Breck’s Wildlife Preserve: Cool As a Cucumber

Cucumber Gulch Wildlife Preserve You’d be forgiven for assuming that between the cozy mountain town and the snow-packed slopes, there isn’t much else in Breck. But you’d be wrong. Between the town and the mountains — more precisely, between the Gold Rush Parking Lot and Peak 8 — is one of the country’s most matchless … Read more

Spend Time Outdoors in Estes Park

Spend Time Outdoors in Estes Park 1

 The main draw to people who plan to visit Estes Park, Colorado, is the vast number of outdoor activities and attractions the area provides. As the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, it has numerous areas where you can spend hours enjoying the beauty of Colorado’s mountain range. As you are planning for your Colorado … Read more

Scenic Byway: Mount Evans

mount evans

Mount Evans Scenic Byway Is Just 2 Hours From Denver Chilling winds whistle as byway travelers leave the comfort of their cars to scale the final 130 vertical feet to the summit of Mount Evans. The trail zigs and zags upward. Although the distance is only a quarter-mile, muscles burn and lungs crave oxygen. Within … Read more

Manitou Springs, Colorado

Manitou Springs, Colorado 2

Visitors to Manitou Springs once immersed themselves in the ‘60s hippie culture while indulging in old-fashioned entertainment. You can still do that, but the new Manitou, 4 miles west of Colorado Springs, Colorado, is more “hippie chic” than “hippie chick.” You still can buy tacky souvenirs, hemp clothing and patchouli incense, eat saltwater taffy and … Read more

Castlewood Canyon State Park: Enjoy Nature

Castlewood Canyon State Park: Enjoy Nature 3

 Castlewood Canyon State Park is a little-known spot that is sure to please any wildlife and nature enthusiast. This Douglas County state park, located south of Parker off Colorado Highway 83, is home to not only some of Colorado’s most magnificent plants and wildlife, but provides families with recreational opportunities. Among activities to be enjoyed … Read more

Jefferson County Open Spaces: Trails for the Whole Family

Jefferson County Open Spaces: Trails for the Whole Family 7

With the abundance of mountains and variety of terrain that Colorado offers, there are places close to home that shouldn’t be overlooked when planning your next family expedition. If you’re seeking intricate geological features, trickling streams or great views above the city, consider the numerous trails and parks Jefferson County Open Space offers in the … Read more

Discovering the Beauty of Picture Rock Trail

Discovering the Beauty of Picture Rock Trail 8

Since Boulder County’s Picture Rock Trail was completed in 2008, mountain bikers, hikers and horseback riders have been able to guide their way through woods and meadows, encountering spectacular mountain views along the 5.2-mile multi-use trail between Lefthand Canyon and Lyons. The trail twists and turns in a southerly direction, while climbing through the high … Read more

5 Hikes Near Denver: See Colorado’s Beauty From the Top

5 Hikes Near Denver: See Colorado’s Beauty From the Top 9

Colorado’s Rocky Mountains attract hikers year-round with towering peaks, rushing whitewater and vibrant wildflowers. And with so many parks along the Front Range, Denver residents don’t need a congested drive on Interstate 70 to feel miles deep in Colorado’s natural beauty. South Table Mountain Cable cars once carried visitors up South Table Mountain’s hillside, and … Read more

The Wild Animal Sanctuary: Keeping Creatures Safe in Keenesburg

The Wild Animal Sanctuary: Keeping Creatures Safe in Keenesburg 10

Lions and tigers and bears – plus wolves, bobcats, coyotes and other large carnivores – call the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colorado, home. The sanctuary, 30 miles northeast of Denver, provides 320 acres of grassland habitat and shelters to more than 200 animals rescued from horrible living conditions around the world. Visitors can see … Read more

Scenic Byway: Trail Ridge Road

In an alpine meadow carpeted with lush grasses, newborn white-spotted elk frolic under the watchful eyes of their mothers. Travelers edge their cars onto the shoulder of Trail Ridge Road, opening their windows to gaze at the endearing wildlife “nursery.” Around another bend, snow-mantled Never Summer Range scrapes the sky. Such wondrous sites unfold as … Read more