Peaks and Page-Turners: A Week Exploring a Few of Colorado’s Independent Bookstores

Our Monday morning hike at the base of Mount Crested Butte

There is something magical about walking into a local bookshop after a long day of hiking and exploring mountain towns. Each store has its own soul and is tied to the community around it. This past week, my wife, our two Chihuahuas, and I set out on a trip through Glenwood Springs, Aspen, and Crested Butte and experienced the magic of some Colorado's independent bookstore scene firsthand.

If you’re looking for your next great read, a good cup of coffee, or just a cozy corner to escape into, consider adding these three incredible shops to your travel bucket list.

Alpenglow Books & Gifts (Glenwood Springs)

Alpenglow is a pink, red, or orange light that appears on mountain tops just before sunrise or after sunset. It happens when the sun is below the horizon, casting a warm glow on high peaks through reflected light or scattered atmospheric rays.

Nestled right on Grand Avenue, Alpenglow Books & Gifts is a community gem. As the only independent bookstore in Glenwood Springs dedicated to new titles, it carries an energy that is both welcoming and celebratory of local talent.

I found this signed book in Alpenglow,. BONEDALE was a good choice to read after dark in our cabin in Glenwood Canyon.

Beyond its wonderfully curated bookshelves, the shop doubles as a gallery for local creatives. We browsed their collection of handmade jewelry, puzzles, and artwork. It was the perfect place to pick up a book of spooky tales to read late in our cabin.

Where to find it: 720 Grand Ave Fl 1, Glenwood Springs, CO

Explore Books and Coffee (Aspen)

Stepping into Explore Books and Coffee feels like stepping back in time, in the absolute best way. Celebrating over 50 years in Aspen, this legendary shop is housed in a gorgeous Victorian home on Main Street.

My wife outside of Explore in Aspen. She loves Victorian houses, so this turned out to be a perfect place to relax and enjoy a coffee and treat. Not shown - our two tiny chihuahuas along for the ride in her backpack.

The layout is a maze of cozy rooms, each packed to the brim with an exquisite selection of fiction, history, and memoir. The best part is you can take your new treasure upstairs to their sunlit café to enjoy a tea, coffee, or even a beer. It is an intellectual sanctuary that makes you want to turn off your phone and lose yourself for hours.

Where to find it: 221 E Main St, Aspen, CO

Townie Books (Crested Butte)

Located right on the bustling Elk Avenue, Townie Books perfectly captures the laid-back, friendly essence of Crested Butte. We went on Sunday, right after the farmers market. This family-owned shop may look modest from the outside, but its curated shelves had some exceptional regional paperbacks, local history, and new fiction.

The exterior of Townie Books on August 9th, 2026

Like any good indie bookstore, you have food and drink options close by. Townie is connected to Rumors Coffee & Tea House. There is nothing quite like ordering a black coffee and walking straight through the open doorway into the stacks to find what to read next.

Where to find it: 414 Elk Ave, Crested Butte, CO

Which one will you visit first?

Supporting local bookstores keeps the literary heart of these mountain towns beating. Whether you want the cozy café layout of Aspen, the artistic flair of Glenwood Springs, or the neighborhood warmth of Crested Butte, you can't go wrong.

A view of Glenwood Springs from our morning hike.

A SPY EVER AFTER is good read whether you are in the city or in the relaxing in the mountains. This is just outside our cabin in Glenwood Canyon, where a black bear looking for a late night snack took a bite out of the front of my Defender overnight.