Colorado National Parks

Colorado is famous for its mountains, so it’s no surprise that two out of four of the Colorado National Parks can be found in the Rocky Mountains.

In fact, Rocky Mountain National Park (located just 65 miles from Denver) is one of the most popular National Parks in the United States. Trail Ridge Road, which connects Grand Lake and Estes Park, is the highest continuously paved road in the U.S., and includes breathtaking views and vistas along its entire 48 miles.

Interestingly, Rocky Mountain National Park, which was founded in 1917, isn’t Colorado’s oldest National Park. That distinction falls to Mesa Verde National Park, in southern Colorado, which was established in 1906. Mesa Verde National Park was the first National Park to be recognized for “works of man,” a nod to the incredible cliff dwellings left behind by the Pueblo Indians.

Here’s a list of Colorado National Parks:

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Great Sand Dunes National Park
Mesa Verde National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park

Click here for more information on: Utah National Parks, California National Parks, Alaska National Parks, Arizona National Parks, and Florida National Parks.

Want to get a better idea of where all 58 of the US National Parks are located? Click here for a free, printable map of National Parks.