Best Small Towns in Colorado
The best small towns in Colorado are Ouray for hot springs and the Million Dollar Highway, Crested Butte for wildflowers and mountain biking, Salida for the Arkansas River, Silverton for its narrow-gauge railroad and Estes Park for Rocky Mountain National Park. Most sit above 7,000 feet, and several began as 1870s and 1880s mining camps. Here are 12 worth the trip, grouped by region.
- Best season: July–September, plus ski season December–March
- Regions: Front Range, Central Mountains, Northwest Colorado, San Juans & Southwest, Southern Colorado
- Closest big cities: Denver, Colorado Springs, Grand Junction, Albuquerque
| Town | Region | Best for | Nearest airport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ouray | San Juans & Southwest | hot springs, waterfalls, ice climbing, Jeep tours, hiking, mining history | Montrose (MTJ), about 1 hr |
| Crested Butte | Central Mountains | wildflowers, mountain biking, skiing, fall color, hiking | Gunnison-Crested Butte (GUC), about 40 min |
| Salida | Central Mountains | rafting, hot springs, fly fishing, mountain biking, arts, skiing | Gunnison-Crested Butte (GUC), about 1 hr 15 min |
| Silverton | San Juans & Southwest | train rides, mining history, hiking, backcountry skiing, scenic drives | Durango (DRO), about 1 hr 30 min |
| Estes Park | Front Range | national park trips, hiking, wildlife watching, scenic drives, family vacations, horseback riding | Denver International (DEN), about 1 hr 30 min |
| Breckenridge | Central Mountains | skiing, hiking, mining history, family summer trips, arts classes | Eagle County Regional (EGE), about 1 hr 15 min |
| Buena Vista | Central Mountains | rafting, kayaking, hot springs, fourteeners, mountain biking | Colorado Springs (COS), about 2 hr |
| Steamboat Springs | Northwest Colorado | skiing, hot springs, river tubing and kayaking, rodeo, family summer trips | Yampa Valley Regional (HDN), about 30 min |
| Glenwood Springs | Northwest Colorado | hot springs, hiking, biking, rafting, family trips, train travel | Aspen/Pitkin County (ASE), about 1 hr |
| Manitou Springs | Front Range | hiking, railroads, history, fitness challenges, family trips | Colorado Springs (COS), about 30 min |
| Pagosa Springs | San Juans & Southwest | hot springs, waterfalls, skiing, archaeology, fishing | Durango-La Plata County (DRO), about 1 hr 15 min |
| Trinidad | Southern Colorado | history, hiking, fishing, scenic drives, road-trip stopovers | Colorado Springs (COS), about 2 hr |
San Juans & Southwest
1. Ouray
Ouray is the Ouray County seat, tucked into a narrow San Juan valley at 7,792 feet. It pairs a sulfur-free hot springs pool and Box Cañon Falls with the free Ouray Ice Park. Main Street is a National Historic District and the north end of the Million Dollar Highway.
Pop. 898 (2020 Census) Ouray County Founded 1876 (incorporated) Nearest airport: Montrose (MTJ), about 1 hr Known for: Switzerland of America nickname, Ouray Ice Park, sulfur-free hot springs, Box Cañon Falls, Million Dollar Highway
- Best for: hot springs, waterfalls, ice climbing, Jeep tours, hiking, mining history
- Don't miss: Ouray Hot Springs Pool; Box Cañon Falls Park; Ouray Ice Park and Via Ferrata
- Heads up: US 550 is the only paved road in; the Million Dollar Highway has steep drop-offs and few guard rails.
2. Silverton
Silverton is San Juan County's only town, a 9,318-foot mining camp founded in 1874. The whole town is a National Historic Landmark and the summer terminus of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Mine and mill tours, Ice Lake and expert skiing at Silverton Mountain round it out.
Pop. 622 (2020 Census) San Juan County Founded 1874 Nearest airport: Durango (DRO), about 1 hr 30 min Known for: Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, National Historic Landmark mining town, Mayflower Mill, Silverton Mountain, Hardrock Hundred
- Best for: train rides, mining history, hiking, backcountry skiing, scenic drives
- Don't miss: Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad; Mayflower Mill; Old Hundred Gold Mine Tour
- Heads up: At 9,318 feet, weather turns fast; bring layers, and expect crowded trailheads July through Labor Day.
3. Pagosa Springs
Pagosa Springs is the only incorporated town in Archuleta County, built around the world's deepest geothermal hot spring on the San Juan River. The Springs Resort's riverside pools are the draw. Treasure Falls, Wolf Creek Ski Area and Chimney Rock National Monument are all a short drive away.
Pop. 1,571 (2020 Census) Archuleta County Nearest airport: Durango-La Plata County (DRO), about 1 hr 15 min Known for: World's deepest geothermal hot spring, The Springs Resort, Treasure Falls, Wolf Creek Pass, Chimney Rock
- Best for: hot springs, waterfalls, skiing, archaeology, fishing
- Don't miss: The Springs Resort; Treasure Falls; Chimney Rock National Monument
- Heads up: Wolf Creek Pass is steep and winding; check road conditions in winter.
