Your American Wild West adventure awaits in Colorado

As a half-Brit, half-American raised in the States, I’m well-practised in the great American road trip tradition. And, if an authentic, outdoorsy Western adventure is next on your bucket list, you’ve got to visit the state of Colorado.

Nicknamed ‘the Gateway to the West,’ it is chock-full of outdoor pursuits, arts and culture, wellness, and dining worthy of devoting an entire trip to. With 300 days of sunshine annually, four national parks, 28 ski resorts, and over 400 breweries, you can craft a tailor-made itinerary for families, couples, or friend groups chasing all manner of holiday escapades. I was lucky enough to go on a weeklong whistle-stop tour of the state, so below, I’ve broken down the highlights to add to your Colorado road trip itinerary:

The best hiking spots in Colorado

The biggest thrill of a trip out West is hiking the majestic canyon views, and luckily those aren’t just limited to the places like Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon. In fact, the Colorado National Monument is nicknamed the “mini Grand Canyon'' for its billion-year-old archaeological displays of layered rock, which make for excellent clifftop photo opps (and a solid cardio workout).

Next up, book a night or two inside Mesa Verde National Park. The back-to-basics wooden cabins have an American summer sleep-away camp feel to them, and we even spotted some wild horses after sunset. It’s worth setting your alarm for the sweeping sunrise view, too. Inside the park, don’t miss a guided tour of the impressive Cliff Palace, built by the Ancestral Puebloans in the 1200s. It’s the largest cliff dwelling in North America with over 150 rooms carved into the rock, and people say the place has a sacred and spiritual feel to it, which I absolutely felt.

For more incredibly well-preserved evidence of Native American cultures, explore Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, which is filled with over 8,000 archeological sites. And even if you just make a pit-stop while driving, pull over at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park for dizzyingly-high ravine views. (My legs were actually shaking - the Painted Wall is twice as high as the Eiffel Tower, gulp.)

Cliff Palace in Mesa Verde National Park; the Adidas Terrex Free Hikers that saved my feet this trip; Canyons of the Ancients National Monument

Roll along the river on a narrow-gauge railroad

One of my top trip highlights was taking the coal-fired, steam-powered narrow-gauge railroad journey from charming Silverton to Durango. The 1800s train has clear-roof cars so you can soak up the sun, sip on a local craft beer from the bar cart, and take in the film-set views of the Animas River rolling through the San Juan National Forest. Seriously, I felt like an outlaw cowboy winding through the steep cliff drops; and it was perfect for a peaceful rest period in between hike days. In the summer, you can raft many of the rivers with a guide as well.

A summer trip highlight: rolling down the river on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Talk about cinematic views. Video: Maddy Alford.

Arts, culture, and dining in Denver, the Mile-High City

It was love at first sight for me in Denver, Colorado’s capital city. The Mile-High City is nicknamed as such for its height above sea level, but some folks might give you a wink when referring to the name, because of the legal access to marijuana there. Make sure to do your research on all the rules and regs first, though.

Large pockets of Denver are walkable (a rarity in much of car-centric America), and it’s friendly, welcoming, and spotlessly maintained. I’d highly recommend the plush and modern Rally Hotel - it’s a quick train ride from the airport, and a stone’s throw from plenty of bars and restaurants in Union Station or Larimer Square.

Union Station, The Dairy Block, Denver Art Museum, Larimer Square, Denver Graffiti Tour

Fuel up with a proper American diner breakfast at Snooze, then set out on a guided graffiti tour of the RiNo Art District with its conversation-starting political murals. Spend the afternoon at the impressive Denver Art Museum, browsing everything from Monets to modern art pieces. Before dinner, stroll down the charming Dairy Block for an al fresco aperitif. You’ll never be short on adult beverage options in CO; the state’s “liquid arts” industry boasts 144 wineries, over 400 breweries, and 90+ distilleries, so you can sip your way through all the delicious local offerings.

