Places to stay in Allenspark

Allenspark is an unincorporated community in Boulder County nestled among the snow-capped peaks and alpine lakes of north central Colorado’s towering Rocky Mountains. While you’re here, you’ll notice log cabins hiding among the tree-covered mountains and find a cafe, restaurant, and grocery store in the small town center. But the main draw to Allenspark isn’t the town itself, but what surrounds it. With Rocky Mountain National Park to the north and the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests to the south, Allenspark is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts, attracting visitors throughout the year for its recreational activities.

Hiking, horseback riding, river rafting, and swimming in the chilly glacial melt lakes bring the summer travelers, while world-class skiing and other winter sports pull in hardy winter-loving types. Because Boulder and Denver are both such a short drive away, when you’re staying in this mountain town it is easy to take advantage of a wider selection of cultural offerings.

The Rocky Mountains of Colorado have a wide-ranging climate that varies drastically from season to season. The summer months are pleasant and warm, with minimal rainfall and dense woodlands full of wildlife. June through September, in particular, provide excellent conditions for hiking in the mountains and forests. On the other hand, the winter months can be frigidly cold, regularly seeing temperatures that drop well below freezing along with heavy snowfall. Those same conditions make the area a haven for snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and backcountry skiing.

Visitors should also consider coming here in the spring, when vibrant blossoms and wildflower blooms cover the hillsides. Subdued orange earthen hues take over the landscape during the fall in Allenspark, when frosty mornings and cozy cabins make huddling around the fireplace in the evening so appealing.

Saint Vrain Mountain Trailhead

This out-and-back trail begins just outside Allenspark, extending nearly eight miles into the Indian Peaks Wilderness and briefly passing through Rocky Mountain National Park. The trail offers some of the most stunning high-altitude vistas in the area and makes its way across switchback hillsides, mountain passes, and winding rivers. Hiking the trail is a wonderful summer activity; come winter, it’s equally appealing on snowshoes or cross-country skis.

Peak to Peak Scenic Byway

This 55-mile byway through the Colorado Rockies meanders past towering mountain peaks and through dense coniferous forests and aspen groves, small mountain communities, and mysterious ghost towns. Scenic lookouts and abandoned gold mines are just a few delights to be found along the route. You can drive the entire road in just a few hours, but it’s well worth spending a whole day, stopping wherever you please.

Ouzel Falls

Hiking up to Ouzel Falls may take some effort, but it is certainly worth it. After you enter the Wild Basin Trail inside Rocky Mountain National Park, you’ll pass the smaller Copeland Falls and thundering Calypso Cascades. About three miles in, you’ll reach the crown jewel: the 40-foot Ouzel Falls, cascading over dramatic cliffs into a basin below. Ouzel Lake feeds the falls and is accessible by continuing along the trail for another two miles.