Maroon Bells. Hanging Lake. The cliff divers at Casa Bonita. Colorado is home to some of the best and most exciting attractions in the country, but for every well-known place in the state, we have dozens of virtually unknown spots as well, including these nine amazing Colorado secrets you never knew existed:
1. Devil's Causeway (Yampa)
The name may sound terrifying, but the Devil's Causeway is actually one of the most beautiful spots in the state! The views and the unique hike, which consists of a rocky "land bridge" some three feet wide and 50 feet long are amazing.
2. Wheeler Geologic Area (Creede)
Volcanos in Colorado... no way, right? Wrong! Pre-historic Colorado has seen a number of volcanic eruptions in its day, and the evidence of one can be seen at the Wheeler Geologic Area. Here you’ll find layers of volcanic ash, vast trails, and out-of-this-world scenery. And while we’re on the subject of volcanoes...
3. Dotsero Volcano (Dotsero)
Did you know that you can even hike the path of an old lava flow here in Colorado? Shown to have erupted some 4,200 years ago, Dotsero is a 2,300-foot-wide, 1,300-foot-deep volcano with a two-mile-long volcanic flow can still be seen along I-70.
4. Last Dollar Road (Telluride)
Last Dollar Road is arguably the most beautiful in Colorado. It features smooth, winding roads, vibrant colors, and quite possibly the most jaw-dropping views in the state.
5. Vindicator Valley Trail (Victor)
Do you want to see nearly perfect remains of an old gold mine? Vindicator Valley Trail is the way to go! Located near Victor, the two-mile trail takes you on a journey through several late 19th-century gold mines and tells the story of the historic buildings as well as the people who once worked here.
6. Lowry Pueblo (Pleasant View)
You know Mesa Verde, but did you know that Colorado is home a number of other Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites as well? Welcome to the Lowry Pueblo; a 40-room, multiple kiva dwelling estimated to have been built around 1060 AD.
7. NIST-F1 Cesium Fountain Clock (Boulder)
Want to hear something awesome? Boulder is home to the NIST-F1 Cesium Fountain Clock! What is the NIST-F1 Cesium Fountain Clock you ask? It’s an incredibly accurate atomic clock that is expected to neither gain nor lose a single second in the next 100 million years.
8. Kit Carson Carousel (Burlington)
While once a fixture of parks and fairs, fewer than 150 of the 2,500 wooden carousels carved in America between 1885 and 1930 remain today. We think that statistic is downright sad… but we do have some good news: one of them is actually right here in Colorado! Also known as the Elitch Gardens or Kit Carson County Carousel, the 1905 Philadelphia Toboggan Company Carousel is comprised of its original hand-carved animals and still offers rides during the summer!
9. Indiana Jones Bed & Breakfast (Antonito)
Listen up, kids of the 1980s: Colorado is home to Indiana Jones' childhood home and YOU can stay there! Located in Antonito, the Indiana Jones Bed & Breakfast is the actual filming location of young Indiana Jones' home from the 1989 classic, "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade." When you visit, be sure to snap photos of the original exterior, and don’t miss the shrine to the films!
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