Marilyn Monroe Slept Here

The Wet Mountains aren’t dramatic by Colorado standards, rising above the prairie like a nondescript green wall, with only the southern tip reaching past the timberline. They might be more at home in the Appalachians than the Rockies. But don’t be fooled — this area is as full of outdoor recreation opportunities as anywhere else in Colorado.

Gone are the days when someone sheepishly falls down on a hiking trail and keeps it to themselves. The other side of Instagram glory — where peak gloating is on display alongside all other fabulous outdoor escapades being shared — are the tales of how things went wrong. In rare cases, a misadventure is so awful it becomes news, such as climber Aaron Ralston’s self-amputation in 2003 to unpin his right arm from a boulder.

Pagosa Springs is an increasingly popular getaway with natural amenities. From river domes to chic tiny homes, new lodging options appeal to every kind of traveler. “During the pandemic, we lost inventory allocated towards workforce housing and saw increased visitation,” said Jennifer Green, executive director of Visit Pagosa Springs. “Businesses saw an opportunity to provide new, unique lodging accommodations to meet the needs of a variety of travelers.” Just under a six-hour drive southwest of Denver, Pagosa Springs is home to about 1,600 people.

Colorado certainly has plenty of sun in the summer, but venture into the high country and you might even witness snow during the same period. Because of the variability of weather as the elevation changes in Colorado, the summer wildflower season can change and is often short lived in the various elevation ranges.

A hidden gem of nostalgia and adventure lies in the vast expanse of the San Luis Valley and endless stretches of open road: a restored drive-in movie theater that offers accommodations for overnight stays. Far from city lights, the Frontier Drive-Inn in Center is a cinematic sanctuary, a testament to a bygone era. Originally called the Frontier Drive-In, the theater opened in 1955 and was one of the few places showing Spanish-language films in the 1960s and 1970s.

In the coolness of late afternoon at 7,700 feet in the Buffalo Creek Recreation Area, a golden light filtered through tall pines, accentuating the intricate shadows of rock outcroppings looming over the Colorado Trail. Thirty miles into a trek she hopes will take her to Durango in 21 days, a young woman from Breckenridge wearing a floppy hat with “Junior Ranger” on the front came upon an unexpected reception. Five men in their 60s were gathered on the trail, reliving an adventure they had as high school students from Pennsylvania when they spent a month working to help build this section of the trail.