Take a break from your outdoor adventure road trip to check out these can’t-miss spots.
Sure, you are hitting the road to find spots to hike, bike, camp, run, climb, paddle, fish, and find adventure in the outdoors this summer—but there are plenty of reasons to stop and check out these wonderful, sometimes weird, spots along the way.
The Green Mountain Falls Skyspace, Green Mountain Falls, Colorado
An artist working with the mediums of light and space, James Turrell has built 85 skyspaces across the globe—from the ski resort town of Lech, Austria, to Bentonville, Arkansas, to the little town of Green Mountain Falls just west of Colorado Springs on the north side of Pikes Peak. Devotees of Turrell’s art seek out these permanent art installations across the globe, and the Green Mountain Falls Skyspace, built in 2022, is one of Turrell’s best. The building, which can be reached after a short hike in the ponderosas of the Red Butte Recreation Area or a steep walk up a road from town (those who can’t make the walk can book an ATV) features an oculus, a retractable opening in the roof to let the light and sky in—and is best visited at sunrise or sunset. You can also visit midday for a light show created by Turrell that makes you feel as if you are inside a Rothko painting. No matter what, the experience of the installation will get you out of the routine of screens and cellphones. “The sky always seems to be out there, away from us,” Turrell says of his art. “I like to bring it down in close contact with us, so you feel you are in it. We feel we are at the bottom of this ocean of air; we are actually on a planet.” The Skyspace is also an essential part of the Green Box Arts Festival—shows and presentations take place here during the event and at various times throughout the year. Reservations are required for shows but you can visit the building any time. greenboxarts.org/skyspace
Bighorn Medicine Wheel, Big Horn National Forest, Wyoming
This sacred site is a spot for reflection and respect. Located high in the Bighorn Mountains off U.S. 14, the site has been used by Indigenous people for at least 3,000 years and is still in use today. If you visit, be sure to learn about the history of the people who continue to come here, whose land this has been for millennia. It’s a stunning spot for contemplation, a stone circle with a central cairn with a sweeping view of all creation around it. sheridanwyoming.org/arts-culture/historic-sites/medicine-wheel
Bishop Castle, Rye, Colorado
For 55 years, Jim Bishop has been building this castle with his own hands. It’s both wonderful and at times quirky, but well worth a visit. But be wary, the castle is still under construction, with Bishop himself laying rock, and not always the safest place for kids—but it’s the type of place any kid would dream of building in the backyard themselves. bishopcastle.org
Crystal Springs, Allenspark, Colorado
Need to fill your water bottles after a day hiking in the Indian Peaks or up in Rocky Mountain National Park? Pull in to Allenspark where you can get spring water straight from the source at this roadside filling station. The water is filtered and lightly chlorinated by the Allenspark Water and Sanitation District. Be sure to leave a donation. allensparkwater.org
Kiva Coffeehouse, Escalante, Utah
The one thing you least expect (but maybe most want to see) when you are driving the desolate canyonlands of southeast Utah is… the most beautiful coffeehouse you have ever seen. But here it is in the middle of nowhere. Salvation. The Kiva Koffeehouse, with its sweeping views of the surrounding red rock, provides java for weary travelers and adventurers. Don’t miss it. Open Wednesday through Sunday, late March through October. Note: You may need the caffeine to keep you as alert as possible to drive the nearby Hell’s Backbone Road. kivakoffeehouse.com
Sasquatch Outpost, Bailey, Colorado
Bigfoot was recently photographed here in Colorado, and for those who believe, this museum is an essential stop. Tour the museum and you may become a believer yourself—or at least buy some sasquatch swag on the way out. Stop by before you take a hike or bike ride up on Kenosha Pass, and look for the telltale “bent trees,” a sure sign the big guy is nearby according to research in the museum. sasquatchoutpost.com
Dinosaur Journey Museum, Fruita, Colorado
A must-stop for anyone with kids, this museum is filled with not only fossils and cast skeletons of all your favorite dinosaurs, but also many robotic reconstructions of the great beasts who once roamed Colorado—including the Allosaurus, Triceratops, Velociraptor, and T. Rex. It’s the perfect break after a day biking the desert singletrack or hiking in Colorado National Monument nearby. museumofwesternco.com/visit/dinosaur-journey
Photos Courtesy Green Box Arts, Doug Schnitzspahn, Ivy Merriot/Wikimedia Commons, Erie Bard/Wikimedia Commons.
