This Natural Wonders Road Trip Will Show You Denver Like You’ve Never Seen It Before

Colorado has no shortage of natural beauty and definitely has some truly spectacular (and memorable!) natural wonders to its name. Fortunately, for those living in the city, some of Colorado’s most beautiful country is in and around Denver. This natural wonders road trip in Denver features three national forests, multiple “14-ers,” caves, waterfalls, lakes, and more…all in or a stone’s throw away from Colorado’s capital city! You’ll start and end in the capital, and along the way, you’ll be reminded why you’re so in love with Colorado.

Start planning your adventure using this Google map.

Google Maps

Cave of the Winds Road, Cave of the Winds Rd, West Colorado Springs, CO, USA

Cave of the Winds/Facebook

This cave was discovered just 147 years ago, but Native American legends existed over a thousand years ago. Now you can explore Cave of the Winds for yourself during Colorado's warmer months.

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Pikes Peak, Colorado 80809, USA

Ronda Kimbrow Photography/Getty

Just one of Colorado's 53 fourteeners, Pikes Peak is definitely worth the trip. This 14,115-foot peak is surrounded by the stunning Pike National Forest, which is the first of three national forests we'll visit on this trip.

KPHutch/TripAdvisor

Rainbow Drive, Rainbow Dr, Colorado 80135, USA

Daniela Gaudino/GoogleMaps

Rainbow Falls, a.k.a "Graffiti Falls," is an interesting mix of natural beauty and manmade "art." While it's not for everyone, it does pose interesting questions about man's place in nature, and how our presence impacts this beautiful land.

Arapaho National Forest, Colorado 80468, USA

Cristin C./flickr

As you drive north along U.S. 40, you'll pass through a portion of the Arapaho National Forest. Consider little side trips to several of Colorado's peaks including Mount Evans, Mount Flora and Mount Evans. You can also stop at Winter Park for recreation - the hiking and views are gorgeous.

Andrew E. Russel/flickr

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Estes Park, CO 80517, USA

Brad McGinley Photography/Getty

This might just be my favorite national park in Colorado. It's hard to dispute the beauty of this wild place. From sweeping vistas, to the towering Rockies, the scenery at Rocky Mountain National Park is just unparalleled. Plan on spending as much time as you can in this incredible place - you'll find plenty of hiking, fishing and scenic driving here.

David Stillman/flickr

Flatirons, Colorado 80302, USA

Cavan Images/Getty

Ahhh...the Flatirons. Is there a more easily-recognizable natural wonder in Colorado? The five flatirons rose and tilted between 35 and 80 million years ago - erosion further shaped their flat, distinctive surface between then and now. Take a hike to see some killer views of Boulder.

White Ranch Open Space Park lower parking lot, Golden, CO 80403, USA

David Walker/flickr

One of many open space parks in the Denver area, White Ranch offers 20 miles of really beautiful hiking trails.

Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 303-319 CO-8, Morrison, CO 80465, USA

David Fulmer/flickr

We can't have a natural wonders road trip around Denver without a huge shout-out to Red Rocks. Our beloved amphitheater draws the best bands in the world with its amazing acoustics and unbeatable scenery. Stop by during the day to run the steps and get some exercise, or see a concert in a venue that you'll never forget.

If you were to just drive through each of these natural wonders in Denver, Colorado, you’d travel 421 miles over just under 11 hours. But why in the world would you do that? Instead, take as much time as you possibly can (is it ok to call in sick for three weeks in a row??). These incredible Denver wonders deserve as many days as you can give them!

For another must-do Denver road trip, how about beach-hopping through the area’s coolest waterfront spots? Or, stick to the pavement and check out these phenomenal architectural landmarks.