The Denver Post Summer Getaways | 2025

Summer Getaways

Ta ble of contents

Whitewater ra ft ing spot s.........................4

Beginner-f riendly off-roading.................9

Stunning waterfalls.................................11

Fly fishing on the Arka nsas River......14

Look-a like destinations..........................16

New hotel pools.......................................18

Find peace at motor-free la kes............ 20

Where to paddleboard........................... 22

Pet-fr iendly hotels................................... 24

Advent ure in Pa lisade........................... 27

Visit the Four Corners............................ 31

Fa rm-to-ta ble rest aura nt s..................... 34

Top glamping spot s................................. 37

Ra nches for old-fa shioned st ays.......... 39

Scenic hikes on the Front Ra nge..........42

Next-level food ha lls to tr y.....................45

Lounge at these brewer y patios..........47

Enjoy the view at a rooftop ba r............ 50

Summer festivals guide......................... 54

CREDIT S

8 of the be st stre tc he s for whitewater ra fting in Colorado

By Morgan Ti lton

Spec ial to Th e De nver Post

Splash, dunk , rinse, laug h, repeat Since the 1970s, commercial wh itewater ra ft ing ha s been one of the most idea list ic and advent urous ways to ex perience Colorado’s histor ic and wild ca nyon, mounta in, and desert la ndsc apes.

Here are eight of the most famous and not-to -be-missed stretches of whitewater that Colora do ha s to offer.

Yampa and Green rivers

Inside Dinosaur National Monument are two riverways the Ya mpa and the Green that wind through an area of archeologica l phenomena, fo ssils, and indigenous rock petrogly phs.

“For multi- day river tr ips, the Gates of La dore [sec tion] on the Green River and

the Ya mpa River are both outsta nd ing, in Di no saur National Monu ment , and have cu lt ur al hi st or y. The two di fferent tr ips finish at the sa me place,” says Se an Sorr in, a Colora do -based professional river gu ide who’s be en gu id in g for 29 seasons. He’s worked on 100 rivers worldw ide from Colora do to Ethiopia, guided for OA RS for 13 years, and guides pa rt-time on the Arka nsas River for River Runners.

“T he sc ener y for both tr ip s is outst andi ng , and the ge olog y is oppo site de spit e bo th be in g in Di no sa ur Na -

tional Monument and so close together,” sa id Sorr in “T he Ya mpa tr ip is through youn ger ca nyon wa lls, of weaver sa ndstone, that ’s lighter in color. The Gates of La dore ca nyon wa lls are older, da rk red rock s that contra st with the ponderosa pine s,” he ex plained. For both sections, river runners see the Mitten Pa rk Fault, a fault line where the rock s shoot vertic ally versus hor izont ally Ra ft in g al on g th e Gr ee n Ri ve r th roug h the Gate s of Lo dore Ca nyon ta ke s ex plorers alon g a segment of the

or ig inal ex plor at ion rout e followed in 1869 by pioneer and geolog ist John Wesley Powell

“W hen I guided the Gates of La dore, I read from Powell’s jour na l nightly for gues ts Hi s de script ions and wr it in gs were deta iled and poetic from his first voya ge th roug h The Great Un know n,’ a blan k area in the United St ates map, that Powell wa s mapping,” sa id Sorr in. Paddlers can soak up the stars among unique geological formations and sandy stretches. Since 2019, the monument has been amon g the Cent ennial St at e’s Internationa l Da rk Sk y- designated destinations.

The Ya mpa is also the la st free -flowin g major tr ibut ar y of the Colora do River. “It’s not da m- cont rolled , so the flows ar e wh at Mo ther Natu re give s, which is ty pica lly a shor ter season: May, June, and sometimes July,” sa id Sorr in

Royal Gorge

The Roya l Gorge is one of the Cen

ANDY CR OS S THE DENV ER PO ST

An OARS Rafting expedition heads down the Yampa River at the star t of a five -day trip near Deerlodge Park in the Dinosaur National Monument on May 24, 2019

across and 956 feet above the water wa s constr uc ted in 1929

The plum meting ca nyon wa lls wind for 10 mi le s, creati ng a chan nel in the ea rth that wa s formed over millions of

One of the most famous ways to ex perience the ca nyon and br id ge is to ride the rapids below: an advent urous rodeo across class III-IV rapids.

PEAKYOURINTEREST?

flows unti l Au gu st 15th, due to ag reement s with fa rmer s and ra nchers and water municipa lities,” sa id Sorr in Ru nn in g the Bi ghor n offer s a fa mily-friendly and mellow day on the whitewater th roug h a gorgeous hi gh-deser t la nd sc ape. The Rock y Mounta in la ndsc ape, a section of the Arka nsas River, is home to Bighor n Sheep. These sheep have curled horns that ca n weigh up to 30 pounds alone. Ea stbound be tween Sa lida and Ca nyon City, the river’s rapid s ra nge fr om Be ar Cr eek to Spider, Ba dger Creek (a ll class II-III), and The Flume (cla ss III-I V).

Browns Canyon

Dy na mic granite wa lls stretch above the Arkansas River like a ca stle’s watchtowers: Both padd lers and anglers alike gawk sk yw ar d in appr ec iation of the geologica l glor y of Brow ns Ca nyon

President Obama designated Brow ns Ca nyon National Monu ment in Febr uar y 2015 The Arka nsas River va lley ha s 21,586 acres of pr istine ca nyons, rivers, and forest

The st ar s and da rk sk y are pr istine “Browns Canyon is one of the newest Internat iona l Da rk Sk y Pa rk de si gnat ed

Rafters paddle their way into Brown’s Canyon on the Arkans as River on July 24, 2022, in Salida

Ra ft ing

FROM PAGE 5

Br ow ns Ca nyon Na tion al Monu ment beca me the Centennial St ate’s 18th certified Internationa l Da rk Sk y Place and 12th Internationa l Da rk Sk y Pa rk . The ic on ic rapids alon g th is li feli ne include Zoom Flume, Big Drop and Toilet Bowl, and ra nge from class II-III.

The Monu ment encompasse s ne arly 12 ,000 acres of the Sa n Isabel National Fore st and 10,0 00 acre s of BL M la nd . From Buena Vist a to Sa lida , the ca nyon elevat ion ra nges from 7, 30 0 to 10,0 00 fe et and fe at ur es view s of the snowcapped Sawatch Ra nge.

The Numbers

Yee-haw! It ’s time for an advent ure:

Class IV-V rapids await these pa dd lers.

The Nu mb er s is na med for it s consecut ive ga me of rapids in rapid-fire, one right af ter the other. Also along the Arka ns as River, ra ft er s ca n’ t go wr on g with the st un ni ng view s when they ea rn a brea k to look up at the pa ra dise.

Animas River

In Colora do’s Southwest, the Animas is famous for its technical Class IV and V rapids, some of the countr y’s most challeng ing commercially ra fted segments. If you’ve never been to Durango, the mining town’s hist or y and char m are st un ni ng , as is the river that snakes through it

Cache la Poudre River

Be yond it s ch al leng in g rapids , the Ca che la Poudre River is Colora do’s first and sole federa lly de si gnat ed National

Wild and Scenic River. It is an incred ible piece of histor y meant to st and the test of time

“If you’re visiting northern Colora do, the Poud re is phenomenal, and it ’s so close to Rock y Mountain National Park,” sa id Sorr in.

When is whitewater rafting season?

Colora do’s ri vers ar e fe d by snowmelt , which moves down slope from the snow that accumulates throughout winter at the top of our high-a ltit ude Rock y Mounta ins. As the spring season delivers gradua lly warmer temperatures and sunshine, the snow runoff increasingly funnels down and feeds into the whitewater flow.

Genera lly, the window to run whitewater ra fting tr ips in Colora do is from

May to September, from spring to summer and fa ll Occa sionally, tr ips can run as ea rly as April. Once September hits, the first sprink le (or stor m) of snow usually ar rives.

However, severa l fa ctors play into the conditions on a river tr ip. The snow season, weather, water flow and visitation are all pieces of the pie.

The consistenc y of wa rm days a ffec ts how quickly the river flow increa ses. If the air temperat ures oscillate, then the flow wi ll rollercoaster to re flect it . Alternatively, if there is a huge sunny spell (coupled with no additional ra in), then the water levels will initia lly be consistently high with the snow melt and then begin to drop.

Water measurement

Water level measurement is ba sed on

The Animas is famous for its technical Clas s IV and V rapids, some of the countr y’s most challenging commercially ra fted segments

Ra ft ing

FROM PAGE 6

CFS unit s, or cubic feet per second. The Arka nsas River, for example, runs at an average of 2000 CFS, but ca n be run at a minimum of 200 CFS and a ma ximum of 7000 CFS.

Due to the shape of a ca nyon, the water ca n be chan nele d, and a river ca n still be runnable at a lower CFS.

Water temperatures

Water temperat ures ca n ra nge from 30 degrees and above during the ea rly ra ft in g se ason to ab out 55 degree s in late ra fting season

Fort un at ely, the we tsuits , pers on al flotation devices, and booties help hold body heat and keep pa dd lers wa rm Rapids 101

Mo st kid-fr iend ly wh it e water ra ft-

ing tr ips fa ll within Class I-II. Here’s a genera l gu idel ine of the clas si fic at ion of rapids , ac cord in g to author I. Herbert Gordon:

• Cl as s I: Ea sy, slower water with light riffles.

• Class II: Moderate, medium-quick water with regula r waves and space to move through obst acles like rock s.

• Cl as s II I: Mo de ra te ly di ff ic ul t, qu icker se ct ions of water with hi gher wave s. The spac e between obst acle s is na rrower and difficult to ma neuver

• Class IV: Difficult , quick flow with powerf ul rapids and st andi ng wave s with adva nced pa dd ling required Sections of rapids need scouting before you run them

• Cl as s V: Ex tr emely di fficu lt with long, severe rapids with steep drops.

• Clas s VI: Ex traord inar ily di fficu lt with cons ta nt da nger—t hu s, re qu ir es the highest level of ex pert pa dd ling experience and ever y sa fe ty pr ec aution must be implemented.

Bring camping gear and spend a night at a pull-o ff site

A beginner’s guide to ad ventur es be yond the pavement

Discover Colorado’s best beginner-f riendly routes for off-roading

By R. Scot t Rappold

Spec ial to Th e De nver

Post

Of the 20 mo st popu la r vehicles in Colora do, only three are seda ns.

