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Colorado has some of the most majestic mountain ranges in all of North America. From the Sawatch Range to the Front Range, Colorado provides some of the most epic scenery for pictures, hiking and mountaineering. Some of the best places to catch a glimpse of deep canyons or a jagged peak are located along the Continental Divide that cuts the continent down the middle. Let’s look at some beautiful Colorado mountains within the Centennial State.

From the high elevations of the enormous peaks to the mountain towns they accompany, Colorado’s beauty can never be fully justified in a written blog post. The beautiful Colorado mountains must be experienced in person to understand the true scope of their grandeur.

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Getting Lost in the Mountains

In the summer of 2022, I had the opportunity to explore some of the area just west of Fairplay, Colorado. Fairplay is located just to the east of Continental Divide. We decided to take a short hike starting at about 10,000 feet. We motored to the highest paved road we could find, the proceeded to offroad a few few hundred beyond eventually stepping off at an abandoned shack. 

As we ascended the mountain, we kept encountering false summit after summit. However, we were gripped by the seemingly unending vertical ascent. So, we kept going. And going. And going. Despite afternoon storms filled with wind and rain, we couldn’t help but notice that our view of the surrounding areas kept getting better and more pronounced. Eventually, we made it to the top. As it turns out, we our final elevation was just above 13,500 feet in total. 

I’ve found that this is the best way to experience the beauty of the Colorado mountains. Having no agenda and simply embarking on a journey where you have no idea where you’re going or what you’re going to find along the way. 

Rocky Mountains

We have to start with the famous Rocky Mountains in general simply because this is an absolutely beautiful mountain range! Stretching from Northern New Mexico all the way up into Canada, the Rockies are laden with 14,000 foot mountain peaks, alpine lakes and stunning natural beauty.

One of the best things about the Rockies is the prime choice of ski resort to choose from in the area. The Colorado ski area is packed with tons of world-class skiing, including cross country skiing. Quaint Colorado mountain towns like Vail, Telluride and Breckenridge provide a perfect place to experience the beauty of the Rocky Mountains. 

If you’re looking for something a little different the highest continuous paved road, Trail Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow National Scenic Byway, splits through Rocky Mountain National Park between the small mountain town of Estes Park and Grand Lake.

Mount Elbert

Located just southwest of Leadville, Coloardo, Mount Elbert is the highest point in the state of Colorado. Resting at 14,440 Mt. Elbert plays host to climbers and hikers from all over the world. Fortunately, Elbert is not an extremely difficult mountain to climb or hike. Since Elbert has the tallest peak in the country, it’s become a haven for adventure enthusiasts seeking to grab a picture at the top. 

While not a challenging climb, concerns about altitude sickness are still valid on Elbert. While exploring the mountain, Leadville is the closest city to explore, dine or stay. Leadville is one of the historic towns in Colorado that provides a great basecamp. 

Pike’s Peak

Located just west of the city of Colorado Springs, “America’s Mountain”, as it is often known, Pike’s Peak draws visitors from around the globe because of its storied history and ease of ascent. Did you know that there are three way to ascend to the summit of Pike’s Peak? 

You can hike, drive you car or take the Pikes Peak Cog Railway along Pikes Peak Highway all the way to the top! While not one of Colorado’s highest peaks, Pikes Peak provides easy access and unmatched views of Colorado’s landscape. As the keystone tourist attraction of the Front Range, Pikes Peak offers one of the highest gift shops at the top of the mountain! 

Due to its popularity, many people simply decide to catch a glimpse of Pikes Peak from “the Springs” or from Garden of the Gods located right next to Manitou Springs. 

Quandary Peak

Quandary Peak is the most summited 14er in all of Colorado. Located in the Tenmile Range and White River National Forest, Quandary’s proximity to to Breckenridge gives it a leg up when it comes to tourism and popularity. Quandary is very popular for hiking and snowshoeing and is open year round!

The stunning mountain views from Breck make this area a popular destination for Coloradans and outsiders alike. Personally, this is one of my favorite towns and mountain views in the entire Rocky Mountain state! 

Blanca Peak

Blanca Peak is a little off the beaten path in that it is somewhat separated from the rest of the highest mountains in the state. However, Blanca has one of the most unique areas to explore just next door – the Great Sand Dunes National Park. As the 4th highest peak in the state, I guess you could say that Blanca makes the great sand dunes the highest sand dunes in the state? 

Blanca is the shining star of the Sangre De Cristo mountain range due to it’s sheer height and difficulty of its Summit. Having completed the ascent in 2016, I can attest to the difficulty of the climb. Nonetheless, Blanca’s summit provides sweeping views of the Sangre De Cristos.

If you need a great camping spot for your Ascent, check out Lake Como. It’s about 5 miles up the trails and sits right in the middle of the mountain. This is a great spot to break up the trip if you’re looking for an enjoyable weekend!

Collegiate Peaks

Situated just to the west of beautiful Buena Vista, Collegiate Peak consists of Princeton, Yale and Harvard which are some of the Colorado’s tallest mountains. Go figure! Home to numerous outdoor activities like hiking, white water rafting and tubing, Buena Vista is one of our favorite towns to visit in Colorado. Main street is a great area to eat lunch or dinner and enjoy the laid-back vibes of the town. 

Nature lovers can take in the streaming Arkansas River while enjoying live music in the park. The great thing about Buena Vista is that it is located between Colorado Springs and the ski towns of Keystone, Breckenridge and Silverthorne offering a nice stop area and a scenic drive.

Maroon Bells

If you’re in the mood for something a little more upscale, Maroon Bells is the ideal waypoint for those looking to hang out in Vail or Aspen. Maroon Lake provides gorgeous scenery as you traverse towards North Maroon Peak. Hikers have tons of trails to choose from in this area, so you likely can find a trail that fits all kinds of hiking abilities. 

