Colorado Off The Beaten Path

 
by HasTowelWillTravel
 
  •   Off The Beaten Path
    by HasTowelWillTravel
  • Map of the main streets
      Map of the main streets
    by BruceDunning
  • Avril Witcher Cove 26
      Avril Witcher Cove 26" Rainbow Trout
    by avril4
  • Avril Witcher Cove 26
      Avril Witcher Cove 26" Rainbow Trout
    by avril4
  • Avril Witcher Cove 26
      Avril Witcher Cove 26" Rainbow Trout
    by avril4
 
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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

CHEAP fun for the family - with a bit of history

by Robin922

There is a small town called Burlington off highway 70. It will either be your first interchange if driving from Kansas or your last if driving from Denver. At first it appears to be just another town, to fill up the gas tank and go on, but it has hidden jewels.You won't see any billboards, but look closely at the state highway signs and you will see the 'Kit Carson Carousel'. It's about a 5 minute drive off the highway, located at the fair grounds.Here you will find a 1906 fully restored carousel and a little museum too.The real surprise was the admission. Only .25 to ride, less than the price of a candy bar! For a quarter, you get to ride and if they aren't busy, will give you a mini tour telling you the history and let you see the inside too.After the ride, for a dollar (kids under 9 free) you can visit the museum. If you like shopping the have a little gift shop, and just like...

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Castlewood Canyon State Park

by Astrobuck

This is a really nice park! It was really hot the day we went, but it was very pretty nonetheless. Located in the Black Forest of Central Colorado. There are numerous hiking trails, and there are also areas where you can go down into a canyon and explore!! Be sure to watch for Poison Ivy here, because it runs a little rampant. You can also rock climb here, if you want. There is a $5.00 US daily use fee payable at the gate.

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The Tip of Colorado

by grandmaR

"Four Corners" is the name given to the only point in the USA where four states meet, namely southeastern Utah, southwestern Colorado, northeastern Arizona and northwestern New Mexico. We went in 1966 when we were driving from Monterey California to Miami Florida in a 1932 Plymouth and a 1964 VW Bus.Four Corners is on a clearly marked short spur road from US160. The spot lies within a Native American reservationNow there is a small entrance fee is made for visitors - a Dollar or two per car and there is a small Native American market/trading post adjacent to the monument. When we made our trip in 1966, I don't think there was any fee.

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CLIMAX MOLYBDENUM MINE

by mtncorg

If you drive on Colorado 91 between Copper Mountain and Leadville, you will find the colossal molybdenum mine of Climax atop Fremont Pass. The pass is at 11,318 feet/3450 meters high and the mine carves up the mountainsides to the east to the literal crest of Bartlett Mountain. The first mineral claims were established by miners looking for gold in the late 19th century. Instead of gold, the miners found only molybdenum for which there was little use until World War I when it was discovered that molybdenum could be used to better harden steel alloys. Just as the molybdenum mine was established, World War I ended and the mine was briefly shut down, but slowly through the 1920’s, further uses for molybdenum were established and the mine expanded. Expansion lead to expansion and the mine would become the source of 75-85% of the world’s molybdenum. At its peak in the 1960’s, the mine would...

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TENNESSEE PASS NORDIC CENTER AND COOKHOUSE

by mtncorg

Located at the west end of the Ski Cooper parking lot is the Tennessee Pass Nordic Center and Cookhouse. Here you can rent equipment or set out with your own on some 25 km of groomed trails through the woods and hills just west of Ski Cooper. The most unique aspect is probably the one-mile ski-in to the Cookhouse. Very elegant and rather expensive meals await - $75. Reservations are required and there is only one sitting a night - lunches are available on the weekends for between $6 to $17 - with the group setting out for the Cookhouse at 5:30 pm.

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SKI COOPER

by mtncorg

Ski Cooper was established as part of the training facilities for nearby Camp Hale where troops of the 10th Mountain Division - among others - were based. Following WWII, Ski Cooper was opened as a local ski area, one of Colorado’s oldest. Today, the resort remains a locally-oriented hill - though rumors of expansion and more lifts are in the air - as opposed to one of the many world ski destinations found nearby - Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckinridge, etc.. There are some 400 acres served by a couple of lifts with an additional 2400 acres served by snowcats on the nearby Chicago Ridge. The ski area gives you the spirit of yesterday with no express lifts in sight. The area is a much cheaper alternative for beginners than the nearby mega resorts. Ski Cooper claims 30% of its runs as advanced/expert and another 40% as intermediate variety though on the sunny day I skied here, I really didn’t...

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99TH INFANTRY BATTALION (SEPARATE) - THE VIKINGS

by mtncorg

The 99th Infantry Battalion (Separate) was composed of Norwegians and Americans of Norwegian ancestry who had an ability to speak Norwegian - it was also hoped they already knew how to ski. The 99th was set up originally at Camp Riley, Minnesota on 19 July 1942 and was hoped to help in a possible invasion/liberation of Norway. They received special mountain training here at nearby Camp Hale - and Ski Cooper. The battalion saw combat in France, Belgium and Germany before heading north to disarm German troops in Norway in June 1945 - they served as Honor Guards for King Haakon VII’s return from five years of exile on 7 June 1945 in Oslo. Troops from the battalion were also used to help out in the OSS (Operation of Secret Services - CIA forerunner) Operation Rype launched against German occupiers in Norway during April to May 1945. Besides this monument here at Tennessee Pass/Ski Cooper,...

