10 Amazing Natural Wonders Hiding In Plain Sight In Colorado — No Hiking Required
It should come as a surprise to no one that Colorado is THE place to be for all things nature! However, sometimes you just want to experience the natural wonder without having to work for it, right? Lucky for us, there are several natural wonders hiding in plain sight (no hiking required!), including:
Located just outside of Palisade lies the jaw-dropping Book Cliffs; a series of mountains and Cretaceous sandstone cliffs that span a whopping 200 miles from Palisade to Helper, Utah!
Also located in western Colorado is the incredible Dinosaur National Monument, which -- like the Book Cliffs -- spans countless miles and is shared with our neighboring state of Utah. (In addition to the epic views, the aptly Dinosaur National Monument is also home to 800 paleontological sites.)
Just can't get enough of the prehistoric? You live in the right place, as Colorado is home to not just the Dinosaur National Monument, but also the Florissant Fossil Beds and their collection of 34-million-year old insect and leaf fossils (plus remains of the former petrified forest, pictured).
Seeing as though Mount Evans is home to the highest paved road in North America, it is easy to spot from just about anywhere! (However, if you do want to take a closer look, you can do so from the comfort of your own car.)
While these red rock formations are easy to spot from I-25 in Colorado Springs, they really do deserve to be seen up close! (And while this article is all about natural wonders that require no hiking, we still recommend getting out and walking around the paths around the park, as these vibrant formations are even better up close.)
Ah, Last Dollar Road... arguably the most beautiful drive in the state. Last Dollar Road runs from Telluride to Ridgway and through some of the most colorful of landscapes you will ever see.
Located in northeast Colorado lies the Pawnee Buttes; rocky 300-foot-tall buttes that stand tall over the surrounding prairie that the area is famous for.
Wanna see a great piece of ash? Look no further than the stunning Wheeler Geologic Area, which features layers of volcanic ash some 25-million-years old. (Trust us; pictures do not do these outcroppings justice!)
The best concert venue in not just the state, but the entire country is hands down Red Rocks Amphitheatre, which is nestled within the iconic Red Rocks Park and boasts epic acoustics via its surrounding rocks.
In case you haven't noticed, Colorado rocks! (See what I did there?) Another amazing rock formation that sits high above the Colorado landscape is Chimney Rock, which occupies a whopping 1,000 acres of the monument.
For even more all-natural Colorado, check out These 15 Jaw-Dropping Photos Perfectly Sum Up Colorado’s Many Landscapes.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