Red Rocks Amphitheatre; Lunch at Green Seed in Denver Central Market; The Rally Hotel; a gig at Red Rocks

The city is home to six professional league sports teams from American football to basketball, baseball, ice hockey, soccer, and lacrosse, so why not cheer on the Broncos or catch a Colorado Rockies game at Coors Field? Denver is also home to a thriving LGBTQ+ nightlife scene, and the city was festooned with hundreds of Pride flags during my June visit. In fact, Jared Polis represents Colorado as America’s first openly gay governor, which was perhaps why it felt like a very queer-friendly and welcoming place to visit. Finally, make sure you book the gig of a lifetime at the mind-blowing Red Rocks Amphitheatre, where everyone from the Beatles to Jimi Henrix have played on the famous desert stage.

The best healing natural mineral hot springs to soak in

Colorado has 29 natural heated hot spring across the state, and I can heartily recommend the two we tried. The charming small town of Glenwood Springs has a few options, such as the tranquil Iron Mountain Hot Springs, perched right on the winding banks of the Colorado River. Sip a frozen strawberry daiquiri while you dip a toe into the various heated mineral pools, gazing out at the river going by. This is particularly magical during winter snowfall, my friends tell me, though we loved it just as much in the height of summer. Finish with dinner and a spicy margarita at Riviera Supper Club, and then catch some live music on the back porch of Hotel Colorado before bed.

A sunny afternoon at Iron Mountain Hot Springs on the banks of the Colorado River

Durango Hot Springs and Spa (located in the town you’ll end up at after your aforementioned railroad journey) is another peaceful spot. It’s lived through many iterations over the years, one of which Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable stayed at while filming in the 1950s. We spent the day lazing between the 22 mineral soaking pools with gorgeous mountain views. I noticed that both times I visited mineral springs, I slept like a baby.

Durango Hot Springs Resort and Spa

Small-town Americana charms

Silverton was hands down the most Instagrammable old-timey town with its colourfully-painted speakeasies straight out of a spaghetti Western, but Grand Junction’s Main Street was beautifully scenic too. We enjoyed a gorgeous dinner there at Devil’s Kitchen Restaurant, dining on lobster and waffles, a 13 oz Canyon Ribeye Steak, flaming bananas foster, and peach habanero margaritas. Every dish was expertly plated by culinary students studying at Colorado Mesa University, and we watched the sunset out of the floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows.

L & R: a decadent dinner at Devil’s Kitchen in Grand Junction. Middle: sampling the local "liquid arts" at Steamworks Brewing Company in Durango

Don’t miss the important Ute Indian Museum in Montrose to learn about Colorado’s indigenous people groups. In Durango, where our train journey ended, we enjoyed souvenir shopping on the all-American Main Street, cocktails at the historic Strater Hotel, and a refreshing pint on the porch at Steamworks Brewing Company to finish off our trip. No matter what time of year you visit, Colorado is bound to offer you non-stop adventure, fun, history, and hospitality - where are you going to visit first?

Historic Silverton, Ute Indian Museum

What to wear in Colorado

I visited in the tail end of June, and summer there is much hotter and sunnier than in the UK, so I would suggest light, sweat-wicking layers that offer a bit of UPF protection. For days when we browsed around a small town, I opted for a loose-fitting Ghost midi-length sundress, Birkenstock sandals (crucially, the ones with the back strap so they stay on), and a lightweight Ciele cap and sunnies. I like to stay hands-free for all the photo opps wtih my colourful sling bag from Away. And on hiking days, I repeated an outfit of The North Face hiking shorts, Adidas Terrex Free Hikers, and Soar running socks and vests. And every day I carried my Oakley sunnies; they offer excellent glare protection and are the only sunglasses that don't slide down my face in sweaty high temperatures. Kit out for Colorado here:

Flights and Hotels in Colorado

For more information, please visit www.colorado.com.