By State

National Parks in Colorado

Colorado is home to 4 national parks, each offering a distinct landscape and experience. Here they are, ranked by annual visitation.

Updated

#1Ptarmigan in winter coat

Rocky Mountain

CO

Busy

Trail Ridge Road crosses the Continental Divide at 12,183 feet. Below, 300 miles of trails connect glacial lakes to 14,259-foot Longs Peak.
#2Park visitors visiting a cliff dwelling

Mesa Verde

CO

Moderate CrowdsHidden GemDark Sky

Seven hundred Ancestral Pueblo dwellings are carved into sandstone alcoves, including the 150-room Cliff Palace accessible by ladder.
#3Girls Sand Sledding

Great Sand Dunes & Preserve

CO

Moderate CrowdsHidden GemDark Sky

North America's tallest sand dunes rise 750 feet against the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, with alpine lakes and tundra at 13,000 feet above.
#4Black Canyon near Painted Wall

Black Canyon Of The Gunnison

CO

Moderate CrowdsHidden Gem

Gunnison River carved North America's steepest gorge through 1.7-billion-year-old rock, with 2,000-foot walls that trap the sun.

Nearby States

Arizona New Mexico Texas Utah Southwest Region