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I’d go to Summit Lake Park for mountain lake views.

From unique urban sights to enormous canyons and sand dunes with snowy peaks as their backdrop – Colorado is here to impress. And if you time your trip for the fall foliage like we did, it will blow your minds too!

Summit Lake Park is a Denver Mountain Parks property at 12,830 feet on the slopes of Mount Evans, centered on a glacially-carved lake that sits in a dramatic rocky cirque. It's one of the highest and most accessible alpine lake settings in the United States — reachable by the Mount Evans Scenic Byway with a short walk to the water's edge.

The tundra surrounding the lake is carpeted in tiny alpine wildflowers in summer, and the rocky fellfields are home to pikas, marmots, and mountain goats that frequently wander close to visitors. The Chicago Lakes basin visible below is one of Colorado's most stunning glacial landscapes.

The park has a rustic log shelter that has stood since the 1930s and a small restroom facility, but otherwise remains beautifully undeveloped — a rare spot where you can sit at the edge of a high alpine lake with virtually no infrastructure in sight.

TIP: The wind at Summit Lake can be fierce even on warm days — always bring a windproof jacket.

TIP: Mountain goats are almost always present and sometimes walk right through the parking area — look along the rocky slopes above the lake.

TIP: Combine with a hike to the Mount Evans summit from the upper parking area for a full alpine day.

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Summit Lake Park

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Colorado Adventure

Explore Denver, Colorado Springs, Rockies, Aspen, and Grand Sand Dunes.

Colorado Highlights

Explore Denver and blow your mind with the majesty of the Rockies.

Denver & Rockies Escape

The Mile High City blends urban sophistication with outdoor adventure. Don't miss the thriving craft brewery scene and the Red Rocks Amphitheatre for a concert under the stars.

Denver

Flora House Denver is a design-forward boutique guesthouse in Denver's Cole neighborhood, operating more like a curated private home than a hotel — with just a handful of rooms, locally sourced breakfast, and an interior that feels like a spread from a design magazine. It's one of the most distinctive small lodging options in the city.

The house features individually decorated rooms with original art, quality linens, and thoughtfully chosen furniture. A communal living and dining space creates a genuine social atmosphere among guests. There's no pool or gym, but the intimate scale is the point.

Flora House is run with a strong aesthetic sensibility and has become a quietly sought-after spot among design and travel industry visitors to Denver — the kind of place that gets recommended by word of mouth rather than advertised.

It suits design-minded travelers, creative professionals, and anyone who finds standard hotel anonymity deadening. It's not for families or those wanting resort amenities, but for the right traveler it's the best stay in Denver.

Flora House Denver

Hotel Clio is a Forbes Five-Star luxury hotel in Denver's Cherry Creek neighborhood, part of Marriott's Autograph Collection. It's one of Denver's most polished urban hotel experiences — fashion-forward in design, with a curated art collection, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a residential feel that distinguishes it from the standard luxury chain.

Amenities include an indoor heated pool, a full spa, the acclaimed Elway's steakhouse on the ground floor, and a rooftop terrace. Rooms are generously sized with high-end finishes; suites include separate living areas and city views. The hotel sits directly on Cherry Creek's shopping and dining corridor.

Cherry Creek is Denver's most upscale neighborhood — quieter and more residential than LoDo, with excellent independent restaurants and boutiques — and Hotel Clio positions guests at its center.

The hotel caters to luxury travelers who prefer a sophisticated, design-led atmosphere over the bustle of downtown. It's particularly well-suited to leisure travelers on a longer Denver stay and business travelers who appreciate Cherry Creek's easy access to the Tech Center and DIA.

Hotel Clio

Hotel Teatro is a boutique luxury hotel in downtown Denver, housed in a 1911 Beaux-Arts building that originally served as the city's tramway building. The architectural bones are exceptional — exposed brick, high ceilings, original steel details — and the hotel has built a design-forward identity around them that makes it one of Denver's most atmospheric urban stays.

The hotel features two acclaimed restaurants — the Guard and the Nickel — that are destinations in their own right for Denver diners. Rooms are handsomely appointed in a sophisticated urban style with quality linens and original art. There's a fitness center and meeting spaces, but no pool.

Hotel Teatro sits directly across from the Denver Performing Arts Complex — the largest arts complex in the US outside New York — and has built a strong relationship with the arts community, hosting performers and artists regularly.

It suits culturally engaged travelers — those attending theater, opera, or concerts — as well as design-minded guests who want a hotel with genuine architectural character. The downtown location puts everything within walking distance.

Hotel Teatro

Limelight Denver is a modern mountain-culture hotel in Denver's lower downtown, part of the Limelight Hotels group known for its approachable take on outdoor-oriented hospitality. It sits in the heart of LoDo, steps from Union Station, Coors Field, and the best of Denver's dining and nightlife scene.

The hotel features a rooftop pool and bar with skyline views, a lively ground-floor restaurant, a well-equipped fitness center, and rooms that balance comfort with a clean, activity-oriented aesthetic — think gear storage, quality mattresses, and thoughtful details for travelers who've been active all day. Rooms range from standard kings to suites.

Limelight was founded in Aspen and has built a loyal following among the outdoor-enthusiast crowd — it occupies a niche between boutique-chic and outdoor-functional that works exceptionally well in Colorado's context.

It's an excellent base for Denver first-timers and repeat visitors alike, especially those combining a city stay with mountain adventures. The rooftop bar alone makes it one of the better evening spots in LoDo.

Limelight Denver

The Crawford Hotel is a celebrated Denver institution housed in the beautifully restored Union Station building, opened in 2014 as the centerpiece of the lower downtown neighborhood's revival. The building itself — a Beaux-Arts landmark dating to 1914 — is the main attraction, with soaring ceilings, terrazzo floors, and a grand great hall that doubles as Denver's living room.

Rooms are spread across three distinct sections of the building, each with its own character — the Pullman rooms are compact and train-inspired; the Loft rooms are larger with exposed brick; and the classic rooms occupy the historic main building. The ground floor hosts a cluster of excellent restaurants and bars, including the Terminal Bar and Mercantile Dining & Provision.

Union Station's great hall is a gathering place for the whole city — farmers' markets, holiday events, and spontaneous socializing happen here year-round, giving guests a sense of being at the heart of Denver rather than just passing through.

The Crawford is best for travelers who want to feel embedded in Denver's civic life, with walkable access to LoDo, Larimer Square, and the 16th Street Mall. It's a strong choice for both first-time Denver visitors and returning guests who appreciate the building's character.

Summit Lake Park

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Hotel Teatro

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The Crawford Hotel