U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sov ...

Colorado Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the ...

National Parks A national park is a natural park in use for conservation purposes, created and protected by national governments. Often it is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individua ...

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is an American national park located in western Colorado and managed by the National Park Service. There are two primary entrances to the park: the south rim entrance is located east of Montrose, Colora ...

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is an American national park that conserves an area of large sand dunes up to tall on the eastern edge of the San Luis Valley, and an adjacent national preserve in the Sangre de Cristo Range, in south- ...

Rocky Mountain National Park Rocky Mountain National Park is an American national park located approximately northwest of Denver in north-central Colorado, within the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. The park is situated between the towns of Estes Park to the east and ...

Browns Canyon National Monument Browns Canyon National Monument is a national monument in Chaffee County, Colorado, that was designated as such by President Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th ...

Leadville The City of Leadville is a statutory city that is the county seat, the most populous community, and the only incorporated municipality in Lake County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 2,602 at the 2010 census and an estimated ...

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument Canyons of the Ancients National Monument is a national monument protecting an archaeologically-significant landscape located in the southwestern region of the U.S. state of Colorado. The monument's are managed by the Bureau of Land Management, ...

Chimney Rock National Monument Chimney Rock National Monument is a U.S. National Monument in San Juan National Forest in southwestern Colorado which includes an archaeological site. This area is located in Archuleta County, Colorado, between Durango and Pagosa Springs, and ...

Pagosa Springs The Town of Pagosa Springs (Ute language: Pagwöösa, Navajo language: Tó Sido Háálį́) is a home rule municipality that is the county seat, the most populous community, and the only incorporated municipality in Archuleta County, Colorado, ...

Colorado National Monument Colorado National Monument is a National Park Service unit near the city of Grand Junction, Colorado. Sheer-walled canyons cut deep into sandstone and granite–gneiss–schist rock formations. This is an area of desert land high on the Colorad ...

Wilson Wilson may refer to: People *Wilson (name) ** List of people with given name Wilson ** List of people with surname Wilson * Wilson (footballer, 1927–1998), Brazilian manager and defender * Wilson (footballer, born 1984), full name Wilson R ...

Roosevelt Roosevelt may refer to: *Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919), 26th U.S. president *Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945), 32nd U.S. president Businesses and organisations * Roosevelt Hotel (disambiguation) * Roosevelt & Son, a merchant bank * Roosev ...

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument The Florissant Formation is a sedimentary geologic formation outcropping around Florissant, Teller County, Colorado. The formation is noted for the abundant and exceptionally preserved insect and plant fossils that are found in the mudstones and ...

Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a representative and senator from California and was t ...

Hovenweep National Monument Hovenweep National Monument is located on land in southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah, between Cortez, Colorado and Blanding, Utah on the Cajon Mesa of the Great Sage Plain. Shallow tributaries run through the wide and deep canyons into ...

Yucca House National Monument Yucca House National Monument is a United States National Monument located in Montezuma County, Colorado between the towns of Towaoc (headquarters of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe) and Cortez, Colorado. Yucca House is a large, unexcavated Ancest ...

Wilson Wilson may refer to: People *Wilson (name) ** List of people with given name Wilson ** List of people with surname Wilson * Wilson (footballer, 1927–1998), Brazilian manager and defender * Wilson (footballer, born 1984), full name Wilson R ...

Holy Cross Wilderness The Holy Cross Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located in San Isabel and White River national forests near Leadville, Minturn, Avon, Edwards, Eagle, and Vail, Colorado. The wilderness with of trails was established in 1980. The wild ...

Wheeler Geologic Area The Wheeler Geologic Area is a highly eroded outcropping of layers of volcanic ash, in the La Garita Mountains of Mineral County, in southern Colorado in the western United States about 10 miles east north-east of Creede. The ash is the re ...

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site Bent's Old Fort is an 1833 fort located in Otero County in southeastern Colorado, United States. A company owned by Charles Bent and William Bent and Ceran St. Vrain built the fort to trade with Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho Plains Indians and ...

La Junta La Junta is a home rule municipality in , the county seat of, and the most populous municipality of Otero County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 7,322 at the 2020 United States Census. La Junta is located on the Arkansas Ri ...

Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site is a National Historic Site in Kiowa County, Colorado, commemorating the Sand Creek Massacre that occurred here on November 29, 1864. The site is considered sacred after the unprovoked assault on an e ...

Arapaho National Recreation Area The Arapaho National Recreation Area (ANRA) is a United States national recreation area located near the headwaters of the Colorado River in north central Colorado adjacent to Rocky Mountain National Park. ANRA is under the jurisdiction of the Ara ...

Curecanti National Recreation Area Curecanti National Recreation Area(Pronounced (locally) or .) is a National Park Service unit located on the Gunnison River in western Colorado. Established in 1965, Curecanti National Recreation Area is responsible for developing and managing re ...

California National Historic Trail The California Trail was an emigrant trail of about across the western half of the North American continent from Missouri River towns to what is now the state of California. After it was established, the first half of the California Trail f ...

Santa Fe National Historic Trail Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa, is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring children gifts during the late evening and overnigh ...

Continental Divide National Scenic Trail The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (in short Continental Divide Trail (CDT)) is a United States National Scenic Trail with a length measured by the Continental Divide Trail Coalition of between the U.S. border with Chihuahua, Mexico a ...

Continental Divide of the Americas The Continental Divide of the Americas (also known as the Great Divide, the Western Divide or simply the Continental Divide; ) is the principal, and largely mountainous, hydrological divide of the Americas. The Continental Divide extends from t ...

Arapaho National Forest Arapaho National Forest is a National Forest located in north-central Colorado, United States. The region is managed jointly with the Roosevelt National Forest and the Pawnee National Grassland from the United States Forest Service office in ...

