polished look of Georgetown and Idaho Springs, and I really like it for that. Make sure to explore the compact main street with its antiques, consignment stores, and galleries. The lake is the perfect place to walk — it is 1. There are a number of other hiking and biking trails nearby too, so Evergreen is a great base for adventure.
For vacation rentals, stay at this cozy studio with mountain views, or this beautiful mountaintop one-bedroom apartment. Where to Drink in Evergreen: Revival brews for local beer and elevated bar food, Lariat Lodge Brewing Company for inventive craft beer brewed onsite.
Lovely Morrison is just up the road from Golden and is the closest town to the world-famous Red Rocks Amphitheater.
Greenwood Village is pricey, but many people consider it worth the cost because of the convenience. The living is good in Greenwood Village, a place where the schools are competitive, the neighborhoods are quiet and the lawns are neatly manicured. While it lacks nightlife, the city is just a quick trip away from Denver via the light rail for those who want to paint the town.
Centennial is a suburb just south of Denver that runs east to west. Plenty of golf courses, hiking and biking trails and family fun pavilions are available here. Water parks, indoor ski areas and open-air shopping areas are easy to find. Centennial offers affordability and a commute that's not too bad whether you plan to work in the Denver Tech Center or downtown Denver.
Plus, this suburb has its own airport, a handy amenity for frequent flyers. Find apartments for rent in Centennial Buy a house in Centennial. Just to the west of Denver sits Golden , the last place you pass on Highway 6 before it's clear you're not in the city anymore. Golden serves as the gatekeeper between city life and rural mountain views, and that comes with a heftier price tag than the average cost of rent in Denver.
This picturesque town feels like a little mountain town, and yet it's still a place where downtown Denver is accessible by the light rail in under 40 minutes.
Yes, Golden is small, but it's already making a name for itself in the Colorado dining scene. Here, you can expect charming mountain views, golf clubs galore and craft breweries. You can also anticipate fun for the kids with offerings including Dinosaur Ridge trail with dig areas, the Colorado Railroad Museum, aquatic parks and more.
Find apartments for rent in Golden Buy a house in Golden. Lone Tree is a newer suburb, but it has already become known as a haven for shoppers. It's also the last stop on your way south out of Denver. The Park Meadows Mall is a stylish shopping center, and there are plenty of dining options, ranging from casual to the dress-code enforced. The light rail extends to the Lone Tree city center and will get you downtown Denver in about 45 minutes.
If you need to drive, you're just a stone's throw from Interstate People who move to Lone Tree love the mountain views, the parks with hiking, biking and horseback riding trails and the golf. The schools here are good, making Lone Tree a hotspot for families who don't want to deal with Denver's nonstop activity.
What you miss in independent mom and pop shops, you make up for with affordability. Spacious yards are also a draw for people with pets and those who prefer wide-open spaces. A local arts center completes the town and leaves it feeling less like a suburb and more like an escape. Parker is a microcosm of Colorado. It feels like part mountain retreat, part rural small town and part city, which is to say that Parker has it all. With a cute downtown bustling with restaurants, shops and events, Parker has plenty to do and see all on its own.
It feels incredibly removed from Denver, and you can't get downtown on the light rail. Yet the draw of Parker, for many residents, seems to override the commute. This city is the home of the University of Colorado Buffaloes. Spend a day at Boulder Reservoir where you can swim, sail and water ski during the summer months. Hiking, mountain bike and cross-country ski trails abound in and around town.
Nestled at the base of majestic Pikes Peak - the historic mountain that inspired Katharine Lee Bates to write "America the Beautiful" - Colorado Springs and its surrounding area offer an endless number of thrilling activities. Denver and its surrounding area provides visitors and locals plenty of adventures within just 1 hour of driving. Whether you want to get away from the big city lights or venture through the cultural Mecca, adventures to suit your fancy await.
Working gold mines, mountain lakes and historic sites provide a look into the beginnings of Colorado mountain life. Central City and Black Hawk offer legalized gambling for the high stakes type. A popular destination for Colorado travelers and residents alike. The town offers easy access to hiking, mountain biking, shopping, fishing and wildlife for a day trip from Denver.
Rocky Mountain National Park resides minutes east of town proper. Horsetooth Mountain Park, just a few miles west of the city, provides a mountain playground full of trails for hikers, bikers and horseback riders. Loveland is a popular place for fishing and water sports. Lyons is an intimate community, known as the "Double Gateway" to the Rockies for its dual highways that take you up the North and South St. The Historic District has 16 buildings featuring fine craftsmanship and the stunning beauty of sandstone, their native rock.
Railroad buffs will want to drive up the grade of the Rollins Pass railroad, or seek out the route of the Switzerland Trail narrow-gauge to the small towns where Colorado's first gold strikes were made.
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