The Atlas Obscura Guide To Colorado

263 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Colorado

Updated December 5, 2023

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Unusual Attractions in Colorado

Paint Mines Interpretive Park

Calhan, Colorado

Paint Mines Interpretive Park

Wondrous sandstone hoodoos where Native Americans collected clay for pottery, 9,000 years ago.

The lake (2)

Glenwood Springs, Colorado

Hanging Lake

Crystal clear lake with a shoreline of travertine located in a Colorado canyon.

Interior of the International Church of Cannabis.

Denver, Colorado

International Church of Cannabis

A technicolor place of worship for Elevationists.

Stanley Hotel at sunrise.

Estes Park, Colorado

The Stanley Hotel

Paranormal experiences in this hotel's room 217 led Stephen King to write "The Shining."

Fresh snow accentuates a warm ancient Puebloan city.

Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

Mesa Verde National Park

The ancient dwellings of the Puebloans, located in the cliffs of majestic mesas.

Fifty-Two 80's

Denver, Colorado

Fifty-Two 80's

This modern antique shop is a museum for 1980's Saturday morning cartoon culture.

Canyons of the Ancients

Dolores, Colorado

Canyons of the Ancients

A breathtaking array of ancient Pueblo structures and artifacts counterintuitively preserved by neglect.

Florence, Colorado

Desert Reef Hot Springs

This naturally-sourced hot spring is now home to a clothing-optional resort.

See All 263 Things To Do in Colorado

Winter Shines Brighter in Colorado

Discover Off the Beaten Path Colorado Destinations for the Curious Traveler

Sponsored By Visit Colorado

Apatosaurus trackway

List

21 Unexpected Wonders in Colorado’s Vibrant Cities and Small Towns

Uncover hidden gems within Colorado’s charming cities and small towns–like Durango, Golden, Grand Junction, Last Chance, and more.

High-desert scenery gives this place a stark, surreal beauty.

Naturita, Colorado

Camp V

Stay in a luxury cabin or refurbished Airstream in this former mining camp-turned-retreat.

The Cookhouse offers unparalleled views of the San Isabel National Forest.

Leadville, Colorado

Tennessee Pass Cookhouse

Hike, ski, or snowshoe to a backcountry yurt that serves up gourmet, four-course dinners.

Picnic Tables provide a rest area beneath the icy cliffs.

Lake City, Colorado

Lake City Ice Park

These towering cliffs crystalize each winter, forming sheer walls of ice that are open for climbing.

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Colorado

Linger Eatuary

Denver, Colorado

Linger Eatuary

Once a mortuary that held the remains of Buffalo Bill, this Denver hotspot is now a death-fixated restaurant.

Casa Bonita's Lagoon

Lakewood, Colorado

Casa Bonita

At this Denver landmark, the meals are compulsory, the sopapillas are complimentary, and the insanity is everywhere.

Pikes Peak Summit House

Cascade, Colorado

Pikes Peak Summit House

Thanks to a quirk of elevation this gift shop produces magic doughnuts that are found nowhere else on Earth.

Boulder, Colorado

Boulder Teahouse

This tea house was a hand-built gift from Boulder's sister city in Tajikstan.

See all 9 Places to Eat in Colorado

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Winter Shines Brighter in Colorado

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Atlas Obscura Itineraries

9 Hidden Wonders in Eastern Colorado

Colorado is known for its towering mountains adorned with wildflowers, waterfalls, and endless hiking trails; however, some of its best kept secrets lie on the eastern half of the state. This adventure will take you to the furthest reaches of Colorado’s beautiful prairie and up into the pristine foothills of the Wet Mountains - all places seldom visited and teeming with intrigue. The locations below have been hand-picked for their uniqueness and ability to inspire you to journey through time via some of Colorado’s most obscure and interesting haunts found on the high plains.

Paint Mines Interpretive Park

Explore Colorado

History 21

Mountains 19

Geology 19

History & Culture 18

Nature 18

Memorials 17

Collections 16

Animals 15

Art 14

Museums And Collections 14

Sculptures 12

Roadside Attractions 12

Places To Stay 7

Unique Restaurants & Bars 2

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wants to go to Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
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wants to go to Royal Gorge Bridge
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has been to Mesa Verde National Park
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wants to go to Hanging Lake
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has been to Castlewood Canyon Dam Ruins

Stories About Colorado

Daniel Hogan and Eli Schwat tow a sled of gear out to the Kettle Ponds study site this March.

The Curious Case of the Colorado River’s Missing Water

Researchers are trying to unravel the mystery of snow that falls but never shows up in the river.

by Bella Biondini

All illustrations: John Mata for Atlas Obscura

Puzzle Monday: On the Map Crossword

Podcast: The Tabor Opera House

Long before anyone appeared live at Red Rocks or made The Fillmore shake, there was The Tabor Opera House.

Sponsored by Visit Colorado

Podcast: Frozen Dead Guy

Near a Colorado mountain town, there's the frozen corpse of a Norwegian grandpa. We get the tale of how this came to be.

by The Podcast Team

The so-called Edith Deviation follows a natural valley.

Colorado Is Not a Rectangle—It Has 697 Sides

The Centennial State is technically a hexahectaenneacontakaiheptagon.

by Frank Jacobs, Big Think

Written and Photographed by Matt Payne

Colorado Winter Wonderland

Pack your snowshoes and see the Centennial State like never before. We hand-picked a collection of unique Colorado destinations transformed by glistening frost and white snow.

Sponsored by Visit Colorado

The entrance to the Silver Cliff Cemetery leads visitors down roads less traveled.

What's Really Behind the Ghost Lights of Colorado's Silver Cliff Cemetery?

Tucked between rugged mountains, this lonely graveyard is home—allegedly—to ethereal, glowing orbs that dance among the headstones.

by Sarah Scoles

October 1, 2022

Podcast: Seven Keys Lodge

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.

by The Podcast Team

August 10, 2022

Lists Featuring Colorado

Shrine of the Stations of the Cross

Fresh snow accentuates a warm ancient Puebloan city.

18 Places in Colorado to Discover Local Culture–From Past to Present

Including Chimney Rock , Tabor Opera House, and Shrine of the Stations of the Cross

Star trails trace the night sky above snow-covered mountains and sand dunes.

Unaweep Divide, west.

Wheeler Geologic Area

18 Colorado Adventures That Will Take Your Breath Away (Literally)

Including Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve , Unaweep Canyon, and La Ventana Arch

5-8-22

The last coal-burning steam engine.

The Sasquatch Outpost

15 Quirky Places to Visit on Your Next Colorado Family Road Trip

Including Swetsville Zoo, Breckenridge Troll, and Steam Engine 638

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