Colorado

The Colorado Rockies encompass the highest peaks of the majestic Rocky Mountains, reaching elevations of 9,000 feet. These towering granite formations make the Colorado Rockies a bucket-list natural spectacle for nearly all American travelers.

If you travel during the winter, expect to find the Colorado Rockies blanketed in sheets of white snow. This outdoor enthusiast’s utopia is home to countless ski-resort areas, where you can capitalize on the adventure potential. Some of the most popular include Vail, Aspen Snowmass, Winter Park, Beaver Creek, Crested Butte, Telluride, and Keystone Resort. Though many areas are crowded throughout the season, the Colorado Rockies are so grand and far-reaching; it’s easy to get off the beaten path in the backcountry. (That said, you’ll welcome the fun-loving crowds when you decide to indulge in après-ski food and drink.)

The Colorado Rockies have tons of activities for nature lovers during warmer months: Hiking and biking trails take you through wildflower-covered alpine fields and to the banks of isolated high-altitude lakes. If there’s one thing the Colorado Rockies will remind any visitor of, it’s that you don’t have to leave America to experience some of the world’s most grand, untamed wilderness.