Here is a great resource if you’re looking to take part in one of the numerous day hikes Maroon Bells has to offer! Further, this art piece is one of the most famous photographs of the area. It truly is a masterpiece to behold if you get to see Maroon Bells up close and personal. One of the most scenic views is looking back towards Southwestern Colorado. 

Longs Peak

Longs Peak is the cornerstone of Rocky Mountain National Park. As one of the most famous mountains in Colorado, Longs Peak is actually the peak you see on the Colorado state quarter. The closes city is Estes Park, Colorado. As a summer haven, Estes Park has some of the best RV campgrounds in the state as well as access to one of the country’s best national parks – Rocky Mountain.

Longs also has one of the few remaining glaciers across all of Colorado’s mountains – Mills Glacier. If you ever have a chance to visit Longs Peak, it will be worth every second. 

Beautiful Colorado Mountains

The Colorado mountains stand as a testament to nature’s grandeur and beauty, captivating all who behold them with their towering peaks and rugged landscapes. From the majestic Rockies to the picturesque San Juan Mountains, this vast expanse of natural wonder offers an unparalleled sense of awe and inspiration.

At any time of year, the mountains cast a unique charm. In the summer months, emerald forests blanket the slopes, interrupted only by the vibrant hues of wildflowers in full bloom. The crisp mountain air carries the sound of rushing streams and the occasional cry of a soaring eagle, Together, you are truly in paradise.

As autumn approaches, the mountains don their cloak of gold and amber, as aspen trees set the hillsides ablaze with color. Hiking trails wind through valleys adorned with a patchwork of fiery foliage, offering breathtaking vistas at every turn. It’s a season of transition, where the landscape seems to be painted by the hand of a master artist, each stroke more breathtaking than the last. Snow turns to the organic life of the mountains created rushing rivers below the base of the mountains.

And then, as winter descends, the mountains are transformed into a winter wonderland, blanketed in a pristine layer of snow. Skiers and snowboarders flock to the world-class resorts that dot the landscape, seeking thrills on the slopes and moments of serenity in cozy mountain lodges. Meanwhile, adventurers explore snow-covered trails on snowshoes or cross-country skis, discovering a quiet beauty that is uniquely winter’s own.

Finding Your Adventure

But perhaps the most captivating aspect of the Colorado mountains is the sense of adventure they inspire. From scaling towering peaks to navigating rushing rivers, there’s no shortage of opportunities for outdoor exploration. Whether you’re an experienced mountaineer seeking to conquer a “fourteener” or a casual hiker in search of a scenic trail, the mountains beckon with endless possibilities.

Yet, amidst the grandeur and excitement, there’s also a profound sense of peace to be found in the mountains. Standing atop a summit, gazing out at the vast expanse of wilderness below, it’s easy to feel a deep connection to the natural world and a sense of perspective on life’s complexities.

In the end, the beauty of the Colorado mountains lies not just in their physical majesty, but in the sense of wonder and renewal they offer to all who venture into their embrace. They are a place of solace and inspiration, where the soul can find refuge amidst the chaos of the world.

​The Call of the Mountain

As I’ve written about previously, the idea of climbing a mountain translates into so many aspects of our lives. Whether we are starting a business, maneuvering a relationship or simply going about our day to day lives, we must remember that the journey towards any destination is rocky and uneven. It truly is a rugged mountain face that we are scaling. 

Far too often do we believe that our journeys are going to be highly-manicured trails with adequate rest stops along the way. This could not be further from the truth. In fact, it’s usually the opposite. We may believe we have reached the summit. Then, we come to find that there are in fact 4 more summits ahead of us. The call on our lives to embrace the imperfect path into the frontier. This a call is winding and dangerous. 

Boulders may fall, wild animals may see us as prey or storms may come at any moment to force us to hunker down for our own safety. However, heeding the call something that leads to victory and true life. 

Mountain Climbers

I want to share with you something I wrote in August of 2022 at a retreat called Becoming A King. I wrote about this previously in this post titled Discover How to Climb With God on Your Adventure. 

You have committed to this new life of adventuring with God. There is no turning back. You are with me now. I will lead you up the mountain. There will be spots of rest. It’s a long journey. There will be points where you will want to quit. There will be the most beautiful scenes you’ve ever seen. The water you take in will be the freshest the living water you can drink. There will be boulders in your way. There will be wild animals looking to devour you. We will hold fast to the path that I’ve set before you. The only thing is that only I know the way.

I will provides guides along the journey. Those guides will be your sages. I will show you the next right track. After that, if you choose to venture beyond me, you’ll have no trail to follow. No path to guide you. You will become lost. You will find me again, but only after you’ve almost reached your end. We will walk step in step. I will lead you. You will walk next to me. Your family will walk behind us. Together, we will continue to climb. Every day, we will climb.

There will be days of rest. The destination will be revealed. It is not important today. What is important is that you get up, gather your belongings, wake your family up, get them prepared, and begin climbing again. You can do this. We will do this. We will do this – together. I am not with you anymore. You are now with me. 

Let’s climb, 

God

Climbing With God

The sentiment behind this wording is that we must understand that the journey is not to be taken alone. Further, we must understand that God is not leading us, and He’s not behind us watching every step we take. He is, in fact, hiking WITH us. He will let us take the wrong trail. However, he always gets us back on the right track. He won’t prevent any dangers from coming after us. But, He always finds the best place to rest and protects us from nature’s elements. 

When we choose to climb with God, we are choosing to embrace the very nature of His character. We are choosing to explore the unmarked territory of our hearts and souls in search of the very thing He provides – true freedom and true adventure. Rather than wait for God to give us a yes to the next adventure, head out to the trails. He will meet you there, He will walk beside you the entire way. 

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