Colorado is easily among the country’s most picturesque places to hold an event, where the mountains, blue skies and a blanket of either twinkling snow or green grass and wildflowers, depending on the season, will also inspire group photos.
And in the age of selfie-crazed social media platforms, attendees will appreciate meetings held in Colorado’s gorgeous mountain areas, where they will run into plenty of opportunities to snap post-worthy pictures of themselves in glorious natural surroundings.
Aspen/Snowmass
At the top of the list in the Aspen and Snowmass area is Maroon Bells, the most photographed peaks in Colorado, according to Melissa Wisenbaker, public relations manager for the Aspen Chamber Resort Association.
“The ideal spot for a group photo is in front of Maroon Lake with the beautiful 14,000-foot peaks in the background,” she said.
During winter, groups can arrive at Maroon Bells via a snowmobile tour, and during summer and fall, they can get there via tour bus or with a local outfitter, including Blazing Adventures, which offers several group-friendly Maroon Bells experiences involving hiking, bicycling and more.
According to Bobbie Burkley, interim public relations agent at Snowmass Tourism, groups can meet at the base of the gondola in Snowmass and ride it to the Elk Camp chair for both panoramic views of the Snowmass ski area and a unique look at Maroon Bells.
Another wonderful photo op can be found at the top of Aspen Mountain, which can be accessed via gondola during summer and winter, and via scenic Jeep trips in the summer and fall, according to Sarah Reynolds, director of sales at the Aspen Chamber Resort Association.
“The 360-degree views look out across the Elk Mountains range and include Highland Bowl, Castle Peak and Hayden Peak,” she said. “This is a great spot to start a group adventure, listen to music in the summer, hold a reception or meeting, and enjoy yoga and meditation.”
Another meditative place is the Aspen-based John Denver Sanctuary.
“It’s a beautiful spot to take group pictures,” Wisenbaker said. “It is easily accessible, as it is right in town, and filled with beautiful wildflowers in the summer.”
Vail/Beaver Creek
Summertime in Vail means breathtaking views and photo opportunities around every corner, according to Pam Dixon, director of resort group sales, Vail, for Vail Resorts.
“One that’s easily accessible and not to be missed is Simonton Deck at Eagle’s Nest,” she said, adding the newly rebuilt deck boasts panoramic views of the Mount of the Holy Cross summit and surrounding wilderness and national forest lands.
Among the ways groups can reach Simonton Deck is via a guided hike around the mountain with an expert naturalist from Walking Mountains Science Center, or a guided mountain bike tour across Vail Mountain.
During the winter, once the group has worked up an appetite from skiing, attendees can enjoy a private breakfast on the mountain at Hawk’s Nest, which enjoys picture-perfect backdrops such as Blue Sky Basin and Sun Up Bowl.
For views of both Vail Valley and Beaver Creek, groups can arrange a scenic activity in the town of Avon, home to Nottingham Lake, where attendees can enjoy stand-up paddleboarding during the warmer months and ice skating in the winter.
In Beaver Creek, the panoramic view of the Gore Range from Spruce Saddle Lodge is among the region’s most iconic views of the snow-capped Rocky Mountains, according to Wendy Zentz, director of sales at Beaver Creek Resort.
“Groups can have the view all to themselves with an exclusive morning of first tracks,” she said. “Or after a full day of guided skiing on Beaver Creek’s white carpet snow and photos at Spruce Saddle, the group can descend to the base of Beaver Creek Village for Cookie Time.”
During the summer, sans fresh-baked cookies, groups can take a guided hike from Beaver Creek Village up to Spruce Saddle Lodge, or ascend via the Centennial Gondola and hike downhill, stopping along the way for photos.
Colorado Springs
In Colorado Springs, according to Kathy Reak, director of convention sales at the Colorado Springs CVB, groups can hike, horseback ride or take a Jeep tour to Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center.
“This free natural landmark offers gorgeous red-colored rock formations and scenery to snap with a smartphone or camera,” she said.
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Groups are also encouraged to visit Pikes Peak to see the view that inspired Katharine Lee Bates to pen the poem America the Beautiful.
“Experience the stunning views while either driving the Pikes Peak Highway or taking the world’s highest cog railway,” Reak said.
For picturesque meetings, smaller groups can look to the Wilderness Experience at The Broadmoor, which is a collection of rustic properties that offer a secluded outing.
Among the standout meeting spaces in this portfolio is the Overlook at Cloud Camp, a 1,500-square-foot room with floor-to-ceiling windows and a large deck that boasts stunning views of Colorado Springs.
Fish Creek Falls, the waterfall featured on Coors beer cans, won’t disappoint groups visiting Steamboat Springs.
“The lower falls are easily accessed just minutes from downtown, and if your group is feeling up to it, make the 2.5-mile trek to the second falls for even more picture-perfect beauty,” said Maren McCutchan, public relations manager for Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association.
Afterward, while the group is out shopping and dining in downtown Steamboat Springs, attendees can stroll over to Yampa Street to access the 9th Street Bridge that takes pedestrians over the Yampa River.
“Stop and pose for a group photo on the bridge with the stunning beauty of Mt. Werner and the Steamboat Ski Resort behind you,” McCutchan said.
Breckenridge
The must-visit spot on Boreas Pass, the most scenic location in Breckenridge, is approximately three miles up this winding road, according to Jessie Unruh, content marketing manager for the Breckenridge Tourism Office.
“This is the best place to capture an incredible shot of the sunset, and the most scenic drive in Summit County to view the fall foliage,” she said, adding it can be reached via shuttle or a group bicycling outing during the summer and via snowshoe in the winter.
Another best bet for a terrific group photo in Breckenridge is to ascend Peak 9, which can be reached via four-wheel vehicle in the summer, and in the winter, Unruh recommended skiing to North America’s highest chairlift, Imperial Express SuperChair.
“This terrain is considered expert, so if your group is intermediate, head up Peak 6, the newest peak at the ski resort, which offers the same stunning views,” she said.
The top of Copper Mountain and mid-mountain at Solitude Station provide the best photo ops in the area, according to Stephanie Sweeney, public relations coordinator at Copper Mountain Resort.
“During the summer, guests can take the American Eagle chairlift up to mid-mountain, then take an easy hike up to the summit,” she said, adding Solitude Station is a popular place to grab a bite. “Solitude Station provides an enclosed setting with large windows overlooking the Ten Mile Range.”
Durango
Photo opportunities in Durango are grounded and up in the air.
According to Anne Klein, public relations contractor at the Durango Area Tourism Office, groups can hop aboard the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad for a picturesque trip from Durango to Silverton and take photos during a teambuilding activity with Soaring Tree Top Adventures, during which attendees will soar through aspen trees.
One of the most popular locations for taking photos in Telluride, according to Tom Watkinson, director of communications for the Telluride Tourism Board, is smack dab in the middle of Main Street in historic downtown.
“Locals, visitors and groups alike take advantage of the unique setting of the box canyon with Ingram Falls coming right down the middle,” he said.
Another great spot where groups can take out their cameras is the top of the Prospect Express lift at Telluride Ski Resort.
“This pristine location at the foot of 13,000-foot Prospect Peak and the 14,000-foot Wilson Range in the other direction is a breathtaking location accessible by every ability of skier,” Watkinson said.
