When speaking of living in the Colorado mountains, the uninitiated usually shoot too far, mentioning the well-known communities of Vail and Aspen. While those are fine places to live, work, and play, there’s much closer, more convenient mountain living to be had in Colorado.  And with the economy taking the kinds of turns we’ve all heard and read about, there’s something to be said to living in communities that are closer to larger cities like Denver, where employment doesn’t depend so heavily upon the travel and tourism industries.

Here’s a list, from south to north, where some country living can be found, with access within about an hour of Denver and/or Colorado Springs and/or Fort Collins.  All links point to maps of the area, for easy navigation.

• Canon City–The southernmost city in our survey today, with the largest population of any community in its immediate vicinity.  It’s closest to the Colorado Springs area, although a lot of Canon City residents work, shop, and play right in town.
• Salida–A charming, small town in the San Luis Valley popular with outdoor enthusiasts, tourists, and artists west of Canon City on highway 50.
• Manitou Springs, Woodland Park, Florissant–Just up the road from Colorado Springs, these scenic, quiet places are known for their funky town atmosphere, their natural springs, and their clean, crisp air.
• Conifer, Evergreen, and Idaho Springs–Along the I-70 corridor, on the way to the high mountain passes and the larger ski resorts, these beautiful towns are just enough off the beaten path to maintain a lot of their Old West charm.
• Green Mountain Village–The closest of the lot, Green Mountain is Lakewood’s mountain biking and hiking getaway with great schools and lickety-split access to Denver.
• Morrison and Golden–Home of beautiful natural rock formations and the famed Red Rocks Amphitheater
• Nederland–Just 17 miles west and 3,000 vertical feet above Boulder. Where climbing, biking, hiking fanatics live and play, and where about 1,500 people do everything else.
• Estes Park–Between Boulder and Fort Collins is “Estes,” a favorite with locals and tourists, especially during the summer months, when the wildflowers bloom, and the roads to the top of Rocky Mountain National Park are open.
• Laporte–Up the Poudre Valley from Fort Collins, Laporte is an out-of-the-way respite that enjoys the wild sounds and sights of the Cache La Pourdre River.