10+ Colorado Summer Bucket List Activities for Families
When you think of outdoor adventure, chances are Colorado come to the top of your mind. And for good reason! This Colorado summer bucket list will give you all the incredible, awesome, stunning, and fun things to do in the Centennial state. And this bucket list is family-friendly! (I’ll note if it’s better for older kids or the younger ones, too).
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So enjoy this little list of top summer outings for families to help you plan your next Colorado summer getaway.
Table of Contents
1. Visit Isak Heartstone
Breckenridge
Thomas Dambo is Denmark’s famous artist who quit his job to create masterpieces from trash. He uses recycled wood and materials to make trolls all around the world. Colorado is lucky enough to have 2 of Dambo’s works.
His most famous one is Isak Heartstone in the mountains of Breckenridge, Colorado. It’s a really easy walk to get to and enjoy Isak’s fun woodland demeanor. Just take the free shuttle down the the ice rink and head to the left of the rink. You’ll see signs to begin your short walk to Isak.
As an alternative, you can see his newest troll in Colorado. Head to Cripple Creek (outside of Colorado Springs) to see Rita, the Rock Planter.
2. Labor Day Lift Off
Colorado Springs
Labor Day Lift Off is Colorado’s biggest hot air balloon festival. It takes place on Labor Day weekend where, historically, 70-80 balloons have ascended from Olympic City.
This is a colorful event that is well attended in Memorial Park in downtown Colorado Springs. You’ll need to coordinate your parking and tickets beforehand. You can find info on each on their website.
Not in town during Labor Day weekend? Check out other ballooning events, like Telluride’s Hot Air Balloon Festival which takes place in June. There aren’t as many balloons in attendance, but it’s still colorful and exciting for the whole family.
Steamboat Springs hosts the Yampa Valley Balloon Rodeo in July. Typically at the end of July, you can shuttle over toward Bald Eagle Park where the balloons launch.
3. Garden of the Gods
Colorado Springs
Garden of the Gods is one of the top items on a Colorado summer bucket list as it’s quite unique, and very family-friendly!
This FREE park is full of red rock formations with stunning views of Pike’s Peak. It’s easy to get to and easy to walk around. In fact, the Central Garden is paved, making it great for strollers to join in the fun.
Families can also book a horseback ride through the park or rent e-bikes to pedal a little through the park. It’s filled with trails beyond the Central Garden if you’d like to get a different perspective.
4. Manitou Incline
Manitou Springs
Suggested for older kids
Just outside of Colorado Springs is the small town of Manitou Springs. Here you’ll find the famous and very bucket-list-worthy Manitou Incline.
This stairway to heaven, or rather to the top of a mountain, clocks in at 2,768 steps up an old cog rail line. You’ll ascend 2,000 feet in under a mile of stairs.
This is a hefty climb and you’ll need a lot of water and a snack or two. Once you finish the incline, there is a trail down (going down the stairs is not recommended) which is about 3 miles. It’s all downhill though.
The Manitou Incline has had visitors from around the world, plus Olympians like Apollo Ohno. You’ll run into people trying to break their PR, and many people just enjoying the climb as they huff and puff and take breaks to the side.
While I recommend this for older kids since it is a little more grueling, I’ve seen younger kids around 8 or 9 on the incline as well. (And they were kicking out butts going up).
5. Visit Royal Gorge
Cañon City
About an hour from Colorado Springs is Cañon City, which is home to the Royal Gorge, a steep canyon where the Arkansas River carves through it.
What makes it bucket-list worthy? The Royal Gorge Suspension bridge is the tallest of its kind in the country. It stands 956 feet above the gorge floor. You can get tickets to walk across and stare deep down to the river below.
Fear of heights? Opt for taking the train through the gorge instead. It scoots right along the canyon floor along the Arkansas River and gives you incredible scenery along the way.
6. Climb a 14er
Locations Vary
Recommended only with older kids
Colorado is known for its many “14er’s”, or mountains that have peaks above 14 thousand feet. And if you hang out in the state long enough, you’ll hear how many locals try to conquer at least one during their life.
This is a great bucket list item for those who have older kids who are accustomed to challenging hikes. I did my first one when I was around 13.
Some of the “easier” ones to start with (not that they are easy) are Mount Bierstadt or Gray’s and Torrey’s (two peaks near each other, so you can conquer 2 in one trip).
Find the trailhead for Bierstadt off Guanella Pass road. Find the trailhead for Gray’s and/or Torrey’s off Steven’s Gulch Rd, which is off I-70 just west of Silver Plume.
