Colorado is famous for its mountains, nature, skiing, and national parks, all of which are perfect destinations for a Colorado family road trip. But when your family wants more than scenic drives, that’s when this Rocky Mountain state really delivers the adventure goods.
We’ve handpicked the best fun and engaging adventures for your kids in Colorado (not forgetting the adults too!) that you won’t find at home. And, with multigenerational family holidays all the go, why not take the grandparents along too for maximum family bonding!
Top 14 things to do in Colorado with kids
1. Ride a steam-powered train from the Old West
Kids love trains, and at the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, your family can ride the vintage steam locomotive that has been carrying passengers along the scenic Animas River from Durango to Silverton since 1882. Winter in the USA is made extra special with a ride on THE POLAR EXPRESS™ or a snowy Cascade Canyon excursion.
2. Play in the snow at Colorado's ski resorts
Colorado is ski heaven from October to April each year. Rug up the family and learn to ski or snowboard with the help of kid-focused programs at any of the 28 ski areas and resorts in the state. Kids will also love tubing, sleigh rides, ice-climbing, ziplining and snowmobiling at Colorado’s winter wonderlands.
3. Get prehistoric at the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center
Children will love the displays of dinosaurs, prehistoric marine reptiles and fish at the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center in Woodland Park, Colorado Springs. More than just a museum, visitors can learn the stories of fossil discoveries in Colorado and see a working fossil lab.
4. Drive the famous Million Dollar Highway
The Million Dollar Highway – also known as Highway 550 – is a twisting, scenic road running from Silverton to Ouray. Renowned as one of the world’s most beautiful drives, with drop-offs as far as the eye can see, there are several old mining towns along the way which you can stop to explore. Stay overnight in the alpine town of Ouray, which offers friendly people, amazing restaurants and natural hot springs.
5. Channel your inner cowboy at Colorado's guest ranches
A visit to one of Colorado’s guest ranches should be on your must-do list. Although each one is different, all are family-friendly and offer so much more than horseback riding. Hiking, camping, fishing and learning the arts of the cowboy such as roping and branding are just for starters.
6. Go sandboarding at the Great Sand Dunes National Park
Thrill seekers, this one’s for you! The rolling sand dunes in Great Sand Dunes National Park (less than a four-hour drive from Denver) are the tallest dunes in North America and ideal for sandboarding or sand sledding. You can rent sandboards and sand sleds in Alamosa, a small town about 55 kilometres southwest of the park.
7. Visit Denver's kid-friendly museums
The Children’s Museum of Denver is a fun learning experience with a child-sized grocery market, fire station and construction workshop. The Denver Museum of Nature and Science is full of inspiring and educational exhibits for kids, including life-sized models, fossil tusks, touchable teeth and interactive displays. An hour from Denver, the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery has a special exhibit just for toddlers.
8. Camp and hike in Rocky Mountain National Park
For a real wilderness experience, Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park ticks all the boxes! Here you’ll see some of the highest mountains in the US and landscapes ranging from alpine tundra and glacial lakes to meadows and forested valleys. With five campgrounds in the park, you can even sleep under the stars and wake to begin exploring any of the hundreds of kilometres of hiking trails, spot elk and bighorn sheep, ride a horse or fish in one of the 50 lakes and streams.
9. See the cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde National Park was established in 1906 to preserve the archaeological heritage of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home for 700 years. Today, it’s both a World Heritage Site and an International Dark Sky Park. Take a ranger-led tour to see some of over 5000 known sites, of which 600 are cliff dwellings.
10. Venture underground at Caves of the Winds
At Cave of the Winds Mountain Park in Manitou Springs, kids can explore the underground caves or strap into an overhead tracking system to climb along the outside rim of Williams Canyon.
11. Enjoy the great outdoors at Garden of the Gods
One of Colorado’s most popular attractions, Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado Springs, offers rock climbing, horse riding or Segway tours through the spectacular rock formations. For something different, take the whole family on a fun open Jeep or ATV tour.
12. Try whitewater rafting on Colorado's rivers
With well over 100 miles of raft-able waters ranging from Class I Floats to Class V white-knuckle adventures, you can choose your level of adventure to suit the ages of your family. Whitewater rafting is a unique way to enjoy the amazing Rocky Mountain scenery, float past some of Colorado’s famous “14ers” or even see some of the relics of the Gold Rush era. Experienced outfitters will provide a safe, fun experience for the whole family.
13. See rescued animals at The Wild Animal Sanctuary
45 minutes’ drive from Denver, The Wild Animal Sanctuary will thrill the with its Mile Into the Wild walkway that lets kids observe lions, wolves, grizzlies and other rescued exotic and endangered species from above.
14. Challenge the whole family with Epic Discovery at Vail and Brecknridge
Epic Discovery parks can be found at multiple Colorado mountain resorts, including Vail and Breckenridge. Choose from a range of outdoor challenges the kids will love, including alpine coasters, mountain biking, zipline tours, adventure courses and much more.
