Michael Portillo reaches Colorado, where he follows in the footsteps of 19th-century East Coast dudes, who came to experience the cowboy life.

At Bent's Old Fort, Michael is transported back to the Mexican American War of 1848 and finds himself inspecting the troops. In Raton, Michael discovers the guns that won the West. At Canon City, Michael hits the Rocky Mountains, from where he heads out into the spectacular gorge of the Arkansas River aboard the historic narrow gauge Royal Gorge Railroad. He comes face to face with a terrifying T-rex and hears how 19th-century prehistoric discoveries in the mountains sparked a bitter scientific war. At the foot of Pike's Peak, a choir sings an iconic American hymn, inspired by the magnificent views to be seen from the summit. Michael heads up 14,000 feet to see for himself, aboard the Pike's Peak Cog Railway.