There is a beautiful light fading across the mountains as applause erupts and the cowboys take centre stage.

Intricately decorated horses kick up dirt that shimmers like gold dust in the air, and John Denver's Rocky Mountain High rings out from large speakers.

I'm in Snowmass, just outside Aspen, Colorado, the birth state of the rodeo - America's original extreme sport.

This particular rodeo has been running weekly in the summer for 40 years, with locals enjoying BBQ ribs while men battle to stay on wild bulls and bucking broncos, cowgirls show off speed and agility by racing around a course marked out by barrels, and little ones try their luck at mutton bustin' - that's riding sheep to the uninitiated.

It's a wonderful insight into the character of the region, and the locals are quick to make you feel at ease in the beauty of the Rocky Mountains.

Snowmass and Aspen may not sound like the most logical places to take a summer holiday, being better known as ski destinations, yet they have about 300 days of sunshine a year, and average June to August temperatures reach above 25°C.

Once the snow melts, world class ski slopes become the perfect place for stunning mountain hikes, downhill bike trails and paragliding.

There is also the Aspen Food and Wine festival (June 20-22), one of America's most renowned, and the Aspen Ideas Festival (June 24-July 3), with past speakers including Bill Clinton and Condoleezza Rice.

Musical entertainment comes in the form of free weekly bluegrass concerts in the mountains.

We stayed at the Viceroy Hotel in Snowmass Village. Opened in 2009, this luxury hotel has a fantastic 7000sq ft spa offering a range of treatments, as well as one of the best restaurants in town. But with a 4.30am start the next day, we head straight to our gigantic bed.

Sometimes in life, you have to rise above it all. And with that firmly in mind, we watch bleary eyed, as fans roar with life and our hot air balloon glides into the clouds.

Floating slowly up to 2500ft, the balloon picks up speed down the valley. As we drift upwards, the staggering panorama of the Elk Mountains (part of the Rocky Mountain range) comes into view.

With 53 peaks measuring over 14,000ft, getting up high is a must if you want to truly see them.

As we stare into the wilderness below we see a rare sight ... a bear. Elk are also visible, migrating in large herds along ancient routes.

After the hour-long flight, we embark on the next part of our adventure and head to our new home, the Hotel Jerome - Aspen's oldest and most iconic hotel.

Built in the 1880s, this red brick Victorian property in the centre of town has beautiful furnishings inspired by its early years and the addition of a great spa.

It is the perfect starting place to experience what locals call The Aspen Idea, stimulating the mind, body and spirit.

With that philosophy in our hearts, we take a bike ride. The Rio Grande Trail is a leisurely paved route out of Aspen that follows the Roaring Fork River's descent, 42 miles into Glenwood Springs. After a few minutes, the track takes us into the calmness of the river valley, among red jagged rocks and white rapids full of excited rafters.

Further along the trail we reach a wide plateau, perfect for viewing the mountains before winding down into Woody Creek, eight miles from Aspen.

There may be no Taco Bells or Denny's Diners in this little valley, but with real cowboys and good old fashioned bluegrass bands, this authentic American adventure leaves me on a rocky mountain high.

TRAVEL FACTS

Black Tomato (www.blacktomato.com; 020 7426 9888) can arrange a bespoke seven night luxury summer holiday to Colorado from £2422 per person, based on two travelling. Includes flights from London to Denver with British Airways, accommodation at the Hotel Jerome, Aspen, and the Viceroy, Snowmass, and car hire.

For more information on Aspen and Snowmass, see: www.aspenchamber.org and www.gosnowmass.com