One of my favorite things about exploring Colorado is that it’s just as easy to have a great time in the backcountry as it is in the city. Great adventures are not limited to ski resorts or National Parks.

Sometimes they are in towns with gravel streets, the smell of wood smoke in the air, and people still smile and say hello. Keep scrolling to check out Colorado’s tiniest towns that may be small in population, but they’re big in personality.

The Smallest Towns in Western Colorado You Can Still Visit Today

If you love the idea of strolling quiet main streets, chasing mountain views, and uncovering history without the crowds, Western Colorado’s tiniest towns are calling your name. Scattered across the Rockies and canyon country, these communities may be small in population — some with just a few dozen residents — but they’re big on character.

Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams

History You Can Still Touch

Tiny Towns, Big Charm: Why You Should Visit Colorado’s Smallest Spots
Photo by Cameron Agostino on Unsplash
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Visiting several of Western Colorado’s smallest towns is a great way to learn some Rocky Mountain mining history. You can still walk through Marble’s old mill site or Rico’s historical museum and find evidence of miners and ranchers all over the place. In big cities, history is often found on a plaque, but in towns like these, you can stand in it.

Postcard Scenery Without the Crowds

A visit to Crystal Mill near Marble, alpine roads around Ophir, or the star-filled skies over Norwood are just as incredible as anything going on at our state’s most famous parks. As you may have noticed, the populations of the towns in the gallery are all under 600. The upside to exploring some of the smallest towns on the Western Slope is fewer cars, shorter lines, and the feeling that you got to see something the tourists don’t even know exists.

Tiny Towns, Big Charm: Why You Should Visit Colorado’s Smallest Spots
Photo by Bell C. on Unsplash
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Keep Going: 10 of Colorado's Most Underrated Small Towns with Big Views

Are you searching for a relaxing place in Colorado that offers mountain views without big crowds? Let's try someplace new. Join us for a virtual tour of ten underrated small towns in the Centennial State that all deserve some love for their impressive views of the Rocky Mountains.

Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams

More: These 12 Colorado Small Towns Say ‘Meet Me On Main Street’

If you love the feeling of community that is found on the Main Streets around America, you'll love a visit to the following towns right here in Colorado. Learn more about some of the oldest communities in the state that still feature this special part of old-time America.

Gallery Credit: Wes Adams

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