Top 9 Hippie Towns In Colorado
When it comes to hippie culture, there are some states that tend to have more of a reputation than others. While most people tend to assume that California is the hippie hotspot du jour, many are now saying that there are other states that can give Cali a run for its money. Such is the case with Colorado.
Hippie towns are alive and well in the state of Colorado. If you want to get down with the crunchy life, these places are the best picks:
- Nederland
- Manitou Springs
- Gardner
- Paonia
- Boulder
- Carbondale
- Red Feather Lakes
- Ridgway
If you’re a fellow hippy, these are the places you’ll want to visit when in Colorado.
Colorado’s hippie culture is not something that you should take lightly. It can be a culture clash. Let’s talk about what you should expect if you want to move to a hippie hotspot in this state.
Figuring Out Which City In Colorado Is Most Beatnik
In order to analyze the best cities for hippies in Colorado, we had to first find out what constituted a hippy. We tossed a lot of variables at this one in the hopes of getting the best, most complete findings possible.
The following are the criteria we used, which we derived from the Google Places API, the 2010-2014 American Community Survey, and voter registration data:
- Number of organic markets per capita
- Per capita, the number of yoga studios
- The number of secondhand stores per capita is
- Vegan restaurants are becoming more common per capita.
- The number of pet adoption centers per capita is
- Each city’s liberal voting population
We counted places within a 4.5-mile radius of a city’s core to get accurate data. In America, the average city is around 18 square miles in size.
Studying The Figures
These data are all expressed per capita, which refers to the number of stores per person in a certain city. Non-CDPs with populations of over 5,000 persons were also excluded from the study.
The hippy index was created by averaging the ranks for each place. Finally, the ‘Best City for Hippies in Colorado’ was named after the city with the highest hippy index.
The Biggest Hippie Towns In Colorado
There are a lot of places that can claim hippie heritage in the state of Colorado. These places tend to take the cake.
1. Nederland
Don’t be fooled by the straight-laced look of this photo. Nederland is one of the most high-up hippie towns that you can get into.
The city is famous for having a lot of street festivals, not to mention a very lively arts scene that would put plenty of California locations to shame. If you want to feed your need for the arts, this is a good place to go.
People here are naturally laid back, and they tend to love a good smoke. And, everyone here knows at least one good dispensary that they swear by. It doesn’t get any more hippie than that.
2. Manitou Springs
Most people will tell you that Manitou Springs acts as a polar opposite to Colorado Springs. While Colorado Springs is straight-laced, Manitou Springs tends to have a relaxed, slow-paced way of life that’s very amenable to hippies.
This area is full of places that look like they belong in a hippie pamphlet: the yoga shops, the cheap eateries, and the organic markets are a testament to it.
There are plenty of ways to see the mellow vibes here. Even breathing the air here seems to calm people down.
3. Gardner
How hippie can you get, you ask? Well, just take a look at Gardner. If you didn’t know any better, the pastoral setting and rustic outlook would make you think that you’re in Cali. Looks aside, Gardner made this list for one major reason: it’s the home of the annual Hippie Days festival.
That’s right. A whole festival devoted to the hippie lifestyle. When it’s not festival season, Gardner is pretty famous for the well-stocked farmers’ markets and organic food found in and around the area.
4. Paonia
Paonia is one of those places that everyone associates with the hippie movement, but that’s not entirely true. It’s a place where “hippies and ranchers coexist,” if you want to believe what the locals say. The town still makes headlines for its avid hippie population as well as the town’s strong stance on fresh fruits and veggies.
If you’re a foodie who loves gardening, you might find this to be the nicest small town you could ask for.
5. Boulder
This might be a bit counterintuitive, but I’ll be the first to say it. Despite the fact that Boulder is a major hotspot for wealthy yuppies, it still has quite a bit of hippie charm. Anyone who’s seen the sheer number of organic food stands can tell you that hippies haven’t fully left the Boulder area.
The majority of the hippie vibes you’ll find here are ample yoga studios, gorgeous art galleries, and a couple of boutiques spearheaded by hippies.
It’s the more commercial side of hippiedom. With that said, if you’re the type of hippie who needs nightlife in their life, this is usually the best pick on the list. It’s actually one of the best towns in Colorado for EDM fans.