Each require a little bit of scrambling toward the top.
MAKE SURE to bring lots of water, layers, and to start EARLY as the afternoon storms roll in. You do not want to be caught at the top with lightning.
If you’re coming from out of town, make sure to take a day or two to adjust to the altitude before attempting a 14er.
7. Largest Mineral Pool Hot Springs in the World
Glenwood Springs
Glenwood Springs is located about 3 hours west of Denver. It’s home to the largest mineral hot springs pool in the world! It’s truly huge!
This place is awesome for kids as there are many play areas, including a fun lazy river-waterslide combo that you can go down in an inner tube.
The hot springs are a blast to spend a day at, and a true bucket list adventure for the family. Even during summer the pool is refreshing.
The large pool stays at a warm, but comfortable temperature. I am not great with hot tubs, but I was able to stay in this pool all day.
If you really want to warm up, there are various other smaller pools with the heat turned up.
8. Hanging Lake
Glenwood Springs
Also in Glenwood Springs is Hanging Lake, which is known as the prettiest hike in Colorado. While the top of this hike leads to a gorgeous lake with waterfalls surrounding it, the entire hike is lovely.
While a moderately difficult hike, the kids loved it and did great. Much of the trail followed a little stream traveling down the mountain beside us. The top had some large steps to get up, but again, the kids were find with this.
To check off this bucket list item, make sure to get a reservation before heading out (required).
9. Travel From One City to Another via Gondola
Telluride
One of Colorado’s most iconic mountain towns has something very unique about it: a free gondola ride to another town!
At the top of the mountain from Telluride is the town of Mountain Village. It’s the only place in Colorado where a free gondola can transport you to another town.
Mountain Village is a great place to spend the day. Do some mountain biking, walk through town, eat in a stationary gondola, play some frisbee golf, and much more.
And when you return, check out Telluride’s fabulous activities, including hiking to the tallest waterfall in Colorado (another bucket list item to check off while you’re there!)
👉🏼 Telluride is a blast in the winter, too!
10. Raft through Brown’s Canyon National Monument
Near Buena Vista
One of the less crowded destinations in Colorado (but still beautiful) is Buena Vista. While the town offers some great, fun experiences for families, it is just a short drive from Brown’s Canyon National Monument.
This area is home to some of the most popular class III rapids in the country. You’ll get adventure on the Arkansas River while also having moments to take in the extraordinary scenery.
Colorado is the land of adventure, so if you are going to raft anywhere, make it in Brown’s Canyon.
Young Kids? Try the Milk Run Rafting Trip for those ages 2+
Older Kids? Book the Half Day Brown’s Canyon Rafting Trip for ages 7+
11. Visit the Switzerland of America
Ouray
Ouray is located about and hour from Telluride, making it a great stop to be able to see both. This beautiful town is set in-between two tall mountain walls with waterfalls on the outskirts. It’s breathtaking from many viewpoints.
Some highlights of the town include Box Canyon Falls, the perimeter trail that goes all the way around town, and the hot springs right in town with some great waterslides.
While Ouray makes a great town to experience in the winter, we loved summertime when everything was green and flowing.
12. See 4 National Parks
Colorado is home to 4 national parks and many national monuments.
The most popular national park by far is Rocky Mountain National Park. Here you’ll find alpine lakes, waterfalls, mountain vistas, and plenty of scenic hiking and wildlife.
Great Sand Dunes National Park has less variety, but is bucket list worthy all by itself. The park is home to the highest sand dunes in North America. They rise against the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, giving you a scenic backdrop to your sand sledding.
The next most popular park is Mesa Verde, which shows off its cliff dwellings high on the sides of the mountains. This park is easy to drive through with kids and see the sites. You can also book a hike in the park with a ranger to get up close in the dwellings.
The final park which often gets overlooked, but is worthy of a visit, is the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. This is another easy park to drive through and get some stunning views of this canyon that runs along the Gunnison River.
Colorado Summer Bucket List: Wrap Up
Colorado is truly the land of adventure. Yes, you could go to a museum or the aquarium (which are both cool), but when you visit Colorado, make sure to get those unique experiences only Colorado offers.
From strolling through red rock formations to seeing some of the most beautiful national parks to rafting down a scenic canyon, your family can all enjoy some of these perfect, iconic, Colorado summer bucket list activities.
Save this list for when you plan your next getaway to Colorado so the whole family can really taste what Colorado is all about!
