Colorado

Top Regions of the Rocky Mountain State

Centennial State. Colorful Colorado. Rocky Mountain Empire. Columbine State. Ski Country USA. Switzerland of America.

(Pictures and places in bold are places I have been to.)

Iconic Foods

- - Lamb Chops
  - Rocky Mountain Oysters
  - Elk-Jalapeno Dog
  - Trout
  - Beef Enchiladas
  - Green Chile Ribs
  - Colorado Style Green Chili (Chili Verde)
  - Breakfast Burrito
  - Denver Omelet

10. High Plains

- - Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site
  - Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site
  - Pawnee National Grassland
  - Comanche National Grassland

Colorado State Capitol

9. Front Range

- - Denver
  - Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
  - Cache La Poudre River Corridor
  - Pikes Peak

8. Sawatch Range

- - Browns Canyon National Monument (USFS-BLM)
  - Former Holy Cross National Monument (USFS)
  - South Park National Heritage Area
  - Leadville

Vail

7. Colorado Ski Country

- - Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness
  - White River National Forest – Hidden Gems
  - Aspen
  - Vail

6. San Luis Valley

- - Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
  - Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area
  - Sangre de Cristo Mountains
  - Blanca Peak

5. Gunnison Country

- - Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
  - Curecanti National Recreation Area (NPS)
  - Former Wheeler National Monument (USFS)
  - Gunnison National Forest (USFS)

Dinosaur National Monument

4. Dinosaur Diamond

- - Dinosaur National Monument (shared with Utah)
  - Colorado National Monument
  - Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area (BLM)
  - Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway National Scenic Byway (shared with Utah)

Red Mountain Mining District, San Juan Mountains, Ouray County, along U.S. Route 550 (the Million Dollar Highway)

3. San Juan Mountains

- - San Juan National Forest – Mount Sneffels
  - San Juan Skyway All-American Road (Million Dollar Highway from Silverton to Ouray)
  - Silverton
  - Ouray
  - Telluride

Rocky Mountain National Park

2. Colorado Rockies

- - Rocky Mountain National Park
  - Arapaho National Recreation Area (USFS)
  - Trail Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow Road All-American Road (Estes Park to Grand Lake)
  - Colorado River Headwaters National Scenic Byway (Grand Lake to Bond)
  - Steamboat Springs

Square Tower House, Chapin Mesa, Mesa Verde National Park

1. Southwest Mesas

- - Mesa Verde National Park (a World Heritage Site)
  - Canyons of the Ancients National Monument (BLM)
  - Hovenweep National Monument
  - Chimney Rock National Monument (USFS) – Chimney Rock Archeological Area
  - Yucca House National Monument
  - Trail of the Ancients National Scenic Byway (shared with Utah)