Major Land Regions in Colorado

When traveling around Colorado, it is helpful to know its major land regions, especially when keen on finding the type of terrain you want to explore during your visit. This western U.S. state is bordered by Nebraska and Wyoming on the north, Kansas and Nebraska on the east and northeast, Oklahoma and New Mexico on the south and Utah on the west

Colorado is composed of four major land regions, which offer distinct geological formations and diverse plant and animal species. It passes by most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, the northeastern part of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains. Known for its vivid landscapes of mountains, mesas, canyons, plains, plateaus, deserts and rivers, traveling around Colorado allows people to see diverse flora and fauna in various locations throughout the state.

Great Plains

The Great Plains covers about half of the eastern part of Colorado. It features a variety of weather conditions throughout the year, which includes extreme temperatures from very cold winters to very hot summers. Wind speeds are often high and the area features dry and flat lands with vast expanses of high plains climbing up westward going to the Rockies.

It is typical to see rolling prairies and grasslands around this part of the state. These support abundant wildlife in the region. The main urban area is located on the northeastern plains, which host several lakes and reservoirs. Livestock production and farming are common industries as the region's prairies are often used for agricultural purposes.

Rocky Mountains

Covering about half of Colorado's central portion, the Rocky Mountains is situated west of the Great Plains. It features about 54 peaks coming from five major mountain ranges. These include the Sangre de Criso Mountains, Front Range, Park Range, Sawatch Range and San Juan Mountains. The region is also known for Mount Elbert, the highest point in the state. Colorado's mean elevation is higher than any other state. This justifies the description of the Rocky Mountains as the "Roof of the World." The Rocky Mountains hosts six major rivers including the Rio Grande, Colorado, Republican, North Platte, and South Platte Rivers.

Colorado Plateau

The Colorado Plateau is located within the southwest corner of Colorado, which borders Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. As a common point where these three other states meet with Colorado, the four of them became known as the Four Corners. This region covers most of the western portion of the state.

The Colorado Plateau is distinct for its number of tablelands with moderate to high reliefs. It has anywhere from high plateaus to deep canyons that are carved by both narrow and widely spaced streams, natural springs and rivers. A large expanse of land in the area is covered with sagebrush and cottonwoods, especially those found along perennial water courses. The region's varying geological formations provide a good mix of woodland vegetation, especially those found in moderate elevations. Those in the lowest elevations are mainly covered with arid shrublands and grasses.

Intermontane Basin

The Intermontane Basin is the smallest land region in Colorado. It lies on the northwestern corner of the state. It is distinct of its many rolling forested hills, plateaus and valleys that showcase splendid views of centuries-old canons and mountain peaks. Its valleys are often very fertile areas for plant life. Its extensive plateaus are often filled with sage bush and they typically boast a variety of agricultural areas. Its higher elevations feature forests dominated by ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, lodgepole pine and aspen.