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DENVER (KDVR) — There are two misconceptions about Denver and Colorado in general that often get thrown around by people who, for whatever reason, have never been lucky enough to visit.
Those misconceptions are the idea that Colorado is entirely made up of mountains and that Denver itself is a mountain town — with a name like the Mile High City, it can be easy to see why.
These misconceptions are so persistent that when FOX31 asked viewers what myths they wanted to see busted the most, the idea that everyone lives in the mountains was a major one.
Denver is not in the Rocky Mountains
Ask anyone who lives in an actual mountain town: Denver is near the mountains, not in them.
In fact, two other Front Range major metros are situated even closer to the mountains than Denver. This includes Boulder, which is in the foothills, and Colorado Springs.
Despite this, Denver is known as a destination for outdoor lovers because of its easy access to the mountains.
Ski areas like Winter Park, Aspen, Vail and Breckenridge, as well as places like Rocky Mountain National Park, are all within a day’s drive of Denver.
Additionally, the views Denver boasts to the west are not to be scoffed at, and likely contribute to Denver’s reputation.
Colorado is not all mountains
The other misconception is that Colorado is entirely made up of mountains.
That isn’t true. According to Colorado State University, nearly 40% of the state is made up of the eastern high plains. This is part of the Great Plains, known for its vast prairie lands.
While this eastern portion of the state may not be as flashy to look at as the mountains, it still has many great features, including the Pawnee National Grasslands northeast of Greeley.
Regardless, the more “flat” part of the state stands out, quite literally: The lowest point of the state, located at 3,315 feet elevation at the border with Kansas in the east, is the highest low point of any U.S. state.
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