We love our SU Vs and pick ups here, burly vehicles with high clearance, fourwheel dr ive, and no fe ar of a snow y mounta in pa ss

But how ma ny dr ivers leave the pavement besides the occa sional unpaved sk i area pa rk ing lot?

Vent ur ing off the pavement onto one

of Colora do’s ma ny roug h mounta in roads ca n be intimidating.

Who wa nt s to ba ng up their $50,000 tr uck on a plea sure tr ip?

Give it a tr y, and you’ ll find a new way to access the mountains. When you slap on st urdy tires and put the gear shif t in “4 low,” you’ ll find a new world of access

Th is is yo ur be gi nn er ’s gu id e to off-roa ding.

Know your vehicle

SU Vs and pickups come in all shapes and sizes, but to be considered off-roa d capable, you’ ll wa nt at least 8 inches of ground clea ra nce and four-wheel-d rive capabi lity You need tire s de si gned for rough and rock y terrain.

Some ma ke s and mo dels ar e much more adva nced, with feat ures like sk id

plates to guard against dings, different rock , mud, and sa nd sett in gs, winche s for towing, and other capabilities

You ca n also improve your sk ills with off-h ig hway vehicles li ke side -by- side s, AT Vs, and di rt bi ke s, but th is gu ide is focused on licensed vehicles.

Start slow

Like any outdoor spor t, st ar ting slow on low-risk , low- consequence roads and tr ai ls is be st for ge tt in g to know your vehicle and pr ac tici ng es sent ia ls li ke ti re pl ac ement, navi gati ng bl ind corners, and dealing with steep uphill and down hill roads.

Some roads and trails are a little too roug h for a seda n but idea l for te st in g your mettle and seeing what your vehicle ca n do.

These roads ca n be much more difficu lt when we t or snow y, so check cu rrent cond it ions Nation al Fore st website s update road open in gs and cond itions regula rly.

Weston Pass

Th is ro ad tr av er se s the Mo sq ui to Mountains between Fair play and Buena Vist a in centra l Colora do. It tops out at 11,921 feet on Weston Pa ss and wa s once a bu sy toll road to the mi ne s of Le adville.

It ru ns 20 mi le s and is ra rely to o bu mp y or st ee p, wi th fe w ro ad si de dropoffs to get your hear t pumping. Whil e yo u’re th er e: Br in g ca mpin g ge ar and sp end a ni ght at one of the ma ny pu ll-off site s in th is qu ie t area

Off-roading

FROM PAGE 9

There’s also a campground for those who prefer a little more amenities.

Boreas Pass

Th is road wa s the fir st ra il road li nk to th e mi ne s of Br ec ke nr id ge an d is ra rely st eep or roug h. Ru nn in g 21 mi le s fr om Como off U. S. 28 5, it wa s fa mous as the na tion’s hi ghes t na rr ow ga ug e ra il road . Pa ssenger vehicles ca n dr ive the road when dr y, so it ’s a great place to develop your sk ills.

Whil e yo u’re th er e: Ge t a br oc hu re from the South Pa rk Ra nger District offic e in Fa ir play that ru ns th roug h the road’s rich hist or y and identi fie s what you’ ll see on the way. You can also download a copy from the Wh it e River National Forest website.

Paradise Divide

This 27-mile loop above Crested Butte is a gr eat way to ex plor e the maje st ic El k Mounta in s without much e ffor t. It runs throug h wide -open meadows with splend id view s and pa st pr et ty Emerald La ke

While you’re there: Visit in mid-Ju ly to see why Crested Butte is know n as the “w ildflower capita l of Colorado.”

Animas Forks

The Sa n Ju an Mounta in s ar e home to so me of Co lo ra do ’s mo st fa mo us off-roa ding trai ls and some of it s most da ngerous. Most aren’t suit able for begi nner s, but th is dr ive from Si lver ton wi ll le t you see why th is area is ca lled “the Amer ic an Alps.”

Fr om Si lver ton, it ’s 12 mi le s to the ghos t town of An im as Fork s, and the road gets rougher the higher you go.

While you’re there: Spend some time at the well-preserved ghost town, which in 1883 ha d 450 re sident s and a newspaper.

Peru Creek Road

Summit County is know n for sk iing, but you ca n dr ive th roug h the ar ea’s roug h-and-tu mble mining pa st on th is gorgeous dr ive. St ar ting near the ha mlet of Montezuma, it ’s a 10 -mile out-andba ck dr ive that ends with a gate at the Shoe Ba sin Mine

Wh il e yo u’re th er e: Br in g hi ki ng boots and follow the trail above the mine 2.2 miles to Argentine Pa ss That pa ss is also dr iveable but much more difficu lt . You ca n tell yourself you’ ll be ready for it someday.

An excellent re sour ce for know in g where to go is “T he Gu ide to Colora do Back roads and 4-Wheel-Dr ive Trails” by Charle s Wells and Matt Pe terson, long considered the Bible for off-roa d enthusiasts.

The best wa terfalls in Colorado for summer adventures

By Jenn ifer Broome

Spec ial to Th e De nver Post

There’s something ma gica l about a waterfall the roar of rushing water fueled by snow melt , the cooling mist , and lush vegetation thriving around it .

Colora do ’s wa te rf al ls ar e su mm er showstoppers tucked into canyons, tumblin g over cliff s, or spla shin g into hidden sw im mi ng hole s. Some re qu ir e a rugged hike, while others are ea sily accessible.

Here ’s the be st of Colora do’s mo st st unning summer waterfalls

Fish Creek Falls —

Stunner in Steamboat

Height: 280 feet

Best viewing: Early summer

Just minutes from downtown Stea mboat Spri ng s, th is is one of Colora do’s mo st ac ce ss ible and sp ec ta cu la r wate rf al ls A qu ar te r- mi le pa ve d pa th le ad s to an overlo ok with a phenomena l va nt age point. For a closer ex perience , ta ke the ha lf-m ile mo derate tr ai l to the ba se

Waterfalls

For a more ch al leng in g advent ur e, consider hi ki ng to Upper Fi sh Cr eek Fa lls.

Pro tip: Visit early in the morning for fewer crowds and the best photo lighting South Willow Falls

Silverthorne’s Sensation

Height: Approximately 40 feet

Best viewing: Mid-July to early August for wildflowers

Th is se cl ud ed wa te rf al l is a wo r -

th y tr ek The 8- mi le ro un d- tr ip hi ke cro ss es br id ge s over cre ek s and wi nd s th ro ug h as pe n gr ov es , alpi ne me adow s, an d pa st sm al le r ca sc ad es before re ac hi ng the mu lt i-t ie re d wa te r -

fa ll in Ea gles Ne st Wi lder ne ss Because of the di st ance and elev at ion ga in on this moderately chal leng in g trek , you’ ll be rewa rded with solitude and pr is ti ne sc ener y.

Pro tip: Pack bug spray and plenty of water for this long hike

Rifle Falls — A Triple Waterfall Wonderland

Height: 70 feet

Best viewing: Late spring through summer

Th is fa ir yt ale-li ke se tt in g fe at ur es th re e ca sc ad in g wa terf al ls tu mbli ng over a lime st one cliff An ea sy 0.1-mi le wa lk leads to the ba se, where mist and lush greenery create a tropic al feel Indulge your spelun king spir it by ex plorin g mu lt iple cave s, includ in g a 90 -foot room A fla sh li ght is requ ired for that ex ploration.

Pro tip: Arrive early to avoid crowds in this popular state park

Seven

Falls — Broadmoor’s Summer Beauty

Height: 181 feet (7 cascades)

Best viewing: Early summer or evening for illuminated falls

Thes e ca sc ad in g fa ll s in Colora do Springs have wowed visitors since 1883.

An 0. 8- mi le wa lk th ro ug h So ut h Cheyenne Ca nyon, dubbed “T he Grandest Mile of Scener y in Colorado” through South Cheyenne Ca nyon leads to these iconic falls. Climb the 224-step staircase alongside the seven ca sc ades for an upclose view or ta ke an elevator to Eagle’s Nest view ing plat form.

At the top, hike to Midnight Fa lls or In spir at ion Point for a st un ni ng view Ma ke a reservation at Rest aura nt 1858 and ma rvel at the mesmer izing glow of the illuminated fa lls for a magica l sum-

mer evening.

Pro tip: Book tickets in advance and wear sturdy shoe s as the stairs can be slippery

Paradise Cove — A Double Delight

Height: 15-20 feet

Best viewing: Hot summer afternoons

Lo ca te d ne ar Cr ipple Cr eek, Pa radise Cove is in Gu ffey Gorge. This 0. 5mile hike leads to a secluded sw imming hole with two ca sc ad ing waterfalls surrounde d by toweri ng ro ck cl i ff s. It ’s a shor t but rock y hike, includ ing sw itchbacks to the cove Cooling off in the cr ysta l- clea r water is worth the effor t on a hot day. It ’s also a great wildflower hike

Pro tip: Arrive early or visit late afternoon for fewer crowds.

PH OTOS BY JENNIFER BR OO ME SPECIA L TO THE DENVER PO ST

LEFT: Box Cañon Falls, one of Colorado’s most dr amatic waterf alls, roars down a narrow quar tzite gorge. RIGHT: You can climb the 224-step staircase alongside the seven cascades for an up -close view or take an elevator to Eagle’s Ne st viewing plat form

Waterfalls

FROM PAGE 12

Bridal Veil, Bear Creek, and Cornet Falls — Telluride’s Terrific Trio

Bridal Veil Falls Height: 365 feet

Bear Creek Falls Height: 80 feet

Cornet Falls Height: 80 feet

Best viewing: Early summer

As the st at e’s ta llest free -fal ling waterfall, Br idal Veil Fa lls stea ls the show as it plunges 365 feet into a pict uresque box ca nyon. Ad mire the fa lls from town or hike to the top of the fa lls for a dramatic view

In st ea d of hi ki ng the ru gged road , ta ke the steep 1.2-mile Br idal Veil Trail. Ab out th re e- qu ar ters of the way up,

don’t miss the spur trail to see another waterfall and sw imming hole

Not qu it e as st renuou s, the 4. 5-mi le round-tr ip hike to Bear Creek Falls takes you to an 80 -foot waterf al l tu mbli ng over rugged cliffs into a pict uresque basin. For an ea sier option , Cornet Fa ll s is wa lk able from downtown Tellur ide. The 80 -f oo t wa terf al l tu mble s over a st ri ki ng re d ro ck amph it he at er, cre atin g an impres sive sc ene. It ’s a ha lf-m ile round-t rip hi ke.