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10TH MOUNTAIN DIVISION MEMORIAL

by mtncorg

The 10th Mountain Division was formed in 1943 as the only division-sized unit in the American Army to fight in harsh weather and terrain conditions. The first units trained on the slopes of Mt Rainier in Washington State and took part in fighting in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. These troops - the 87th Infantry Regiment - formed the core of the new division when it was activated at nearby Camp Hale - the remains of which are located a few miles north of this memorial. Troops trained here in Colorado learning to fight in the harsh mountain conditions - they trained for rock climbs at Seneca Rocks in West Virginia. Ski Cooper was first established to train the soldiers of the division to ski. Following a year’s training, the 10th Division shipped off to Italy where it became the last U.S. Army division to see combat. The division fought in the Italian Apennine mountains beginning 6...

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drink the many craft brews of Colorado

by richiecdisc

Colorado has been at the forefront of the craft brewing revolution since the mid-80s and many of the originals are still going strong like Rockies Brewing just outside of Boulder. It was state's first microbrewery and I stopped there on my first trip to Colorado in 1994 and loved the Boulder Porter which looks to be called Planet Porter now but their biggie is Mojo Risin' which is a 10% Double IPA. We did not make it back on our return trip to Boulder in 2008. With only one night in town, we did Mountain Sun for dinner and of course, hit Avery Brewing on the outskirts of town.Avery Brewing is at 5763 Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder, CO. Rockies Brewing is located at 2880 Wilderness Place in Boulder, CO.

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Great American Beer Festival

by richiecdisc

The Great American Beer Festival is the most prestigious of beer awards in the United States. It is also the longest running with its inception of 1982 and runs for three days, generally the last weekend of September or the first of October. You need every one of those days too as there can be well over 2000 beers at any given festival with about 500 different breweries represented. I attended this fun event on my second trip to Denver in 1995 and loved it. There was good bus service to the festival so I did not have to worry about driving. It was $25 to enter but included all the beer you could drink in four hours. Serving sizes were only 1 ounce so you do a lot of walking around too! It was the first time I had Alaskan Smoked Porter. Yum.In 2008, we were a week early and with cold weather pushing in and camping not really an option, we decided not to go.

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Unique Places in Colorado

Top 3 Hotels in Colorado

The Ritz Carlton Denver  Denver

 4 Reviews and 169 Opinions  The rooms are very spacious, and ofcourse all are suites here at this hotel! You have a sitting and... 

 Hotels in Denver

The Broadmoor  Colorado Springs

 13 Reviews and 501 Opinions  We held our latest executive event here. 

 Hotels in Colorado Springs

Western Riviera Motel, Cabins & Events Venue  Rocky Mountain National Park

 45 Opinions

 Hotels in Rocky Mountain National Park

2,398 Hotels in Colorado
 
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Reviews and photos of Colorado attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Colorado sightseeing.

Experience Colorado
Off The Beaten Path: Cities in Colorado
  1. Denver Off The Beaten Path
  2. Vail Off The Beaten Path
  3. Colorado Springs Off The Beaten Path
  4. Estes Park Off The Beaten Path
  5. Breckenridge Off The Beaten Path
  6. Steamboat Springs Off The Beaten Path
  7. Fort Collins Off The Beaten Path
  8. Keystone Off The Beaten Path
  9. Aspen Off The Beaten Path
  10. Rocky Mountain National Park Off The Beaten Path
  11. Boulder Off The Beaten Path
  12. Durango Off The Beaten Path
  13. Glenwood Springs Off The Beaten Path
  14. Telluride Off The Beaten Path
  15. Manitou Springs Off The Beaten Path
  16. Mesa Verde National Park Off The Beaten Path
  17. Ouray Off The Beaten Path
  18. Pueblo Off The Beaten Path
  19. Grand Junction Off The Beaten Path
  20. Pagosa Springs Off The Beaten Path
  21. Castle Rock Off The Beaten Path
  22. Canon City Off The Beaten Path
  23. Aurora Off The Beaten Path
  24. Copper Mountain Off The Beaten Path
  25. Golden Off The Beaten Path
  26. Loveland Off The Beaten Path
  27. Leadville Off The Beaten Path
  28. Grand Lake Off The Beaten Path
  29. Dillon Off The Beaten Path
  30. Cripple Creek Off The Beaten Path
  31. Salida Off The Beaten Path
  32. Great Sand Dunes National Monument Off The Beaten Path
  33. Cortez Off The Beaten Path
  34. Crested Butte Off The Beaten Path
  35. Nederland Off The Beaten Path
  36. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument Off The Beaten Path
  37. Georgetown Off The Beaten Path
  38. Gunnison Off The Beaten Path
  39. Colorado National Monument Off The Beaten Path
  40. Ridgway Off The Beaten Path
  41. Woodland Park Off The Beaten Path
  42. Buena Vista Off The Beaten Path
  43. Morrison Off The Beaten Path
  44. Alamosa Off The Beaten Path
  45. Littleton Off The Beaten Path
  46. Franktown Off The Beaten Path

More Cities in Colorado

 

Questions and Answers

pbdancing profile photo

Q:  Please can anyone tell me what is the nearest Yellowstone entrance from Denver. Many thanks. 

Homanded profile photo

A: Just a couple of miles/kilometers. You should be able to do the drive in an easy 10 hours + ... 

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