Two Colorado Destinations Among Best Places to Visit in the U.S.

Colorado has hundreds of natural wonders including National Parks and Monuments, Mountain Passes, and National Forests. What if we could only keep two of them and had to say goodbye to the rest? How could we possibly decide on what to showcase?

Luckily, WorldPopulationReview.com attempted to make these hard decisions in our place with their list of the top destinations to visit by state in 2024. Please keep reading to discover which two hotspots they recommend everyone in Colorado should see at least once.

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Colorado's Mesa Verde National Park

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WorldPopulationReview.com's top destination in Colorado this year is Mesa Verde National Park. The park was established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 and is home to the oldest structures/buildings in Colorado. Mesa Verde is believed to have been completed at about the same time as the Notre Dame Cathedral (1345 A.D.) Ancient Puebloans had been living in the area since 600 A.D.

Guided tours inside Mesa Verde allow you to hike to these ancient structures and see them up close. Visitors can enjoy the Mesa Top Loop audio tour as you drive from point to point with several scenic overlooks.

Colorado's Great Sand Dunes National Park

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The massive dunes along the eastern edge of the San Louis Valley cover nearly 30 square miles. They are the largest dunes formed by wind anywhere in North America, towering 700 feet high in front of the Sangre de Cristo mountains. Park guests can enjoy hiking, backpacking, sandboarding, sand sledding, and splashing in Medano Creek.

Take a closer look at Colorado's two 'must-see destinations' in the photo galleries below.

LOOK: Mesa Verde: 10 Cool Facts about Colorado's Amazing National Park

Summer is a great time of year to visit Coloraod's Mesa Verde National Park. Located near Cortez, Colorado, the park is home to thousands of cliff-dwellings created by the Ancient Pueblo people. Keep scrolling to see pictures and learn ten cool facts to inspire a visit to see this park for yourself.

Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams

Photos: Try Sand Surfing at Colorado's Great Sand Dunes National Park

The Great Sand Dunes National Park started out as a monument in the 1930s and was redesignated as a National Park in 2004. The massive dunes in front of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains are an incredible sight to behold alongside the 14er Blanca Peak.

Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams

KEEP GOING: Where Are Colorado's Former National Monuments?

Like the mountains themselves, the story of Colorado's National Monuments is one that is always changing. Over the years, new locations are added to a state's list of monuments. In some cases, others are removed. Colorado has abolished two National Monuments since becoming a state. Keep going to take a closer look at both locations in the gallery below.

Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams

Filed Under: Around Colorado, Colorado, Colorado National Parks, Colorado Outdoors, Social

Categories: Colorado Local, Colorado News, Colorado Outdoors