24 words that perfectly describe Colorado life
Whether you love Colorado for its colorful landscapes, diverse wildlife, or historic sites, these 24 words describe what makes Colorado the perfect place.
Welcome sign for Colorful Colorado on a grassy field (Photo) Credit Davel5957 (iStock)
1. Colorful
From glowing sunsets to vibrant wildflowers, “colorful” is one of the most accurate words to describe Colorado. Even rock formations, like Garden of the Gods and Paint Mines Interpretive Park, display a stunning range of colors. One of the most colorful times of the year in Colorado is fall when the mountains change colors as aspen leaves make the transition from green to yellow, orange, gold, and red.
Photo Credit: Davel5957 (iStock).
Ice Lake Panorama, San Juan Mountains, Colorado (Photo) Credit johnnya123 (iStock)
2. Stunning
“Stunning” is a simple way to explain the scenery in Colorado. Whether trekking through mountains to a turquoise mountain lake, discovering huge waterfalls, or peering into the depths of a canyon, Colorado is full of stunning scenes.
Photo Credit: johnnya123 (iStock).
Maroon Bells at sunrise near Aspen, Colorado (Photo) Credit Xsandra (iStock)
3. Mountainous
The mountains through Colorado are no joke. Colorado is roughly split between mountainous landscapes to the west and high plains to the east. On clear days, the Front Range’s famous 14,115-foot Pikes Peak can be seen from the Kansas/Colorado border. The Rocky Mountains through Colorado feature 50-plus peaks with an elevation higher than 14,000 feet. Some notable mountains found in southern Colorado, the San Jan mountains, have extremely rugged ridges that provide beautiful and dramatic scenes.
Photo Credit: Xsandra (iStock).
Aerial View of Colorado Springs at Dusk (Photo) Credit Jacob Boomsma (iStock).
4. Desirable
The majority of Coloradans live along the eastern flank of the Rocky Mountains, known as the Front Range urban corridor. Thanks to the wall of mountains, this region is partially protected from prevailing storms from the west, with an average of 300 days of sunshine per year statewide, Colorado is known to have a desirable climate without prolonged extreme cold or heat. Just imagine skiing in a T-shirt on a sunny day at the slopes. According to US News and World Report, four Colorado places were ranked among the top 20 “best places to live.”
Photo Credit: Jacob Boomsma (iStock).
Arkansas Whitewater Recreation Area in Salida, Colorado (Photo) Credit Jacob Boomsma
5. Artsy
Being surrounded by natural beauty, it’s no surprise that the state is full of artsy people and places. Areas like Denver’s RiNo art district and downtown Salida thrive in the art scene. The RiNo district champions the arts by providing creators affordable spaces, delivering education on the arts, and providing a support a network of artists. Downtown Salida is Colorado’s largest historic district and is a certified creative district that includes many local shops in historic, wild-west style buildings.
Photo Credit: Jacob Boomsma.
South Park (Photo) Credit Thomas Elliott (Flickr)
6. Historic
From old trading posts to relics of the mining era, there are plenty of destinations that make Colorado a historic place. The state is rich in history from Native American influences to the Wild West and the start of Colorado’s towns and cities, many of which are marked by sites you can still find today. Check out this history-themed road trip that travels around the state of Colorado.
Photo Credit: Thomas Elliott (Flickr)
Dry snow avalanche with a powder cloud (Photo) Credit med_ved (iStock)
7. Dangerous
Although Colorado offers many family-friendly activities, there are dangerous aspects of Colorado to look out for. Wildlife and avalanches are among the many factors of a dangerous situation in Colorado. Never approach, touch, or feed wildlife in Colorado whether it’s a chipmunk, an elk, or bear. Storms are another common danger you’ll likely encounter in Colorado. Thunderstorms often move quickly through Colorado and can bring extreme weather conditions in a matter of minutes.
Photo Credit: med_ved (iStock).
