The Best Mid-Range Hotels in Colorado

Alpine Trail Ridge Inn (Estes Park; tel. 800/233-5023 or 970/586-4585): This is a top-notch independent motel, right next to the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. Proprietors Jay and Fran Grooters are also great sources for hiking advice.

Boulder Outlook (Boulder; tel. 800/542-0304 or 303/443-3322): The Outlook is fun, fresh, and definitively Boulder, with two bouldering rocks, a huge dog run, and discounts on bike rentals and other activities. The rooms are larger than average and the indoor pool is superb, complete with a waterfall and a mural of a cloud-speckled sky.