Red Lake Trail

Platoro is the blending of the Spanish words "plata" (silver) and "oro" (gold), and this secluded mountain reservoir strikes it rich when it comes to outdoor recreation. In 1870, gold and silver was discovered in area, which lead to a small boom in 1913 and the settling of the small town which still stands today. The prospectors and mule trains may have left long ago, but today the area attract...

Holiday weekends can be frustrating for solitude seekers. The extra day to play always seems to be challenged by the expected crowds of competition for your sought after spots.  Fortunately for those of us who prefer quieter pastures, Colorado's 3.5+ million acres of wilderness still hold plenty of hidden gems. One such hidden gem is (yet another) Crater Lake, tucked away in the South San Juan ...

Treasure Falls is reached via short .4 mile walk from the parking lot on highway 160 about 15 miles outside Pagosa Springs (which is home to the worlds deepest hot springs). There is a paved path and dirt trail that both end up at the falls and if you are inclined, make into a loop. There is a bridge that crosses the creek just below the falls or you can continue up a couple hundred feet to the...

Located in Southern Colorado’s Weminuche Wilderness, Fourmile Falls is a beautiful day hike perfect for hikers and photographers. The highlights of the trail are the two massive, thundering waterfalls. The falls make this hike ideal in early to mid summer, when the falls are full of icy snowmelt. Also on this trail, you’ll be rewarded with some gorgeous views of Weminuche’s wild landscape. Th...

Created in 2013 from partly existing public lands, The Rio Grande del Norte National Monument encompasses a large amount of land along the Rio Grande River from the Colorado border to south of Taos. Far from any major city, you'll likely enjoy trails to yourself in the morning and few other visitors in the off-season. One of the main activities offered on the monument is white water rafting, bu...

About a 45 minute drive east of Durango, sits the trailhead for the Piedra River Hot Springs. This free use, natural hot spring on the Piedra River has several 100 degree pools. The springs are accessible via a 3 mile roundtrip hike, often with wildlife sightings along the way. The hike to the hot springs is downhill, so remember, you'll have a little work to do on the way back out. Please be r...