File photo of bull elk bugling, (Photo) Credit twildlife (iStock)
8. Wild
“Wild” is a word that describes several aspects of Colorado, whether it’s considering the collection of “Wild West” spots, the wild weather, or the wide range of wildlife, including mountain lions, elk, bears, birds, foxes, moose, coyotes, porcupines, and much more. Here are some wild animal tracks to lookout for on trails in Colorado.
Photo Credit: twildlife (iStock).
Dinosaur National Monument (Photo) Credit RuggyBearLA Photography (Flickr)
9. Ancient
Before the times of log cabins and prospecting for gold, the land of Colorado was a stomping ground for prehistoric animals, then settled by ancient cultures. Areas like Dinosaur National Monument, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, and Picketwire Canyonlands prove Colorado is an ancient place. Dinosaur fossils and tracks are found throughout the state, along with petroglyphs believed to be the creations of the ancient Fremont people.
Photo Credit: RuggyBearLA Photography (Flickr)
Selection of craft beers in a flight ready for tasting Photo Credit: Daria Nipot (iStock)
10. Crafty
There’s no doubt Colorado loves its “crafty” beverages. Local beer, cider, wine, and kombucha can all be found in this state. For crafty products, visit these 12 farmers markets around Colorado where visitors can find meats, veggies, fruits, arts and crafts, and more.
Photo Credit: Daria Nipot (iStock).
Helen Hunt Falls (Photo) Credit Kevin (flickr)
11. Refreshing
Some summer days in Colorado can be hot and dry, but there’s no shortage of “refreshing” destinations. Take a short stroll to be sprayed by the mist of a waterfall, hike along a creek or river, or lay on a sandy lakeside beach for a refreshing experience in Colorado.
Photo Credit: Kevin (flickr).
Dog at Brewery (Photo) Credit FluxFactory (iStock)
12. Dog-friendly
The wide-open spaces aren’t the only aspect of Colorado that make the state dog-friendly. Try taking your four-legged companion on a gondola ride, out for lunch at a dog-friendly restaurant, on a train ride, or to one of these 10 awesome dog parks. Better yet – load up and embark on a dog-friendly road trip around Colorado, with stops along the way that will welcome you and your furry friend.
Photo Credit: FluxFactory (iStock).
Stars and Milky Way Desert Canyon Landscape (Photo) Credit Adventure_Photo (iStock)
13. Stellar
Colorado’s “stellar” dark skies reveal the Milky Way, other galaxies, star clusters, nebulae, planets, comets, and much more at night. Colorado is home to eight International Dark Sky Parks and five International Dark Sky Communities thanks to the high elevation, dry air, and low light pollution. Here are seven stellar spots to watch a meteor shower and stargaze from Colorado.
Photo Credit: Adventure_Photo (iStock).
Telluride Blues & Brews Festival (Photo) Credit Telluride Blues & Brews Festival
Photo Credit: Telluride Blues & Brews Festival.
Columbines (Photo) Courtesy Bernie Nagy
15. Elevated
The highest point of the Rocky Mountain range is found at the top of Colorado’s 14,439-foot summit of Mount Elbert. The average elevation of Colorado is a whopping 6,800 feet above sea level. Many mountain towns are situated above that average, and even at elevations higher than 9,000 feet, such as Alma (10,578 feet), Leadville (10,152 feet), Breckenridge (9,600 feet), and more. Colorado also claims the title of having the highest continuous-paved highway, Trail Ridge Road. Located in Rocky Mountain National Park, this mountain road traverses 48 miles from Estes Park west to Grand Lake with a peak elevation of 12,183 feet above sea level.
Photo Courtesy: Bernie Nagy
Island Lake (Photo) Credit OakleyOriginals (flickr)
16. Outdoorsy
From mountain-top adventures to activities on the water, there are countless list of ways to spend time in the outdoors of Colorado. Pick a classic Colorado site for an outdoorsy wedding, spend a few days in Denver – called the hub for outdoor recreation, or add these 12 outdoorsy day trips to your Colorado itinerary.
Photo Credit: OakleyOriginals (flickr).
Mount Elbert (Photo) Credit Leslie James
16. Outdoorsy (cont.)
Other things that keep Colorado outdoorsy include the endless trails for hiking from beginner level to difficult, the Gold Metal Waters for fishing, the great camping spots, the whitewater rapids to raft, and more.