Central Mountains
4. Crested Butte
Crested Butte is a former coal town of about 1,600 people at 8,885 feet in Gunnison County. The state named it the Wildflower Capital of Colorado, and its July Wildflower Festival dates to 1986. Crested Butte Mountain Resort, Kebler Pass and a historic Elk Avenue round it out.
Pop. 1,639 (2020 Census) Gunnison County Founded 1880 (incorporated) Nearest airport: Gunnison-Crested Butte (GUC), about 40 min Known for: Wildflower Capital of Colorado, Crested Butte Mountain Resort, mountain biking, Kebler Pass aspens, former coal town
- Best for: wildflowers, mountain biking, skiing, fall color, hiking
- Don't miss: Wildflower hikes and the Wildflower Festival; Crested Butte Mountain Resort; Kebler Pass
- Heads up: Kebler Pass closes in winter, typically November through May, and its dirt sections get muddy when wet.
5. Salida
Salida is the Chaffee County seat, a railroad town on the Arkansas River. Rafters head for Browns Canyon, and the 1937 city hot springs pool is one of the country's largest indoor ones. Its National Register downtown was one of Colorado's first Certified Creative Districts.
Pop. 5,666 (2020 Census) Chaffee County Founded 1891 (incorporated) Nearest airport: Gunnison-Crested Butte (GUC), about 1 hr 15 min Known for: Arkansas River rafting, Browns Canyon, indoor hot springs pool, historic downtown, Creative District, FIBArk
- Best for: rafting, hot springs, fly fishing, mountain biking, arts, skiing
- Don't miss: Rafting and the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area; Browns Canyon National Monument; Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center
- Heads up: The Arkansas Headwaters visitor center closes on weekends; get maps and passes on a weekday.
6. Breckenridge
Breckenridge is the Summit County seat, founded in 1859 for Blue River placer gold. Breckenridge Ski Resort spreads across five peaks above a Main Street of mining-era buildings and free history museums. Summer brings Epic Discovery at Peak 8 and hikes up Quandary Peak.
Pop. 5,078 (2020 Census) Summit County Founded 1859 (founded); incorporated 1880 Nearest airport: Eagle County Regional (EGE), about 1 hr 15 min Known for: Breckenridge Ski Resort, historic Main Street, gold rush history, Isak Heartstone troll, Quandary Peak
- Best for: skiing, hiking, mining history, family summer trips, arts classes
- Don't miss: Breckenridge Ski Resort; Main Street and the Welcome Center Museum; Isak Heartstone, the Breckenridge Troll
- Heads up: Quandary Peak and McCullough Gulch need a parking reservation or shuttle ticket from mid-June to mid-September.
7. Buena Vista
Buena Vista sits at 7,965 feet on the Arkansas River in Chaffee County, under the Collegiate Peaks. It's a base for rafting Browns Canyon, soaking at Mount Princeton and Cottonwood hot springs, and climbing fourteeners. Its downtown whitewater park and 1880s Main Street keep the town busy all summer.
Pop. 2,855 (2020 Census) Chaffee County Founded 1879 (incorporated) Nearest airport: Colorado Springs (COS), about 2 hr Known for: Arkansas River rafting, Browns Canyon, hot springs, Collegiate Peaks fourteeners, whitewater park
- Best for: rafting, kayaking, hot springs, fourteeners, mountain biking
- Don't miss: Rafting the Arkansas River and Browns Canyon; Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort; Buena Vista River Park and Whitewater Park
- Heads up: Cottonwood Pass closes in the snowy months, typically late October to April or May.
Front Range
8. Estes Park
Estes Park sits at 7,743 feet at the east entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park, which keeps its headquarters here. Trail Ridge Road climbs from town to 12,183 feet. The Stanley Hotel, the Aerial Tram and Lake Estes round out a town that elk wander through every fall.
Pop. 5,904 (2020 Census) Larimer County Founded 1859 (settled); incorporated 1917 Nearest airport: Denver International (DEN), about 1 hr 30 min Known for: Rocky Mountain National Park gateway and HQ, Trail Ridge Road, The Stanley Hotel, Lake Estes, elk in town
- Best for: national park trips, hiking, wildlife watching, scenic drives, family vacations, horseback riding
- Don't miss: Rocky Mountain National Park; Trail Ridge Road; The Stanley Hotel
- Heads up: From late May to mid-October the national park needs a timed entry reservation between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
9. Manitou Springs
Manitou Springs sits at the foot of Pikes Peak in western El Paso County, founded in 1872 as a health resort around its mineral springs. The Cog Railway and the Manitou Incline both start here, and Garden of the Gods is next door. Eight free springs still run along the historic main street.
Pop. 4,858 (2020 Census) El Paso County Founded 1872 (founded); incorporated 1876 Nearest airport: Colorado Springs (COS), about 30 min Known for: Pikes Peak Cog Railway, Manitou Incline, free mineral springs, Emma Crawford Coffin Races
- Best for: hiking, railroads, history, fitness challenges, family trips
- Don't miss: Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway; Manitou Incline; The Mineral Springs
- Heads up: The Incline needs a free reservation and waiver, and downtown parking fills fast in summer.
