These Colorado mountain views will leave you in awe. Whether you want to enjoy them on a drive through quaint small mountain towns or sitting on a deck at a cabin, in this blog post we’ll share some of our favorite mountain getaways for couples.
Colorado is the perfect state for a couples retreat with so many options to choose from if you are looking for mountain views, cabins, tiny homes, tree houses, and other unique stays…
These are a few of our favorite destinations, things to see, and recommendations for the best places to visit in Colorado.
By far the most popular area is Denver and the cities of the Rockies near Rocky Mountain National Park…
Here’s a little tour from Denver, CO to Estes Park, CO, and recommended towns in between…
#1 Estes Park, CO
One of the most popular places in Colorado is Estes Park. Mountain views are gorgeous, and chances are high you’ll come across wildlife including elk, deer, bears and if you’re lucky you might just stumble across a moose!
What draws people to Estes Park is its location right next to Rocky Mountain National Park…
The downside to Estes Park is that it can get crowded so you’ll have to plan things in advance and give yourself extra time if you are looking to spend time in town… best place to stay in Estes Park is to find a cabin between Rocky Mountain National Park, away from the hustle and bustle of downtown, but close enough so you can still get your dining and shopping done… here’s a list of cabins in Estes Park, CO that meet this criteria…
From Estes Park, you can head down south on Highway 7 towards Nederland, CO.
This is a beautiful drive where you’ll be surrounded by mountains and plenty of opportunities to stop and take pictures. It is also a good drive to see colorful Colorado during fall foliage.
#2 Nederland, CO
There are so many romantic getaways in Colorado, it is hard to choose where to go… Nederland, CO was the place I chose to propose because the views overlooking the lake are simply breathtaking…
This is a quaint mountain town with things to do year-round…
Plenty of hiking in the summer and winter sports at Eldora Mountain Ski Resort… this is a great area to find a cabin or tiny home tucked away in the mountains…
From Nederland, CO you can continue south to the front range and visit Golden, CO…
#3 Golden, CO
Golden, CO is a great hub to explore Colorado… If you are flying into DIA (Denver International Airport), consider staying in Golden, CO to avoid the big city traffic and be closer to the mountains…
You will also be within a short drive to Red Rocks Amphitheater where you can catch a concert… find a vacation rental in Golden, CO…
Downtown Golden, CO is a great place to walk around whether you want to get some Colorado swag, or you can take a walk along the river towards the mountains…
#4 Boulder, CO
We prefer small towns in Colorado… We don’t frequent Boulder, CO too often, but they do have good hiking and tasty food… if you are a foodie, then this is a place where you can find good healthy eats and a good farmer’s market during the summer months…
Find a vacation rental in Boulder, CO…
Other than that, we recommend checking out small Colorado towns heading towards the Great West of Colorado, the Rockies Playground, and Pikes Peak Wonders…
From Denver, CO as you start heading west on I-70 you’ll come across a quaint little town called Idaho Springs, CO
#5 Idaho Springs, CO
Idaho Springs, CO is a great place to hang out and get some hiking in, white water rafting, and walk around the Downtown area where you can find great freshly roasted mountain coffee, good food, and a couple of breweries and a cidery!
This is a great place to find unique Colorado cabin stays and Colorado swag from local artists as well!
If nothing else, it is a great pit stop as you head to one of our favorite places to visit in Colorado which is The Great West (Northwest part of Colorado)… especially the drive up to Winter Park, CO…
#6 Winter Park, CO
This quaint little mountain town is a great Colorado mountain getaway…
You will be taking Highway 40 north off of Interstate 70 and driving up the mountains… If you drive in the spring or early summer you will be greeted by a few waterfalls from the snow melt along the highway…
You will come across multiple million-dollar views with mountains at a distance covered with pine trees, snow caps, and Rockies above the tree line…
Once you are in Winter Park you can enjoy plenty of hiking in the area, live music festivals, a scenic gondola, and of course winter sports during winter months…
A great place to stay is a little town just 10 minutes north of Winter Park called Fraser, CO…
If you continue heading north from Winter Park, you’ll get to a majestic small town called Grand Lake, CO…
#7 Grand Lake, CO
The drive alone is worth it when you get to Grand Lake, CO…
You can grab a paddleboard and enjoy stunning mountain views all around you or find a cabin with lake views and mountain views…
Grand Lake, CO is on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park so you are likely to come across wildlife…
A town we visited last fall on our bucket list was Steamboat Springs, CO… this is a perfect destination for couples.
Still on our Colorado bucket list is Glenwood Springs, CO.
Let us know if you are interested in this area and we’ll make it a point to cover more on this part of Colorado…
Coming back a little further south to the core of Colorado you’ll find the Rockies Playground which is right smack in the middle of Colorado…
As you continue west on I-70 from Idaho Springs, CO you’ll come across a popular ski town called Keystone, CO…
#8 Keystone, CO
If you want to see mountains and get above the tree line, then you can get to Keystone via the scenic route…
From I-70 you’ll get on Highway 6 heading towards Arapahoe Basin ski resort…
This will take you to the top of the mountain where you can stop for 360° mountain views at Loveland Pass…
This route is not recommended in the wintertime… even in the summertime, the temperature drop is significant and you’ll notice how thin the air gets thin at this altitude…
The views, however, are stunning and well worth the detour…
As you continue to go through the pass, you’ll have several opportunities to stop for hiking or just to take in the views…
You’ll drive past Keystone ski resort and if you’re up for it, you can make a pit stop at the Faerie Spring to get some refreshing Colorado rocky mountain spring water.
