There is no state quite like Colorado in terms of nature and wilderness. It is home to four national parks and a litany of other natural preserves and heritage sites. It also contains the Rocky Mountains, the largest mountain range in the continental United States. Named for the Spanish word meaning “colored” or “colored red,” Colorado has been inhabited for nearly 15,000 years. However, there are many other things that Colorado is known for. Let’s explore some of them.
To compile a list of the 20 things Colorado is known for, 24/7 Tempo consulted a range of tourist and state-based sources including GoColorado.com and Nomads Unveiled. Next, we selected things that have the largest reputation and biggest cultural impact. After that, we confirmed specific information using sites like Britannica.
Craft Beer
One of the things Colorado is best known for is its extensive craft and micro-brewing culture. Though they didn’t invent the art of craft brewing, the state has become a haven for all types of specialty beer. The state is home to over 400 breweries, making it the go-to place for beerheads.
Some of the biggest breweries in Colorado include the Odell Brewing Company, the New Belgium Brewing Company, and Left Hand Brewing. What’s more, the state is home to some of the biggest beer festivals in the country like the Great American Beer Festival in Denver and the Colorado Brewers Rendezvous in Salida.
Garden of the Gods
One of the things Colorado is known for is the exquisite Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado Springs. It’s a geological wonder, with epic spiky, rocky protrusions rising from the earth. Created by geological upheavals millions of years ago, the Garden of the Gods was also once home to many Native American tribes. This is evidenced by the countless petroglyphs found around the park.
What’s more, the park is home to a variety of flora and fauna, including a recently discovered subspecies of honey ant. Beyond that, even dinosaur bones have been found here. Though it was first called the Red Rock Corral, it earned its divine name from two surveyors. They rightly saw it as a place where gods would assemble.
The Rocky Mountains
Dawn at Maroon Bells With Autumn Aspen Trees and Maroon Lake in the Rocky Mountains near Aspen Colorado
Dawn at Maroon Bells With Autumn Aspen Trees and Maroon Lake in the Rocky Mountains near Aspen Colorado
One of the things Colorado is undoubtedly known for is the Rocky Mountains. It stretches over 3,000 miles straight from northern Canada to New Mexico. To be sure, the Rocky Mountains are the largest mountain system in the United States. Its highest peaks, however, sit squarely in the state.
Formed between 55 and 80 million years ago, the Rocky Mountains feature a wealth of natural resources including coal, natural gas, gold, tungsten, and zinc. Beyond that, the mountain range is featured in several of the national parks situated in the state.
Rocky Mountain Oysters
One of the things Colorado is known for is its very own delicacy, Rocky Mountain Oysters, one that requires a particular palette. Consisting of bull testicles, often deep-fried and seasoned with salt and pepper, Rocky Mountain Oysters were originally a type of cowboy cuisine before transitioning to the mainstream.
Indeed, if you’re traveling around Colorado in search of this meal, you won’t have to look too far. They are a staple menu item at Coors Field where the Colorado Rockies baseball team play home games. They are an acquired taste, to be sure, however, some people claim they are also a natural aphrodisiac.
Mesa Verde National Park
One of the things Colorado is known for is its sweeping natural sites, and Mesa Verde National Park in Montezuma County is no exception. Originally settled by Paleo-Indians nearly 10,000 years ago, the park features some of the best preserved Ancestral Puebloan archeological sites. This includes over 600 cliff dwellings.
President Theodore Roosevelt established Mesa Verde as a National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Due to its epic cave settlements, pueblo cities, and various other geological phenomena, the Mesa Verde National Park is undoubtedly worth a visit. (For other places with beautiful scenery, discover Earth’s most stunningly colorful natural marvels.)
The Cheeseburger
A loaded cheeseburger with fries.
While the cheeseburger has become a staple of American cuisine, its unlikely home is in Colorado. Because the Great Plains and its accompanying cattle industry provided much beef to eat, it’s unsurprising the cheeseburger was invented. While Colorado claims it as its own, its true providence is mired in controversy.
