Park County, Colorado

Starting from the Mt Massive Trailhead off of Halfmoon Creek Road (a half mile past the more popular Mt Elbert Trailhead), follow the excellent and easy trail into the woods. This trail is wide and abnormally flat for a 14er trail for the first three miles. During these first 3 miles the only rea...

Herman Gulch is one of those special places that makes you fall in love with Colorado all over again. This spectacular wildflower hike that ends at an alpine lake will have your head swiveling from start to finish. Wildflower season is July and August, with peak season being mid-to-late July. Ple...

A popular wildflower hike in summer, Herman Gulch is arguably even prettier covered in snow. The north-south trail offers views of the impressive Mount Sniktau to the south and Pettingell Peak to the north--with much to see along the way. Officially, the trail weaves in and out of the forest and ...

Despite sharing a trailhead with the popular Herman Gulch, I had not heard of Watrous Gulch until I stumbled across it while researching something else. Knowing that Herman Gulch is filled with spectacular views and deep snow ideal for snowshoeing/skiing, I had to discover if the smaller, lesser-...

Red Rocks is a bustling park in the summer when its famous amphitheater is filled with concerts. In winter though, the park dies down and becomes even more quiet when snow is falling. Grab your camera and head to the park during a winter storm to truly enjoy the beautiful red sandstone formations...

While this is a 6 mile hike, it is relatively easy to add mileage to it and tailor it to fit your needs. Instead of simply doing the Red Rocks Trail/Morrison Slide loop, you can head all the way to the Village Walk trail in Matthews-Winters. You can also park along Red Rocks Trail Road and elimin...

Daniel's Park is a small park in Douglas County that offers unparalleled views of the front range. There is a small walking trail that follows the road if you choose to go on foot, or you can stay in the car and drive the length of Daniel's Park Road. There is a bison herd that calls Daniels Park...

Directions:  Heading south from Leadville from U.S. 24: West on CO 82 for 10.5 miles to a hidden right turn that leads to a trail head. If you make it to the Mt. Elbert Lodge, you have gone just a bit too far. The parking lot (aka: dirt access) should be relatively empty as everyone tends to hik...

Ptarmigan Trail, not to be confused with Ptarmigan Peak, is a 5 mile out-and-back, scenic trail that offers unparalleled vistas of Summit County, Dillon Reservoir and the surrounding mountains(including Quandary Peak, Red Mountain, and the ​Decalibron Loop). Located just outside of Silverthorne a...

The Royal Gorge Bridge and Park is located in Canon City which is about an hour outside Colorado Springs. Once you get there, it's a $26 entrance fee per person. The park is dog and family friendly. You can walk across the bridge, take the gondola, or zip line across. Taking the gondola and of c...

After shooting a friend's wedding, I was on my way home when I noticed the sky start to light up to the west. I parked the car and ran down the road. The spot is well known for how perfectly the overpass frames the mountains as drivers leave the Denver area.The total exposure time was just over 2...

Lily Pad Lake is a well known destination just outside of Silverthorne and in the Eagle's Nest Wilderness. The trail may be heavily trafficked on the weekends, but solitude can still be found in the early mornings or during the weekdays. The trail starts at the Lily Pad Lake Trailhead, just to t...

The hiking trail starts at the parking lot located across from the Dinosaur Ridge Discovery center (which you should totally go check out!). Once you park you will follow the gated and paved Alameda Parkway towards the ridge. Along the way there will be several sites on the left until you reach t...

Skyline drive is a one way scenic roadway mainly going north to south. The 3 mile drive takes you about 800 feet above Cañon City. It starts on the west side of 50, and ends in a residential neighborhood southwest of where it begins. There are multiple pull offs on the right and left side of the...

When you begin the trail, make sure to choose the correct trailhead from the parking lot (located on the south side of the lot to the left, NOT behind the bathroom). From there, begin a moderate climb through a shaded fir forest to the tree line. Emerge in a meadow at a pond and the lower lake, ...

The Basics:It might be easy to overlook Palmer Park if you're planning an adventure outing in Colorado Springs, but definitely don't discount this inner-city oasis! It took me many years to memorize Palmer Park's confusing trail system (the trail maps don't help), but whether this will be your fi...