About Colorado

A Guide to 55+ Active Living Communities in Colorado

Written by Melissa McClave 

Retire with an Active Outdoor Lifestyle in Colorado

While Colorado features metropolitan cities such as Denver, Colorado Springs and Aurora, many of the state’s most popular 55+ active adult communities are located in the suburbs. These communities have an inviting small-town feel that makes it easy to get to know your neighbors.

Seniors looking to live an active outdoor lifestyle will enjoy Colorado’s dry air and sunny days. The state has national parks, forests, mountains, deserts, and river canyons. The state is  perfect for retirees that love the outdoors and who want to stay active during retirement.

Colorado experiences all four seasons, giving empty nesters the opportunity to take part in unique activities year round. In the spring and summer, you can go hiking, fishing, and golfing. Winter sports are especially popular, including skiing and snowboarding. Try out seasonal gardening and hunting as well.

Many seniors gravitate toward Colorado because of its high-quality healthcare facilities. There are many general and specialty doctors, and most towns have multiple pharmacies near age restricted senior communities.

Colorado is accepting of an array of ethnic groups and religions. The state features the fifth largest Mexican-American population in the nation. Asian-Americans, including Mongolians, Koreans, Filipinos, and Chinese, are welcomed and retiring throughout the state.

Many of the best places to retire in Colorado for active 55+ seniors are move-in-ready master planned communities featuring single story homes. Empty nesters will find housing options from golf course communities and townhomes communities to manufactured homes and luxury apartment rentals.

Colorado’s Best 55+ Areas to Retire

There are many outstanding places to retire in Colorado, whether you’re seeking natural beauty and adventure or convenient amenities and entertainment. No matter what area you choose to call home, you’ll be living near the state’s national parks and staying active during retirement in the great outdoors.

Front Range Urban Corridor

Most of the largest and most populated cities in Colorado lie within the Front Range Urban Corridor. These include the metro of Denver, the outdoor recreation hub of Colorado Springs, and the college town of Fort Collins.

Other suburbs in this region that offer easy access to the city include Aurora, Thornton, and Castle Rock.

Colorado Western Slope

Just past where the Continental Divide crosses through Colorado, you’ll find the Colorado Western Slope. This is a mountainous region with many outdoor activities that are perfect for adventurous seniors such as hiking, biking and golfing. Winter sports like skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, and snowmobiling are favorites here as well.

The rural city of Grand Junction, near the Colorado National Monument, is an excellent area for farm-to-table dining, rock climbing, mountain biking, and wildlife viewing. It features an agricultural industry with a focus on wineries.

Southwestern Colorado

Points of interest in Southwestern Colorado include multiple national parks, historic mining towns, hiking trails, and natural hot springs. The region’s lakes and rivers allow for fishing. This are is renown for its big game hunting. Elk, bighorn sheep, and moose are prized by hunters. Deer and turkey are abundant staples of the local population.

The mountain town of Durango is known for its mountain biking in the summer and skiing in the winter. 

Staying Active During Retirement in Colorado

Colorado is known for outdoor attractions like Rocky Mountain National Park. Biking, nature photography, hiking, and birdwatching are all popular for seniors. Multiple parks and forests allow hunting and fishing, so there’s no shortage of ways to stay active.

Maybe the casino is more your style, or you like attending festivals, concerts and cultural events. The Colorado Diamondbacks play Major League Baseball all summer, along with the state’s professional soccer team, the Colorado Rapids. With so much to do in every season, Colorado is the perfect place for active older adults to call home. 

On Property Activities in Communities

Colorado’s 55+ active adult communities have many things to do right on the property!

You’re only a few steps away from fully-equipped fitness centers, clubhouses, and even golf courses. With both indoor and outdoor activities for seniors, you’ll never be bored, regardless of the season.

Meet with Neighbors at the Onsite Clubhouse

Community clubhouses are a place to meet with fellow like-minded residents and spend time pursuing your hobbies. Join interest groups like book discussions and card clubs. Trivia nights and group painting parties are regular events that give your knowledge and talent an opportunity to shine. 

Some clubhouses have exercise gear and sporting equipment and others offer group exercise classes. Just outside the clubhouse, it's common to find tennis and pickleball courts and scenic trails for walking the grounds.

Warm Up at the Fitness Center

Having a fitness center on your community property is an excellent way to motivate yourself to stay active during retirement! Utilize treadmills, rowing machines, free weights, and other low-impact exercise equipment to stay in shape.

Community fitness centers in Colorado also frequently have their own indoor pools. These heated pools ensure you can swim year-round, even when it’s too cold to venture outside in a swimsuit!

