Colorado mountain towns, ranked by Outside magazine

Why it matters: Here in Colorado, we take mountain town rankings seriously — because if half the list is not in our state, something's not right.

State of play: Among Outside's top 24 places, Colorado appears just twice.

• Telluride ranks third — behind Jackson, Wyoming, and top-spot Park City, Utah — for being "not just some manufactured ski-resort village but an actual community."
• Durango lands at 19th for its "four seasons of adventure," including rafting, hiking, skiing and mountain biking.

The rub: We can rattle off a dozen of our favorite Colorado places that got snubbed in favor of mediocre other picks.

• John's favorite: Crested Butte. It's the launch pad for everything outdoors — great skiing, off-roading, biking, hiking and paddle boarding.
• Alayna's favorite: Idaho Springs. It's less than an hour from Denver and still boasts the quaint charm and stunning scenery of Colorado's most remote destinations.

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