Highest-rated free things to do in Colorado by visitors

Being an American can be incredibly expensive. While workers in the United States have seen a 1,015% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the, according to a 2025 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1973 and 2023, the national consumer price index increased by 586%.

Although Americans have about 63% more purchasing power than 50 years ago, that quickly dissipates when factoring in the increased costs of housing and education. Housing costs have jumped about 1,045%, private college tuition has risen by 158%, and public college tuition has increased by 177%.

That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. In 2023, a record-high 42.9 million households were, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.

It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in Colorado.

From touring landmarks and historical sites to getting out into nature, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.

To help you find your next free activity, compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in Colorado using data from . Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of Aug. 18, 2025. Only locations that received at least 20 reviews were included.

Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!

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#30. Colorado Chautauqua: Park

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,355 reviews)
- City: Boulder
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#29. Larimer Square

- Rating: 4.2/5 (795 reviews)
- City: Denver
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#28. Downtown Estes Park

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,020 reviews)
- City: Estes Park
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#27. Bishop Castle

- Rating: 4.3/5 (479 reviews)
- City: Rye
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#26. Riverwalk in Downtown Estes Park

- Rating: 4.8/5 (763 reviews)
- City: Estes Park
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#25. Skyline Drive

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,268 reviews)
- City: Canon City
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#24. Coors Brewery

- Rating: 4.2/5 (1,871 reviews)
- City: Golden
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#23. Treasure Falls

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,094 reviews)
- City: Pagosa Springs
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#22. Grand Mesa

- Rating: 4.8/5 (737 reviews)
- City: Grand Junction
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#21. Boreas Pass Road

- Rating: 4.7/5 (689 reviews)
- City: Breckenridge
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#20. Hanging Lake

- Rating: 4.8/5 (576 reviews)
- City: Glenwood Springs
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#19. Flatirons

- Rating: 4.8/5 (1,135 reviews)
- City: Boulder
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#18. Manitou Springs Incline

- Rating: 4.8/5 (878 reviews)
- City: Manitou Springs El Paso County
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#17. Lookout Mountain

- Rating: 4.6/5 (908 reviews)
- City: Golden
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#16. United States Air Force Academy

- Rating: 4.6/5 (3,018 reviews)
- City: not available
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#15. Historic Downtown Durango

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,928 reviews)
- City: Durango
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#14. Helen Hunt Falls

- Rating: 4.4/5 (894 reviews)
- City: not available
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#13. Independence Pass

- Rating: 4.8/5 (1,738 reviews)
- City: Aspen
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#12. Pearl Street Mall

- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,810 reviews)
- City: Boulder
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#11. Old Colorado City Historic District

- Rating: 4.3/5 (1,608 reviews)
- City: not available
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#10. Red Rock Canyon

- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,186 reviews)
- City: not available
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#9. Million Dollar Highway

- Rating: 4.8/5 (769 reviews)
- City: Silverton
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#8. Main Street

- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,972 reviews)
- City: Breckenridge
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#7. 16th Street Mall

- Rating: 3.7/5 (4,746 reviews)
- City: Denver
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#6. Hanging Lake Trail

- Rating: 4.8/5 (2,212 reviews)
- City: Glenwood Springs
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#5. Telluride Mountain Village Gondola

- Rating: 4.9/5 (1,998 reviews)
- City: Telluride
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#4. Peak to Peak Scenic Byway

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,845 reviews)
- City: Estes Park
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#3. Denver Union Station

- Rating: 4.5/5 (3,457 reviews)
- City: Denver
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#2. Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre

- Rating: 4.8/5 (3,879 reviews)
- City: Morrison
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#1. Garden of the Gods

- Rating: 4.8/5 (18,060 reviews)
- City: not available
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.

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