Pro tip: Late afternoon is be st for photos and fewer crowds Bear Creek Falls is a great wildflower hike in mid-July to early August

Box Cañon Falls — Ouray’s

Thunderous Roar

Height: 285 feet

Best viewing: Early to mid-summer

In Ou ray, nick na me d the “S witz erla nd of Amer ic a,” is one of Colora do’s mo st dr am at ic wa te rf al ls , 28 5- fo ot Box Ca ñon Fa lls roar s down a na rrow quar tzite gorge.

A 500-foot wa lk immerses you in it s thunderous roar and drench in g spray.

Lowe r and Uppe r Ca sc ade Fa ll s ar e ne arby, offer in g ea sy and ru gged hi king options for more waterfall views.

Pro tip: Visit during morning sunlight for mist y rainbows

Treasure Falls — A Roadside

Surprise on Wolf Creek Pass

Height: 105 feet

Best viewing: Early to mid-summer

When dr iv in g over Wolf Creek Pa ss, on the we st side ne ar Pa go sa Spri ng s,

ma ke a quick stop at Trea sure Fa lls. Vi si bl e fr om U. S. 16 0 ne ar Pa go sa Spri ng s, th is ro ad side wa terf al l is acce ss ible by a 0. 25 -m ile tr ai l le ad in g to th e ap tl y na me d Mi st y De ck , wh er e you fe el the spray of th is 10 5-fo ot waterf al l.

Ac cord in g to legend , there’s a chest of gold buried nearby. Now that ’s a refreshing road tr ip brea k.

Pro tip: Bring a rain jacket the mist is re freshing but chilly

Colora do’s waterfalls offer spec ta cula r summer advent ures, from road side wonders to hidden gems.

Whet her you’re look in g for a refreshin g es cape or a more ch al leng in g sc enic hi ke , thes e ca sc ades showca se the sheer be auty of Colora do’s wi ld la ndsc ap es .

A beginner’s guide to succ es s

By Ja mie Sieb ra se

Spec ial to Th e De nver Post

I wa s down river when my hu sband, Ben, st uck his first trout on the Arka nsa s River.

We’d hired a gu ide, Liam , from The Next Eddy, 129 W. Fi rst St ., to ta ke us out for the morning, and Ben wa s a natural. He’d grow n up fishing on la kes in Indiana and had been contemplating fly fishing sinc e we moved to Colora do in the ea rly 2000s.

Twenty-plu s shor t ye ar s later, here we were, at the Arka nsas Headwaters, a Ho os ie r and hi s pl ant- ba se d wi fe , le ar ni ng to flick impo ssibly long ro ds into some of the county ’s premium Gold Meda l waters.

If the Ar ka ns as fl ow s wi th ex tr a sw ag ger ne ar Sa lida , th at ’s pr ob ably be caus e the 10 0-mi le st re tc h of river from Leadville to Cañon City claims premium , trout-rich waters teem in g with stocked fish.

St il l, I’d always be en a Buena Vi st a ga l, and wh ile I’d dr iven pa st Sa lida countless times, I’d never stopped to explore the st ate’s la rgest histor ic district Bu en a Vi st a and Sa lida mi ght be close, but they have different personalities.

Su mmer in Sa lida is some th in g to celebr at e—avoid the crowd s over the Four th of July and on Father’s Day weekend, when an insa ne whit ewat er boating festival, FIBA rk, takes over the town during the Arka nsas River runoff (June 12 -15 this year).

Ha mmer ed out as a ra il road depot town in 1880, Sa lida bu zzes with outdoor enthusia st s, and yet it doesn’t ty pic al ly draw the over whelming nu mber of tour is ts you’ ll find in la rger mounta in communities

River side Pa rk , 170 E. Sa cket t Ave., is a downtown hub with gr ea t pe ople-watching and ea sy water access

You’re welcome to fish here in town; if you’d like solitude, wa nder a few hundred ya rd s up or down

Hi ri ng a gu id e is hi gh ly re co mmended for those new to fly fishing.

Th e Ne xt Ed dy an d Ar kA ng le rs , 7500 U. S. 50, ar e Sa lida’s fu ll-s er vice fly shops. Both outfitt er s spec ia li ze in guided fly-fishing tr ips for all experience levels, includ ing beginners like me.

Ta ke note: Loca l ra ft in g compan ie s offer fishing excursions, too, but fly-fish-

ing isn’t the pr imar y focus.

While wa lk-ups can sometimes be accommod at ed at both , bo ok in g gu ided tr ips in adva nce is a good idea

“We have a fa irly la x ca nc el la tion policy,” The Next Eddy co -owner Sa ra h Medved assured me.

I ca n vouch for this policy since I ha d to rebook tw ic e. Both outfitt er s prefer ha nd li ng bo ok in gs over the phone to ensure ea ch client is matched with the ri ght tr ip Ca ll 71 9- 530- 3024 and 71 9539-3474 , respec tively, to set something up

Aside from a backpack with ex tra layers and water, you won’t need to br ing much on a gu ided tr ip “C ome as if you’ ll go hi ki ng in Colora do for a day, and don’t forget waterproof socks,” Medved sa id

Af ter checking in at The Next Eddy

and bein g fit te d for wa ders and ro ds , Ben and I followed Liam pa st the Mt . Shav ano Hatchery, 77 25 County Road 15 4, to a qu ie t fishi ng hole There, we spent the rest of the morning lear ning to use ou r ga ng ly pole s on a ha lf-d ay wa lk-a nd-wade excursion that included four hours on the water.

More ex perienced anglers might consider a full-day high-a lpine tr ip. But be wa rned: Eight hours on the water is intense, even for seasoned fishers

Ben didn’t need much prac tice. A few minutes into the excursion, he raised his rod, and before I could say arbor knot , Liam, who’d been teaching me how to ca st , wa s bounding towa rd his st ar st udent

Si nc e I wa sn’t confident wa di ng , I st ayed put and watc he d fr om af ar as a celebrat or y “fish-c at ch mont age” un-

folded to the soundtra ck of burbling water. When you’re knee -deep in the Arka nsas, all you hear is snow melt ga lloping towa rd the Mississippi

Amid the merr ymak ing—fist bumps; photo documentation—I continued casting. Despite Liam’s best effor ts to teach me about drag-f ree dr if ts, my line ha d plans of it s ow n.

Liam beamed with the pr ide of a new pa rent . “R ainbow trout,” he reported.

“C olorado’s st ate fish!” I sa id

“No,” Liam correc ted with a shake of his head “T hat would be the Greenback cutthroat. Rainbow trout aren’t even native to Colorado.”

Re al ly ? A fe w ho urs la te r, wh en ou r four hour s were up, I in si st ed on a qu ic k fa ct -c he ck in g de to ur to th e hatc hery

FROM PAGE 14

Anyone ca n pop in during operating hour s, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., to watch a shor t educ ational video and tour the faci lity. It ’s a no -f ri ll s ex perience , to be su re , but if you’re travelin g with kids, they ’l l love to ssin g fi sh fo od into the long, rectangular tank s, watching trout ripple the water in a feed ing fren zy Liam wa s right, of course: Ra inbow trout mi ght be one of Colorado’s most beloved fish—they’re st ars in the st ate’s mu lt ibil lion -dol la r fi sh in g indu st ry and ye t, from a biologica l st andpoi nt , they really don’t belong here

In the late 1800 s, nonnat ive trout— ra inbows, brow ns, and brookies—were introduced throughout Colorado’s rivers and la kes during the meta l and mining boom , for food and spor t, of ten in area s that once prov ided habitat for native cutthroat populations.

“It was popular back then to stock the landscape and see what stuck,” said Colorado Pa rk s and Wild life aquatic biologist Alex Townsend

I wa nt ed Town send to tell me that the trout live toge ther in perfec t ha rmony, but that ’s not how the stor y goes Over time, competition and interbreeding significa ntly diminished native fish numbers.

Colorado Pa rk s and Wild life is workin g ha rd to reintroduc e native specie s li ke the Gr eenb ac k cutt hr oa t, wh ic h now occupy less than 2 percent of their orig inal range. The organization doesn’t have the wherew itha l to restore all the rivers to native fish, so it also focuses on preser ving introduc ed specie s, including ra inbow trout.

In the 1990s, a pa ra site, whirling disea se, tore through fisher ies across Colora do, nearly wiping out ra inbow trout. Several years ago, than ks to st at e gover nment intervention and a disc over y that led to an innovative crossbreeding prog ram, a unique st rain, the Gunnison River ra inbow trout, emerged as a disea se -resista nt fish.

Effor ts to suppor t native and nonnative fi sh popu lation s are un fold in g simultaneously. Maybe this is the message of hope I sought

As for what you’re li kely to catch in Sa lida , brow n trout domi nate. Hi gher up in the drainage, ra inbow and brook trout appear more frequently.

An gl er s in te re st ed in “u ni qu e opport un it ie s,” as Town send put it , ca n he ad to alpi ne la ke s and spri ng s to tr y ne tt in g golden tr out and Ar ct ic gr ayli ng s.

I wa s pa rched, so I stopped at Mounta in Phoeni x Ro as te ry, 11 2 W. Ra inbow Blvd., just off U. S. 50 From there, I linked up with loca l ar tist and wa lk ing guru Jonathan Stalls, author of the 2022 title “WAL K: Slow Down, Wa ke Up, and

Today, many of the area’s 136 well-preserved hi st or ic bu ildi ng s hous e cr af t co ff ee shop s, bout ique s, re st au ra nt s, and ar t ga ller ies that tr ickle towa rd the water on side street s moving as effor tlessly as individual tr ibut ar ies.

For more lo ca l lore , visit the Sa lida Museum, 406 ½ W. Ra inbow Blvd., located directly behind the Sa lida Chamber of Commerce. It is open weekends only from noon to 4 p.m.

Sa lida is al so a cert i fied “C re at ive District .” Around town, you’ ll find ar tisa ns of ever y genre, from blacksmiths and pott er s to fiber ar tist s, mu ra list s, graphic de signers, photographers, and fine ar tist s.

Ga ller ie s and st ud ios st ay open late on the first Fr iday of the month for First Fr iday Ar t Wa lk s.

All the fresh air is bound to ma ke you hu ng ry Lo ca ls rave ab out Boat house Ca ntina, 228 N. F St ., boathousesalida. com, a riverside Amer ic an-Baja Me xica n joint serv ing pizza, burgers, ta cos, and much more.

