This Epic Road Trip Leads To 6 Iconic Landmarks In Colorado

There is no better way/place to begin our road trip than Castlewood Canyon State Park, a 2,621-acre oasis located just south of Denver. What makes this state park so unique? It houses the Castlewood Canyon Dam, a once working dam that burst in 1933 and sent a damaging 15-foot wave of water up to Denver.

When most people think of gardens, they think of tons of flowers and shrubs. When Coloradans think of gardens, they think of dramatic rock formations created millions of years ago, a la the Garden of the Gods! Tucked away in Colorado Springs, the Garden of the Gods is one of the best places in the state for hiking, photography, and so much more!

When it comes to iconic mountains in Colorado, it is hard to beat Pikes Peak! Also located near Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak stands at 14,115 feet tall and houses the unique Pikes Peak Cog Railway, which offers an up-close look at this famous mountain.

After all of that hiking around, it is time to relax in the car a bit before walking along the Royal Gorge Bridge, the country's highest suspension bridge. Standing at a whopping 1,201 feet tall, the Royal Gorge Bridge offers jaw-dropping views of the canyon below, as well as the must-ride Royal Gorge Route Railroad.

Now that we have visited more "standard" Colorado landscapes, it is time to explore one of our more surprising features - the desert! Welcome to the Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve, an incredible 232.9 square miles of hike-able hills of super soft sand. (Psst... When you go, be sure to rent a sled or surfboard. You will thank us later!)

While we are sad that our trip is coming to a close, we are excited about this final stop! Located near the small town of Calhan, the Paint Mines are the state's most colorful badlands, as early Native Americans from 9,000+ years ago painted the chalky spires with pigments from colorful clay.