Indeed, multiple places around the country lay claim to the cheeseburger. Be it “The Rite Spot” in Pasadena, California, or Kaelin’s Restaurant in Louisville, Kentucky, the origin of the burger is undoubtedly questioned. Nevertheless, the trademark for the name cheeseburger was first awarded to the Humpty Dumpty Drive-In in Denver.
Aspen
Another one of the things Colorado is best known for is its fantastic skiing locations. However, no one does it bigger and more bougie than Aspen. Originally formed as a mining camp during the Colorado Silver Boom, Aspen has grown into a luxury destination for skiing and shopping.
Though it was helped popularized by famed writer Hunter S. Thompson and gained a reputation for its drug culture, Aspen has transformed over the years into a truly exclusive ski resort town. In fact, on a per-square-foot basis, Aspen is the most expensive ski resort in the world.
Vail
For those uninterested in exorbitant lift tickets or celebrity sightings, there is Vail. Another one of the things Colorado is best known for, Vail is another expensive but more accessible ski resort town. It’s located in Eagle County and has a population of just over 4,500 people.
Vail is also home to the largest ski resort in Colorado, the Vail Ski Resort. What’s more, the town features excellent dining, and shopping, as well as various events and festivals. These include the Vail Film Festival, as well as the annual classic music festival, Bravo! Vail.
Red Rocks Amphitheater
If you’re looking for a truly unique concert-viewing experience, look no further than the Red Rocks Amphitheater. Situated a short ten miles from Denver, Red Rocks is an awe-inspiring amphitheater built into a massive red rock structure. While many concert venues are in great locales, nothing comes close to the earthen, epic feel of Red Rocks.
Surprisingly, Red Rocks is not a new venue. It was created by entrepreneur and magazine publisher John Brisben Walker at the turn of the 20th century. He even hosted a few concerts there before the site was acquired by the City of Denver. Now, it hosts all types of shows, with many live concerts recorded there due to its unique visage.
Pikes Peak
Another one of the things Colorado is best known for is Pikes Peak. Not only is it an epic vista, but it’s also the highest summit on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Originally inhabited by the Tabeguache tribe of the Ute People, the summit is comprised of a unique pink rock called Pikes Peak granite.
Though it was home to many Native Americans over thousands of years, it was first discovered by Europeans in the late 1700s and early 1800s. It takes its name from the explorer Zebulon Pike, who tried but failed to reach the summit. After that, many an explorer gave it a shot, with Edwin James finally reaching the top in 1820.
Trout Fishing
With its seemingly endless winding rivers and streams, unsurprisingly, trout fishing is another thing Colorado is known for. Be it rainbow trouts, brown trouts, or even greenback cutthroats, Colorado holds a wealth of fish and is one of the premier fishing locations in the United States.
What’s more, Colorado is home to over 320 miles of Gold Metal waters. This special designation means that the Colorado public fishing areas can produce 60 pounds of trout per acre. Beyond that, it means that at least 12 trout per acre measure at 14 inches or longer. So, if you’re looking to trout fish, Colorado is the place to visit.
South Park
While Colorado is known for things like its sweeping natural vistas and beer, nothing planted the state in the minds of Americans quite like the irreverent animated comedy show South Park. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, South Park takes place in its titular Colorado mountain town.
Though crass and often shocking, the show has lasted a whopping 327 episodes, making it one of the longest-running animated television shows of all time. Beyond that, South Park captures the unique living of Colorado as well as the stranger, more absurd aspects of living in a remote mountain locale.
Boulder
Another thing Colorado is known for is the progressive college town of Boulder. Situated at the base of the Rocky Mountains, it still has an elevation of over 5,000 feet. What’s more, Boulder is best known for having the flagship campus of the University of Colorado.
Accordingly, Boulder is home to a wealth of learning centers and scientific institutions including the National Solar Observatory, the National Ecological Observatory Network, and the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research. What’s more, Boulder has a strong arts community as well. This is evidenced by things like the Boulder Ballet Theater, the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra, and even the Naked Pumpkin Run.