Tr y Tres Litros Beer Company, 118 N. E St ., and the newly opened Sa lida Distiller y, 110 E. 15th St ., for dr in ks.

If you need a grab -a nd-go option before gett in g on the water, tr y The FlaminG o, 10538 W. U. S. 50, a food tr uck in ne arby Poncha Spri ng s. The on li ne review s aren’t wron g: Swee tie’s Sa ndwich Shop, 129 W. Sacket t Ave., is a solid choice for a quick lunch.

The Sa lida Hot Springs Aquatic Center, 410 W. Ra inbow Blvd ., is a fa mily-f riendly rec center in town

If you wa nt to unwi nd af ter an adventurous day, do yourself a favor and dr ive to Mount Pr inceton Hot Springs Re sort , 15870 County Road 162 (Nat hrop) This resort offers natura l soak ing pools and postca rd-per fect views of the Colleg iate Peak s.

Follow in g County Road 162 for anot her 16 mi le s, you’ ll re ac h St . El mo Ghost Town. The former gold and si lver mining ca mp prov ides an enjoyable glimpse into the pa st .

Connec t at 1-3 Miles per Hour.”

St al ls wa s happy to point me to his favorite Sa lida foot paths, includ ing the paved Ro deo Run Trail (somet imes referred to as the CR 120 Trail), a 3. 3-mile rout e fr om Sa lida to Ponc ha Spri ng s, and the Mona rch Spur Trail, a 2. 5-mile rail-trail, also paved, from the Arka nsas River to Highway 50

For a po st -f is hi ng hi ke with pa noram ic view s of downtown, St al ls recommended crossing the Arkansas River on F St re et and wa lk in g th roug h the pa rk ing lot to reach the Arka nsas Hills Tr ai l Sy st em Al so know n as the Tenderfoot Trails, this hiking area feat ures an interc onnect ed network of dirt singletrack.

“I’l l usua lly wa lk a rout e that combine s the follow in g trai ls: Lower Sa nd Dune s, Frontside, Ba ck side, Little Rattler, Burn Pile, Drea m On, Rise N Shine & Laby rinth,” St alls told me. Hiking up to the “S” from here is also possible “W hen I’m look in g for a more medit at ive wa lk ,” St al ls added, “I ta ke the Sa lida River Trai l to Fran z La ke It ’s a beautifu l, ca lmin g gravel path moving from Marv in Park , through Sands La ke, under 291, and to/a round Fran z La ke,” he sa id.

Be fore pa rt in g ways , St al ls wa lked me around downtown Salida’s two main throug hfares, F Street and Sa cket t Avenue The town isn’t just char ming: It ’s the st ate’s la rgest histor ic district .

With so much to do, st aycationer s might consider st ay in g a night or two. The recently renovated Ma nhat ta n Hotel, 228 N. F St ., offers comfor table accommod at ions in the he ar t of downtown.

For an authentic Colora do ex pe rience , rememb er th at the ar ea is su rrounde d by BL M and Fore st Se rv ic e la nd , ma king disper sed ca mpin g abunda nt and ea si ly ac ce ssible . You’ ll al so find plenty of va cation rent als with Victorian-era char m.

Catch a live perfor ma nc e at the Sa lid a Rota ry Amph it he at re in River side Pa rk to close out a perfec t day in Sa lida As the la st note s fa de into the co ol night air and the Arka nsas delivers it s bu rbli ng lu llaby, you st ar t to fe el that Sa lida isn’t merely a destination to visit but a specia l plac e to return whenever possible.

Ex plore 4 amazing look-alike loca tions

Hidden gems riva l Ut ah, Ca lifornia , New Mexico and Hawa

By Mi ndy Si nk

Spec ial to Th e De nver Post

Supp os e you don’ t have the ti me or the budg et for tr ip s to Ut ah , Ca li forni a, Hawa ii , or Ne w Me xico th is su mmer. In th at ca se , ther e ar e Colora do lo ok al ikes th at wi ll give you a si mi la r ex perience .

To be su re , you’ ll st il l ne ed to le ave Denver for a day or mayb e plan a few nights away to get your change of scener y.

Explore Paint Mines

Interpretive

Park

Br yce Canyon National Park in southern Utah is know n for having the world’s largest concentration of hoodoos, which

are unusua l rock formations.

In my non- scient ific de script ion, the rock s there look like someone wa s playing on a beach of pink ish sa nd and then dr ippe d bits of we t sa nd into pi llar s. Th is 35,8 35 -a cre national pa rk ’s natura l be auty at trac ts mi llions of visitors annually

Br yc e Ca nyon Na tion al Pa rk is an ei ght-hour dr ive from Denver, a fourhour dr ive from La s Vega s, Neva da , or Sa lt La ke City, Ut ah, and a two-hour or 90 -minute flight from Grand Junc tion, Colorado, or Reno, Neva da Pa int Mines Interpretive Pa rk in Ca lha n is 90 minutes southeast of Denver and 40 minutes from Colora do Springs. Here , you ca n st roll four mi le s of trails through 750 acres of colorf ul hoodoos and spires.

The best time to see the subtle pink , oran ge, and whit ish-blue in these geologica l formations is on a clea r-sk y day when the sun strikes the rock s.

Remember to br in g water and a hat for shade because this area is ex posed without trees. Dogs and other animals are not allowed, so leave them at home

Check the El Pa so County website for the sche du le for gu ided hi ke s, du ri ng which loca l ra ngers prov ide deta iled information on the area’s human, geologic, and ecologica l histor y.

Visit the inspiration for Disneyland’s Main Street USA

To go to Di sney la nd fr om Denver, you’ ll need to fly about two and a ha lf hour s to Lo s An gele s, Ca li forn ia , and

then dr ive anot her 30 mi nute s to Disneyland in Anaheim.

Ticket s to enter the “Happiest Plac e on Ea rth ” cost $98 to $206 per person, depend ing on age.

When you enter th is qu inte ssential Amer ic an amusement pa rk , you ty pica lly st ar t on Ma in St reet USA, where there are frequent pa ra des, storef ront s selling treats and souvenirs, and nostalgic entert ainment.

Ther e’s a ra il ro ad , a hors e- pu lled tr ol le y, and ot her vi nt ag e vehicles to get around here, and people crowd the sidewa lk s, wa lk in g to go in and out of the storef ront s.

Or, you can dr ive one hour north from Denver to Fort Collins to wa lk arou nd downtown for fr ee and ex perience a

Look-a likes

FROM PAGE 16

simila r feel to Disneyla nd’s Ma in Street USA.

Here’s the connec tion: Ha rper Goff wa s born in Fort Coll in s in 1911 and later beca me an ar tist for Wa lt Disney.

Legend has it that when the team was designing Disneyland in the 1950s, Goff drew on his fond memories of Old Town Fort Collins and then returned to ta ke phot os so they could replic at e some of this college town’s buildings.

Although Disney ’s midwestern hometown also served as in spirat ion, some specific Colorado buildings look nearly identica l to those at Disneyla nd , such as City Ha ll

Like Main Street USA, in Fort Collins, you ca n wa lk between st oref ront s, get a bite to eat, and ta ke a histor ic trolley for only $1 to $2.

Discover the Manitou Cliff Dwellings

Ba nd el ie r Na ti on al Mo nu me nt is about a si x-hour dr ive from Denver, outside Los Alamos, New Mexico According to the National Park Serv ice, this site wa s home to Ance st ra l Puebloan s for about 400 years, from 1100 to 1550 CE

Thes e home s ar e ca rved “c av at es ” in volc anic stone that requires wooden la dders to re ach. Ba ndelier wa s estab -

lished as a national monument in 1916, and in the 1930s, the Civilian Conser vation Corps (CCC) worked on making this place more accessible

Wh ile th is site is un ique to it s location, geology, and the people who lived here over ti me , if you’re intere st ed in learning about Ancestral Puebloans and ca n’t dr ive the si x hours to Ba ndelier, or even si x hours to Me sa Verde National Pa rk in sout hwes tern Colora do, then he ad sout h an hour ’s dr ive from Denver to the Ma nitou Cliff Dwellings.

Thes e form er An ce st ra l Pu eb lo an home s were relo ca te d fr om Mc El mo Ca nyon outside of Dolore s, Colora do, br ic k- by-brick in the ea rly 19 00 s. According to the website, “Our three-stor y pueblo st ruct ure demonstrat es the arch it ec tu re of the Ta os Pueblo Indian s of New Me xico. These Pueblo Indian s are descendants of the Cliff Dwelling Indians belong ing to the Ancestra l Puebloans cult ural line.”

While these cliff dwellings are not authentic because they were moved and re-

constr ucted, the move was motivated by the need to prot ec t hist or y from looters and vandals. Visitors can spend time in the museum to see histor ic pots and other items that tell the stor ies of these

people

Hike to Little Hawaii near Telluride

There’s an eight-hour flight between Denver and Hawa ii, and hiking on the Hawaiian Isla nds va ries between dense rainforest s and striking ridgelines with ocea n views. There are also a few popular pave d tr ai ls to sp ec ific site s li ke lighthouses.

Te llur ide is a si x- hour dr iv e fr om Denver and offer s a mo derate hi ke of about one to two hours roundtrip to see a waterfall that ca n ma ke some people feel as if they have traveled across the Pa cific Ocea n. It is ra re to use the word “lush” to describe natura l places in Colorado, but this trai l in the Uncompahgre National Forest is unique Af ter hiking less than a mile through Bear Creek Preser ve, you ar rive at a waterfall- carved grot to where br ight green pl an ts dr ap e fr om th e cu rv in g an d mo ss y ro ck fe at ures The ic y blue waters in the grot to pool might also evoke some ocea n hues in Hawa ii. When hi ki ng here , br in g closed-t oe foot wear that ca n get wet and your bug spray. Be sure to pa ck your sense of adventure.

Savor

By Mi ndy Si nk

Spec ial to Th e De nver Post

The ul ti ma te Co lora do st ay ca ti on mu st include some water fu n either as a whole- day ac tivity or as a way to rela x af ter a thrilling day of advent ures

This summer, ta ke family and fr iends to a newly opened hotel or resort in Colorado for a new pool ex perience Ea ch de st inat ion ha s a un ique st yle and environment to ex plore.

