Colorado in 15 Photos

One of the most diverse states in America in terms of landscapes, Colorado is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts and history buffs, as these top 15 Colorado photos in this post will certainly prove.

This fascinating state in the Western United States boasts the towering Rocky Mountains (including Mount Elbert, which with its 14,440 feet or 4,401 meters is the highest mountain in the Rocky Mountains), but is also home to vast plains (the western part of the massive Great Plains). Natural features include forests, snowcapped mountain summits, canyons and mesas, desert-like plateaus, rivers and farmlands.

In addition to spectacular landscapes—truly some of the greatest in all of North America—Colorado also has its fair share of human history to be proud of. As one of the former gold rush regions, the state is dotted with old mines, deserted towns, historic saloons and old railroad tracks. A genuine Wild West feel can still be experienced in many places in the state. Its capital city of Denver, a vibrant, bustling metropolis on the edge between the Rockies and the Plains, originated as a gold rush settlement. Older historic sites date from before European colonization, such sites including cave dwellings, ancient Native American burial grounds and villages.

Natural history is equally as prevalent, Colorado being one of the hotspots for fossil hunting. The state is home to some of the world’s richest fossil sites—the very places where the infamous “Bone Wars” took place in the last decades of the 19^th century. Dinosaur tracks, bones, dig sites and museums are among the most popular attraction in Colorado now. Examples are Dinosaur Ridge near Denver and Dinosaur National Monument.

This is all to say that Colorado has plenty to offer visitors, from magnificent landscapes to historic gold mining towns to dinosaur fossils.

Let the following selection of top 15 Colorado photos inspire you to visit and explore this extraordinary American state!

Top 15 Colorado Photos