Road tripping
San Juan Skyway (four days)
For those who can stomach the hairpin turns, steep grades and guardrail-less swathes of the San Juan Skyway, the payoff is huge. More than 100 3,900 metres-plus peaks line this 236-mile loop through the San Juan mountains – a particularly high and rugged passage of the Rockies in southwestern Colorado, where dramatic red rocks contrast against an azure-blue sky. The route traverses historic towns and culturally rich sites, such as the mining camp turned resort town of Telluride; the 1880s railroad hub of Durango; Ouray hot springs; and Mesa Verde national park, home to some of the best-preserved Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings and ruins in the US.
Day trip
Drive 40 minutes west from Denver to Idaho Springs, where the highest paved road in North America takes you 28 miles to the top of one of Colorado’s highest peaks: 4,350-metre Mount Evans. Be sure to get out of the car at the top to experience the thin air – you’ll feel winded just walking.
Biking
Colorado wine country (two days)
The Grand Valley, located on the western slope of Colorado (west of the Continental Divide), is home to the highest-elevation vineyards in the US, and produces more than 80% of Colorado’s grapes. It’s also the site of the Fruit and Wine Byway, a backroads tour of dozens of wineries, ideal for road biking. The byway starts in the pastoral town of Palisade, also known for its world-class peaches, and loops 25 miles through vineyards, orchards, lavender gardens and organic farms. Portions of the route overlook the majestic Colorado River, with non-stop views of the region’s iconic sandstone cliffs and mesas.
Day trip
For a family-friendly bike ride with big mountain scenery, drive one and a half hours west of Denver to the resort town of Breckenridge, where the paved Blue River Recreation Path meanders nine surprisingly flat miles to Frisco.
Hiking
Backpacking with llamas (five days)
Llamas, being naturally acclimatised to altitude and mountain terrain, have been used as pack animals for centuries. In the resort town of Beaver Creek, Paragon Guides pairs llamas with backpackers on multi-day expeditions into the backcountry.
For those not used to hiking at 2,740 metres, sharing the load with these gentle, intelligent beasts is a game changer. From Beaver Creek, hike five to eight miles a day (easy, until you consider the daily 457 metres of elevation gain) along the Colorado trail, sleeping in Colorado’s famous 10th Mountain Division Huts, named for the division of the US army who trained in the area during the second world war. The historical (but well-appointed) cabins are accessible only by foot, and serve as basecamp for exploring the surrounding alpine splendour.
Day trip
The outdoor mecca of Boulder is only 35 miles from Denver. Head to the Gregory Canyon Trailhead and hike the 2.75 miles to the top of Green Mountain for a 180-degree view of more than 20 snow-capped peaks standing at 3,657 metres and higher.
White-water rafting
Black Canyon of the Gunnison (three days)
In a region of the country known for its world-class white water, Colorado’s “Gunny Gorge,” as locals call it, stands apart for its solitude. The 14-mile stretch of class III white water is accessible only by foot or horseback – following a one-mile path down a moderately steep trail. Inside the narrow river corridor, 853-metre tall Precambrian rock walls preside over clear, emerald-green waters teeming with trout. While the trip can be completed in two days, it’s best done in three, to leave time for exploratory hikes into side canyons, wildlife watching, and cliff jumping from riverside rocks. Dvorak Expeditions, a family-run operation with four decades of experience, offers guided trips.
Day trip
Two-and-a-half hours south-west of Denver, you’ll find one of Colorado’s best sections of white water – the class III and IV rapids of the pristine Arkansas River churning through the pink granite of Browns Canyon national monument. Most guides offer half-day options, perfect for day-trippers from the mile high city.
United Airlines offers a seasonal, non-stop service from London Heathrow to Denver on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner – complete with high-tech cabin lighting and smoother ride technology, plus flat-bed seats in Polaris business class. Learn more at united.com
