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…
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…
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…
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.”…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.”…
Every time Nick Miller, manager at Krabloonik Kennels, starts to hitch up his team, they go crazy. “They love it,” Miller says. “As soon as they realize they’re going out, they get excited, even if they’ve already been out that…
Birds make their migration trek through Colorado every spring and fall, and bird watchers make their own trek to see them. While Colorado offers many western mountain views, for bird lovers and binocular-toters, the Eastern Plains is the place to…
Fittingly for a former toxic site now made environmentally friendly, the new Visitor Center at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge was designed and built to be “green,” with outdoor solar panels, renewable cork flooring and Colorado beetle-kill wood.…
Traveling is often hectic. That’s one of the reasons why I always try to give myself a special treat when I’m traveling. Recently I was treated better than I expected when I first started looking for lodging in Idaho Springs.…
Looking for something to do on a beautiful day? Whether you want to get out by yourself or are searching for family activities in Lakewood, Crown Hill Park should be on your list of destinations. The wildlife sanctuary won’t open…
We live in a state that proudly proclaims itself to be “Colorful Colorado,” and it certainly is. From purple mountain majesties to amber waves of grain, summers here treat our eye’s color-receptor cones to a good workout. It only gets…
You don’t have to travel far from Denver to experience the adventures that the Rockies have to offer. Red rock formations, mountain peaks and wildlife can all be enjoyed at Roxborough State Park. A leisurely stroll down a hiking trail…
Ouray is the Colorado town for the outdoor enthusiast, no matter what your level of physical activity is. High in the rugged Rocky Mountains, the tiny town of 800 offers hospitality to the visitors who have been lucky enough to…
Palisade, Colorado, is known as the peach and wine capital of the state. Here you can sample some of the freshest produce in Colorado while traveling through beautiful vineyards with the mountains as their backdrop. Add to this the friendliness…
Located to the west of downtown Durango and just south of the Perins Peak State Wildlife Area, the Lightner Creek Inn finds itself perfectly situated to take advantage of both the urban and wilderness scene. In addition to being near…
Set in the rolling prairie on the south edge of Denver, the Wildlife Experience is a unique, diverse facility with a single-minded purpose: To promote the understanding and appreciation of the natural world. The museum in Parker accomplishes this goal…
The unpaved highway rises and dips like a lazy rollercoaster as we roll along on the plains east of Colorado Springs toward Calhan. At the last crest, the animal refuge appears at the bottom of the hill, a glinting compound…
At 14,264 feet, Mount Evans is one of Colorado’s most well-known peaks and is part of the vast Mount Evans Wilderness, whose boundaries start about 35 miles west of Denver. With 74,400 acres stretching from Echo Lake to Grant, the…
Beyond the sleepy hamlet of Lake City, pavement ends and the forest road I follow turns to dirt. Mountains define our state and provide its identity. Within Colorado’s rectangular borders, the Rockies thrust their highest summits. Peaks form backdrops for…
Purple lupine, pink wild roses and yellow arnica color the green hillside directly outside my cabin. Any moment, I expect to see a deer wander through the thick forest of aspen, pine and spruce trees. It’s this gentler side of…
Everyone knows that in our frantic world of cell phones, e-mail and the Internet, it’s difficult, if not impossible, to get away from it all. And, even without such high-tech items, who has the time to escape? It might be…
As in many of Colorado’s resort towns, Vail’s summer season technically kicks off on Memorial Day weekend. The Beaver Creek Rodeo is in full-swing and the Teva Mountain Games once again drew a sexy flock of world-class paddlers, climbers and…