9:24 am, Oct 16, 2012
Why we love it: Sometimes we just want a quick hike, not a marathon trek. When to go: Since most of the park's trails are short and shaded, it is a good choice for an afternoon leg-stretcher when the sun is strong. If you want to see the beavers at work on Bear Creek Trail, visit in the early morning. ***Let's get this out of the...
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11:27 am, Oct 4, 2012
A great egret flies over Johnson Reservoir in Littleton.
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9:54 am, Oct 2, 2012
Why we love it: It's a fantastic trail run, and the biodiversity here is top-notch (you'll see everything from frogs to elk). Also, the park is bordered to the west by Pike National Forest and to the east by Sharptail Ridge and Nelson Ranch Open Space Parks, meaning that it's Colorado country as far as you can see. When to go: Anytime. The...
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9:47 am, Sep 25, 2012
Why we love it: When it comes to scenic mountain climbs, Front Range vistas, and a swift downhill cruise past elk meadows and Red Rocks, this is some of the best cycling near Denver. When to go: May through October, if you’d like to stay warm. Cold weather gear can extend the season at least another month into the fall.*** If you’ve driven on I-70...
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10:20 am, Sep 24, 2012
Why we love it: The stretch of I-70 between Dillon and Vail is much better when seen from a bike saddle than a car seat. When to go: Anytime after the snow melts in the spring and before it falls again in the winter. Riding roundtrip? Give yourself twice as much time on the eastbound stretch as the westbound leg. ***There are plenty of mountain...
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10:15 am, Sep 19, 2012
Why we love it: The central location and large sailing space. When to go: The winds pick up in September to create the ideal sailing conditions for both the beginner and the consummate sailor.*** Whenever I tell my Seattle-based sister about my sailing excursions around Colorado she sounds perplexed. “But, where do you sail?” she demands, as...
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9:45 am, Sep 18, 2012
Why we love it: Because the alternative is driving on US 36, which can be a 90-minute-or-more stop-and-go nightmare. When to go: In warm months. Get on the road early to beat the heat. Get out of Denver by 6:30 a.m., and you can roll into Boulder before 9 a.m., just as the pavement begins to radiate.*** I wouldn’t trade living in...
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9:30 am, Sep 13, 2012
Why we love it: The Boulder blacktop is hot, hot, hot in September, even into the evening hours. The ride from the Greenbrier Inn up Left Hand Canyon Drive to Jamestown is shady, cool, and the perfect distance—18 miles roundtrip—for an after-work spin. When to go: This time of year. You’ll beat the rush of bikers and commuters heading up the...
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9:50 am, Sep 11, 2012
Why we love it: There are few waterfall treks whose drive time is under an hour from Denver, and this mellow system of trails near Evergreen is one of our favorites. You’ll find a hike that’ll get you out of the city for a true escape while being a totally manageable crowd-pleaser for three seasons. When to go: Early spring to late fall—and in...
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1:05 pm, Sep 5, 2012
Start ‘em young, that’s what I say. (And it’s how I wish I'd started skiing, though I didn't discover that sport until my twenties). A program offered by Colorado Ski Country USA makes it easy for fifth and sixth graders to do just that and try skiing and snowboarding. In fact, it practically drives kids to the hill. The Fifth Grade Passport gives...
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10:00 am, Sep 5, 2012
I've been a bit of a gear nut ever since my first track season when I was nine-years-old. My mom bought me running shoes that smelled heavenly, rubbery, wonderful. Sometimes, I’d come home after a run and place the shoes back in the box so that the next time I went out, I could remove the cardboard lid and just like the Foreigner song, it’d feel...
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9:00 am, Sep 4, 2012
Why we love it: In a world of bagging fourteeners, this barely qualifies as a hike. However, it's the perfect pull-off spot between Boulder and Nederland to snap a few pictures, dip your toes in the water, and give a little wink to Mother Nature. When to go: Between May 1 to October 31. The trail is closed in the winter. ***Several...
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10:00 am, Aug 30, 2012
Why we love it: It’s a beginner-friendly way to experience kayaking without the steep learning curve of rolling or bailing out of a spray skirt. When to go: In the mid-summer to early fall when the water level is more forgiving. *** I’ve rafted the Arkansas River many times and it provides an adrenaline rush with high water (plus, it’s usually...
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9:30 am, Aug 28, 2012
Why we love it: This trail alternates between ascents and descents, giving you short breaks for air between thigh-busting sessions of switchbacks. When to go: As with any good high altitude adventure you’ll want to start early. Pack yourself a power lunch to each beside the lake, then make it back down before thunder clouds start...
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9:47 am, Aug 21, 2012
Why we love it: While crowds flock to nearby Quandary Peak (a fourteener), the overlooked summits of Peak 1 and Tenmile Peak to the north provide solitude along with unobstructed views that are every bit as good. When to go: The earlier in the day, the better. While the mileage isn't intimidating, the grade is steep and progress is slow. It is...
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