Fairplay, Colorado

When people think of summer in Colorado, one of the experiences most likely to put a smile on your face is backpacking. Backpacking in the mountains of Colorado is one of those activities that everyone has to experience (yes, has to). Although you will have to carry a little extra weight: the exp...

Although Great Sand Dunes is one of the lesser visited national parks, unique experiences and beautiful views abound in its 30 square miles of undulating dunes nestled below the Sangre de Cristo range. Read on to see what this southern Colorado park has to offer:1. The Tallest Sand Dunes in North...

Whether you're looking for an easily accessible campground that you can pull your car up to, or a nice challenging backpack trip for the weekend, we've got you covered for ideas in the mix of campsites below.1. White Star Campground at Twin LakesPhoto: Mike FennellThe most easily accessible camps...

This isn't a story to convince you to quit your job and spend all your days on the trail. Backpacking isn't for everyone, let alone spending weeks on the trail. Thru-hiking is a long, tiring, and dirty affair, that likely suffers from a little too much romanticization.  This is more a small amoun...

This past September I spent a couple nights in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass wilderness near Aspen, Colorado. This was a trip I had been hoping to do all summer, but with perfect weather and early fall color changes in the trees, mid-September turned out to be the ideal time to do this hike.  The Fou...

It is that time of year! The time of year that the trees catch fire across the country - creating stunning and photogenic scenes glittered throughout the woods. Here in Colorado, there are many places to see the fall colors around the state. So here is a list of my top 5 favorite places to go:1. ...

The last few weeks I have spent using the Patagonia Nine Trails 26 L Women’s Backpack. The pack was designed as a lightweight women’s-specific, full-day adventure pack. I’ve owned an Osprey 26L pack for several years now and have been extremely happy, but I will say this Patagonia pack gives it ...

Great Sand Dunes National Park is home to perhaps some of the most unique landscapes in the United States. Featuring the biggest dunes in North America, GSDNP is located in southern Colorado at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo mountains. I had the opportunity to visit for a weekend and practice l...

Reason 1: Colorado is massive! If you are visiting for a short time-period, renting a Jeep is the most efficient way to get around the Rockies! A standard rental car can only get you so far. If you truly want to make the most of your trip, you need a vehicle that can take you over the mountains! ...

Us Colorado people know this time of year all to well - mud season - where the resorts are about to close or already are, and the mountains are not accessible yet to hike because there's still to much snow. Below are a few options I’d suggest you look into during mud season to keep yourself occup...

Winter is a great time to hike a trail along the Front Range in Colorado. While the mountains stay socked in with snow, it’s not unusual to have 60 degree days in Denver in January or February. But, average high temperatures are in the 40s, so layer up and hit the trail along the Front Range. Plu...

Most people put away their backpacks when winter rolls around, but the adventurous few just switch from hiking boots to skis or snowshoes. Colorado is home to the famous 10th Mountain Division Hut System, a set of stunning mountain ski cabins, as well as other public and private winter getaways i...

Colorado is known well for its high peaks and alpine trails, so it's no surprise that the state can be a landscape photographer's paradise. After moving to northern Colorado earlier this year, I got the chance to begin exploring the Rockies for real. I had made the hike to this lake several time...

Now that summer is beginning to show itself in the high country, it's time to think more about getting out and enjoying the beautiful car camping destinations throughout the Front Range. Although not an exhaustive list, this list should give you an idea of where to start and some of the beautiful...

How can you explore Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in just two days, you might ask? Either you finally have your two days off of work after a long forty hour week and you’re located in Colorado, or you might be on your next great American road trip and only have two days to explore N...

Colorado is home to a pretty spectacular variety of backcountry huts, stunning mountain ski cabins, and other public and private winter getaways in the high country. The huts offer shelter from the biting winter cold as well as a base for winter adventures like backcountry skiing. Here are a few ...