Visiting Alma, Colorado – The Highest Incorporated Town in North America

Alma, located in Park County just south of Breckenridge, is the highest incorporated town in North America.  Sitting at 10,578 feet in elevation, Alma may be small with a population of 2070, but is packed with history around every corner.  If you’re heading to Summit County from Colorado Springs or Highway 285, you’ll get to pass through this notorious little town just before you reach Hoosier Pass.

Alma Activities

Hiking

Alma is home to five 14er’s, and you can actually combo four of them into one day if you an extreme adventurer. 

Mt. Sherman

Mt. Sherman tops out at 14,035 feet and will give you incredible views of the surrounding Continental Divide.  Sherman is popular among Colorado hikers due to the easier routes up the mountain.

Mt. Democrat, Cameron, Lincoln, and Bross

If you’re up for a challenge, knock out four different 14er’s in one day!  Once you summit Mt. Democrat, you’ll cross saddles between each peak for the day.  On the way up you’ll pass some abandoned mines, and at the top you’ll have 360 views of all of the surrounding mountain vistas.

Off Roading

If climbing a 14,000+ foot mountain doesn’t sound like a great way to spend your day, rent an ATV and put it in gear..  You’ll be surrounded by the Mosquito Range mountains and you won’t have to dedicate your entire day to just traveling via your own two feet.

Alma Food

The Alma Coffee House is a favorite among locals and has some delicious food and a wide variety of coffee’s.   It’ll be the perfect kick start to your day in the Colorado Rockies.

Head to the South Park Saloon for an après-adventure beverage. This main drag stop has great beers and hearty comfort food.  The saloon has been a crowd pleaser for over two decades.

Alma History

Alma is packed with history from all the mining that’s taken place and the buildings made with local pine dating back to the 1870’s.  Your whole family will love learning about how the town started and where it’s popularity comes from .

Being one of the first gold mining towns, this place has one of the spine-chilling back stories.  Loathed with rumors of small-pox and dual stand offs, these tales are extremely intriguing.  In the past, the Alma Cemetery has offered tours which makes for a great place to get your heart pumping during a full moon walk, so keep a eye out for those excursions in the future.

Alma Events

Though there are events here and there year round in Alma, one of the most prominent is the Alma Festival in the Clouds.  After a tragedy in 1998, where the mayor of the town Willy Morrison was assassinated, the town put together a stage in his honor.  The Festival in the Clouds was started to help celebrate music, art, and growth of the children in the town, after what Willy Morrison visioned Alma to grow into.  The 21st festival will be held this year on July 20th – 22nd.

Be sure to shake things up and leave town the opposite direction in which you came. Route 9 over Hoosier Pass is gorgeous.  You will cross the Continental Divide and come across some breathtaking picture opportunities along the way.

Since Alma is located just 20 miles south of Breckenridge, it will be a perfect afternoon destination after a morning on the Blue River with Breckenridge Whitewater Rafting!

 

*Featured image courtesy of Wikipedia.