Curious about the best Colorado weekend adventures to be had? Whether you’re working in a short-but-sweet exploration of the Centennial State during a cross-country road trip, or you’ve booked a spur-of-the-moment flight for a dose of Rocky Mountain therapy, learn more about things to do in our Echo Canyon River Expeditions guide below!
Types of Activities in Colorado: The Best Colorado Weekend Adventures
From skiing some of the most celebrated slopes on the continent to kicking back in a thermal hot spring, the Centennial State serves up across-the-board pleasures for every sort of traveler. If you’re wondering which destination in Colorado offers the most activities, we recommend the charming town of Cañon City. As the hub of the Royal Gorge Region and our Echo Canyon headquarters, Cañon City allows you to enjoy a wide array of attractions and experiences to an exceptional degree.
Adventurous Activities
Colorado seems tailor-made for adventure junkies. Some of the best hiking, mountain biking, rock-climbing, skiing, and snowboarding in the nation are found here—and all of those activities are at your fingertips when you call Cañon City your home base.
So, of course, is whitewater rafting of utterly world-class caliber. From Browns Canyon to the Royal Gorge, the Arkansas River is justly celebrated as one of the best rafting destinations anywhere, and we’ve been showing off its glories here at Echo Canyon River Expeditions for more than 40 years. When it comes to weekend getaways in Colorado, there’s no better centerpiece than a rafting adventure with Echo Canyon!
Relaxing Wellness Activities
It’s not only about the full-throttle kind of fun in Colorado. From upscale spas in glitzy mountain towns to the unadulterated bliss of a thermal soak—as at Desert Reef Hot Springs, just a hop, skip, and a jump from Echo Canyon River Expeditions—a wellness experience or two can help slow down the pace during your weekend escape and ensure it’s got plenty of “me-time”
Scenic
What is the most scenic part of Colorado? Well, this is a state that absolutely abounds in natural scenery—indeed, that’s surely what we’re most known for all around the world. It’s in Colorado where the Rocky Mountains—which run some 3,000 miles from the Liard River in British Columbia down into New Mexico—reach their zenith: All of the 50-odd peaks in the Rockies rising above 14,000 feet (the fabled “Fourteeners”) reside within the state, topping out at 14,433-foot Mount Elbert in the Sawatch Range. The high lakes and tundra expanses of Rocky Mountain National Park (where the headwaters of the mighty Colorado River rise), the sprawling wilds of the San Juans, the glorious heights of our own Wet Mountains and Sangre de Cristos: The Colorado Rockies certainly account for the state’s grandest showstopper vistas.
That said, there are other gorgeous provinces to explore: from the Colorado Plateau’s Grand Mesa and Book Cliffs in the far west to the vast High Plains dominating the east.
Right in our backyard here at Echo Canyon, the Royal Gorge of the Arkansas River forms one of the single most stunning features in Colorado: a breathtakingly deep and narrow defile in the transitional foothill country bridging the Southern Rockies and the Colorado Piedmont of the Great Plains.
Seasonal
Colorado is a four-season destination, no question. We’ve already mentioned the epic options for downhill skiers and snowboarders that make the state one of America’s great winter destinations. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling are other draws during that stretch of the calendar.
It’s worth noting that our corner of Colorado here at Echo Canyon River Expeditions is part of the state’s so-called “Banana Belt,” which enjoys balmier conditions than other areas. Even as a Cañon City base camp puts premier snowsports destinations up in the Rockies within easy reach, it also allows you to enjoy mid-winter hiking, mountain biking, and other Banana Belt pleasures in the immediate vicinity.
Food Tour
Weekend getaways in Colorado can also include a big-time gourmet angle. You might not immediately think of Colorado as particularly a foodie destination, but in fact, the opportunities for culinary adventures are just as rich as for outdoor adventures.
In a state so associated with cattle ranching, it’s no surprise you can track down a mighty mean steak here—not to mention top-class burgers, which are among the offerings at our very own 8 Mile Bar & Grill, situated right alongside our rafting headquarters and offering a daily Happy Hour popular among locals and vacationers alike. Not a meat-eater? Fear not: You’ve still got much local bounty to enjoy, given the abundance of farm-fresh produce available from farmers markets and farmstands to any number of fine restaurants.
Book the Perfect Weekend Getaway With Echo Canyon
Where can I go for an affordable weekend getaway in Colorado? It’s hard to beat Cañon City, which gives you easy access to everything the state’s known for without oppressive crowds. Enjoy gloriously scenic and well-appointed accommodations at Royal Gorge Cabins, and—if you’re here in the summer months (or even spring and early fall), we sure hope you’ll consider sampling the outstanding whitewater rafting we offer close by at Echo Canyon!
With so many fantastic options for fun activities in Colorado, choosing Echo Canyon as a destination for your weekend getaway is a choice you won’t regret. We host a plethora of activities that everyone in the group can enjoy. Contact our river expedition professionals for more information on a wonderful vacation in Cañon City.