Hotel Polaris Stylish pool debut

The new Hotel Pola ris on the U. S. Air Forc e Ac ademy grou nd s is ju st a onehour dr ive south of Denver

The mid- cent ur y design-inspired hotel opened in late 2024 , so this wi ll be the po ol’s fir st su mmer as it wa s not

avai lable for use du ri ng the cold wi nter months

Th is 57.5 -f oo t- lo ng poo l is tu ck ed into the hotel’s we st fla nk , na me d Fl at Ir on Pl az a. Fr om here , you ca n enjo y view s of the mounta in s and the ac ademy. Reserve one of the four cabana s (amenities include TV, re fr iger at or, towels , and sk in ca re kit), pl an for a su ns et spla sh, and enjoy snacks and dr in ks at Ba ck ya rd Bites on the plaza.

The pool will be open to hotel guests and those with an appointment at their Ascend Spa & Well ne ss be tween May and mid- Se pt ember (w ea ther de pendent). Diving isn’t allowed since the pool is just four feet deep

Once you towel off, ma ke the most of other feat ures at this hotel, too: schedule a se ss ion with the ho te l’s fl ig ht

PAGE 18

simulators to test your pilot sk ills for a bit of fu n and have a me al at Doolie’s, the hotel’s vintage-st yle diner with milksh akes , hot dogs (i nc ludi ng a un ique vegeta rian version), and na chos

Ta ke adva nt age of th is pr ime lo cation for hiking nearby trails, includ in g the Sa nt a Fe Tr ai l. If cu rrent se cu rity clea ra nces allow it , sign up for a tour of the U. S. Air Force Ac ademy ground s to lear n more about the archit ec ture and histor y of this place.

Kosmos Stargazing Resort & Spa — Soak up the view

In the Sa n Lu is Va lley, the Ko smos St arga zing Resort & Spa opened in the spri ng of 2025 ne ar the smal l town of Mo sc a and the Great Sa nd Du ne s National Pa rk & Preser ve

This place drew at tention even before opening for its pricey, clear-walled-dome villas cover ing Ja cuzzi tubs

The national pa rk ’s prox im it y is import ant be cause it is a cert ified International Da rk Sk y Pa rk They have also worked with towns in the area to minimize light pollution in this pa rt of Colorado.

When the we at he r cond it ions ar e ri ght, the ni ghtt ime view s at Ko smos should be spec ta cula r.

To ensure the resort st ays as da rk as possible, guests will park away from the vi ll as and ta ke low-li ght elec tr ic golf ca rt s to their rooms.

Ex pe ri en ce th e be au ty of Ko sm os th is su mm er. Co ns id er re tu rn in g in

20 26 when the re st au ra nt and sp a— fe at ur in g a sa un a and a cold plun ge for ad dition al aq ua tic ex pe rience s ar e se t to op en . Ad di ti on al ly, an onsite pl anet ar iu m is sc he du le d to op en in 2027

Kids , pe ts , and even your tele sc op e are welcome here, though the hotel also prov ides telescopes

Hotel 1888 — Closer than ever to pool access

Pa rt of a huge remodel at Glenwood Hot Springs Resort includes Hotel 1888, a boutique inn inside the histor ic Stone Bath House with access to the seven hot spri ng s po ols. Hotel 1888 wi ll have 14

rooms and two suites

For those new to Colorado, Glenwood Spri ng s is home to the world’s la rgest hot spri ng s pool, the Grand Pool with the Sopr is Spla sh Zone.

There are also si x pools here, includin g the Ya mpah Mi nera l Bath s, wh ich opened in 2024 and ha s five pools ra nging from not-too-hot to very hot. Wh ile th is isn’t the fir st su mmer to test the waters here, it will be the first to st ay in a pr op er ty in side the po ol grounds.

Over night guests at Hotel 1888 just li ke those at the 10 7-ro om remo dele d Lo dg e have un li mite d po ol ac ce ss during seasonal business hours. Brea kfa st is included in ea ch over night st ay.

Limelight Boulder A pool with a view

For thos e wa ni ng su mmer days in September, head up to Boulder and plan for some pool time at the new Limelight Boulder before or af ter a Un iver sity of Colora do footba ll ga me.

This 210-room hotel will open in Septemb er 2025 and be one of the closest lo dg in g option s to the city ’s si gnat ure ca mpus The ro of top he at ed po ol wi ll have views of the iconic Flatirons and a hot tub. This outdoor space will also include seating for dining

With all of these options, you can go for a daytime pool day or a nighttime soak and, in some places, at the same place.

Find peac e and adventure at motor-free lakes

By R. Scot t Rappold

Spec ial to Th e De nver Post

There might be no better way to find serenity than ga zing at or floating on a mounta in la ke’s cr ysta lline waters, fed by melting snow

And then a motorboat roar s by and jerk s your mind ba ck into the 21st Century

Qu ie t isn’t given in a st at e as populou s as Colora do, espe cial ly anywhere near the Front Ra nge.

Bu t yo u ca n fi nd it An d wh en yo u do , pa dd li ng a ka ya k, ca no e, or st an d- up pa dd le bo ar d, fis hi ng al on g the sh or e, or ju st ga zi ng at the sc ener y, you’ ll unders ta nd wh at mo ti va te d John De nv er to wr it e hi s gr ea t ode to Color ado.

“His sight ha s turned inside himself to tr y and understa nd The serenity of a clea r blue mounta in la ke” John Denver, “Rocky Mounta in High”

With th at in mi nd , here ’s a li st of quiet lakes to add to your summer travel

plans where the wa ke from motorboats won’t jostle or flip a pa dd leboard. You ca n dr ive to all of them, though some roads are rough.

Chambers Lake

Th is pret ty la ke is located about 60 miles northwest of Fort Collins, off Cameron Pa ss, just north of Rock y Mountain National Pa rk It is in a pine forest with long views of nearby peak s.

Th is is a cold pl ac e. The la ke and ca mpgr ou nd don’ t usua lly op en unti l

late Ju ne and close in late Sept ember. The 255-acre la ke is perfec t for a rela xing pa dd le or float . There’s a la rge ca mpground adja cent to the la ke , with a $3 0 per-ni ght fe e. Given it s prox imit y to the Front Ra nge, the area gets lots of use, so reservations are recommended and ca n be ma de at recreation.gov.

Getting there: Drive 10 mile s north of Fort Collins on U.S. 287. Turn we st onto

La kes

Colorado 14 and tr avel approximately 51 mile s. Turn north onto a signed road into the campground

Haviland Lake

Th is pret ty 80 -a cre la ke is 20 mi le s north of Dura ngo and prac tica lly right next to a major highway, but you’ ll feel a world apar t. Imposing cliffs and dista nt pe ak s tower over the la ke , creating a perfec t place for a rela xing float Above the lake, there’s a 43 -site campgr ou nd with over ni ght fe es of $27 to $54. You ca n ma ke reservations at recreation.gov.

Getting there: Head north on U.S. 550 from Durango for 20 mile s and turn right at the Haviland Lake State Wildlife Area sign

North Fork Reservoir

This st un ning la ke we st of Sa lida is

tough to reach but worth it . The 6-mile st re tc h of Fore st Serv ic e Road 24 0 is steep, na rrow, and rock y, so you’ ll wa nt a four-wheel-drive, high-clearance vehicle. But ratt le your way up to the la ke, and that headache will disappea r.

The lake is at 11,000 feet in a gorgeous alpine bowl You won’t believe you ca n dr ive to such a place.

Th er e’s a sm al l, pr im it iv e ca mpground It ’s first-come, first-ser ved and ha s a $20 per night fee.

Getting there: From Salida, head we st for 11 mile s on U.S. 50 to County Road 240 at the Angel of Shavano Campground sign The road ge ts rough past the campground

O’Haver Lake

The pret ty la ke is ea sy to reach from Poncha Pa ss in southern Colora do and ca n be dr iven in any ca r. This ma kes it a hu gely popu la r de st inat ion on su mmer weekends. Visit, and you’ ll see why. At 13,971 feet , Mount Ouray towers over the la ke, and its peak seems so close you could reach out and touch it .

The la ke is only 15 acres, but what it la ck s in size, it ma kes up for in scener y. Ther e’s a 32 -sit e ca mpgr ou nd ar ou nd the la ke; mo st site s have gr ea t la ke views. The camping fee is $28 per night, and re serv at ions ca n be ma de at re creation.gov. The first-come, first-ser ved sites are usua lly full by Thursdays.

Day use fee: $10 per vehicle if not camping.

Getting there: From U.S. 285 on Poncha Pass, turn on County Road 200 for 2 mile s and then County Road 202 for 2.5 mile s.

Pearl Lake State Park

Located north of Stea mboat Springs, you won’t find sw im mers or water sk iers at this 167-acre lake. Ringed by green mounta in s and st un ni ng any ti me of ye ar (but espe ci al ly in fa ll), ther e’s a 36 -site ca mpground for those who don’t wa nt to leave the scener y behind

The camping fee is $28 per night, and re servat ions ca n be ma de at cpwshop. com.

Day use fee: $10 per vehicle

Getting there: From Steamboat, go west two miles on U.S. 40 to County Road 129, then turn right. Go north 23 miles to Pearl Lake Road, turn east, and drive the final two miles to the park

Sylvan Lake State Park

Escape the hu st le and bu st le of the Inte rs ta te 70 corr id or in the mounta in s at th is smal l la ke tucked amon g the hills. It s glassy waters are idea l for huma n-powered boat s. A 44 -site ca mpground overlook s the la ke, with cabins and yu rt s av ai la ble to rent “S ylva n” me an s a pe ac ef ul, wo oded plac e, and that ’s what you’ ll find.

The camping fee is $28 per night, and re servat ions ca n be ma de at cpwshop. com.

Entr y fee: $10 per vehicle

Getting there: From Eagle, take Sylvan Lake Road for 1.7 mile s. Turn south on Brush Creek Road and tr avel nine mile s to the visitor center

Ex plore 9 Colorado paddleboar ding si tes

HAN THE DENV

PO ST Ella Gallegos, 11; Hannah Gallegos, 9; and their mother Sara Gallegos, 44, ride a paddleboard in North Pond Park in Silver thorne in 2022. “We spend a lot of time in Silver thorne, but it’s our firs t time at this pond,” Sara Gallegos said

Your guide to the st ate’s best paddleboarding spot s

By Ma rgaret Jack son

Spec ial to Th e De nver

Post

Colora do may be la nd locked , but it s shimmering la kes and reservoirs ma ke it a prem ier spot for st and-up pa dd leboarding

The rapidly grow ing spor t, which saw ab out 4.13 mi ll ion pa rt ic ipants in the United St ates in 2023, offers a blend of fitness, tranquilit y, and a chance to con-

nect with nature.