Hydration is extremely important and a must when you’re going through the mountains and exposing yourself to extreme elevation changes…
This tour is well worth it just for the views alone… Find a vacation rental to stay in Keystone, CO…
Where to from Keystone, CO?
#9 Breckenridge, CO
We personally try to avoid the busy areas… Breckenridge, CO is so beautiful, it makes sense that it’s the most popular ski resort…
It is worth it to find a cabin in Breckenridge, CO and check out the area to take in the mountain views…
You can also stop by and visit Isak Heartsone, the Breckenridge Troll…
There are many places to hike in Breckenridge, CO and therefore highly recommended as part of your bucket list for Colorado… find a vacation rental in Breckenridge, CO…
From here you can continue going west towards Vail, CO and Glenwood Springs, CO… we haven’t covered those areas quite yet… let us know if you’d be interested in us covering those areas in more detail…
Better than big ski resorts, we prefer the small Colorado mountain towns like Leadville, CO…
From Breckenridge, if you go back up and continue west on I-70 towards Copper Mountain you can hop on Highway 91 and head south towards Leadville, CO…
#10 Leadville, CO
There’s so much to love about visiting a town like Leadville, CO!!
First is that it sits at 10,152′ elevation…
The mountain views as you drive towards Leadville, CO are impressive!
You’ll drive through alpine lakes which you can hike around…
Another awesome thing about Leadville is that you can shop at a unique store that sells clothing made locally in Colorado…
Note that in order to buy clothing at Melanzana Outdoor Clothing, you must make an appointment since everything is custom-made for you…
Leadville, CO is about an hour and forty minutes from Aspen, CO which makes it a great place to stay if you want to explore Aspen, CO which is a bit more expensive… then again, Aspen, CO is in high demand for a reason…
#11 Aspen, CO
One of the best places to see colorful Colorado during fall foliage is Maroon Bells Snowmass near Aspen, CO…
This is the place you go if you want to be surrounded by aspen trees, Rocky Mountains, and alpine lakes… Find a vacation rental in Aspen, CO…
As you head south from Aspen, you’ll be entering the Pikes Peak area which offers many places to see mountains and enjoy the beauty of Colorado…
#12 Buena Vista, CO
This is one of the cutest little mountain towns in Colorado… known as the land of many uses…
There’s so much to do here from hiking, white water rafting, hiking a 14er, mountain biking, fishing, 4 wheeling and more!!
The mountain views are stunning from just about anywhere… Buena Vista is great place to find a cabin with mountain views…
When we visited the area, we went to Mt. Princeton Hot Springs…
There are two sets of pools… the one pictured above is a little more family-oriented, though it has the best views…
There is another set of hot springs that come out right into the river so you can go in and be surrounded by nature…
After the hot springs we headed into town and we were pleasantly surprised by the architecture and style of homes in Buena Vista, CO as you head towards Town Square Boulder next to the Surf Hotel (great place to stay in Buena Vista, CO.)
From Buena Vista, CO you can make your way east towards Pikes Peak mountain…
There are many quaint mountain towns surrounding Pikes Peak so below I’m going to break down the towns west of Pikes Peak…
#13 Pikes Peak Mountain
Think of the west side of Pikes Peak mountain as being up in the mountains compared to the front range (which is still technically in the mountains,) but the towns on the west side of Pikes Peak are higher up in elevation than towns on the east side of Pikes Peak…
a) Florissant, CO
We stayed at Sunflower Cabin just outside of Florissant, CO…
This cabin was fairly remote, which was exactly what we were looking for since we wanted to disconnect…
Pikes Peak mountain views were stunning and we had about eight deer come through the yard in the morning which made for a great relaxing mountain getaway…
b) Divide, CO
East of Florissant you’ll come across a small little mountain town called Divide, CO… We stopped at Paradox Brewing Company on the way to the cabin and were pleasantly surprised by their beer selections and the view from their outdoor patio where you can practice disc golf, or just take in the view of Pikes Peak mountain…
Divide is a part of Colorado has an abundance of cabins and unique stays…
From here you can make your way south east past Woodland Park, CO and into Cascade, CO
c) Woodland Park, CO & Cascade, CO
If you are looking to explore Pikes Peak mountain by car, then you’ll be going through Cascade, CO…
This is a great little town just south of Woodland Park where you can find a cabin to stay near Pikes Peak…
These two towns are practically next to each other so there are plenty of options for food, breweries, wineries, and shopping…
If you continue east from here you’ll get to the east side of Pikes Peak… the first little mountain town we recommend you check out is Manitou Springs, CO…
#14 Manitou Springs, CO
Manitou Springs is known for its hot springs, spring water, and the famous Manitou Incline hike…
This is also where you can hop on the Cog Railway and get to the Pikes Peak summit if you are not feeling like making the intense drive or hiking up the 13+ mile Barr Trail…
The downtown area is quaint with great options for food, breweries and to pick up some Colorado swag…
Find a vacation rental in Manitou Springs, CO….
