7 Rocky Mountain Towns Worth Exploring

We spent this entire summer exploring the Rocky Mountains. It was awesome. We began in the foothills of New Mexico, spent a couple months in Colorado, and finished the summer exploring Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. We enjoyed exploring the local scene, both natural and urban. Here are some of our favorite Rocky Mountain towns and cities.

1. Santa Fe, NM – pop 83,875

Starting at the southern end we have Santa Fe, capital of New Mexico and artist hub. Santa Fe is primarily on this list because of Meow Wolf. A unique art installation unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before. You just have to experience it. I’m a little obsessed.

2. Salida, CO – pop 5,581

Salida kind of has it all– great mountain biking trails just outside town (such as Little Rainbow for us beginners), nearby boondocking (we stayed here), and a thriving craft beer scene. And Walmart! Our first time in Salida was on our honeymoon, when we stayed at the hip, instagram ready Amigo Motor Lodge.

3. Crested Butte, CO – pop 1,487

I’m a little embarrassed to admit this, but we didn’t do too much hiking and biking in Crested Butte because our campsite was just so darn pretty. It’s a little harder to work for views when they’re right outside your window! We did enjoy a couple short trails, as well as some stellar craft cocktails at Montanya Distillery. Find good pizza at Secret Stash.

4. Leadville, CO – pop 2,693

Clocking in at 10,152 ft, Leadville has the distinction of being the highest incorporated city in the country. We camped in the national forest just outside town, and enjoyed cool 70s temps during the hottest part of the summer. There are many top notch day hikes around (like this one or this one). They have a very nice aquatic center, with hot tub, sauna (and um, hot showers!). Also, Leadville has the 12 mile scenic, historic, and paved Mineral Belt Trail, a loop through town and the historic gold mines. We liked it so much we biked it twice!

5. Bozeman, MT – pop 45,250

Bozeman reminded us of our college town (Ann Arbor), but with mountains. We camped at the county fairgrounds, which was bikeable to downtown. There were cute cafes and bars sprinkled all over main street and in nearby neighborhoods. There was an A+ ice cream cone involved. We just really liked the scale and vibe of this place.

6. Ketchum, ID – pop 2,689

I had never heard of the Sun Valley ski resort before arriving in Ketchum. Apparently, it’s a favorite for Hollywood celebrity types. I guess that’s why there are so many people from California there? We had an awesome camp site in the national forest just outside town. We also caught a free concert at the Sun Valley Lodge, and visited Hemingway’s grave site.

7. Stanley, ID – pop 63

Oh, Stanley. You are so close to perfect. Views on par with the Grand Tetons. Abundant free camping. Easy to access spectacular hiking trails. No crowds (compared to many other places in the Rockies). Cell service! And of course Redfish Lake, an all sports alpine lake with the Redfish Lake lodge right in the middle of it all. We rented stand up paddle boards for the first time, and enjoyed chilling on the beach and at the lodge, with live music on the lawn. When it comes to groceries/supplies, keep in mind it’s pretty much BYO.

Where are your favorite Rocky Mountain towns? Let us know!