Landscapes of open deserts, deep river canyons and jagged mountain peaks make Colorado an outdoor enthusiast's playground with loads of worthy attractions courtesy of Mother Nature. But with thriving urban centers like Denver, Boulder and Aspen, the Centennial State offers plenty in the way of cultural pursuits as well.
We asked our readers to help us choose Colorado's best attractions, and the results are in! The top 10 winners in the category Best Colorado Attraction are as follows:
- Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad - Antonito
- Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre - Morrison
- Royal Gorge Bridge & Park - Cañon City
- Rocky Mountain National Park - Estes Park
- Garden of the Gods - Colorado Springs
- Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad - Durango
- Pikes Peak - Colorado Springs
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park - Montrose
- Mesa Verde National Park
- Great Sand Dunes National Park
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to picked the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote. Experts Heather Balogh Rochfort (Just A Colorado Gal) and Christine Loomis were chosen based on their knowledge and experience of travel in Colorado.
Congratulations to all these winning attractions!
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The Experts
Heather Balogh Rochfort
Heather Balogh Rochfort is a Colorado native with... Read More
Heather Balogh Rochfort is a Colorado native with a passion for adventure travel and the outdoors. Whether it's hiking, backpacking or trail running in the summer or backcountry skiing in the winter, Heather is happiest while adventuring outside with her husband and 11-year-old rescue dog Tally. Heather is a freelance writer in the outdoor industry and regularly contributes to Backpacker magazine. Her first book Backpacking 101 hits shelves in May, 2017. She is passionate about encouraging others to get outdoors and chronicles her stories through her own adventure blog, Just A Colorado Gal.
Heather Balogh Rochfort

Heather Balogh Rochfort is a Colorado native with a passion for adventure travel and the outdoors. Whether it's hiking, backpacking or trail running in the summer or backcountry skiing in the winter, Heather is happiest while adventuring outside with her husband and 11-year-old rescue dog Tally. Heather is a freelance writer in the outdoor industry and regularly contributes to Backpacker magazine. Her first book Backpacking 101 hits shelves in May, 2017. She is passionate about encouraging others to get outdoors and chronicles her stories through her own adventure blog, Just A Colorado Gal.
Christine Loomis
Christine has written about every aspect of... Read More
Christine has written about every aspect of travel, from romance and adventure to family and wellness. She is also lucky to have had three major home states through the years: New York, Colorado and California. Today she divides time between the Denver and San Francisco areas. Christine loves shoe shopping and fishing; walking anywhere; horseback riding (she was on the equestrian team at the University of Oregon); and discovering menus that include small-batch whiskeys, craft beer and lesser-known wines. She would go anywhere in an RV and believes summer is best when it includes a rafting trip.
Christine Loomis

Christine has written about every aspect of travel, from romance and adventure to family and wellness. She is also lucky to have had three major home states through the years: New York, Colorado and California. Today she divides time between the Denver and San Francisco areas. Christine loves shoe shopping and fishing; walking anywhere; horseback riding (she was on the equestrian team at the University of Oregon); and discovering menus that include small-batch whiskeys, craft beer and lesser-known wines. She would go anywhere in an RV and believes summer is best when it includes a rafting trip.