Visiting Northern Colorado

Northern Colorado - at its best in summer. Adventures abound in Rocky Mountain National Park and Roosevelt National Forest. Beautiful gateway cities like Estes Park, Fort Collins and Loveland celebrate Colorado culture and heritage with summer events and festivals. Outdoor enthusiasts have seemingly limitless trails, slopes, rivers and lakes for hiking, mountain biking, rafting and water recreation. Estes Park challenges runners with high altitude running events, while Fort Collins adds a triathlon event to the calendar. Traditional county fairs from Moffat County in Craig to Logan County Fair in Sterling celebrate Colorado’s old west heritage. It’s the season for a Northern Colorado getaway.

Runners, challenge yourself with the high altitude run at the 2012 Estes Park Marathon. Events are June 16th and 17th, and include a Kids Fun Run, 5K, 10K, Half Marathon and Marathon. Sponsored by Denver based Coda Coffee, the course elevation varies between 7420 feet and 8150 feet at the highest. Spectacular Rocky Mountain scenery is a welcome distraction, and all courses are on paved, certified courses. The Kid’s Run takes place on Saturday the 16th at Bond Park, before the big races on Sunday.

Fort Collins, about 65 miles north of Denver, is the largest community along Interstate 25, on the road north to Wyoming. Tri-athletes, from beginners to seasoned, don’t miss the 2012 HITS Triathlon in Fort Collins, July 28th and 29th. Events include five distances including the open for beginners, featuring a 100-meter swim, 3-mile bike ride and 1 mile run. Distances up to a full triathlon accommodate all ages and levels of experience. Challenge yourself in and around beautiful Horsetooth Reservoir at the Fort Collins Triathlon.

A visit to the Larimer County Fair & Rodeo makes your northern Colorado summer complete. A Parade through downtown Loveland kicks off the 2012 festivities, on Saturday July 28th. The fair and rodeo is also hosted in Loveland, just 15 miles south of Fort Collins. The Ranch – Larimer County Fairgrounds, hosts the Larimer County Fair August 3rd through the 7th, and the PRCA Rodeo August 5th through the 7th in the Budweiser Events Center. Enjoy traditional fair and rodeo events and attractions including the Gnarly Barley Brew Festival, live entertainment and kid’s petting zoo.

Grand Junction, the largest city on the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains, hosts the Annual Palisade Bluegrass and Roots Music Festival, June 15th through the 17th. The 2012 festival takes place in Palisade, 12 miles east of Grand Junction on Interstate 70. Launch summer with three days of music in Riverbend Park, an amazing outdoor setting along the Colorado River. Palisade is the Peach and Wine Capital of Colorado, an ideal location to relax and enjoy the lineup including Alison Brown Quartet, Old Town Pickers and The Carolina Chocolate Drops.

Northern Colorado Hotel Map