Maybe you’ve been skiing or snowboarding in Colorado. You’ve enjoyed powder days and sunny bluebird days on the slopes. But have you ever experienced a Colorado mountain resort in the summer? The temperatures are warmer and the days are longer, and with so much to see and do for the entire family, summer is a perfect time to visit. We’ve put together a guide of our top 5 reasons summer is an ideal time to visit Colorado mountain resorts in the summer.
Go for a Scenic Gondola Ride
When visiting Colorado Mountain Resorts in the summer, going for a scenic gondola ride is a great activity for the whole family. Many resorts have a lift with a gondola that will take you to mid-mountain or the summit, offering expansive views. This is a great way to take in the sights of the surrounding mountains and to get a feel for the area. Gondola rides are also a nice easy ride, meaning that everyone from the kids to Grandma and Grandpa to your furry pup can go for a ride. From the top of the gondola, you can access many different amenities, which brings us to our next activity: biking.
Check out the Downhill and Cross Country Mountain Bike Trails
In an effort to entice more summer visitors, many mountain resorts have started to develop bike parks and expansive networks of downhill mountain biking trails. If you’re looking for a thrill, be sure to rent a downhill-specific mountain bike as the setup is different from a normal mountain bike, and then give it a go! With twisty berms and plenty of table top features, you’re sure to enjoy each ride down before riding back to the top on the chair lift or gondola.
For those looking for more of a challenge, many resorts also have a network of cross country mountain biking trails, which includes pedaling uphill and downhill. Again, these bikes have a different set up from other mountain bikes, so be sure to rent one that fits you and suits your needs. If you’re looking for a full day of mountain biking, many of these trails feed into other national forest area trails, allowing you to really explore and experience the area on a pair of wheels.
Go for a Hike
Whether you are starting your hike from the base of the resort or from a trail at mid-mountain, both are great options and a great way to enjoy the scenery that Colorado mountain resorts have to offer. If you choose to take a gondola or chair lift ride to the top, many resorts offer flatter and shorter loop hikes that point out local features like plants and wildlife. If you are looking for something a bit more strenuous, start from the base area and challenge yourself to an uphill hike to the top, often rewarded with phenomenal views of the surrounding peaks in the area. After you’ve climbed to the top and soaked in the views, be sure to reward yourself with the next item on our list: mountain top dining.
Dine at the Top with a View
After you’ve taken a ride or hiked to the top, don’t miss out on many of the dining options that resorts have to offer. There are few things more enjoyable than a delicious meal on a patio overlooking mountains as far as the eye can see. To add to the fun, many resorts also offer a sunset happy hour at the top of their gondola or chairlift, allowing you to say cheers from the top of a mountain before riding or hiking back down to the base area.
Go for a Soak in the River
After you’ve enjoyed yourself on the mountain, whether it be hiking, biking, dining, or a gondola ride, don’t forget to cool off and go for a soak in the river. Many mountain towns have a river nearby or a river that runs through them, and offer great access for a quick soak or many other activities like fishing, tubing, kayaking, and more. A soak in the river is a great way to complete your weekend getaway to any Colorado mountain resort.
Are you ready to visit Colorado resorts in the summer yet? With so much to offer from families to couples both young and old, Colorado resorts are an ideal way to escape the rush of the city, the heat of the summer, and enjoy the scenery and adventure of the mountains.
