bailey

Location: 66 miles southwest of Denver on U.S. 285

Situated along a scenic curve in the South Platte River, rustic Bailey serves up healthy meals and beautiful alpine scenery. The tiny downtown comprises little beyond a gas station and a few cafes, but its mountain backdrop lends a particular charm to this sleepy mountain town.

Five acres at self-guided McGraw Park feature several historic structures, including an 1864 log cabin and a one-room schoolhouse from 1894. The park leads to a trail offering another 10 acres for exploration. Bailey sits just inside the Lost Creek Wilderness Area in the Pike National Forest, where week-long backpacking trips and day hikes alike are popular. The logging roads and pack trails crisscrossing the area's hilly terrain are a mountain biker's dream and first-rate fly-fishing opportunities abound.

If your stomach's begging for a pit stop, the local eateries should satisfy the craving. Knotty Pine will fit the snack and sweets bill; the Cutthroat Cafe offers a sit-down menu; or try the Platte Canyon Grill for Cajun fare. Whether you stop in Bailey for a quick lunch or a weeklong excursion, be on the lookout - a herd of 200 bighorn sheep live in the mountains just outside town.

Source: Colorado.com

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