6. Carbondale
Carbondale is a lot like Paonia in the sense that it has a deeply Western version of the hippie life to offer up. The small town has a population of under 1,500 but don’t let that fool you.
It’s been recognized by the state of Colorado to be one of the biggest creative hotspots in the state. An avidly organic town, you can expect to have quality food and plenty of crunch friends in the city’s borders.
For what it’s worth, the Carbondale craft beer makers tend to have a sense of humor about the area’s hippie ambiance. They even name their beers after hippie terms.
7. Crestone
We had to include at least one major spiritual hotspot in this list, which is why we decided to opt for the “Shambala of the Rockies.”
That would be Crestone, a small town of under 150 people. The big draw here is spirituality. The area has more spiritual new age centers per capita than any other town in America. Along with a deep focus on all things spiritual, Crestone has a sterling reputation for being sustainable.
8. Red Feather Lakes
If you are big into Buddhism and want to see a more unique side of Colorado, you might want to check out Red Feather Lakes. This beautiful lakeside town is home to the Great Stupa of Dharmakaya.
This is a part of a large Buddhist center that is meant to be filled with Buddhist blessings. It’s a serious sight to see and it’s pretty famous as a meditation hotspot.
Along with being a major Buddhist hotspot, it’s easy enough to find yoga and vegetarian food throughout the area. Spiritual hippies, therefore, tend to find their own clique here pretty easily.
9. Ridgway
When it comes to places that were literally built for hippies, you can’t get it better than Ridgway. This is one of Colorado’s many arts districts, which means that you’re going to see a lot of artisan businesses within walking distance.
If you are worried about being able to find a job, don’t be. Despite the town’s designation as an art hotspot, the area is pretty well-stocked in terms of jobs.
Like many other major hippie areas, Ridgway is still a place that is a little bit rough around the edges. This means that city folks might have a little bit of a learning curve.
Thankfully, it’s not a full-blown hippie commune and you don’t need to be a farmer to love this area. If you listen to most reviews, it’s the best of both urban and rural.
What Makes A Hippie Town, A Hippie Town?
Honestly, it’s open to interpretation. There are different types of hippies, really. Some hippies are all about organic farming and sustainability.
Others are more about just chilling out next to nature, while still more are the type to go nuts over crystals. If you’re the type of hippie that I tend to be, then you’re going to be all about the trippy artwork and free love.
As a result, it was hard to rank the towns. We focused on towns that have a strong history as a hippie hotspot, areas that are known for artists, as well as places that do a lot of work in organic farming. If a place had a reputation for being hippie-friendly, we moved it up on our list.
Related Questions
Is Boulder, CO, a good town for hippies?
Yes and no. On one hand, the city was voted the fourth best city for hippies in America. On the other hand, Boulder is not as hippie-like as it once was.In recent years, many people who moved to Boulder with the assumption that it’d be hippie-like were somewhat disappointed by the lack of hippies on every street corner.The truth is that Boulder is a very liberal city, but it’s not exactly a “Burning Man” level of hippie. If you are coming here in hopes of seeing a new hippie city, temper your expectations.
Is Colorado full of hippies?
Not really. Colorado might appear to be very liberal, but it’s actually a mixed bag. In rural Colorado, people are often very straightlaced and right-leaning.In the cities and specific small towns, you’re more likely to see hippies. Hippies are not going to be everywhere, but seeing areas of Colorado might make you think otherwise.On a technicality, hippie culture isn’t exactly alive right now. The movement happened over 50 years ago, and since then, many of their ideals became mainstream. So, keep that in mind when you’re asking about them.
Are there still hippie communes in Colorado?
While they aren’t as common as they once were, there are still hippie communes in and around Colorado. Most of the time, the communes operate under different names, such as a “sustainability community.” However, if you search hard enough, it’s possible to find some that are still under operation.If you want to live in a commune, be forewarned. They’re pretty exclusive and are often invite-only. Don’t take it too hard if you get rejected. It’s part of the process of finding the right one.
Read These Guides To Learn About Other Colorado Cities
Ossiana Tepfenhart is an expert writer, focusing on interior design and general home tips. Writing is her life, and it's what she does best. Her interests include art and real estate investments.
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