Grand Mesa National Forest The Grand Mesa National Forest is a U.S. National Forest in Mesa, Delta and Garfield Counties in Western Colorado. It borders the White River National Forest to the north and the Gunnison National Forest to the east. The forest covers most of ...

Gunnison National Forest The Gunnison National Forest is a U.S. National Forest covering 1,672,136 acres (2,612.71 sq mi, or 6,766.89 km²) Pike National Forest *

Rio Grande National Forest Rio Grande National Forest is a 1.86 million- acre (7,530 km²) U.S. National Forest located in southwestern Colorado. The forest encompasses the San Luis Valley, which is the world's largest agricultural alpine valley, as well as one of ...

*

Roosevelt National Forest The Roosevelt National Forest is a National Forest located in north central Colorado. It is contiguous with the Colorado State Forest as well as the Arapaho National Forest and the Routt National Forest. The forest is administered jointly wit ...

*

Routt National Forest Routt may refer to: ;Places In the United States: * Routt, Louisville, Kentucky *Routt County, Colorado ;People *Joe Routt *John Long Routt John Long Routt (April 25, 1826 – August 13, 1907) was an American politician of the Republican Part ...

*

San Isabel National Forest San Isabel National Forest is located in central Colorado. The forest contains 19 of the state's 53 fourteeners, peaks over high, including Mount Elbert, the highest point in Colorado. It is one of eleven national forests in the state of Colo ...

*

San Juan National Forest The San Juan National Forest is a U.S. National Forest covering over 1,878,846 acres (2,935.7 sq mi, or 7,603.42 km²) in western Colorado. The forest occupies land in Archuleta, Conejos, Dolores, Hinsdale, La Plata, Mineral, Montezuma ...

* Uncompahgre National Forest * White River National Forest

National Grasslands

The United States Forest Service manages the two National Grasslands within Colorado. *

Comanche National Grassland Comanche National Grassland is a National Grassland located in southeastern Colorado, United States. It is the sister grassland of Cimarron National Grassland and contains both prairie grasslands and canyons. It is separated into two section ...

– southeastern Colorado *

Pawnee National Grassland Pawnee National Grassland is a United States National Grassland located in northeastern Colorado on the Colorado Eastern Plains. The grassland is located in the South Platte River basin in remote northern and extreme northeastern Weld County be ...

– northeastern Colorado

National Wildernesses

There are 44 National Wildernesses within Colorado. The United States Forest Service manages 34, the National Park Service manages four, the

Bureau of Land Management The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior responsible for administering federal lands. Headquartered in Washington DC, and with oversight over , it governs one eighth of the country's l ...

manages three, the United States Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management jointly manage two, and the United States Forest Service and the National Park Service jointly manage one National Wilderness. * Black Canyon of the Gunnison Wilderness * Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness *

Buffalo Peaks Wilderness The Buffalo Peaks Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located in San Isabel and Pike National Forests in central Colorado. The wilderness was named after two highly eroded volcanic mountains, East Buffalo Peak and West Buffalo Peak, in the Mo ...

*

Byers Peak Wilderness The Byers Peak Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located in Arapaho National Forest in north central Colorado Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of t ...

*

Cache La Poudre Wilderness The Cache la Poudre Wilderness is federally-protected area administered by the U.S. Forest Service, a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It is located on the Canyon Lakes Ranger District on the Roosevelt National Forest in Colorad ...

* Collegiate Peaks Wilderness * Comanche Peak Wilderness *

Dominguez Canyon Wilderness The Dominguez Canyon Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located southeast of Grand Junction in western Colorado. The wilderness area established in 2009, the largest BLM roadless area in the state of Colorado, includes two major canyon syst ...

*

Eagles Nest Wilderness The Eagles Nest Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located in the Gore Range near Vail, Copper Mountain, Frisco, Silverthorne, and Heeney, in Summit and Eagle Counties, Colorado. Eagles Nest Wilderness falls within the jurisdiction of Dill ...

*

Flat Tops Wilderness Flat Tops Wilderness Area is the second largest U.S. Wilderness Area in Colorado. It is , with in Routt National Forest and in White River National Forest. It was designated a wilderness area in 1975. Trappers Lake, located in the north of the ...

* Fossil Ridge Wilderness *

Great Sand Dunes Wilderness Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is an American national park that conserves an area of large sand dunes up to tall on the eastern edge of the San Luis Valley, and an adjacent national preserve in the Sangre de Cristo Range, in south- ...

* Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness *

Gunnison Gorge Wilderness The Gunnison Gorge Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located immediately northwest of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. The wilderness area established in 1999 includes of the Gunnison River The Gunnison River is located ...

*

Hermosa Creek Wilderness The Hermosa Creek Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area in La Plata County, Colorado. It s located in the San Juan National Forest north of Durango. It was established by the Hermosa Creek Protection Act of 2014, which also created the adjacen ...

*

Holy Cross Wilderness The Holy Cross Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located in San Isabel and White River national forests near Leadville, Minturn, Avon, Edwards, Eagle, and Vail, Colorado. The wilderness with of trails was established in 1980. The wild ...

* Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness *

Indian Peaks Wilderness The Indian Peaks Wilderness is a wilderness area in north central Colorado managed jointly by the United States Forest Service and the National Park Service within the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and small parts of the southern sectio ...

*

James Peak Wilderness The James Peak Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area in north central Colorado in the Arapaho and Roosevelt national forests. The wilderness area borders Indian Peaks Wilderness to the north and the James Peak Protection Area to the west. Geogr ...

*

La Garita Wilderness The La Garita Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located in the La Garita Mountains of southern Colorado. The wilderness established in 1964 in Gunnison and Rio Grande National Forests includes segments of the Colorado Trail and the Cont ...

