All United States Colorado

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Colorado

245 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Colorado

Updated May 24, 2023

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Cities

Top Cities
All Cities
  1. Alamosa
  2. Antonito
  3. Aspen
  4. Bailey
  5. Bedrock
  6. Boulder
  7. Breckenridge
  8. Broomfield
  9. Cañon City
  10. Central City
  11. Colorado Springs
  12. Commerce City
  13. Creede
  14. Crestone
  15. Cripple Creek
  16. Del Norte
  17. Denver
  18. Dolores
  19. Durango
  20. Estes Park
  21. Florence
  22. Fort Collins
  23. Gateway
  24. Glenwood Springs
  25. Golden
  26. La Junta
  27. Lake City
  28. Lakewood
  29. Leadville
  30. Littleton
  31. Longmont
  32. Manitou Springs
  33. Montrose
  34. Morrison
  35. Nathrop
  36. Nederland
  37. Pueblo
  38. Red Feather Lakes
  39. Trinidad
  40. Winter Park

Unusual Attractions in Colorado

See All 245 Things To Do in Colorado

Come Alive in Colorado

Off the Beaten Path Colorado Destinations for the Curious Traveler

Sponsored By Visit Colorado

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Colorado

See all 8 Places to Eat in Colorado
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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

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Summer Shines Brighter in Colorado

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Atlas Obscura Itineraries

9 Hidden Wonders in Eastern Colorado

Colorado is known for its towering mountains adorned with wildflowers, waterfalls, and endless hiking trails; however, some of its best kept secrets lie on the eastern half of the state. This adventure will take you to the furthest reaches of Colorado’s beautiful prairie and up into the pristine foothills of the Wet Mountains - all places seldom visited and teeming with intrigue. The locations below have been hand-picked for their uniqueness and ability to inspire you to journey through time via some of Colorado’s most obscure and interesting haunts found on the high plains.

View Itinerary

Explore Colorado

Mountains 19
Geology 18
History 18
Nature 17
Collections 16
Memorials 15
History & Culture 15
Animals 15

Colorado Leaderboard

Recent Colorado Activity

Stories About Colorado

The so-called Edith Deviation follows a natural valley.

Colorado Is Not a Rectangle—It Has 697 Sides

The Centennial State is technically a hexahectaenneacontakaiheptagon.
by Frank Jacobs, Big Think
Written and Photographed by Matt Payne

Colorado Winter Wonderland

Pack your snowshoes and see the Centennial State like never before. We hand-picked a collection of unique Colorado destinations transformed by glistening frost and white snow.
Sponsored by Visit Colorado
The entrance to the Silver Cliff Cemetery leads visitors down roads less traveled.

What's Really Behind the Ghost Lights of Colorado's Silver Cliff Cemetery?

Tucked between rugged mountains, this lonely graveyard is home—allegedly—to ethereal, glowing orbs that dance among the headstones.
by Sarah Scoles

Podcast: Seven Keys Lodge

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team

Podcast: The Tank

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
In high alpine terrain, sun and dry air can turn snow straight into water vapor.

In Hot, Dry Weather, Snow Can Disappear Straight Into the Atmosphere

A different process than evaporation, sublimation turns snow and ice directly into a gas.
by Steven R. Fassnacht
Uranophane from the German site of Menzenschwand in Baden-Württemberg.

A DIY Guide to Collecting Radioactive Rocks Gets Glowing Reviews

The free how-to dispels myths and minimizes the hazards of hunting and hoarding these special specimens.
by Sarah Scoles

Podcast: Mike the Headless Chicken

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team

Lists Featuring Colorado

Shrine of the Stations of the Cross
Fresh snow accentuates a warm ancient Puebloan city.

18 Places in Colorado to Discover Local Culture–From Past to Present

Sponsored by Colorado Tourism Office
18

Including Chimney Rock , Tabor Opera House, and Shrine of the Stations of the Cross

Star trails trace the night sky above snow-covered mountains and sand dunes.
Unaweep Divide, west.
Wheeler Geologic Area

18 Colorado Adventures That Will Take Your Breath Away (Literally)

Sponsored by Colorado Tourism Office
18

Including Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve , Unaweep Canyon, and La Ventana Arch

5-8-22
The last coal-burning steam engine.
The Sasquatch Outpost

15 Quirky Places to Visit on Your Next Colorado Family Road Trip

Sponsored by Colorado Tourism Office
15

Including Swetsville Zoo, Breckenridge Troll, and Steam Engine 638

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