3. Surf at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
While you won’t find any traditional surfing experiences in landlocked Colorado, that doesn’t mean you can’t try your hand at the sport. Enter: Sand surfing. Armed with a sandboard, comfortable clothes and a bit of courage, visitors can surf down the massive dunes at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Keep in mind, there are no board rental facilities within the park; instead, you’ll have to rent from a shop in the nearby San Luis Valley. Oasis Store, located 4 miles from the entrance, is the closest rental store option. The best boards to get are made specifically for sand – you’ll have trouble sliding using snow sleds and snowboards. From the main parking area, sand surfers can walk a little more than a half-mile to reach some decent-sized dunes. Those looking for larger slopes can choose to walk a bit farther, as surfing is allowed anywhere on the dunes aside from vegetated areas. Those who would rather sit than stand should opt for sand sledding instead. Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is open all day every day; it costs $25 per vehicle to enter the park, and you do not need a reservation to visit. There are also plenty of other activities you can do within the park, including hiking and swimming in Medano Creek.
4. Garden of the Gods
There are plenty of ways to explore the towering rock formations in Garden of the Gods, located about 5 miles northwest of downtown Colorado Springs. Of course, hiking is a great way to exercise while also soaking in the great views. Some highly recommended hiking routes include the easy Perkins Central Garden Trail and the moderate Palmer Trail. Jeep tours are another way to explore Garden of the Gods: Visitors can take a 90-minute narrated Jeep tour to Balanced Rock and hear about the history of the park, embark on a 90-minute outing to Glen Eyrie’s Queens Canyon and enjoy a scenic overlook, or ride to waterfalls, tunnels and other picturesque areas on a two-hour-long excursion. There are also Segway tours available in the park, as well as trolley tours, which are cheaper and less intense than the Jeep adventures but still offer plenty of incredible scenery for travelers to admire. Those looking for a bit more exercise can opt for bike tours, private rock climbing tours or solo bike trips (e-bike and mountain bike rentals are available in the park).