*

Lizard Head Wilderness The Lizard Head Wilderness is a wilderness area in southwest Colorado. It contains and is jointly managed by the Uncompahgre and San Juan National Forests. It is southwest of the town of Telluride and is named for a prominent rock formation ...

*

Lost Creek Wilderness The Lost Creek Wilderness is a wilderness area located in central Colorado in Jefferson and Park counties, south of the town of Bailey. The area is situated entirely within the boundaries of the Pike National Forest. The Lost Creek Scenic Are ...

* Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness * Mesa Verde Wilderness *

Mount Evans Wilderness The Mount Evans Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area in Arapaho National Forest and Pike National Forest about west of Denver, Colorado. The wilderness area is named after Mount Evans. History The first efforts to protect the Mount Evans area in ...

*

Mount Massive Wilderness The Mount Massive Wilderness is a federally designated wilderness area in the Sawatch Range, located in the U.S. state of Colorado. It is operated jointly by the United States Forest Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the San ...

*

Mount Sneffels Wilderness The Mount Sneffels Wilderness is a wilderness area in southwest Colorado managed by the Uncompahgre National Forest. It is about west of the town of Ouray. The area is named for Mt. Sneffels, which at is a prominent fourteener in the San Jua ...

*

Mount Zirkel Wilderness The Mount Zirkel Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located in Routt National Forest in northwest Colorado. The closest city is Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The wilderness is named after Mount Zirkel, the highest peak in the range at , which i ...

*

Neota Wilderness The Neota Wilderness is administered by the USDA Forest Service. It is located on the Canyon Lakes Ranger District of the Roosevelt National Forest in Colorado. This wilderness area encompasses and is bordered on the south by Rocky Mountain Na ...

* Never Summer Wilderness * Platte River Wilderness *

Powderhorn Wilderness The Powderhorn Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area, wilderness area in Hinsdale County, Colorado, Hinsdale and Gunnison County, Colorado, Gunnison counties, Colorado, United States, located northeast of Lake City, Colorado, Lake City. Descri ...

* Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness *

Raggeds Wilderness The Raggeds Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located in the Elk Mountains northwest of Crested Butte, Colorado Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most o ...

*

Rawah Wilderness The Rawah Wilderness is administered by the USDA Forest Service. It is located on the Canyon Lakes Ranger District of the Roosevelt National Forest in Colorado, near the Wyoming border, and also in the Routt National Forest to its south. It enc ...

* Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness *

Sangre de Cristo Wilderness The Sangre de Cristo Wilderness is a long and narrow wilderness area covering of the Sangre de Cristo Range centered about Saguache and Custer counties, Colorado. Smaller areas are located in Fremont, Alamosa, and Huerfano counties. The wilde ...

*

Sarvis Creek Wilderness The Sarvis Creek Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located south of Steamboat Springs, Colorado in the Routt National Forest. The area is named after the Sarvis Timber Company, which once logged the area. The area contains no alpine tundra ...

*

South San Juan Wilderness The South San Juan Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located in the San Juan National Forest, east of Pagosa Springs, in southern Colorado . The last known grizzly bear in Colorado was killed in the wilderness in 1979. Some believe that it ...

*

Spanish Peaks Wilderness The Spanish Peaks Wilderness is a wilderness area in Huerfano County and Las Animas County, Colorado, United States, located southwest of Walsenburg. All of the wilderness area is located within San Isabel National Forest, which is managed by t ...

* Uncompahgre Wilderness * Vasquez Peak Wilderness *

Weminuche Wilderness The Weminuche Wilderness is a wilderness area in southwest Colorado managed by the United States Forest Service as part of the San Juan National Forest on the west side of the Continental Divide and the Rio Grande National Forest on the east si ...

*

West Elk Wilderness The West Elk Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located northwest of Gunnison, Colorado in the West Elk Mountains. History The wilderness was established in 1964 and now protects within the Gunnison National Forest. Geography Elevati ...

National Conservation Areas

The

Bureau of Land Management The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior responsible for administering federal lands. Headquartered in Washington DC, and with oversight over , it governs one eighth of the country's l ...

manages the three National Conservation Areas within Colorado. * Dominguez–Escalante National Conservation Area *

Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area The Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area is a National Conservation Area located in west-central Colorado near Montrose. It is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as part of the National Landscape Conservation System National ...

*

McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area The McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area (MCNCA) is a National Conservation Area located in Mesa County, west of Grand Junction, Colorado. The MCNCA has rugged sandstone canyons, natural arches, spires, and alcoves carved into the Color ...

National Wildlife Refuges

The

United States Fish and Wildlife Service The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS or FWS) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats. The mission of the agency is "working with ot ...

manages the eight National Wildlife Refuges within Colorado. *

Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge The Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge is an United States National Wildlife Refuge located in southern Colorado. The site is located in the San Luis Valley along the east side of the Rio Grande approximately southeast of Alamosa primarily in sou ...

*

Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge The Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge is a United States National Wildlife Refuge located in north-central Colorado. It is one of over 560 national wildlife refuges which manages and protects natural resources for future generations. The refuge is ...

* Baca National Wildlife Refuge *

Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge is a U.S. National Wildlife Refuge located in northwestern Colorado. It is located in Moffat County in the extreme northwestern corner of the state, in an isolated mountain valley of Browns Park on both sides ...

*

Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge is a United States National Wildlife Refuge located in southern Colorado. The refuge is located in the San Luis Valley south of the town of Monte Vista, Colorado in southeastern Rio Grande County, Colorado, ...

* Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge *

Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge The Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge located adjacent to Denver and Commerce City, Colorado, in the United States. It is approximately northeast of downtown Denver. The refuge is on the grounds of t ...

* Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge

Federally designated areas

The following areas are designated by the National Park Service, but reside on a variety of federal, state, county, city, town, and private lands.

National Heritage Areas

The three

National Heritage Area In the United States, a National Heritage Area (NHA) is a site designated by Act of Congress, intended to encourage historic preservation of the area and an appreciation of the history and heritage of the site. There are currently 62 NHAs, som ...

s in Colorado are: * Cache La Poudre River Corridor National Heritage Area * Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area * South Park National Heritage Area

National Historic Landmarks

Colorado Chautauqua Auditorium Boulder CO

The 26

National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places listed ...

s in Colorado are: * Bent's Old Fort * Burlingon Carousel * Central City/Black Hawk Historic District *

Colorado Chautauqua The Colorado Chautauqua, located in Boulder, Colorado, United States, and started in 1898, is the only Chautauqua west of the Mississippi River still continuing in unbroken operation since the heyday of the Chautauqua Movement in the 1920s. It i ...

* Colorado Fuel and Iron Company Administrative Complex *

Cripple Creek Historic District Cripple Creek Historic District is a historic district including Cripple Creek, Colorado, United States and is significant for its gold mining era history. It developed as a gold mining center beginning in 1890, with a number of buildings from ...

*

Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, often abbreviated as the C&TSRR, is a narrow-gauge heritage railroad that operates on of track between Antonito, Colorado, and Chama, New Mexico, in the United States. The railroad is named for two geo ...

*

Denver Civic Center The Denver Civic Center is a civic center area that includes two parks surrounded by government and cultural buildings and spaces. Civic Center is located in central Denver, Colorado, on the south side of Downtown Denver. Much of the area is a his ...

* Durango-Silverton Narrow-Gauge Railroad * Georgetown-Silver Plume Historic District * Granada War Relocation Center * Leadville Historic District * Lindenmeier site * Lowry Ruin * Ludlow Tent Colony Site * Mesa Verde Administrative District * Pikes Peak *

Pike's Stockade Pike's Stockade is a historic exploration campsite located near Sanford, Colorado. Set on the north bank of the Conejos River, it is where explorer Zebulon Pike raised the American flag on Spanish soil in 1807. The site, now managed by Historic ...

*

Raton Pass Ratón Pass is a 7,834 ft (2,388 m) elevation mountain pass on the Colorado–New Mexico border in the western United States. It is located on the eastern side of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains between Trinidad, Colorado and Raton, Ne ...

*

Red Rocks Park Red Rocks Park is a mountain park in Jefferson County, Colorado, owned and maintained by the city of Denver as part of the Denver Mountain Parks system. The park is known for its very large red sandstone outcrops. Many of these rock formations wi ...

* Rocky Mountain National Park Administration Building * Shenandoah-Dives (Mayflower) Mill * Silverton Historic District * Telluride Historic District * Trujillo Homesteads *

United States Air Force Academy, Cadet Area The United States Air Force Academy, Cadet Area is a portion of the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. modern architecture stands in contrast with the very traditional designs of West Point and the United States Naval ...

National Natural Landmarks

The 16 National Natural Landmarks in Colorado are: * Big Spring Creek *

Garden of the Gods Garden of the Gods (Arapaho: ''Ho3o’uu Niitko’usi’i'') is a public park located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States. It was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1971. Name The area now known as Garden of the Gods was fir ...

*

Garden Park Fossil Area Garden Park is a paleontological site in Fremont County, Colorado, known for its Jurassic dinosaurs and the role the specimens played in the infamous Bone Wars of the late 19th century. Located north of Cañon City, the name originates from the ar ...

* Hanging Lake * Indian Springs Trace Fossil Site * Lost Creek Scenic Area * Morrison-Golden Fossil Areas *

Raton Mesa Raton Mesa is the collective name of several mesas on the eastern side of Raton Pass in New Mexico and Colorado. The name Raton Mesa or Mesas has sometimes been applied to all the mesas that extend east for along the Colorado-New Mexico border ...

*

Roxborough State Park Roxborough State Park is a state park of Colorado, United States, known for dramatic red sandstone formations. Located in Douglas County south of Denver, Colorado, the park was established in 1975. In 1980 it was recognized as a National Na ...

* Russell Lakes * Sand Creek *

Slumgullion Earthflow The Slumgullion Earthflow in the San Juan Mountains in Hinsdale County, Colorado has been a National Natural Landmark since 1983. It is also a Colorado Natural Area and an Area of Critical Environmental Concern. The earthflow, a slow-moving lan ...

*

Spanish Peaks The Spanish Peaks are a pair of prominent mountains located in southwestern Huerfano County, Colorado. The Comanche people call them Huajatolla ( ) or Wa-to-yah meaning "double mountain". The two peaks, East Spanish Peak at elevation and We ...