#15 Colorado Springs, CO
One of the best views of Pikes Peak is from Garden of the Gods…
This is a free park with really great Instagram-worthy picture opportunities… they have paved trails near the rocks so you don’t need hiking gear to visit… they do have hiking trails that go around the park which does give you some cool views of the red rocks…
Find a vacation rental in Colorado Springs, CO…
#16 Palmer Lake, CO
Just north of Colorado Springs, CO is a little town called Palmer Lake, CO… This is a cool little town with great hiking options and mountain views… Right next to Larkspur, CO where you can find some cool Airbnb Treehouses to stay at…
Find a vacation rental in Palmer Lake, CO…
This is a good option to explore Colorado Springs, CO and have easy access to Denver, CO or Denver International Airport…
#17 Cañon City (Royal Gorge)
About an hour and a half southwest of Colorado Springs is a little town called Cañon City, CO right next to the famous Royal Gorge Bridge…
If you are looking for adventure, including zip lining, rock climbing, white water rafting, and others then this is a cool place to visit. You can also enjoy views from the bridge, ride the gondola, or check out the skyline drive…
Find a vacation rental near the Royal Gorge…
From Cañon City, CO you can head southwest to a small little town called Alamosa, CO which is near the famous sand dunes…
#18 Alamosa, CO (Sand Dunes)
This area is on our bucket list of things to do in Colorado… our friends visited recently and went sand boarding…
If you are planning to visit, you’ll want to time it around late spring when the snow melts so that you can see the river…
Find a vacation rental in Alamosa, CO…
#19 Pagosa Springs, CO Hot Springs
Another bucket list item is the The Springs Resort hot springs in Pagosa Springs, CO…
Find a vacation rental in Pagosa Springs, CO...
From Pagosa Springs you can head to the southwest part of Colorado which is one of the most beautiful and underrated parts of Colorado…
#20 Durango, CO
When I lived in Arizona, I used to come to Durango, CO to snowboard at Purgatory Ski Resort… this mountain town has beautiful mountain views and there’s plenty of hiking in the summer…
When I moved to Colorado we stayed at a tiny home just outside Durango, CO in Bayfield, CO…
It was the perfect couple’s getaway to start our journey through Colorado… you wake up with mountain views and get to enjoy coffee surrounded by Colorado’s nature…
Find a vacation rental in Durango, CO….
From Durango, CO you can start heading up into the mountains on the “million dollar highway” through Silverton, CO until you get to a small town in the mountains of Colorado called Ouray, CO…
#21 Ouray, CO
As you stand on the main street, snow-capped peaks surround you and it soon becomes evident why Ouray, CO is known as the “Switzerland of America”
This is a very quaint small Colorado mountain town that will leave you in awe with the mountain views everywhere you look…
If you are looking for a Colorado mountain town with hot springs, this is one place to visit… you’ll also find a great little coffee shop, good food, and plenty of outdoor activities…
Some common things to do in Ouray, CO are…
- Box Canyon Waterfall & Park
- Yankee Boy Basin
- Perimeter Trail
- and more…
Find a vacation rental in Ouray, CO…
From Ouray, CO you can go up and around the other side of the mountains to a cool little town called Telluride, CO…
#22 Telluride, CO
This town will show you why southwest Colorado is underrated as you start to explore its mountains…
Their ski resort is top-notch for winter sports and the hiking is amazing as you come across some of the most beautiful alpine lakes in Colorado…
Find a vacation rental in Telluride, CO…
The next stop on our Colorado Mountain trip was none other than one of my favorite towns in Colorado, Crested Butte, CO…
#23 Crested Butte, CO
This is by far one of the most scenic and beautiful mountains I’ve ever seen…
There are many hiking trails to explore in this town, though this was a mountain bike trip for us…
The mountain views were simply stunning and has become one of my favorite Colorado mountain vacation spots…
As if the beauty of the mountains wasn’t enough, the colorful lakes had me in awe the whole trip…
Needless to say, Crested Butte is a bucket list item and one of my favorite vacation spots…
Find a vacation rental in Crested Butte…
There are so many hidden gems to explore in Colorado and I hope that I was able to give you a good overview of places to visit…
There is so much more I could cover like scenic drives with stunning mountain views that you can’t help but stop to take pictures with mountain views all around…
One of my favorite things about Colorado is driving through the Rocky Mountains by the river… there are so many opportunities for that…
If you are looking for places to go in the mountains in Colorado, the collegiate peak Fourteeners is a solid choice… We hiked Mt Princeton and the views from the top were just superb…
This is the definition of the best mountain views in Colorado…
If you found this blog post helpful let us know!!!
Or if there’s something else you wish us to cover to help you plan your Colorado mountain getaway, then drop us a comment and we’ll look into improving our site…
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