Color ado pr ov ides pa dd le bo ar di ng ex perience s for ever yone , from novice pa dd lers seek ing ca lm waters to adventurous souls crav ing a challenge.

Whether you’re draw n to pa nora mic mounta in view s or a pe ac ef ul gl id e across a glassy la ke, Colora do delivers Br idget O’Rourke, statew ide information officer for Colorado Park s and Wildlife, says it ’s cr itic al to wear a life ja cket

to st ay sa fe on the water.

It ’s also the law.

“Paddleboards are counted as vessels. You need to have a life ja cket , preferably on, but at least on your vessel,” O’Rourke sa id. “If you fa ll in, it ’s ha rd to get the ja cket off the vessel and onto you. If the water is cold and you fa ll in, you ca n get cold water shock.”

Other sa fety measures O’Rourke recom mend s ar e at ta ch in g a wh is tle to your life ja cket in an emergenc y, checking the weather, and going with a fr iend

“C he ck in g the we at her fir st is a bi g

th in g. In the su mmer, st or ms wi ll roll th roug h and he av y ra in and wind ca n chan ge the water,” she sa id . “If you go alone, tell someone you’re out on the water and when you plan to be ba ck .” Ma ny of the be st plac es to pa dd leboard ar e in Colora do st at e pa rk s, so you’ ll have to pay for the ex perience

If you buy a Keep Colora do Wild Pa ss for $29 with your next vehicle registration , you’ ll have ac ce ss for a ye ar a 60% discount compared to a traditiona l $80 annual St ate Pa rk s Pa ss

Paddleboarding

FROM PAGE 22

So me of O’ Ro ur ke ’s fa vo ri te pa ddleb oa rd in g sp ot s ar e Ch at field St at e Pa rk , St at e Fo re st St at e Pa rk , Ba rr La ke St at e Pa rk and Sylv an La ke St at e Pa rk . Many la kes have on-site rentals if you don’t have a pa dd leboard.

Keep read ing to lear n about some of the best places to pa dd leboard in Colora do so you ca n ma ke the most of your time on the water wherever you are in the st ate.

Denver area

CHERRY CREEK RESERVOIR

The 850-acre Cher ry Creek Reservoir in Cher ry Creek St ate Pa rk offers recreationa l water ac tivities, includ ing pa ddle boarding.

You ca n even pa dd le up to a concer t series held at the Pelica n Bay Ma rina , a sandy beach with a roped- off sw imming area open from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

A bath house prov ides re st room s. In addition to a State Park Pa ss, you’ ll need to pay the Water Ba sin Author it y fee of $1 for a day or $3 for the year

BIG SODA LAKE

Ju st a shor t dr ive from Denver, Bi g So da La ke in Be ar Creek La ke Pa rk is

a popu la r sp ot for pa dd leboardi ng It doesn’t al low motori zed watercra ft , so it ’s idea l for wobbly beginners who ca nnot ha nd le a boat ’s wa ke

Plus , you’ ll have fa nt as tic view s of the Rock y Mounta in Foothills and Red Rock s Amphitheater

Th e be ac h ca n ge t cr ow de d, bu t ther e’s st il l plenty of ro om to launch your paddleboard into the water. Amenities include well-maintained bathrooms and a conc ession st and af ter you work up an appetite on your board.

An annual pa ss cost s $80, or you ca n buy a day pa ss for $10 or $15 on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

Vail Valley

PINEY LAKE

Located on the sc enic 40 -a cre Piney River Ra nc h at the ba se of the Gore Ra nge at 9, 350 feet , Piney La ke is idea l for st and-up pa dd leboarding. It ’s just 12 miles from Va il, but it ca n ta ke up to 45 minutes by ca r on a ma inta ined Forest Serv ice Road to reach the pict uresque Whit e River National Forest location

Af ter your pa dd leboar d advent ur e, you ca n enjoy a me al at Pi ne y River Ra nch. Outdoor dining is available

SYLVAN LAKE

You’ ll be su rrou nded by mounta in s and wild life as you glide across Sylvan La ke, which is about 40 miles from Va il Sk i Resort .

The 42 -a cr e Sylv an La ke in Sylv an La ke St ate Pa rk in the White River National Forest is home to killdeer, house wren, osprey, and Ca na da geese.

NOTTINGHAM LAKE

The calm waters of Nottingham Lake, 11 mile s we st of Va il in Avon, are idea l for those new to pa dd le boardi ng No motorized boat s are permit ted.

The Town of Avon ha s partnered with St and Up Pa dd le Colora do to offer recreationa l ac tivities on the la ke from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Summit County

MAGGIE POND

If you’re lo ok in g for a gent le intr odu ct io n to pa dd le bo ar di ng , Ma gg ie Po nd is pe rf ec t fo r fa mi li es an d begi nner s.

Its calm waters, fed by the Upper Blue River, are idea l for all sk ill levels. Plus, it ’s in town, just a shor t wa lk from Main Street at the ba se of Peak 9.

You ca n te st your ba la nc e by tr yi ng an SU P yoga class by Meta Yoga St udios and the Breckenr id ge Recre at ion Center. All classes require pre-registration.

LAKE DILLON

If you’re look ing for a more challengin g advent ure, La ke Dillon ha s several beach access points for padd leboarders, including those from the Fr isco and Dillon ma rina s.

Both ma rina s offer rent als and pro -

As Big Soda Lake recently reopened to paddle spor ts, kayakers Je ss, front, and Silas, rear, tow their friend Abby in a tube in 2020

vide pa dd leboarding technique demonstrations if you’re a newbie.

If you have a board, you can launch at either ma rina or from one of the ma ny beaches around the la ke.

It ’s best to hit La ke Dillon early in the morning or evening for sunset when the water is ca lmer, and there is le ss boat tra ffic and wind

Grand County

GRAND LAKE

As the la rges t natu ra l la ke in Colora do, Grand La ke offers plenty of space for pa dd leboardi ng wh ile you soak in view s of the ru gg ed pe ak s of ne arby Rock y Mounta in National Pa rk

If you don’t have a pa dd leboard, rent one for a few hours from Rock y Mounta in SU P or Grand La ke Ma rina

LAKE GRANBY

Surrounded by the Rock y Mountains’ peak s, La ke Granby ’s clea r waters create an unforget table ex perience for paddlers of all sk ill levels.

The 7, 256- ac re la ke is ea si ly ac ce ssible, with va riou s launch points and re nt al op tion s. Wh ile pa dd li ng , you may see wild life, adding to the natura l beauty of the ex perience

The la ke offers more than 40 miles of shoreline for ca mping and fishing

Ex pl or e th e be st pa dd le bo ar di ng spot s in Colora do, from serene la kes to sc en ic re servoi rs Disc over sa fe ty tips, rent al options, and top locations.

By Ma rgaret Jack son

Spec ial to Th e De nver Post

Color ado’s sc en ic la nd sc ap es and ou td oo r ad ve nt ur es ma ke it a pr ime destination for ac tive traveler s, and ma ny wa nt to br in g thei r furr y companions along to enjoy it , too.

Colorado offers abundant pet-fr iendly lodg ing, rang ing from rustic cabins nestled in the mounta ins to upsc ale hotels in bustling city centers. Ma ny offer dedicated pet-fr iendly rooms or floors, of ten with amenities like dog beds, bowls, and treats Some even prov ide pet-sitting or dog-wa lk ing serv ices

If you’re plan ning a pet-fr iend ly tr ip to Colora do, bo ok your ac commod ati on s in ad va nc e pe t- fr ie nd ly option s fil l up qu ickly, espe cial ly du ri ng peak season

Verify specific pet policies, includ ing

si ze and breed re strict ions and associated fees

Re sponsible pet ow nership is essential To ensure a positive ex perience for ever yone, be sure to clea n up af ter your pe ts and keep them on leashe s in de sig nated area s.

The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs

The Broadmoor goes all out to ma ke you and your pet comfor table. The hotel provides bedding and food bowls for your furr y friend during your stay They ’ll also give you a complimentar y treat. Ma ny of the shop s on The Br oa dmoor proper ty sell specia lt y pet it ems, and the hotel offer s an area map with pet-fr iend ly pet pa rk s and scenic wa lking area s.

It also prov ides cont ac t information for it s prefer red pet specia list s, who offer wa lk ing and pet sitting serv ices.

Of course, there’s plenty for huma ns to enjoy at the iconic Forbes Five -Sta r, AA A Five -D ia mond re sort . The proper ty ’s si x re st au ra nt s offer ever yt hi ng from fine dining to a quick bite

There’s also an elegant spa, golf, tennis, pick leba ll cour ts, and outdoor adventures.

The Broa dmoor char ge s a $100 pe t fee.

Garden of the Gods Resort and Club, Colorado Springs

Know n for it s views and tranquil environment, Ga rden of the Gods Re sort and Club is a place to recharge.

It s wellness prog ra m offers a spa, fitness center, and concierge medica l service s. It al so o ff er s golf , tenn is , and pick leba ll You ca n lear n about bird s of prey at the Fa lconry Ac ademy or schedule a guided bic ycle group on loca l single-track trails Guided hiking or a tour of the Ga rden of the Gods is also avail-

Some Colorado Chautauqua’s private historic one-, two-, and three-bedroom cottages are pe t-friendly

able

Ot her ac tivities include wh it ew at er ra fting, ziplining, and rock climbing.

If you need a brea k from your kids, book a na nny and enjoy an even in g at one of the resort ’s rest aura nt s. Ga rden of the Go ds al lows dogs 40 pounds and smaller for a $200 pet fee.

The Hotel Telluride, Telluride

The Hotel Tellur ide is a boutique hotel just a 10 -minute walk from the town’s histor ic district

The Tellur ide Sp a Conc ierg e off er s cu st om ma ssages , fa cial s, and lu xu ry enhancements, and the on-site West End Bistro serves ca sual Amer ic an cuisine.

Summer advent ures in Tellur ide include fly fishing, hiking, mounta in bikin g, or kaya ki ng on the Sa n Mi guel River

You ca n also at tend one of the town’s ma ny fe st iv al s, such as the Tellur ide Bluegras s Fe st ival, Wi ne Fe st ival, Telluride Blues and Brews, or the Tellur ide Film Festival.

If you br in g your dog, you’ ll receive a welcome bag of Pet Info for Tellur ide and the hotel’s homema de orga nic pet treats

The hotel charges a fee of $25 per pet per night. Up to 10% of all pet fees are donated to Second Chance Huma ne Societ y.

