All United States Colorado

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Colorado

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

Updated February 19, 2024

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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. Wheat Ridge
  41. Winter Park

Unusual Attractions in Colorado

See All 271 Things To Do in Colorado

Winter Shines Brighter in Colorado

Discover Off the Beaten Path Colorado Destinations for the Curious Traveler

Sponsored By Visit Colorado

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Colorado

See all 10 Places to Eat in Colorado
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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

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Winter Shines Brighter in Colorado

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Atlas Obscura Itineraries

9 Hidden Wonders in Eastern Colorado

Sponsored by Visit 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

History 22
Mountains 21
Geology 21
History & Culture 19
Nature 18
Memorials 17
Collections 16
Animals 15

Colorado Leaderboard

Recent Colorado Activity

Stories About Colorado

Honeypot ants feed on sweet nectar and death.

All Winter, These Ants Make the Ultimate Sweet Sacrifice to Their Colony

Their syrupy death is medicinal for humans, too.
by Shoshi Parks
Daniel Hogan and Eli Schwat tow a sled of gear out to the Kettle Ponds study site this March.

The Curious Case of the Colorado River’s Missing Water

Researchers are trying to unravel the mystery of snow that falls but never shows up in the river.
by Bella Biondini
All illustrations: John Mata for Atlas Obscura

Puzzle Monday: On the Map Crossword

by AO Puzzles

Podcast: The Tabor Opera House

Long before anyone appeared live at Red Rocks or made The Fillmore shake, there was The Tabor Opera House.
Sponsored by Visit Colorado

Podcast: Frozen Dead Guy

Near a Colorado mountain town, there's the frozen corpse of a Norwegian grandpa. We get the tale of how this came to be.
by The Podcast Team
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

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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