* Sulphur Cave and Spring * Summit Lake * West Bijou Site

National Recreation Trails

The 28 federally designated

National Recreation Trail The National Trails System is a series of trails in the United States designated "to promote the preservation of, public access to, travel within, and enjoyment and appreciation of the open-air, outdoor areas and historic resources of the Nati ...

s in Colorado are: * Apex National Recreation Trail near Golden * Barr National Recreation Trail between

Manitou Springs Manitou Springs is a home rule municipality located at the foot of Pikes Peak in western El Paso County, Colorado, United States. The town was founded for its natural mineral springs. The downtown area continues to be of interest to travelers, ...

and Pikes Peak * Bear Creek National Recreation Trail near Ouray * Big Dry Creek National Recreation Trail through Westminster * Calico National Recreation Trail near Dolores * Crag Crest National Recreation Trail near Cedaredge * Devils Head National Recreation Trail near Sedalia * Fish Creek Falls National Recreation Trail near Steamboat Springs * Grays Peak National Recreation Trail near Silver Plume * Greyrock Mountain National Recreation Trail near Laporte *

Highline Canal National Recreation Trail The High Line Canal (HLC) is a man-made waterway, used for irrigation and recreation, that serves the Denver-Aurora metropolitan area. It begins at a diversion dam on the South Platte River, some above the mouth of Waterton Canyon. From its headg ...

through metropolitan Denver * Highline Loop National Recreation Trail near Dolores *

Lake Fork National Recreation Trail A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much larg ...

near South Fork * Mineral Belt National Recreation Trail near

Leadville The City of Leadville is a statutory city that is the county seat, the most populous community, and the only incorporated municipality in Lake County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 2,602 at the 2010 census and an estimated ...

* Mount Evans National Recreation Trail near Idaho Springs *

Mount McConnel National Recreation Trail Mount McConnel National Recreation Trail is a hiking trail in the Cache La Poudre Wilderness of Roosevelt National Forest west of Fort Collins, Colorado. The trail leading from Fort Collins Mountain Park to the summit of Mount McConnel was const ...

near Laporte * Petroglyph Point National Recreation Trail in Mesa Verde National Park * Platte River Greenway National Recreation Trail through metropolitan Denver * Poudre River National Recreation Trail between Greeley and Windsor * Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Recreation Trails near Denver * Round Mountain National Recreation Trail near Loveland * Swamp Park National Recreation Trail near Steamboat Springs * Two Elk National Recreation Trail near

Vail Vail is a home rule municipality in Eagle County, Colorado, United States. The population of the town was 4,835 in 2020. Home to Vail Ski Resort, the largest ski mountain in Colorado, the town is known for its hotels, dining, and for the numer ...

* Two Ponds National Recreation Trail in

Arvada Arvada () is a home rule municipality located in Jefferson and Adams counties, Colorado, United States. The city population was 124,402 at the 2020 United States Census, with 121,510 residing in Jefferson County and 2,892 residing in Adams Cou ...

*

Vail Pass National Recreation Trail Vail is a home rule municipality in Eagle County, Colorado, United States. The population of the town was 4,835 in 2020. Home to Vail Ski Resort, the largest ski mountain in Colorado, the town is known for its hotels, dining, and for the numer ...

between Copper Mountain and

Vail Vail is a home rule municipality in Eagle County, Colorado, United States. The population of the town was 4,835 in 2020. Home to Vail Ski Resort, the largest ski mountain in Colorado, the town is known for its hotels, dining, and for the numer ...

* West Lost Trail Creek National Recreation Trail near Creede * Wheeler Ten Mile National Recreation Trail between Frisco and Copper Mountain * White House Ranch National Recreation Trail in

Colorado Springs Colorado Springs is a home rule municipality in, and the county seat of, El Paso County, Colorado, United States. It is the largest city in El Paso County, with a population of 478,961 at the 2020 United States Census, a 15.02% increase since 2 ...

National Register of Historic Places

There are more than 1,500 Colorado sites on the National Register of Historic Places.

Wild and Scenic River

The

Wild and Scenic River The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System was created by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-542), enacted by the U.S. Congress to preserve certain rivers with outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values in a free- ...

in Colorado is: * Cache la Poudre Wild and Scenic River

Areas of Critical Environmental Concern

Blanca Wetlands Area of Critical Environmental Concern, Colorado (15476264730)

The

Bureau of Land Management The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior responsible for administering federal lands. Headquartered in Washington DC, and with oversight over , it governs one eighth of the country's l ...

has designated 88 Areas of Critical Environmental Concern in western Colorado.

State lands

Colorado State Parks

Colorado Parks and Wildlife Colorado Parks and Wildlife manages the state parks system and the wildlife of the U.S. state of Colorado. , the division managed the 42 state parks and 307 wildlife areas of Colorado. , the Colorado Natural Areas Program had 93 designated s ...

manages the 43

Colorado State Parks The system of state parks in Colorado integrates outdoor recreation with tourism. There are currently forty-two parks open to the public, and there is one in development. Colorado State Parks host over eleven million visitors each year. Colorado ...

. * Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area * Barr Lake State Park * Boyd Lake State Park *

Castlewood Canyon State Park Castlewood Canyon State Park is a Colorado state park near Franktown, Colorado. The park retains a unique part of Colorado's history, the remains of Castlewood Canyon Dam. Visitors can still see the remnants and damage from that dam which burst ...

*

Chatfield State Park Chatfield State Park is a state park located in Douglas and Jefferson counties of Colorado, United States. The park centers on Chatfield Reservoir, a 1,423 acre surface area lake fed by the South Platte River and two other creeks, including ...

* Cherry Creek State Park *

Cheyenne Mountain State Park Cheyenne Mountain State Park is a Colorado state park that was acquired in June 2000 through a partnership between the City of Colorado Springs, Colorado State Parks, Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), Colorado Lottery, El Paso County, and other l ...

*

Crawford State Park (Colorado) Crawford State Park is a Colorado State Park that encompasses Crawford Reservoir located about south of the town of Crawford in Delta County, Colorado. The north rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is about southwest and D ...

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Eldorado Canyon State Park Eldorado Canyon State Park is part of the Colorado State Park system. It was established in 1978 and is located in Boulder County near the city of Boulder. The park consists of two areas, the Inner Canyon (developed area) and Crescent Meadows ( ...

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Eleven Mile State Park Eleven Mile State Park is a Colorado State Park located in Park County, south of Lake George, Colorado, United States. Established in 1970, the park surrounds , long Eleven Mile Reservoir. Facilities include a marina, a visitors center and ...