Legal Weed
If you’re looking to get your smoke on guilt-free, look no further than Colorado. One of the things the state is best known for is its legal weed. Though the state has been a medical marijuana state since the turn of the millennium, in 2012, Colorado joined Washington to be the first state to legalize marijuana.
While initially controversial, legal weed has been a boon to the Colorado economy. In 2020 alone, nearly $500 million was made in tax revenue from weed. Nowadays, weed can be had almost anywhere in the state. That’s because there are over 1000 combined cannabis retailers situated around the Rocky Mountain state. (For other green-safe locales, discover the most marijuana-friendly cities in America.)
Denver International Airport
Another thing Colorado is undoubtedly known for is the Denver International Airport. Originally opened in 1995, the airport has grown to service 25 different airlines offering non-stop service to over 215 locations around the world. What makes the Denver International Airport so well known, however, is the conspiracies that surround it.
Some say it’s a secret Illuminati headquarters, while others say it conceals entrances to massive underground caverns used for nefarious government purposes. Instead of fighting the chatter, however, the airport quickly embraced its reputation. Now the third-busiest airport in the world features a host of tongue-in-cheek statues, posters, and other ephemera regarding the conspiracies.
Glenwood Hot Springs
Another thing Colorado is known for is its incredible hot springs, especially in the town of Glenwood Springs. Sitting in Garfield County in the northwest section of the state, Glenwood features a diverse array of natural hot springs. These were also used by Native Americans for centuries and considered to be a sacred site.
Nowadays, however, it’s more of a tourist destination than a hallowed ground. Nevertheless, Glenwood Springs contains both underground geothermal steam baths as well as ground-level mineral water soaking pools. Even in the dead of winter, these springs average a temperature of 110 to 112 degrees Fahrenheit. (For other incredible vistas, explore the most breathtaking natural marvel in each state.)
The Denver Mint
Perhaps one of the things Colorado is less known for is the Denver Mint. Situated in the heart of Denver, Colorado is a branch of the United States Mint. It first struck its coins in 1906 and has been chugging along steadily since then, providing an incredible amount of currency for the country at large.
Don’t be fooled by the non-descript facade of its government building in downtown Denver. That’s because the Denver Mint is the single largest coin producer in the entire world. Even though it only has around 350 employees, the Mint is capable of producing more than 50 million coins a day.
Denver Broncos
One of the things Colorado is best known for is its professional football team, the Denver Broncos. Originally founded as a charter team of the American Football League, the Denver Broncos joined the NFL in 1970. After that, the Broncos found unparalleled success, winning eight American Football Conference championships and three Super Bowl Championships.
For decades, the Broncos played at Mile High Stadium. Then, after the year 2000, a new stadium was erected on the same grounds specifically for the team. Though the team hasn’t made a championship showing in a couple of years, they are still the twelfth-most valuable team in the NFL.
Colorado Rockies
Another one of the things Colorado is known for is its successful professional baseball team, the Colorado Rockies. Though they originally began as an expansion team during the 1993 season, the Colorado Rockies have evolved into one of the teams with the biggest potential in professional baseball.
Though they are one of two teams to have never won a World Series championship, the Rockies’ unique home field provides some benefits. In fact, due to the high elevation of the stadium, it’s become known as a hitter’s park. That’s because a hit ball sails even farther than usual in the thin air.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Undoubtedly, one of the things Colorado is best known for is Rocky Mountain National Park. Though the mountain range runs the length of the state and is featured in other Colorado-based national parks, none are quite like the eponymously named Rocky Mountain National Park.
It’s so large that it accounts for a wide array of biomes including big meadows, alpine regions, waterfalls, and even tundra. Quite possibly the most breathtaking place in the United States, Rocky Mountain National Park receives at least 4.5 million unique visitors every year. (If you want to learn about a more southern state, discover 20 things Texas is known for.)