10 Best National Parks in Colorado (2023)

Welcome to today’s article on the best national parks in Colorado and why you should consider visiting at least one of them this year. Colorado is a state in the USA that is known for having a lot of natural beauty and outdoor recreation. It has some of the most spectacular and diverse landscapes in the United States, as well as a rich history and culture that reflects its Native American, Hispanic, and pioneer heritage. National parks in Colorado offer stunning scenery, wildlife, adventure, and history.

In this article, I share with you 10 of the best national parks in Colorado that you should plan to visit this year. Visiting these will widen your horizon on what nature has to offer beyond beaches, resorts, rivers, and other gifts of nature in Arizona.

10 Best National Parks In Colorado

Below are the 10 amazing national parks in Colorado you should plan to visit soon:

1. Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park takes the first position on this list of best national parks in Colorado. It is one of the most popular and visited national parks in Colorado (and in the country). It covers more than 400 square miles of mountainous terrain that ranges from 7,500 feet to over 14,000 feet above sea level. It has more than 300 miles of hiking trails that lead to scenic vistas, waterfalls, lakes, and wildlife. Some of the top fun activities that you can enjoy at Rocky Mountain National Park include camping, fishing, horseback riding, or driving along Trail Ridge Road (the highest paved road in North America).

• Location: North-central Colorado (near Estes Park)
• Operating Hours: Open 24 hours a day, year-round
• Website: https://www.nps.gov/romo/index.htm

2. Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde National Park is one of the oldest and most renowned national parks in Colorado (and in the world). It preserves more than 5,000 archaeological sites and artifacts that date back to over 1,400 years ago. These sites include cliff dwellings, pithouses, towers, and kivas that were built by the Ancestral Puebloans who lived in this area until around 1300 AD. You can explore these ancient structures by taking guided tours or hiking trails like Petroglyph Point or Spruce Tree House.

• Location: Southwestern Colorado (near Cortez)
• Operating Hours: Vary depending on the season; check the website for details
• Website: https://www.nps.gov/meve/index.htm

3. Great Sand Dunes National Park

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is one of the most unique and diverse national parks in Colorado (and in the world). It features the tallest sand dunes in North America, which can reach up to 750 feet high. These dunes are surrounded by mountains, grasslands, wetlands, and forests that create a striking contrast of colors and textures. You can have fun sliding, sledding, or surfing on these dunes or enjoy other activities like hiking, camping, or stargazing at this park.

• Location: Southern Colorado (near Alamosa)
• Operating Hours: Open 24 hours a day, year-round; visitor center has varying hours; check website for details
• Website: https://www.nps.gov/grsa/index.htm

4. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is one of the most iconic, awesome, and inspiring national parks in Colorado (and in the country). If you like high views, one of the best national parks in Colorado that you should plan to visit is the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. This park has canyon walls that are steep and dark, reaching up to 2,700 feet high and exposing some of the oldest rocks on Earth. You can carry out several activities in this park like hiking, climbing, and rafting. Also, it has a deep and narrow gorge that was carved by the Gunnison River millions of years ago.

• Location: Western Colorado (near Montrose)
• Operating Hours: Open 24 hours a day, year-round; visitor center has varying hours; check website for details
• Website: https://www.nps.gov/blca/index.htm

5. Colorado National Monument

Colorado National Monument is one of the most scenic and accessible national parks in Colorado. It is one of the best national parks in Colorado with a series of red rock canyons, mesas, spires, and domes that rise above the Colorado River valley. You can explore this colorful landscape by driving along Rim Rock Drive or hiking trails like Devil’s Kitchen or Monument Canyon. You can also see wildlife like bighorn sheep, coyotes, and golden eagles at this park.

• Location: Western Colorado (near Grand Junction)
• Operating Hours: Open 24 hours a day, year-round; visitor center has varying hours; check website for details
• Website: https://www.nps.gov/colm/index.htm

6. Dinosaur National Monument

Dinosaur National Monument is one of the most fascinating and educational national parks in Colorado (and in Utah). It covers more than 200,000 acres of land that contain fossils of dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures that lived here millions of years ago. You can see these fossils embedded in the rock at places like Quarry Exhibit Hall or Fossil Discovery Trail or learn more about them at visitor centers or museums. You can also enjoy other attractions like petroglyphs, rivers, canyons, and mountains at this park.

• Location: Northwestern Colorado (and northeastern Utah) (near Vernal)
• Operating Hours: Vary depending on season and location; check the website for details
• Website: https://www.nps.gov/dino/index.htm

7.  Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is one of the best national parks in Colorado. It preserves a rich fossil record of plants and animals that lived in area 34 million years ago during an ancient lake eruption that buried them under volcanic ash. You can see these fossils at places like Petrified Forest Loop or Ponderosa Loop or view them under microscopes at visitor center exhibits. You can also explore other features like petrified stumps, meadows, and historic buildings at this park.

• Location: Central Colorado (near Florissant)
• Operating Hours: Vary depending on the season; check the website for details
• Website: https://www.nps.gov/flfo/index.htm

8.  Curecanti National Recreation Area

Curecanti National Recreation Area is one of the most fun and relaxing national parks in Colorado. It encompasses three reservoirs along the Gunnison River that offer opportunities for boating, fishing, swimming, and water skiing. You can also enjoy scenic views of cliffs, canyons, and islands at places like Blue Mesa Point or Dillon Pinnacles or learn about the history and engineering of dams at visitor centers or museums. You can also hike, bike, camp, or wildlife watch at this park.

• Location: Western Colorado (near Gunnison)
• Operating Hours: Vary depending on season and location; check the website for details
• Website: https://www.nps.gov/cure/index.htm

9.  Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site

Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site is one of the best national parks in Colorado that preserves the history of commerce and culture on the Santa Fe Trail in the 19th century. You can step back in time and experience life as it was for traders, trappers, Native Americans, and soldiers who visited and lived on this fort at the time. You can also participate in living history programs, guided tours, and several other special events in this park that bring history to life once again.

• Location: Southeastern Colorado (near La Junta)
• Operating Hours: Vary depending on the season; check the website for details
• Website: https://www.nps.gov/beol/index.htm

10. Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site

Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site is one of the most solemn, most important, and best national parks in Colorado. It commemorates a tragic event that occurred on November 29, 1864, when a group of U.S. soldiers attacked a peaceful village of Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians, killing more than 200 men, women, and children. You can learn about this dark chapter of American history and honor the victims by visiting this site, which features interpretive signs, trails, and a memorial.

• Location: Eastern Colorado (near Eads)
• Operating Hours: Open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day
• Website: https://www.nps.gov/sand/index.htm

Conclusion

Colorado has some of the best national parks in the USA. These are great places to learn about the history, culture, and tradition of the people of America and those who lived there earlier. Also, they are amazing places to explore nature at its best. Take some time and indulge in the amazing experiences, adventure, and side attractions that these best national parks in Colorado have to offer. I wish you a memorable and enjoyable time at these parks.