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Elkhead State Park Elkhead Reservoir State Park is a Colorado state park located in Moffat and Routt counties in northwest Colorado, near Craig. The park surrounds and includes the 900 surface acre Elkhead Reservoir. It is referred to as Elkhead State Park. Elkh ...

* Fishers Peak State Park *

Golden Gate Canyon State Park Golden Gate Canyon State Park is a Colorado State Park located in Gilpin and Jefferson counties northwest of Golden, Colorado. The Front Range park established in 1960 has of hiking trails. Horse and bicycle travel is allowed on . Facil ...

* Harvey Gap State Park *

Highline Lake State Park Highline Lake State Park is a Colorado state park. It is home to two lakes, Highline Lake, elevation and Mack Mesa Lake, elevation . It is well known for its birdwatching opportunities and has two wildlife migratory waterfowl overlook kiosks wh ...

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Jackson Lake State Park (Colorado) :''This is about the Colorado State park. For others, see Jackson Lake (disambiguation).'' Jackson Lake State Park is located northeast of Orchard, Colorado in western Morgan County, Colorado. It is situated on Jackson reservoir that was built ...

* James M. Robb – Colorado River State Park * John Martin Reservoir State Park * Lake Pueblo State Park *

Lathrop State Park Lathrop State Park is a Colorado state park located west of Walsenburg. The state purchased the property in 1962 and opened Colorado's first state park here later that same year. It is named after Harold Lathrop, the first director of state par ...

* Lone Mesa State Park * Lory State Park * Mancos State Park *

Mueller State Park Mueller State Park is a Colorado state park encompassing of land outside Divide, Colorado, west of Colorado Springs, Colorado. The park offers many outdoor activities. There are of trails, biking, camping year-round, hunting, hiking, and hor ...

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Navajo State Park Navajo State Park is a state park of Colorado, USA, on the north shore of Navajo Lake. Touted as Colorado's answer to Lake Powell, this reservoir on the San Juan River begins in Colorado's San Juan Mountains and extends into New Mexico. Its ar ...

* North Sterling State Park * Paonia State Park *

Pearl Lake State Park Pearl Lake State Park, at the base of Hahn's Peak, is in Routt County, Colorado near the town of Hahn's Peak, Colorado and is north of Steamboat Springs. Pearl Lake is named for M. Pearl Hartt, the wife of pioneer sheep rancher, John Kelly Har ...

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Ridgway State Park Ridgway State Park is a state park located in Ouray County, Colorado. The park is 21 miles southeast of Montrose, 14 miles northeast of Ouray, it is also 4 miles north of the town of Ridgway and 312 miles southwest of Denver. The current wildl ...

* Rifle Falls State Park * Rifle Gap State Park *

Roxborough State Park Roxborough State Park is a state park of Colorado, United States, known for dramatic red sandstone formations. Located in Douglas County south of Denver, Colorado, the park was established in 1975. In 1980 it was recognized as a National Na ...

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Spinney Mountain State Park Spinney Mountain State Park is a Colorado state park located in South Park in Park County, Colorado, United States. The park centers on the Spinney Mountain Reservoir, which is popular with anglers. The reservoir and surrounding land is owned ...

* St. Vrain State Park * Stagecoach State Park * State Forest State Park * Staunton State Park *

Steamboat Lake State Park Steamboat Lake State Park is a Colorado state park located in Routt County north of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and near the community of Hahns Peak Village. The park, established west of Hahns Peak in 1967, includes a reservoir. Park fac ...

* Sweitzer Lake State Park * Sweetwater Lake State Park * Sylvan Lake State Park * Trinidad Lake State Park *

Vega State Park Vega State Park is a Colorado state park in Mesa County, Colorado in the United States. Vega Reservoir is a fishing destination and is located at an elevation of . Year-round recreational activities at Vega State Park include boating, hiking, s ...

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Yampa River State Park Yampa River State Park is a Colorado state park located along the Yampa River in Routt and Moffat Counties in northwestern Colorado Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It e ...

Colorado Wildlife Areas

Colorado Parks and Wildlife Colorado Parks and Wildlife manages the state parks system and the wildlife of the U.S. state of Colorado. , the division managed the 42 state parks and 307 wildlife areas of Colorado. , the Colorado Natural Areas Program had 93 designated s ...

manages the 307 Colorado State Wildlife Areas.

State designated areas

Colorado Natural Areas

The

Colorado Department of Natural Resources The Colorado Department of Natural Resources is the principal department of the Colorado state government responsible for the development, protection, and enhancement Colorado natural resources for the use and enjoyment of the state's present and ...

has designated 95 Colorado Natural Areas. * Aiken Canyon Natural Area * Antero-Salt Creek Natural Area * Arikaree River Natural Area * Badger Wash Natural Area * Blacks Gulch Natural Area * Blue Mountain Natural Area * Bonny Prairie Natural Area * Boulder Mountain Park Natural Area in Boulder Mountain Park * Brush Creek Fen Natural Area * California Park Natural Area * Castlewood Canyon Natural Area in

Castlewood Canyon State Park Castlewood Canyon State Park is a Colorado state park near Franktown, Colorado. The park retains a unique part of Colorado's history, the remains of Castlewood Canyon Dam. Visitors can still see the remnants and damage from that dam which burst ...

* Chalk Bluffs Natural Area * Colorado Tallgrass Prairie Natural Area * Comanche Grassland Lesser Prairie Chicken Natural Area in

Comanche National Grassland Comanche National Grassland is a National Grassland located in southeastern Colorado, United States. It is the sister grassland of Cimarron National Grassland and contains both prairie grasslands and canyons. It is separated into two section ...