Northwest Colorado
10. Steamboat Springs
Steamboat Springs is the Routt County seat on the Yampa River, home to Steamboat Resort and Howelsen Hill, Colorado's oldest continuously operated ski area. It has produced more Winter Olympians than any other North American town. Summer brings the Pro Rodeo, river tubing and the hike to Fish Creek Falls.
Pop. 13,224 (2020 Census) Routt County Founded 1900 (incorporated) Nearest airport: Yampa Valley Regional (HDN), about 30 min Known for: Steamboat Resort, Howelsen Hill ski jumping, more Winter Olympians than any North American town, hot springs, Yampa River
- Best for: skiing, hot springs, river tubing and kayaking, rodeo, family summer trips
- Don't miss: Steamboat Resort; Howelsen Hill; Old Town Hot Springs
- Heads up: The Fish Creek Falls footbridge closes every April 1 to July 1 for high water; the overlook stays open.
11. Glenwood Springs
Glenwood Springs is the Garfield County seat, where the Roaring Fork River meets the Colorado. It's built around the hot springs pool that opened in 1888, with Glenwood Caverns on Iron Mountain above town. Hanging Lake and the Glenwood Canyon bike path are just east.
Pop. 9,963 (2020 Census) Garfield County Founded 1885 (incorporated) Nearest airport: Aspen/Pitkin County (ASE), about 1 hr Known for: World's largest hot springs pool, Glenwood Caverns, Hanging Lake, Glenwood Canyon, Doc Holliday's grave
- Best for: hot springs, hiking, biking, rafting, family trips, train travel
- Don't miss: Glenwood Hot Springs Resort; Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park; Hanging Lake
- Heads up: Hanging Lake needs a timed permit that sells out, and I-70 through the canyon can close in heavy rain.
Southern Colorado
12. Trinidad
Trinidad is the Las Animas County seat on the Santa Fe Trail, just north of Raton Pass and the New Mexico line. Its brick downtown holds the Trinidad History Museum and the A.R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art. Fishers Peak and Trinidad Lake state parks sit at the edge of town.
Pop. 8,329 (2020 Census) Las Animas County Founded 1862 (founded); incorporated 1876 Nearest airport: Colorado Springs (COS), about 2 hr Known for: Santa Fe Trail, Fishers Peak State Park, coal-mining and Ludlow history, A.R. Mitchell Museum
- Best for: history, hiking, fishing, scenic drives, road-trip stopovers
- Don't miss: Fishers Peak State Park; Trinidad History Museum; Trinidad Lake State Park
- Heads up: Most museums close Sunday and Monday; Fishers Peak is still partly developed.
- July–September: High-country season. Trail Ridge Road, Kebler Pass and the Million Dollar Highway are all open, and Crested Butte’s Wildflower Festival fills a week every July. Afternoon thunderstorms are common, so start hikes early.
- Late September: Aspens turn gold in the San Juans and around Crested Butte and Steamboat. Rafting on the Arkansas winds down, and the upper part of Trail Ridge Road closes in October.
- Winter: Ski season in Breckenridge, Steamboat and Crested Butte. Ouray’s free ice park draws climbers, and the hot springs in Ouray, Glenwood and Pagosa Springs stay open all year. Check pass conditions before any mountain drive.
These didn’t make the list, but each has its own guide: Carbondale (Roaring Fork Valley town) · Copper Mountain (Summit County ski village) · Creede (remote silver town) · Dillon (Lake Dillon marina town) · Evergreen (foothills lake town) · Frisco (Summit County Main Street) · Golden (bigger Denver neighbor) · Hot Sulphur Springs (tiny hot springs town) · Keystone (Summit County ski resort) · Lake City (San Juans mining town) · Louisville (Boulder County suburb) · Marble (Crystal River hamlet) · Nederland (mountain town above Boulder) · Paonia (North Fork farm town) · Ridgway (Ouray County ranch town) · Silverthorne (Blue River outlet town) · Snowmass Village (Aspen-area ski village)
What is the prettiest small town in Colorado?
Ouray calls itself the Switzerland of America, set at the head of a valley walled in by the San Juans. Silverton is next door on the Million Dollar Highway, and the whole town is a National Historic Landmark district.
What small towns in Colorado are best for a weekend?
From Denver, pair Salida and Buena Vista for the Arkansas River, or go to Estes Park for Rocky Mountain National Park. In the southwest, drive between Ouray and Silverton.
What is the smallest town in Colorado worth visiting?
Silverton has about 620 people and sits at the end of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Ouray, with about 900, has hot springs, waterfalls and a free ice-climbing park.
What are the best small towns near Denver?
Breckenridge and Estes Park are the closest classic mountain towns. Manitou Springs sits at the foot of Pikes Peak, where the Pikes Peak Cog Railway starts.