One of the trickiest parts of hosting friends is nailing down an itinerary. Will they want to hike or mountain bike? Do you stay close to home or head deep into the Rocky Mountains? In Colorado, it seems like there are endless possibilities for a fun and it can be hard to pick a location for a day in the mountains with your pals.
Luckily, we’ve put together some ideas for a day in a mountain town that are sure to impress your friends.
Granby
Start your day with Yoga on Top at Granby Ranch. You and your friends can find your center while taking in the views from the top of a mountain. The class is only $20 and includes a lift ticket to the top of the mountain.
Once you’re done with class, mosey your way into the sleepy mountain town of Granby.
In 2019, Granby hosted its first RKYMTNWALLS Festival. Thanks to the event, the town now features 8 new murals by street artists from Denver and the Pacific Northwest. Grab a coffee at Rocky Mountain Roastery Café and wander the streets to see the swirls of color splashed across the old town buildings. Your friends will love showing off the rad street art against the backdrop of an old west main street on their Instagram feed.
Glenwood Springs
What is more Colorado than a hike to an enchanting lake or a dip in hot springs? You can do both in Glenwood Springs. As the name suggests, Glenwood Springs is home to beautiful natural hot springs that are sure to delight your out-of-town friends. Glenwood Springs is also home to one of Colorado’s best-known gems: Hanging Lake, a beautiful emerald pool suspended by a web of waterfalls.
Sunlight Resort offers a Hike & Bike deal to get you to Hanging Lake. Let the shuttle do the work and take you up Glenwood Canyon. The shuttle drops off 3 miles from the trailhead so you can get a warmup ride in before the short hike to the lake shore. Afterwards, glide back to Glenwood Springs along the Colorado River. For $50 you get a bike rental, a shuttle to the top, and a hiking permit for hanging lake.
After your bike ride, relax at the Iron Mountain Hot Springs, a natural spring pool just outside Glenwood Springs.
Aspen/Snowmass
If your friends are looking for art and adventure, it’s worth the drive out to the Aspen and Snowmass area.
Two famous mountains, Maroon Bells, are just outside of Aspen. The two peaks are two of the most-photographed mountains in the United States, and with good reason. The 14,000 foot “bells” rise beautifully above a small lake, flanked by vibrant wildflowers in the spring and gold leaves in the fall. The colorful vista is a popular spot and is best reached by shuttle bus from Aspen between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
After exploring the natural beauty of Maroon Bells, you and your friends can make your way back to Aspen to take in the artsy vibe of this world-famous city. You can check out the art work at the Aspen Art Museum or you might even stumble upon “art in unexpected places” around the resort. Thanks to The Aspen Series, art work from highly acclaimed artists can be found in restaurants, banners on the hill, or even lift tickets. There’s great music in the area, too! On Thursday nights in the Summer, Snowmass hosts free concerts on Fanny Hill.
With so many places to explore and beautiful sights to see, you can’t go wrong! Pick a location and have fun exploring while your friends are in town.
Blogger Signatures/About the Authors
Katie Weiseman
Katie is a graduate student studying International and Intercultural Communication at the University of Denver. Originally hailing from the Midwest, she still remembers her first-time laying eyes on the Rocky Mountains and falling in love. In addition to exploring mountain trails, Katie enjoys checking out Colorado’s craft breweries and scouting the Front Range for the best scoop of ice cream.