* Copeland Willow Carr Natural Area * Corral Bluffs Natural Area * Cross Mountain Canyon Natural Area * Dakota Hogback Natural Area commonly known as Dinosaur Ridge in Matthews/Winters Park * Deer Gulch Natural Area * Dome Rock Natural Area in Dome Rock State Wildlife Area * Droney Gulch Natural Area * Duck Creek Natural Area * Dudley Bluffs Natural Area * East Lost Park Natural Area in Pike National Forest * East Sand Dunes Natural Area in State Forest State Park * Elephant Rocks Natural Area * Escalante Canyon Natural Area * Fairview Natural Area * Fourmile Creek Natural Area * Fruita Paleontological Locality * Garden Park Fossil Locality * Gateway Palisade Natural Area * Geneva Basin Iron Fens Natural Area * Gothic Research Natural Area in

Gunnison National Forest The Gunnison National Forest is a U.S. National Forest covering 1,672,136 acres (2,612.71 sq mi, or 6,766.89 km²) Gunnison Gravels Research Natural Area * Haviland Lake Natural Area in Haviland Lake State Wildlife Area * High Creek Fen Natural Area * High Mesa Grassland Natural Area * Hoosier Ridge Research Natural Area on the

Continental Divide A continental divide is a drainage divide on a continent such that the drainage basin on one side of the divide feeds into one ocean or sea, and the basin on the other side either feeds into a different ocean or sea, or else is endorheic, not c ...

in Pike National Forest and White River National Forest * Hurricane Canyon Natural Area in Pike National Forest * Indian Spring Natural Area * Indian Springs Trace Fossil Locality * Irish Canyon Natural Area * Jimmy Creek Natural Area * Ken-Caryl Ranch Natural Area * Kremmling Cretaceous Ammonite Locality * Limestone Ridge Natural Area * Logan Wash Mine Natural Area * Lookout Mountain Natural Area * Lower Greasewood Creek Natural Area * McElmo Natural Area * Mexican Cut Natural Area * Mini-Wheeler Natural Area * Miramonte Reservoir Natural Area in Dan Noble State Wildlife Area * Mishak Lakes Natural Area * Mount Callahan Natural Area * Mount Callahan Saddle Natural Area * Mount Emmons Iron Fen Natural Area in

Gunnison National Forest The Gunnison National Forest is a U.S. National Forest covering 1,672,136 acres (2,612.71 sq mi, or 6,766.89 km²) Mount Goliath Natural Area in

Arapaho National Forest Arapaho National Forest is a National Forest located in north-central Colorado, United States. The region is managed jointly with the Roosevelt National Forest and the Pawnee National Grassland from the United States Forest Service office in ...

* Narraguinnep Natural Area in

San Juan National Forest The San Juan National Forest is a U.S. National Forest covering over 1,878,846 acres (2,935.7 sq mi, or 7,603.42 km²) in western Colorado. The forest occupies land in Archuleta, Conejos, Dolores, Hinsdale, La Plata, Mineral, Montezuma ...

* Needle Rock Natural Area * North Park Phacelia Natural Area * Orient Mine Natural Area * Owl Canyon Pinyon Grove Natural Area * Pagosa Skyrocket Natural Area * Paradise Park Natural Area in

Rocky Mountain National Park Rocky Mountain National Park is an American national park located approximately northwest of Denver in north-central Colorado, within the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. The park is situated between the towns of Estes Park to the east and ...

* Park Creek Hogback Natural Area * Pyramid Rock Natural Area * Rabbit Valley Natural Area * Rajadero Canyon Natural Area * Raven Ridge Natural Area * Redcloud Peak Natural Area * Rough Canyon Natural Area * Roxborough Natural Area in and near

Roxborough State Park Roxborough State Park is a state park of Colorado, United States, known for dramatic red sandstone formations. Located in Douglas County south of Denver, Colorado, the park was established in 1975. In 1980 it was recognized as a National Na ...

* Ryan Gulch Natural Area * Saddle Mountain Natural Area in Pike National Forest * San Miguel River at Tabeguache Creek Natural Area * Sand Creek Natural Area * Shell Duck Creek Natural Area * Shell Rock Natural Area * Slumgullion Earthflow Natural Area in

San Juan National Forest The San Juan National Forest is a U.S. National Forest covering over 1,878,846 acres (2,935.7 sq mi, or 7,603.42 km²) in western Colorado. The forest occupies land in Archuleta, Conejos, Dolores, Hinsdale, La Plata, Mineral, Montezuma ...

* South Beaver Creek Natural Area * South Boulder Creek Natural Area * South Cathedral Bluffs Natural Area * Specimen Mountain Research Natural Area in

Rocky Mountain National Park Rocky Mountain National Park is an American national park located approximately northwest of Denver in north-central Colorado, within the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. The park is situated between the towns of Estes Park to the east and ...

* Staunton Natural Area in Staunton State Park * Tamarack Ranch Natural Area in Tamarack Ranch State Wildlife Area * Treasurevault Mountain Natural Area * Trinidad K-T Boundary Natural Area in Trinidad Lake State Park * Two Buttes Natural Area * Unaweep Seep Research Natural Area * Wacker Ranch Natural Area * West Creek Natural Area in

Rocky Mountain National Park Rocky Mountain National Park is an American national park located approximately northwest of Denver in north-central Colorado, within the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. The park is situated between the towns of Estes Park to the east and ...

* Wheeler Geologic Natural Area in the

La Garita Wilderness The La Garita Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located in the La Garita Mountains of southern Colorado. The wilderness established in 1964 in Gunnison and Rio Grande National Forests includes segments of the Colorado Trail and the Cont ...

of

Rio Grande National Forest Rio Grande National Forest is a 1.86 million- acre (7,530 km²) U.S. National Forest located in southwestern Colorado. The forest encompasses the San Luis Valley, which is the world's largest agricultural alpine valley, as well as one of ...

