By Malena Larsen

Over 80 million people visit Colorado every year. These tourists, on top of the nearly 6 million locals, can make being “one with nature” a little more difficult than most of us would like. There’s more than enough Mother Nature to go around, however, the large crowds tend to flock to a few choice spots.

Rocky Mountain National Park, for example, receives about 4.5 million visitors per year. The park is so overwhelmed with crowds that timed entry reservations are required between May and October. Rocky Mountain isn’t alone here—Eldorado Canyon State Park requires weekend vehicle reservations during peak season.

The spontaneity and solitude of spending time outdoors feels tainted when you need to call ahead like you’re making a dinner reservation. If taking a packed bus to Maroon Bells, paying $50 for parking to summit Quandary Peak or fighting the crowds to see Saint Mary’s Glacier doesn’t sound ideal, consider visiting one of these spots:

Black Canyon of the Gunnison & Curecanti National Recreation Area

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park encompasses a mere 30,000 acres but has an incredible display of vistas, cliffs and spires. Despite this, the park only receives around 300,000 visitors per year, according to Lori Rome, Chief of Interpretation at the National Park Service — Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Curecanti National Recreation Area.

“The challenge we’re having at Black Canyon is that it was a national monument from 1933 to 1969, and its infrastructure hasn’t changed much since then,” Rome explains. “There’s a tiny road, a tiny campground, and a parking lot with 42 spots.”

Given its compact size, much of the park can be navigated in a day's excursion. But the adventure doesn’t have to end there—located about 40 miles away is the Curecanti National Recreation Area.

Curecanti often gets overlooked because it doesn’t have the title of “national park.” However, because of this, it also means you can bring your furry friend with you on your adventure. Plus, the recreation area is equipped with more trails and hiking opportunities than the south rim of Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

“If we can distribute ourselves more evenly across the landscape, maybe we can make outdoor recreation even more pleasant,” Rome adds.

A hiker on the Pollock Bench Trail in Fruita

Pollock Bench Trailhead in Fruita

Another spot to escape masses can be found in western Colorado. The trails from the Pollock Bench Trailhead take you into the Mcinnis Canyons National Conservation Area. Here you can find the Rattlesnake Arches (which only receive 8,000 visitors per year), ride horseback along the vibrant orange trail or spend the night camping within the cavernous canyons.

Falls Creek Recreation Area in Durango

A tranquil spot that is frequently overlooked is the Falls Creek Recreation Area. It has a collection of trails including the Falls Creek Loop, which is almost nine miles round trip. A shorter, but equally rewarding, trail is the four-mile Falls Creek Loop. Here you’ll find meadows, aspen groves and stunning mountain views.

Standley Lake Regional Park in Westminster

If heading deep into the mountains isn’t in the cards but you’re still craving time outside, Standley Lake Regional Park may be the answer. This park can be found between Denver and Boulder in Westminster, so you will likely not experience complete solitude. But you will be met with mountain views, hiking trails and the opportunity for camping, kayaking, paddleboarding and more. Standley Lake is the Denver metropolitan area’s third largest reservoir, so there is plenty of room to find some peace and quiet.

Colorado’s Thirteeners

If summiting fourteeners is on your bucket list, you’re far from alone. This state is plum full of peaks that jut above 14,000 feet—hiking all 58 is a feat on many hikers’ minds. This can mean, during peak season, that these trails get extremely busy. If you’re looking for a hike with fewer people and just as much of a challenge, consider checking out the less frequented thirteeners.

There are 637 thirteeners in Colorado. A handful of them are within an hour or two of the front range:

James Peak (13,294 ft)
Mount Flora (13,146 ft)
Mount Parnassus (13,574 ft)
Bard Peak (13,641 ft)
Mount Sniktau (13,234 ft)

Choosing thirteeners can also provide a much-needed respite to the fourteener landscape. Katie Jackson, a volunteer peak steward for the Colorado Fourteener Initiative, raises several concerns on the escalating crowds, such as littering, unleashed dogs and off-trail explorations leading to erosion.

"I regularly come across discarded fruit peels," Jackson says. "There's a misconception that they're biodegradable, but that's not the case in an alpine environment. People even leave the stickers on!"

While Colorado’s popular destinations like Rocky Mountain National Park, Saint Mary’s Glacier and the famous fourteeners offer beauty and allure, there are lesser-known, yet equally magnificent alternatives. By embracing these less-traveled paths, we can help distribute our impact, ensuring that the beauty of Colorado remains unspoiled.

Malena Larsen is a writer and Minnesota transplant. In addition to writing, she spends her time running in the mountains, visiting local craft breweries, and avoiding aggressive geese.