Summer Side Quests
Ashley’s Favorites
📍 Durango & Silverton
Difficulty: 🔵 Adventure Quest
The Mission: Hop aboard a historic steam train and wind through remote mountain canyons inaccessible by car.
Pro Tip: Take their behind-the-scenes tour and upgrade to an open-air car if available.
Why It's Worth the Quest: It's one of the most iconic ways to experience Colorado's rugged mountain landscape and mining history.
WALK IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF DINOSAURS
📍 Morrison
Difficulty: 🟢 Casual Quest
The Mission: Explore Dinosaur Ridge and see real dinosaur footprints preserved in stone, along with fossils, ancient geology, and evidence of creatures that roamed Colorado millions of years ago.
Pro Tip: Visit early in the morning or late in the day for cooler temperatures and fewer crowds.
Why It's Worth the Quest: It's one of the few places where you can literally place your feet beside dinosaur tracks.
📍 Idaho Springs
Difficulty: 🟢 Casual Quest
The Mission: Tour a real gold mine and try your hand at gold panning in the streams and underground mines that helped shape Colorado's history.
Pro Tip: Get their critter-approved food and you can feed squirrels and chipmunks by hand.
Why It's Worth the Quest: No matter how old you are, even a tiny gold flake feels exciting when you find it yourself.
DRIVE THE MILLION DOLLAR HIGHWAY
📍 South Pearl Street
Difficulty: 🔵 Adventure Quest
The Mission: Cruise the Million Dollar Highway between Ouray and Silverton, where dramatic cliffs, waterfalls, and mountain vistas wait around every corner.
Pro Tip: If you’re nervous or it’s your first time, drive south to north (Silverton to Ouray).
Why It's Worth the Quest: Every turn on the 45-minute drive is wilder than the next!
📍 Cañon City
Difficulty: 🔵 Adventure Quest
The Mission: Meet hawks, falcons, and owls through a hands-on experience where you can learn the ancient sport of falconry.
Pro Tip: Book it in advance and don’t forget your camera.
Why It's Worth the Quest: You'll gain a whole new appreciation for their speed, intelligence, and precision when nature's most impressive predator lands on your arm. It’s equal parts thrilling, humbling, and unforgettable.
A TASTE OF SCOTLAND WITHOUT LEAVING COLORADO
📍 Loveland
Difficulty: 🟢 Casual Quest
The Mission: Spend time with miniature Highland cows known for their shaggy coats, giant bangs, and sweet personalities. Guests can pet, brush, and snap photos with the herd, and you can buy special treats on site that you can feed them.
Pro Tip: Check the General Admission calendar on their website before you go to make sure they’re open that day.
Why It's Worth the Quest: It's impossible not to smile when a fluffy mini Highland cow wanders over looking for treats, scratches, and a little extra attention.
📍 Four Corners Monument
Difficulty: 🔵 Adventure Quest
The Mission: Visit the only place in the USA where four states meet and you can stand in Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico simultaneously.
Pro Tip: Bring cash for local Navajo artisan vendors.
Why It's Worth the Quest: The stunning red rock landscapes make for a memorable Southwest road trip.
📍 Conifer
Difficulty: 🔵 Adventure Quest
The Mission: Trade your hiking buddy for a llama and hit the trail on a guided hike through the foothills. Along the way, you'll learn about their quirky personalities and tendency to steal the spotlight in every photo.
Pro Tip: Book a llama lunch for the full experience of a hike + picnic in the mountains.
Why It's Worth the Quest: Most Colorado hikes come with mountain views. This one comes with a furry sidekick and a camera roll full of photos that will have everyone saying, "Wait... is that a llama?"
📍 St. Elmo
Difficulty: 🟢 Casual Quest
The Mission: The Wild West comes alive in this abandoned mining town where you can stroll down Main Street and see the original 1880s saloon, stores, the schoolhouse and more.
Pro Tip: Make a day of it and hit Mount Princeton Hot Springs
Why It's Worth the Quest: It's like stepping into a living history book with mountains as the backdrop.
📍 Cañon City
Difficulty: ⚫ Legendary Quest
The Mission: Whitewater raft through a 1,000-foot canyon beneath the famous Royal Gorge Bridge while navigating legendary Arkansas River rapids.
Pro Tip: Wear synthetic, moisture-wicking layers (no cotton!) and secure footware
Why It's Worth the Quest: Few adventures combine adrenaline, scenery, and bragging rights quite like rafting through the Royal Gorge.
📍 Erie
Difficulty: 🔵 Adventure Quest
The Mission: Book a scenic helicopter flight and see the Front Range from a perspective few people ever experience.
Pro Tip: Book a sunset flight if possible.
Why It's Worth the Quest: Colorado is beautiful from the ground, but it's unforgettable from the sky, and special moments are worth it.
PADDLEBOARD BENEATH A FOURTEENER
📍 Leadville
Difficulty: 🔵 Adventure Quest
The Mission: Paddle across Twin Lakes, where the towering peaks of Mount Elbert and Mount Massive create one of the most spectacular backdrops in Colorado.
Pro Tip: Go in the morning but bring layers because the air at nearly 10,000 feet can be surprisingly chilly, even on summer days.
Why It's Worth the Quest: There aren't many places where you can float across crystal-clear alpine water while staring up at two of Colorado's highest mountains.
📍 Silverton
Difficulty: ⚫ Legendary Quest
The Mission: Venture into Colorado’s rugged San Juan Mountains in search of a turquoise alpine lake tucked beneath dramatic peaks.
Pro Tip: Start early in the morning to avoid afternoon storms, and be prepared for high elevation and a challenging hike.
Why It's Worth the Quest: Between the electric-blue water, jagged mountain backdrop, and wildflower-filled trail, Island Lake feels like one of Colorado’s most magical hidden gems.
Ashley’s Side Quest Rules
🚗 The destination is only half the fun.
🚗 If it sounds weird, it's probably worth checking out.
🚗 Always leave time for a small town coffee stop.
🚗 Take the picture. Even when you don’t feel like it.
🚗 Give yourself more time than you think you'll need.
🚗 The best stories usually start with, "I wasn't planning on..."
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