A Guide to 55+ Active Living Communities in Colorado

 

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 in the suburbs. These communities have an inviting small-town feel, making getting to know your neighbors easy.

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 who love the outdoors and who want to stay active during retirement.

Colorado experiences all four seasons, allowing empty nesters to participate in unique activities year-round. You can go hiking, fishing, and golfing in the spring and summer. Winter sports are top-rated, 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 townhome 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 are 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 in the great outdoors during retirement.

Front Range Urban Corridor

Colorado's largest and most populated cities 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. The Western Slope is a mountainous region with many outdoor activities perfect for adventurous seniors, such as hiking, biking, and golfing. Winter sports like skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, and snowmobiling are favorites here.

The rural city of Grand Junction, near the Colorado National Monument, is excellent 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. Southwestern Colorado is renowned for its big game hunting. Hunters prize elk, bighorn sheep, and moose. 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 famous among seniors. Multiple parks and forests allow hunting and fishing, so there’s no shortage of ways to stay active.

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 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 golf courses. With indoor and outdoor activities for seniors, regardless of the season, you'll never be bored.

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

During the colder months, winter sports are king! You can test your years of downhill experience on the slopes. Colorado skiers can demonstrate their skill on various 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 the most beautiful venues in the world at your doorstep. Colorado has something exciting to do any time of the year, whether it’s a summer concert in Telluride, a rodeo on the plains, or one of the myriads of film festivals.  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 various 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 has 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 private golf courses! Many elite golf courses are worth visiting if you don’t happen to retire in a golf course community.

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. 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 throughout 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, allowing seniors 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, various floor plans, great views, and more!

Golf Course Communities

Colorado's gated communities frequently have 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+ condominium 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 communities are budget-friendly while 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!