There's a total of 61 national parks in America, and lucky for Coloradans, four of them can be found right here in the Centennial State. Full of endless opportunities to travel and explore, Colorado's four national parks are all unique in their own ways and offer a variety of different experiences to visitors. In fact, people flock to Colorado from all over the world to make memories at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, the Great Sand Dunes, Mesa Verde National Park and Rocky Mountain National Park.

When it comes to creating your own adventures, here is something fun to do at each one of Colorado's national parks.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Fishing and Camping

At Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, guests have the chance to fish Gold Medal waters, which has some of the best brown and rainbow trout fishing opportunities in the state. Whether anglers toss in their lines from the shore or by boat, the location is ideal for a day spent on the water. At night, the picturesque park offers backcountry camping or dedicated sites on the North Rim, South Rim and in the East Portal.

The Great Sand Dunes

Sandboarding and Sand Sledding

There aren't too many places in the country where people can go sandboarding and sand sledding, but visitors are able to do both of these unique activities at The Great Sand Dunes in southern Colorado. The slopes range in size and people of all ages can take part in the fun. The landscape here is unlike anywhere else in the state, and the views are just spectacular. Park-goers can even climb to the top of the highest sand dune in North America.

Mesa Verde National Park

Visit the Cliff Dwellings

The ancient cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park make visitors feel like they've been transported back in time. It's amazing how well these archaeological sites and ruins have been preserved, and nowadays, people can still get a glimpse of how life used to be in this southwestern spot in Colorado. In another area in the park, there are prehistoric petroglyphs to check out, too.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Hiking and Wildlife Watching

 

Kelsey Nistel/TSM
Kelsey Nistel/TSM
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Rocky Mountain National Park has miles and miles of trails, with endless opportunities for outdoor adventures. The views are breathtaking no matter what part of the park you're in. RMNP is home to many different species of wildlife, and guests often come across animals like elk, moose and bighorn sheep during their visit.

Inside Fisher's Peak, Colorado's Newest State Park

 

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