Check out our Suggested Rhythms on the Rio Road Trip!

Yarmony Grass Music Festival

At its new location in Steamboat, Winter Wondergrass showed it is here to stay.  At least we can hope so!  The folks that put this together did such an incredible job in 2017 with their change of venue, you would have thought this was their 10th year in Steamboat, not the first!

What can be better than listening to some of the best music around at the base of a mountain with some of the best terrain in Colorado!  Plus late-night sets in town and at the top of the gondola!  With plenty of tents to warm up with a Colorado stout while continuing to enjoy the full array of talent this fest draws in, Wondergrass has thought of just about everything! Click to read our review of Winter Wondergrass in Colorado.

Winter Wondergrass Colorado

Telluride Bluegrass Festival

For lovers of electronic music, Sonic Bloom has more options than you could count!  Add that to a bill of hundreds of other performers and artists – yoga, art installations, workshops, speakers, visual artists and more – and you’ve got a festy packed with activity.

Located on the beautiful Hummingbird Ranch, this entire festival is a piece of art in itself. Just 2.5 hours south of Denver, you’ve got no reason not to grab your hoop and your tent and get to Sonic Bloom next year!

Sonic Bloom

Planet Bluegrass Ranch, the site of RockyGrass Music Festival, sits on the banks of the beautiful St. Vrain river.  Located within walking distance of the quaint mountain town of Lyons, and just a short drive to Rocky Mountain National park, this Colorado favorite has been drawing fans of all ages for 45 years!  

And it’s not just the location of this fest that brings them in – Rockygrass has consistently brought in the best of the best when it comes to the artists packing the lineup. Bring your beach chair and your floats and cool off while listening to amazing music at 45th Annual Rockygrass Music Festival!

Rockygrass Music Festival

Ride Festival

Going on 20 years, NedFest is a music and arts festival in the weirdly wonderful little mountain town of Nederland, Colorado.  Nederland is just a 30-minute drive from Boulder, but a world away!

There’s camping available in town, but what makes NedFest so unique is it’s ease of access if you choose not to stay at the festival.  There are plenty of public transportation options from Denver and Boulder on RTD. Nedfest brings in plenty of local talent and big-name headliners as well, providing plenty of opportunities for everyone to get weird at this gem of a Colorado music festival!

Nedfest Music & Arts Festival

Divide Music Festival

Arise Music Festival

Knock a few National Parks off your list while you are visiting Colorado, because it has four incredible ones to check out.  Rocky Mountain, Mesa Verde, Great Sand Dunes and Black Canyon of the Gunnison will all blow your mind with their landscapes and scenery. They each offer something completely unique to their visitors, so you’ll want to go see them all.

A therapeutic mineral soak is just what your body needs after a music festival.  Luckily, Colorado is home to over 30 hot springs.  So you are sure to find at least one to dip in on your visit.  The best part is that these natural pools are perfect in any weather, so you can enjoy them year-round.

Check out this extensive list of hot springs in Colorado

With over 20 ski resorts and an average snowfall of 300 inches, Colorado is THE place for skiers and snowboarders.  These glorious mountains are a playground for winter sports, so don’t limit your music festivals to just the summer months.  And remember – Colorado gets over 300 days of sunshine a year and has over 300 breweries (coincidence?).  So, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy a locally brewed beverage while basking in some beautiful Colorado sunshine after a riding down one of Colorado’s majestic mountain slopes.

Just think about all that snow and sun coming together as the weather in Colorado begins to warm.  Now, imagine all of that melt-off flowing down the mountains and into the river. That’s a lot of water to play on! So many rivers, so little time.  With over 8000 miles of river, Colorado has some amazing spots for fly fishing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and whitewater rafting.

This one seems pretty obvious – but let’s just throw it in here to remind you that camping is a great way to save money on your adventure through Colorado.  Not only that, but it’s a great way to check out everything else we’ve listed.  Extend that whitewater rafting trip into an overnight (or longer) trip. Hike into a (non-commercial) hot springs and spend the night under the stars. Camp in the wilderness at Rocky Mountain National Park – camping is the only overnight option inside the park! 

If you simply don’t have time to do much more in Colorado besides that music festival, then at least go on a hike!  Discover waterfalls, lakes, wildlife, and some of the most spectacular scenery by getting on a trail.  You’ll experience jaw-dropping views even if you don’t have time to leave the Front Range. 

This list should get you started:  101 Of the Most Beautiful Hikes in Colorado

Some may argue that most of the country’s best mountain biking trails are in the state of Colorado.  Maybe a little overstated, but at the very least, you are sure to find thousands of miles of singletrack that will rock your world.  Colorado music festivals are scattered throughout so many magical mountain towns that often brag about having the most incredible mountain biking trails. From Steamboat Springs to Crested Butte and all the way down to Durango, be sure to explore the miles of singletrack that Colorado has to offer.