* White Rocks Natural Area * Yanks Gulch/Upper Greasewood Creek Natural Area * Zapata Falls Natural Area

Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways

The Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways Commission has designated 26

Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways are highway and backroad routes in the U.S. state of Colorado designated by the Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways Commission for their scenic and historic values. These byways follow existing roads or highwa ...

: * Alpine Loop Back Country Byway * Cache la Poudre-North Park Scenic Byway * Collegiate Peaks Scenic Byway *

Colorado River Headwaters National Scenic Byway The Colorado River Headwaters National Scenic Byway is an National Scenic Byway and Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway located in Eagle and Grand counties, Colorado, US. The byway follows the upper Colorado River from Grand Lake down to State ...

* Dinosaur Diamond National Scenic Byway * Flat Tops Trail Scenic Byway * Frontier Pathways National Scenic Byway * Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway * Grand Mesa National Scenic Byway *

Guanella Pass Scenic Byway The Guanella Pass Scenic Byway is a National Forest Scenic Byway and Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway located in Clear Creek and Park counties, Colorado, USA. The byway traverses Guanella Pass at elevation in Arapaho and Pike national fores ...

* Highway of Legends National Scenic Byway * Lariat Loop Scenic and Historic Byway * Los Caminos Antiguos Scenic and Historic Byway *

Mount Evans Scenic Byway The Mount Evans Scenic Byway is a National Forest Scenic Byway and Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway located in Clear Creek and Jefferson counties, Colorado, United States. The byway ascends to of elevation near the summit of Mount Evans, m ...

* Pawnee Pioneer Trails Scenic Byway * Peak to Peak Scenic Byway * San Juan Skyway Scenic and Historic Byway * Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway * Silver Thread Scenic and Historic Byway * South Platte River Trail Scenic and Historic Byway * Top of the Rockies National Scenic Byway * Tracks Across Borders Scenic and Historic Byway * Trail of the Ancients Scenic and Historic Byway * Trail Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow National Scenic Byway * Unaweep Tabeguache Scenic Byway * West Elk Loop Scenic and Historic Byway

Regional trails

McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area (9323589206)

The following transcontinental hiking trail was established by the American Discovery Trail Society. *

American Discovery Trail The American Discovery Trail is a system of recreational trails and roads that collectively form a coast-to-coast hiking and biking trail across the mid-tier of the United States. Horses can also be ridden on most of this trail. The coastal tra ...

The following hiking trail across the Southern Rocky Mountains is maintained by the Colorado Trail Foundation. *

Colorado Trail The Colorado Trail is a long-distance trail running for from the mouth of Waterton Canyon southwest of Denver to Durango in Colorado, United States. Its highest point is above sea level, and most of the trail is above . Despite its high elevat ...

The following three single-track

mountain bike A mountain bike (MTB) or mountain bicycle is a bicycle designed for off-road cycling. Mountain bikes share some similarities with other bicycles, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain, which m ...

trails are maintained by the Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association and the

Bureau of Land Management The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior responsible for administering federal lands. Headquartered in Washington DC, and with oversight over , it governs one eighth of the country's l ...

. *

Kokopelli Trail The Kokopelli's Trail (also known as the Kokopelli Trail) is a multi-use trail (but primarily used by mountain bikes) in Grand County, Utah and Mesa County, Colorado in the western United States. The trail was named in honor of its mythic muse ...

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Paradox Trail The Paradox Trail is located in western Montrose County, Colorado and traverses a route of over through various terrain. The trail was rerouted 17 miles due to a trespass issue near the Tabeguache area north of Nucla in 2017. The trail links with ...

* Tabeguache Trail

Bicycle routes

The following four bicycle touring routes through Colorado are regularly scouted by the

Adventure Cycling Association Adventure Cycling Association is a nonprofit member organization focused on travel by bicycle (bicycle touring). Headquartered in Missoula, Montana, Adventure Cycling develops cycling routes, publishes maps, provides guided trips, and advocates ...

. *

Great Divide Mountain Bike Route The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) is a , off-road bicycle touring route between Jasper, Alberta, Canada and Antelope Wells, New Mexico, USA. Completed in 1997, the GDMBR was developed by Adventure Cycling Association, who continue to ...

* Great Parks Bicycle Route * TransAmerica Trail Bicycle Route * Western Express Bicycle Route

Notes

References

External links

Colorado state government website

Colorado Department of Natural Resources website
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Colorado Parks & Wildlife websiteColorado tourism websiteHistory Colorado websiteUnited States federal government website

United States Department of the Interior website
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Bureau of Land Management website
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National Park Service website
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United States Fish and Wildlife Service website

United States Department of Agriculture website
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United States Forest Service website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Protected areas of Colorado, List of Colorado geography-related lists Colorado history-related lists Tourism in Colorado Tourist attractions in Colorado Colorado, List of protected areas of

Federal lands

National Park System

National Parks

National Monuments

National Historic Sites

National Recreation Areas

National Historic Trails

National Scenic Trail

National Forests

National Grasslands

National Wildernesses

National Conservation Areas

National Wildlife Refuges

Federally designated areas

National Heritage Areas

National Historic Landmarks

National Natural Landmarks

National Recreation Trails

National Register of Historic Places

Wild and Scenic River

Areas of Critical Environmental Concern

State lands

Colorado State Parks

Colorado Wildlife Areas

State designated areas

Colorado Natural Areas

Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways

Regional trails

Bicycle routes

See also

Notes

References

External links