Photo Credit: Leslie James, OutThere Colorado.
Cameron Peak Fire 2020 Colorado (Photo) (Bethany Baker/The Coloradoan via AP, File)
Crystal Mill (Photo) Credit miroslave_1 (iStock)
18. Photogenic
Man-made and natural scenes make “photogenic” a perfect word to describe Colorado. Be sure to bring a camera to places like Aspen’s Maroon Bells, Crystal Mill, Garden of the Gods, Rocky Mountain National Park, and these other spots. Road tripping around Colorado? Be sure to pull over at these 12 overlooks for more perfect pictures of Colorado.
Photo Credit: miroslav_1 (iStock).
Blue Eyed Darner (Photo) Credit yhelfman (iStock)
19. Weird
The obvious list of Colorado wildlife might include the black bear, mule deer, and rainbow trout, but what about the lesser known, seldom seen species? Here's a look at some of the state's weirdest animals and 10 of the weirdest bugs found in Colorado. Other “weird” things in Colorado include some rock formations, hiking experiences, roadside attractions, and these odd facts about the state.
Photo Credit: yhelfman (iStock).
UFO Watchtower (Photo) Credit David Ramsey
18. Out-of-this-world
Each year, mysterious sightings in Colorado’s skies are reported by the news and on social media. A 7-minute video captured in 1995 shows a tube-like object hovering in the sky above Salida. Some personal accounts remain a mystery, such as the truck driver who lost his memory and the discovery of a mutilated horse that made national news. “Out-of-this-world” is a phrase to describe Colorado in a figurative way, but are there actual extraterrestrial things happening? Who knows.
Photo Credit: David Ramsey
Red Mountain Pass (Photo) Credit Christian Murdock, The Gazette
21. Old
There are hundreds of abandoned sites around Colorado that once stood as towns of the late 19th century mining boom. Here’s a road trip through the state that hits some of the most well-preserved ghost towns and 10 best Colorado mountain towns to visit and see more remnants of Colorado’s mining era.
Photo Credit: Christian Murdock, The Gazette.
Mount Princeton winter (Photo) Credit Haji Mahmood
22. Relaxing
Colorado isn’t all about exploring the backcountry and summiting mountains. There are dozens of places to sit, relax, and enjoy the area’s geothermal waters. Mount Princeton Hot Springs offers large, naturally heated pools and riverside soaking. Pagosa Springs features the world’s deepest geothermal pool, the Mother Spring, which feeds several hot springs for a relaxing adventure.
Photo Credit: Haji Mahmood, courtesy Mount Princeton Hot Springs.
Chief Ouray (Photo) Illustration (Wikimedia Creative Commons)
23. Culture
There are many cultural destinations to visit in Colorado, such as places to experience and learn about Native American culture. The Ute Indian Museum in Montrose rests on the past homestead of Chief Ouray, a revered leader of the Ute tribe in Colorado. Other places that make Colorado a cultural place include Mesa Verde National Park and Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.
Illustration from The Indian Dispossessed by Seth K. Humphrey, 1906 (Wikimedia Creative Commons).
Colorful sunset over Denver Photo Credit: Starcevic (iStock)
24. Colorado
Curious about the origin of the state’s name? It comes from the Spanish language, as the word for “colored red.”
Photo Credit: Starcevic (iStock).
Wildflowers and Pikes Peak (Photo) Credit SWKrullImaging (iStock)
24. Colorado (cont.)
Whether the word makes you think of jagged mountains, fields of wildflowers, herds of elk, or the Broncos, “Colorado” takes on a meaning of its own. Phrases like “Colorado sunset” or “Colorado weather” paint a picture in a Coloradan’s mind.
Photo Credit: SWKrullImaging (iStock).
(2) comments
Ty for not mentionmg colorado gators. Even worse than the UFO tower
on highway 17 (pictured).
Colorado Gators is an amazing place. Their care for the animals is awesome and it's a fun way to do something different than the usual.
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