Jump to a National Park
🏞️ National Parks in Colorado: Your Guide to the 4 Majestic Parks
Category: Colorado National Parks, Fun Facts About Colorado | By: Open Road Colorado
Last Updated: April 2025
Colorado is home to four official National Parks, each with its own unique landscape and outdoor experience. From jagged cliffs to ancient cliff dwellings and towering sand dunes, these parks are bucket-list worthy stops for every road tripper.
List of Colorado’s National Parks:
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison – Montrose, CO
- Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve – Mosca, CO
- Mesa Verde National Park – Cortez and Mancos, CO
- Rocky Mountain National Park – Estes Park and Grand Lake, CO
Important Note: Despite what some search results say, Arches and Canyonlands are in Utah — not Colorado! But don’t miss Great Sand Dunes National Park, which is sometimes mistakenly excluded online.
📚 Source: National Park Service – Colorado
🏔️ Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
📍 Location: Near Montrose, CO
📏 Max Depth: Over 2,700 feet
Prepare to be blown away by the dramatic cliffs and shadowy walls of Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Carved by the Gunnison River over millions of years, this awe-inspiring canyon features some of the steepest cliffs in North America. The Painted Wall is the tallest vertical cliff in Colorado and a true marvel to behold.
🔥 Highlights:
- South Rim Road Scenic Drive
- Chasm View Overlook & Painted Wall
- Fishing, hiking, rock climbing, and night sky viewing
🗺️ Visit the Black Canyon NPS Page
📍 Located just 15 minutes from Montrose, CO
📸 Best for: Rugged landscapes, dramatic cliffs, and epic sunrises.
🏜️ Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
📍 Location: Mosca, CO
📏 Tallest Dune: Over 749 feet
Think Colorado is all mountains? Think again. The Great Sand Dunes National Park features the tallest dunes in North America, forming a breathtaking desert landscape framed by alpine peaks. Visitors can enjoy sandboarding, hiking, and stargazing in one of the darkest skies in the U.S.
🔥 Highlights:
- Climb Star Dune or High Dune
- Play in Medano Creek (best in late spring)
- Backcountry camping and night photography
🗺️ Visit the Great Sand Dunes NPS Page
📍 Just 35 minutes from Alamosa, CO
📸 Best for: Sandboarding, astrophotography, and unique desert vibes.
🏞️ Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP)
📍 Location: Estes Park & Grand Lake, CO
🌟 Annual Visitors: Over 4.7 million
Rocky Mountain National Park is a dream destination for hikers, photographers, and wildlife watchers. With elevations topping 14,000 feet and alpine lakes surrounded by pine forests, RMNP is Colorado’s crown jewel. Don’t miss the epic Trail Ridge Road!
🔥 Highlights:
- Hikes to Emerald Lake, Bear Lake & Dream Lake
- Spot elk, moose, and bighorn sheep
- Drive Trail Ridge Road (seasonal)
📍 Access via Estes Park (east) or Grand Lake (west)
📸 Best for: Sunrise hikes, fall foliage, and classic alpine landscapes.
🏛️ Mesa Verde National Park
📍 Location: Near Cortez and Mancos, CO
🏺 Cultural Significance: Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings
Mesa Verde is unlike any other national park in the country. Instead of natural landscapes, it protects centuries-old cliff dwellings built by the Ancestral Puebloans. Explore archaeological sites, hike through ancient paths, and take guided tours of the Cliff Palace.
🔥 Highlights:
- Cliff Palace, Balcony House, and Spruce Tree House tours
- Mesa Top Loop and Far View Sites
- Scenic drives and ranger-led programs
🗺️ Visit the Mesa Verde NPS Page
📍 15 minutes from Cortez, CO — 1 hour from Durango
📸 Best for: History lovers, cultural heritage, and archaeology fans.
Share Colorado National Parks on Social -
More Fun Facts About Colorado
Colorado Quarter: History, Design & 50 State Quarters Program (2006)
Colorado Quarter – History, Design & 50 State Quarters Program Overview The Colorado Quarter was released on June 14, 2006, as part of the United States Mint’s 50 State Quarters Program, which celebrated each U.S. state, the District of Columbia,
Pikes Peak Gold Rush: Colorado’s Historic Gold Discovery & Ghost Towns
Pikes Peak Gold Rush: Colorado’s Historic Gold Discovery The Pikes Peak Gold Rush was a pivotal event in Colorado and American history, drawing thousands of fortune seekers to the region in search of gold. Beginning in 1858, the discovery of
Colorado Blue Spruce: Facts, Elevation, Lifespan
Colorado Blue Spruce – The Official State Tree of Colorado 🌲 Colorado Blue Spruce – The Official State Tree of Colorado By Open Road Colorado | Colorado Fun Facts & HistoryUpdated April 2025 | Perfect for Students, Nature Lovers &
How Big is Colorado? Size, Shape & Fun Geography Facts
🏔️ How Big is Colorado? (Spoiler: Bigger Than You Think) Everything about Colorado feels massive—from our towering 14ers to wide-open skies—but have you ever stopped to wonder just how big the state really is? 📏 Total Size of Colorado: 104,185
Central City, Colorado: Explore The Richest Square Mile on Earth | Top Things to Do
🏔️ Richest Square Mile on Earth – Central City, Colorado Central City, Colorado, located about 38 miles west of Denver, is famously known as “The Richest Square Mile on Earth.” During the Pikes Peak Gold Rush of 1859, Central City
More Fun Facts About Colorado
Hairstreak Butterfly – Colorado State Insect Guide & Facts
Colorado State Insect – The Hairstreak Butterfly Colorado State Insect – The Hairstreak Butterfly: Colorado’s Winged Jewel Quick Facts 📌 Common Name: Hairstreak Butterfly Scientific Name: Hypaurotis crysalus Designated: State Insect of Colorado in 1996
Colorado Abbreviation (CO) & State Nicknames Explained
Colorado Abbreviation & State Nicknames Explained 🏷️ Colorado Abbreviation & State Nicknames Explained By Open Road Colorado | Colorado History & Fun FactsUpdated April 2025 | Great for Students, Travelers & Postal Pros 🔠 What
What Does Colorado Mean? – Origin, History & Fun Facts Explained
What Does Colorado Mean? – History, Origin & Fun Facts Have you ever wondered what Colorado means or where the state’s name comes from? Colorado’s name traces its roots back to the Spanish language, reflecting
Colorado Blue Spruce: Facts, Elevation, Lifespan
Colorado Blue Spruce – The Official State Tree of Colorado 🌲 Colorado Blue Spruce – The Official State Tree of Colorado By Open Road Colorado | Colorado Fun Facts & HistoryUpdated April 2025 | Perfect
Titan 1 Missile Silos in Colorado | Cold War History
Titan 1 Missile Silos | Cold War Nuclear History ☢️ Colorado Titan 1 Missile Complexes – Cold War History on the Plains Explore the underground legacy of Colorado’s intercontinental ballistic missile silos from the Cold
