The impacts of the Wild West era, Manifest Destiny, and the ‘Pikes Peak or Bust’ mining days are still quite obvious around Colorado. From ghost towns to sprawling dude ranches to tiny towns that somehow thrive in the middle of remote and rugged terrain, history isn’t hard to find in the Centennial State.

That said, many spots once said to harken back to the ‘Wild West’ days have since been commercialized in a major way. Ski areas opened up, massive hotels were constructed, and hip new restaurants started to thrive. While those places are still totally worth the visit, here’s a look at a few of Colorado’s ‘Wild West’ towns that have managed to hang on to a bit more of their old-school ‘Wild West’ charm, avoiding a lot of rapid growth that’s taken place around the Centennial State in recent years.

1. Creede: Once described as the ‘last great place to drink and fight,’ perhaps no other Colorado town better exemplifies what this list is all about than Creede. It’s in the middle of nowhere and with a population of about 300 people, there’s not much going on. That said, it is home to the ‘Bachelor Loop,’ which is a 17-mile self-guided drive through historic relics of the Silver Boom. Adding to its remote feel is the local restaurant scene, where seasonal operations tend to be common. A few great places to check out include Kip’s Grill, MJ’s Cafe, and the (supposedly haunted) Creede Hotel and Restaurant, which is also one of the longest-standing places in Colorado to get a drink, first opened in 1892. There’s also the Creede Repertory Theatre, which is worth checking out.

2. Ouray: I won’t lie, I did debate keeping this spot on the list. While it’s grown quite a bit in recent decades in terms of tourism, it still keeps its ‘Wild West’ charm. Local places like The Western and the Silver Eagle Saloon keep this spot on the list as walking through this town does still feel like a bit of a blast from the past. Plus, one of the town’s top tourist attractions is the local hot spring, which opened to the public way back in 1927.

3. Silverton: Silverton might be home to the state’s most extreme ski area, but its secluded nature has kept much change from taking place. Visitors will find a historic train depot for a mountainous ride and the occasional horse and buggy marching down main street. Plus, there’s no shortage of mining ruins to be explored in the area – just explore with caution and follow all rules and restrictions related to where you’re able to go.

4. Westcliffe: With a stunning mountain view from the edge of the Sangre de Cristos, I’ve long been shocked that Westcliffe doesn’t draw more visitors than it does. That said, that may be a good thing in terms of maintaining the vibe that’s likely been present in this town for much longer than I’ve been alive. The population is only about 435, but there’s plenty of local history in the surrounding area. Hit this town for one of the local trails and stick around to check out some of the historic spots and local restaurant offerings.

5. Victor: Another spot that epitomizes this list, Victor is just about as ‘Wild West’ as it gets. From local mining ruins, to sleepy streets, and the easy trip into the Cripple Creek for its casinos, don’t skip out on this one. Check out the two-mile Vindicator Valley Trail or drive the rugged Shelf Road.

6. Lake City: Often called the ‘most remote place in the lower 48,’ the drive into this town lives up to the hype. Another sleepy spot that’s perfect for an escape into nature, find Lake City along the historic ‘Alpine Loop‘ – a 63-mile route through mining country that requires a four-wheel drive vehicle.

7. Leadville: The highest incorporated city in North America, history is alive and well in Leadville. While this spot tends to draw a bit more tourism than other places on this list, spots like the Tabor Opera House and The Legendary Silver Dollar Saloon keep this place maintaining its ‘Wild West’ status.

8. Paonia: Rarely in the mix when it comes to places that ‘weekend warriors’ put on their itinerary, Paonia was settled in the late 1880s and has been overlooked by tourists despite its appeal. Find plenty of local camping and no shortage of stunning views.

9. Del Norte: Another spot that gets overlooked on a regular basis, there’s a lot of great outdoor recreation in the Del Norte area – especially when it comes to mountain biking. That said, it still maintains its small town feel and is home to the historic Windsor Hotel, built in 1874. How friendly all of the locals have been any time I’ve traveled through this spot earns Del Norte some bonus points, too. I wouldn’t say this spot screams ‘Wild West,’ but it did get its start as an important base camp and supply center for miners headed into the San Juan Mountains.

Key omissions: Undoubtedly, a few of your favorite mountain town spots aren’t on this list – that doesn’t mean they’re any less awesome, it just means they’ve outgrown their ‘small town’ vibes a bit. To get ahead of the complaints, here are a few I expect to hear about and why they weren’t included:

1. Crested Butte: Sometimes referred to as America’s ‘last great ski town,’ Crested Butte has grown a lot in recent decades. While the town of Crested Butte does still have a lot of the ‘Old West’ charm and there’s no shortage of quiet streets and dive bars, it’s just down the road from the town of Mount Crested Butte, which is home to a major ski area owned by Vail Resorts. Plus, the many multi-million dollar mansions that dot the landscape and the ever-present tourism can have this spot feeling like it’s pretending to be a town of the ‘Old West’ opposed to being a spot where rural Colorado vibes still exist. That’s not a knock against Crested Butte and you should still plan a visit, but don’t expect the same atmosphere that you’ll find in places included on the list above.

2. Telluride: Don’t get me wrong – I love Telluride. I think it’s the most scenic town in Colorado. That said, it’s another spot that’s gotten a bit commercialized and attracts a large number of tourists year-round. That’s not a bad thing, it’s just outgrown the ‘sleepy Old West town’ genre of places to visit.

3. Breckenridge and Aspen: While these towns all come with a rich history that dates back to the mining days and the development of the skiing industry, they’re mostly known for being tourist destinations nowadays. Some ‘Old West’ vibes still exist, of course, but for those most part, these vibes can feel a bit manufactured.

4. Glenwood Springs, Idaho Springs, Georgetown, Frisco: Four more great spots to visit and each with their own history that dates back to the ‘Wild West’ days, their proximity to I-70 and all of the traffic that comes with it breaks the feel of ‘escape into the west’ a bit.

5. Buena Vista, Salida, Durango: Three more spots that have fallen victim to the ‘weekend warriors’ and general tourism in terms of moving beyond their low-key ‘Wild West’ days, all of these places are worth checking out and got popular for good reason. That said, these places are all areas where quite a bit of recent growth has taken place and while that’s not a bad thing, they don’t quite fit the criteria to be included on the list above.

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