Go Golfing

Many 55+ communities in Colorado have their own private golf course, driving range and putting green. Retiring at one of the state’s golf course communities means you’ll always be mere steps from the course.

Nearby Points of Interest

Seniors that love the outdoors will enjoy Colorado’s scenic locales. Living near the state’s national parks makes sports like rock climbing, backpacking,mountain biking convenient. There’s plenty of forgotten settlements and hidden valleys to explore. You may even come across ancient petroglyphs and pottery shards left by the indegionous population that lived here before European settlement. . 

During the colder months, winter sports are king! You can put your years of downhill experience to test on the slopes. Colorado skiers can demonstrate their skill on a variety of black diamond and double black diamond runs. Or stay close to the lodge and leisurely ski the beginning and intermediate hills. Most ski resorts offer seniors discounted passes and there’s a resort within a day’s drive of every town.  

Alternatively, Colorado communities offer a range of music and art festivals, county fairs, and rodeos. Concerts are scheduled year round with some of most beautiful venues in the world at your doorstep. Whether it’s a summer concert in Telluride, a rodeo on the plains, or one of the myriad of film festivals, Colorado has something exciting to do anytime of the year.  You can play your favorite slot or table game at one of the state’s 40 casinos.

Play Winter Sports

Colorado is known for its winter sports. Alongside skiing and snowboarding, the state caters to a variety of outdoor winter activities. Combine a passion for hunting with cross-country skiing, dove hunting across the plains. Or join your fellow anglers for winter fly-fishing in Colorado’s best fishing holes. 

If you’d rather be a spectator, Colorado is home to three professional teams that play in the winter months. The Denver Broncos battle it out in the NFL, the Denver Nuggets in the NBA, and the Avalanche hitting the ice in the NHL.  

Take Your Golf Game to the Next Level

Some 55+ communities in Colorado have their own private golf courses! If you don’t happen to retire in a golf course community, there are still many elite golf courses worth visiting.

Top courses in Colorado include the Cherry Hills Country Club and the Castle Pines Golf Course. Ballyneal Golf Course is also especially well-known for its no-frills golfing experience.

Go Fishing or Hunting

Lakes, rivers, and forests abound in Colorado! These natural areas provide the setting for big game hunting. Snag deer, moose, elk, and bear.

Fishing is also popular year round in Colorado, with ice fishing in the winter once the lakes freeze over. Catch various species of freshwater trout, salmon, and whitefish.

Why Colorado Living Appeals to So Many Empty Nesters

Colorado experiences all four seasons, offering natural beauty such as snow-capped mountains, forests, rivers, canyons and crisp blue skies much of the year. For those looking to stay active during retirement, the state offers seniors outdoor activities year-round. These include hiking, skiing, fishing, and golfing.

Colorado is a popular destination for 55+ retirees, in part thanks to retirement income being tax deductible. Many 55+ suburban neighborhoods offer affordable housing as well.

The state’s high-ranking healthcare options and facilities are another big draw. Colorado was one of the first states to legalize cannabis for both medical and recreational purposes. As a result, it’s an attractive choice for seniors who use cannabis to manage chronic pain.

Communities and 55+ Housing Options

Many 55+ communities in Colorado are located near the state’s scenic locations, giving seniors the opportunity to live an active outdoor lifestyle.

Luxury apartment rental communities in the state offer seniors a low-maintenance lifestyle option, often featuring a pool, fitness center, and clubhouse. Units have high-end appliances, patios or balconies, a variety of floor plans, great views and more!

Golf Course Communities

Colorado's gated communities frequently have their own golf courses for residents. These master planned golf course communities are as exclusive as any country club. Amenities like outdoor pools, lounges, full service restaurants and bars, and fitness clubs round out the experience.

Townhomes, Condominiums, & Patio Home Communities

Downsizing doesn’t have to mean giving up your autonomy. With townhomes, patio homes, and condominiums, you can own your space while still being a part of the larger community.

Many 55+ condominiums communities are located in urban areas close to high-end shopping and entertainment in the city. Townhome and patio home communities often offer more living space in rural areas.

Manufactured Home Communities

Retiring with a home in a manufactured home community is among the best ways for active adults to minimize the financial burden of more pricey housing options.

These homes are budget-friendly while still providing a welcoming atmosphere that makes it easy to stay active. Local activities and community events make manufactured homes worth considering.

Colorado’s Senior-Focused Healthcare

Colorado is home to many non-profit healthcare systems that serve its seniors such as UCHealth and Intermountain Healthcare. It’s also one of the eight states where Kaiser Permanente operates.

Its healthcare has consistently ranked highly among U.S. states. Accessible health services ensure that retirees can live life to the fullest!