DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado has lots of outdoor adventure opportunities to offer, and while the Centennial State might be known more for its ski slopes and hiking trails, the Rocky Mountains are also home to one of the best hidden-gem beaches in America.
That’s according to Frugal Flyer. The online affordable travel blog recently held a survey and released its 2025 list of the 95 Best Secret Beaches in America. Coloradans don’t have to go far to visit one of them, but they will need to take a hike.
The report found that Americans are not looking for boardwalks and beachfront bars; they are looking for peaceful beach escapes with plenty of space to stretch out, and they’re willing to put in extra effort to get there.
Most of the top places on the list were in Hawaii, Florida and along the West Coast. A handful of inland states had sites on the list, with Sandbeach Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park ranking at No. 35.
Sandbeach Lake, which sits at 10,280 feet in elevation, is only accessible via a hiking trail. According to the National Park Service website, the hike from the Sandbeach Lake Trailhead is 4.2 miles with a 1,970-foot elevation gain, and takes about four to five hours.
There are a few camp sites near the lake, and the NPS website has guidelines for how people can visit Sandbeach Lake, including information about:
- Directions to the trailhead
- How to navigate the trail
- Preparing for extreme weather and emergencies
- Hiking single file on trails and side by side where there are no trails
- Where to camp and explore
- Using carry-in/carry-out bear-resistant food storage containers
- How to cook meals
The trailhead is about an hour and a half drive away from Denver, according to Google Maps.
Several other inland bodies of water made the list, which the report said signals a shift that people are starting to value the quiet serenity that can’t be found on the coast. States without coastlines on the list include Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, West Virginia, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Kentucky, Utah, Nebraska and more.
“From Lake McConaughy in Nebraska to Leigh Lake in Wyoming and Iona’s Beach in Minnesota, these freshwater escapes are becoming the new darlings of summer travelers who want calm water, loons at sunset, and zero crowds,” the report read.
The study also found that the effort to reach some sites is not just worth it — it’s part of the appeal for beach lovers.
“In a travel culture obsessed with instant access, this trend hints at something deeper: people are craving intentionality, even in how they unplug,” the report said.
Coloradans can go the extra few hundred miles to visit other sites that made the list. Some near Colorado include:
- 37: River Island State Park – Arizona
- 39: Elephant Butte Lake (hidden coves) – New Mexico
- 48: Sunset Beach (Lake Thunderbird) – Oklahoma
- 62: Newton Hills State Park – South Dakota
- 71: Leigh Lake – Wyoming
- 72: Quail Creek Reservoir – Utah
- 83: Lake McConaughy (Western shores) – Nebraska
- 87: Glen Elder State Park – Kansas
The full list of the best secret beaches can be found on the Frugal Flyer website.