Colorado Chautauqua Cottages, Boulder

Bu ilt be tween 1899 and 1954 , Colorado Chautauqua’s pr ivate histor ic one-, two-, and th re e-be droom cott ages are perfec t for retreats or fa mily reunions. Or you could book a room in the proper ty ’s histor ic lodge.

Gr ab a bite af ter a hi ke or be fore a concer t on the wraparound porch at the Histor ic Chautauqua Auditorium at The Victor ia n-st yle Dining Ha ll. The Chautauqua Genera l Store offers

Caver ns Adventure Park , Amer ica’s only mounta intop theme pa rk offer ing children’s ac tivities, thrill rides, cave tours, and a rest aura nt

food , beverage s, souvenirs, and health and well ne ss pr oduc ts The re cent ly opened Chautauqua Ca fé, between the Dining Hall and the General Store, offers coffee, sandwiches, salad, and ice cream.

Al l spac es ar e fu lly fu rn ishe d with full kitchens or kitchenettes; ma ny are pet-fr iend ly.

Hotel Glenwood Springs, Glenwood Springs

Lo ca te d ne ar th e Gl en wo od Ho t Sp ri ng s Po ol , th e la rg es t na tu ra ll y heated pool in the world, the Hotel Glenwood Springs offers it s ow n Spla sh Pool and indoor waterpark, a 1,600- squa refoot pool heated to 85 degrees.

The ho tel is ne xt to the Glenwo od

Hotel Glenwood Springs ha s set aside a whole floor just for dog-fr iendly rooms. These ro om s have ha rd flo or s in st ea d of ca rp et s, and ther e ar e ma ny do gfr iend ly trails nearby

You’ ll pay a non-refu nd able pe t service fe e of $1 5 pe r ni ght for a pe tfr iend ly room

Canyon of the Ancients Guest Ranch, Cortez

Ca nyon of the Ancients Guest Ra nch offers a collection of private guesthouses and ca bi ns ne ar Me sa Verde, Hovenweep, Bears Ea rs, and Four Corners.

You’ ll fi nd compli ment ar y eg gs in your refr igerator, and organically raised be ef and la mb ar e av ai la ble for pu rchase.

Ac tivities at the ra nch include horseback riding, hiking, biking, and soak ing at one of the nearby hot springs. Guests are also welcome to pa rticipate in da ily chores on the ra nch, such as feeding animals and weed ing ga rdens.

You’ ll se e the enti re ra nch from the Folsom Point Sa nc tuar y, which feat ures antique door s and temple pa nels from India. It ’s the perfec t venue for yoga retreats , sound me ditation s, and corp orate events Sk y Kiva is anot her excellent yoga option.

The prop er ty al lows two dogs for a $25 fee per pet, per night.

Hotel Teatro, Denver

Located across from the Denver Center for Perfor mi ng Ar ts in downtown Denver, Hotel Teatro is distinguished as one of the Top 10 Hotels in the World by Ex pedia, and Travel + Leisure Magazine rank s it as one of the World’s Best Top 50 City Hotels of the U. S.

The hotel recently updated it s rooms and amenities, which include upgraded TVs, cust om oa k wa rd robe s, and more comfor table furnit ure.

The Nickel offers brea kfast, br unch, dinner, and happy hour The St udy Coffee Ba r in the hotel lobby serves freshly ba ked pa stries, coffee, house cock ta ils, beer, and wine

The hotel charges a daily Destination Amen it y Fee of $30 plus ta x per room night. For that, you’ ll get complimentar y Wi-Fi, a compliment ar y welcome dr ink, bottled water, complimentar y brea kfast burr itos from The Study, lu xury ca r service with in 2. 5 mi le s of the hotel, and use of custom vint age cr uiser bicycles

Hotel guests will also enjoy discounts from many Larimer Square retailers, includ ing 10% off reta il purcha ses at Dog Savvy Dogs st ay free at Hotel Teatro, which prov ides a pet good ie bag. Water bowls and dog beds are available on request.

Ex plore wine, food and adventure in Palisade

Tr y these vineya rds, trails and loca l cuisine

By Sh au na Fa rnel l

Spec ial to Th e De nver

Post

Not ever yone re al iz es you don’ t have to travel out of st ate to explore wine countr y.

An ex pa nsive offer in g of vi ne ya rd s and wineries is just one of ma ny allures to Pa lisade.

Th e lu sh es t co rn er of Co lo ra do ’s Wester n Slope, if not the most ag ricultura lly rich swath of la nd in the entire st at e, Pa lisa de is home to some of the

world’s ta st ie st pe ache s, a ha nd fu l of fa rm-to-table eateries, a brewer y, a distiller y, and outdoor adventures you can’t find anywhere else

Framed by the picturesque Book Cliffs with the majestic Grand Mesa looming above, a weekend here feels like immersion in another world.

Adventure

On the more low-key end of outdoor pu rsuits , there’s no be tt er way to immerse yourself in a peach-full environ-

ment than with a fuzz y fr iend in ha nd (No, not a peach).

The fa mi ly that ow ns and op er at es Su nc re st Or ch ar d Alpa ca s and Fi ber Work s ha s been one of the area’s greatest peach growers for deca des. The orchard ha s almost 4,000 peach trees.

You ca n wa lk among the resident alpaca s, whose fur is used onsite to create beanie s, ya rn, and ot her produc ts For $20, you ca n spend up to an hour strolling the ground s with an alpa ca

Pa li sa de ’s wi ne ri es an d or ch ar ds st re tc h for se vera l mi le s alon g bo th sides of the Colora do River. A great way to visit severa l wineries in one day is by bike. There are three established Fr uit & Wi ne By way lo op s th at me asur e 5, 9, and 25 miles, allowing you to access ne arly ever y wi nery in the area . Ea ch route is mostly paved, and you ca n navigate it with any bike

That sa id, a road or e-bike is recommended for the long es t rout e, wh ic h

Animal lovers with a specia l a ffinity for hoofed creat ures ca n vent ure south of town into the Litt le Bo ok Cl i ff s. If you’re luck y, you may spot a wild horse or two. This area ha s hund reds of wild horses and severa l hiking or mounta in biking trails.

ta kes you through fa rms and vineya rd s on both side s of the river, rollin g over hills with more than 700 feet of climbin g that you won’t notice too much as you ta ke in the sweeping mesa views.

The 9-mi le rout e st ay s on the nort h side of the river, pa ssing by a high concentration of wineries and through River front Pa rk and the hear t of Pa lisa de.

The 5-mi le lo op st ar ts and fin ishe s near downtown and is most ly flat and ma na geable on a cr uiser bi ke. It ta ke s you on a sc en ic spin alon g the ri ver sout h of town , with one of the ar ea’s ta stiest and most beautifully set wineries— Colter ris—conveniently located on the home stretch.

Hiking and mountain biking

On the opposite side of the advent ure

spec tr um, the most ex treme you can get sits the Pa lisa de Plun ge Ar guably the mo st impr es sive and official ly amon g the longest down hi ll bi ke trai ls in the world, the Plun ge ta ke s you from at op the Grand Mesa down 6,000 vertical feet and 32 miles.

Do n’ t be fo ol ed ab ou t ju st be in g along for a ride, though. This trail is desi gned on ly for sk il led (a nd brave) riders. There’s a good amount of peda ling and a few ex posed, high-sta kes area s.

The upper ha lf of the trail is open to hi kers, eque st rian s, and le ashed dogs. Pa lisa de Rim is an iconic hike and bike trail that is ea sy to access The trailhead is next to the river just ea st of town.

The jour ney, technica l on a bike with hi gh ex po su re in some pl ac es , ta ke s you st ra ig ht up the cliff s, pa st a ha ndfu l of ancient petrog ly phs, to phenomenal view s of wine countr y below. The loop is about 9 miles long and involves 1, 500 feet of climbing and descending

Pa lisade

Eat

St ar t your day with an eg g sa ndwich and tu rmer ic latt e at The Mi lk y Way, which also serves amaz in g homema de gelato.

Sp ea ki ng of sw ee t tr ea ts , Sl ic e O Li fe Ba kery ’s pe ac h blue berr y ci nn amon rolls or lemon lavender sc ones are a must-try.

Don’t be fooled by it s spor ts ba r vibe; 357 Bar & Gr ill is open for brea kfast and serves the he ar ties t brea kf as t (bac on , eg gs , ha shbr ow ns , st ack of pa nc akes) in town.

Regu la rly na me d one of Colora do’s ta stiest and most food ie -gea red rest aura nt s, Pêche is situat ed in the hear t of Pa lisa de and is a must for dinner

Opened in 2019 by Ashley Chasseur

(general ma nager/ow ner) and Matthew Chasseur (chef/ow ner), Pêche ha s been widely lauded for it s outs ta nd in g cu isi ne . It s menu chan ge s frequent ly depend ing on what ’s fresh for the season, but always includes char red fr uits, loca lly source d me at s, and home -bak ed sourdough brea d.

The st ylish but unpret entious haunt wa s a 2023 Ja me s Be ard Award semifinalist in the Outsta nd in g Hospit alit y category.

Also located in the small downtown vici nity, don’t mi ss the gour me t ta co s at Fidel’s Cocina & Ba r. Ma de with the fr eshe st po ssible in gr ed ient s (loc al ly sour ce d el k chor iz o, pepp er s ro as te d onsite, and ma de -f rom-scratch tortilla s from La Mi lpa up the road), ta cos and thou ghtf ul ly cr af te d pl at es (c hi le relleno, enchiladas) ra nk among the Wester n Slope’s ta stiest Fidel’s also offers an impressive selection of tequilas, mezcals and creative cock ta ils.

Co ns id er ed Co lo ra do ’s fi rs t wi nethemed hotel, Wine Countr y Inn broke grou nd in 20 07 and ha s grow n to become a comfor table fa rm house retreat among the vineya rd s for over night visit or s. It s re st au ra nt , Ca roli ne’s , is one of Pa li sa de ’s top di ni ng ha unts . The French-i nf used menu gather s in gred ients loca lly, includ in g the fa med loca l peaches feat ured creatively in appetizers (peach green chili mussels, anyone?) and the signat ure brea d pudd ing.

Drink

For a place with a population of less th an 3,00 0, Pa li sa de boas ts one wi ner y for ever y couple hund red resident s,

with more than 30 sc at tered around the town’s vicinity and outskirt s.

Ea ch one ha s it s ow n un ique persona lity, ambiance and signat ure va riet y. An obvious standout is Restoration Vineyards. Named af ter co -owner Gary Brauns’ propensity and pa ssion for restor ing vintage vehicles (many of which are on display on the proper ty), Restoration boasts Napa-c aliber wines from si x grape va riet ie s—ba rbera, cabernet fr anc, chardonnay, merlot, sauv ig non blanc and sémillon grapes—a s well as an ex pa nsive outdoor space and patio, where it regularly host s live music and food tr ucks

On the newer side (opened in 2019), Sauv age Sp ec tr um fo cu se s on un ique gr ap es , al l gr ow n on site , and offer s a great selection of sparkling wines.

Terr aV in Cell ar s, he aded by a se asoned Grand Va lley winema ker, ma kes

an exquisite Petit Verdot and offers a casual vibe with occa sional live music.

Vines 79 Wine Barn is a fun stop for an Old We st meet s grapes ex perience, while Ordinary Fellow is right in town It is housed in a giant, open-air shed with a ping-pong table and creative varieties craf ted by English ow ner Ben Parsons.

Ma ison La Belle Vie ha s a wonder ful ambiance, scrumptious French-inspired cuisine, and the most refreshing glass of Ma rechol Foch around.

Ca rl so n, on e of Pa li sa de ’s lo nge st -s ta nd in g vi ne ya rd s (f ou nded in 1981), thrives. It ha s accr ued numerous awards, includ ing a World Cup winner for it s Riesling

Ma ny of Pa lisa de’s wineries also specialize in fr uit wine Ta lon’s lineup includes a meader y with several sweet options and a ta st y cidery.

Ne arly ever y re st au ra nt in the re -

gion carr ies at least one brew from the un as su mi ng Pa li sa de Br ew in g Compa ny, which also serves amazing sa ndwiches. Peach Street Distillers is raising eyebrows for it s flavorf ul bourbon, but it craf ts ever y ot her ty pe of spir it you might be crav ing and serves impressively delicious pub fare out of its food trolley.

Stay

Th e in du st ri al ch ic , do g- fr ie nd ly

Spoke & Vine Motel is a renovated version of ever yt hi ng you find no st al gic about a classic one -story lodge, but with a bike theme and a free brea kfast served right to your door

Ow ned by mountain bike enthusia st s Jo dy Core y and Je ff Snook, the sa me couple behind Fidel’s Cocina , this lodge wi ll be one of the clea ne st , most comfort able and charac ter- endowed motels you’ ve ever ex perienced.

Enjoy epic adventures in the Four Corner s

Ex plore with this three-day advent ure it inerar y

By Jenni fer Broome

Spec ial to Th e De nver Post

Colorado’s southwest corner blends fa sc inat in g ancient hist or y, ru gge d de sert la nd sc ap es , and fu n outdoor advent ure.

Wh ile Me sa Verde National Pa rk is the crow n jewel, the region also includes other cent ur ies- old sites and a plethora of outdoor ex periences.

As an av id advent ur er and ancient hi st or y bu ff , I’ ve ex plor ed the re gion ex tensively.

Here’s how you ca n immerse yourself in Colora do’s quad ra nt of the Four Corners, where you ca n hike by cliff dwellin gs, bi ke th roug h de sert terrai n, and sip wine in a scenic ca nyon.

Stay in Mancos

Settled by cattle ranchers in the 1870s and founde d in 1894 , Ma nc os is a vibrant, tiny town once a stop on the Denver, Rio & Southern Ra ilway. Two great options for your ba seca mp are:

Mesa Verde Motel: This boutique motel has an ultra-modern tw ist. On-site M Ba r & Coffee serves lattes in the mornin g and ha ndcr af te d co ck ta il s la ter, which you ca n enjoy around the fire pit in the evenings

Willow tail Springs Nature Preser ve an d Educ atio n Ce nter : Th is pe ac ef ul retreat ha s severa l uniquely appointed cabi ns overlook in g a serene la ke. Ar tists-in-residence are of ten there.

Day One

MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK

Grab a latt e and burr it o at M Ba r & Coffee before heading to Mesa Verde National Pa rk

Ma ke stops to soak in the views along the 45 -minute dr ive up the mesa From Ch apin Me sa Ar cheologica l Mu seum , hike my favorite trail in the pa rk . The 2.4-mi le Pe trog ly ph Point Trai l is a loop showca sing sweeping ca nyon views and ancient rock carv ings, including a la rge petrogly ph pa nel.

Of the two auto loops, dr ive the Cliff

Visitors can ge t up close with the cliff dwellings at Me sa Verde National Park on a ranger-led tour

PH OTOS BY JENNIFER

Me sa Verde National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its well-pre served Ance stral Puebloan cliff dwellings.

Pa la ce Lo op fir st . St op at Cl i ff Pa la ce overlook for an incredible view of North Amer ic a’s la rgest know n cli ff dwelling, built between 1190 and 1280 Ty pica ll y le ss cr ow de d, Me sa Top Lo op ha s intere st in g st op s to se e pithous es , Navajo Ca nyon , and the Su n Temple

For an in-depth ex perience , bo ok a ra nger-led tour in adva nce. If you’re OK with climbing wooden la dders and un-

even st one st eps, the Cli ff Pa la ce Tour ta ke s you close to the ancient community with at least 150 room s and 21 kiva s.

Ot her ra nger -led tours ar e Ba lc ony House and Squa re Tower House. Unwi nd with di nner at The Bo athous e on Gr and. The cozy re st au ra nt in the hear t of Ma nc os serves elevat ed cuisine, hi gh li ghting seasonal loca l ingred ient s.

Day Two

MOUNTAIN BIKING, MONUMENT AND WINE TASTING

Fuel up for the day with a he ar ty br ea kf as t at Mo ondo g Ca fé and Ba ker y an d gr ab so me go od ie s fr om thei r ba kery for later. Pe da l your way at op a de sert me sa mounta in bi ki ng at Ph il ’s World. The si ng le tr ac k sy stem is know n for it s flowy terrain and

LEFT: Phil’s World is a single tr ack bike tr ail known for its flowing terr ain and rollercoas ter-like dips RIGHT: Hiking the Sand Canyon Tr ail provides stunning views of the Ance stral Puebloan ruins and unique landscape.

Four Corners

rollercoaster-like dips

Ta ke a shor t dr ive to see Colora do’s least-visited National Pa rk Serv ice site. Su rr ou nd ed by sprawl in g fa rm la nd , Yucc a House National Monument is an unexcavated Ancestra l Puebloan site. You’ ll likely have the ha lf-mile trail to yourself as you ex plore a site virt ua lly untouched for over 800 years. Some masonr y is visible of the “L ower House.” Wa nder to the “Upp er Hous e,” ri sing 15 -20 feet in the West Complex, for a wonder fu l view of the pa st or al su rroundings.

ma rked rock ar t and ancient sites.

A green oasis in the rugged landscape, Sutcliffe Vineya rd s is a well-ear ned rela xing st op at one of my favorite Colora do wineries. Sip a Viog nier or a Caber ne t Franc under a vi ne -c overed pergola with a view of Battle Rock . Finish the day with an ea rly dinner at The Fa rm Bi st ro in Cort ez with loca lly source d produc e and me at from Mont ez um a County for a fa rm -t o-table dining ex perience St ar t with their zucc hi ni fr it te rs , then de vour a ya k bu rger, scratch-ma de ch icken pot pie, or seasonal risotto. The lounge feat ures all- Colorado beer, wine, and spir it s.

Day Three

cheologica l site s in the Un it ed St at es , spending one day in the Ca nyons of the Ancients National Monument scratches the surface of it s 174,000 acres.

There are more than 8, 300 recorded si te s, fr om cl if f dwe ll in gs to sa cr ed spri ng s, and the nu mb er is es ti mate d to be as high as 30,000 as archaeologica l discover ies continue

For a full day, st ar t with a hike from the Sa nd Ca ny on sout h tr ai lhea d in McElmo Ca nyon

Keep your eyes peeled for dwellings, as ma ny are not ma rked

He ad we st to Hovenweep Nation al Monument for more archeologica l wonders on the Colorado-Ut ah border

Tw in Towe rs , and Ri m Ro ck Hous e, which showca se the architec tura l ingenuit y of the Ancestra l Puebloans.

For a more se cluded ex perience in Ho ve nw ee p, hi ke to Pa in te d Ha nd Pueblo in the Cutt hroat Ca st le Group. Pr ec ar iously perc he d on a boulder, it gets it s name from pictog raphs of handpr ints

Ne xt , ta ke a sc en ic tr ip th ro ug h nearby McElmo Ca nyon, filled with un-

CANYONS OF THE ANCIENTS AND HOVENWEEP

With the highest know n densit y of ar-

From the visitor center in Ut ah, hike the Little Ruin Trail. This 1. 5-mile loop pa sses some of the monu ment ’s mo st st ri ki ng fe at ur es: the Sq ua re Tower,

Lo op in g ba ck to wa rd Co rt ez , explor e the Holly Un it of Ca nyon s of the Ancients Hi ki ng to the re mo te cluster of ru in s a ffords you an off-t he -b eaten-pat h ex perience wher e you ca n refle ct on the hi st or y and solitude of the re gion . It ’s one of my favorite area s of the national monu ment If you’re up for additional late -d ay hi ki ng , he ad to Sa nd Ca nyon Pueblo, where you ca n see the

FROM PAGE 31 FOUR CORNERS » PAGE 33

Exploring Hovenweep provides a more secluded experience.

Four Corners

FROM PAGE 32

rema in s of 420 ro om s, 10 0 kiva s, and 14 towers

One of the ea sies t site s to re ac h is Lowery Pueblo, the only developed recreat ion site within the national monument . Marvel at the architec ture and design as you wa lk in and out of 40 rooms and eight kiva s. I like to close my eyes in the Great Kiva , imag inin g a ceremony It ’s a perfec t la st st op on th is loop ex ploring ancient sites.

You’ ll likely be worn out, so opt for a ca sual spot for dinner. Loungin’ Liza rd, La Ca sita de Cortez, and Thai Cortez are great options in Cortez

Ba ck in Ma nc os , El Río Ca nt in a or Ma nc os Br ew in g Company ar e excellent choices for ca sual fa re.

Bonus adventures

If you’re like me and love this unique corner of Colora do, here are three more must-dos in the region to ta ke your next visit to the next level.

Stay at Canyon of the Ancients Guest Ra nch: Th is bout ique gues t ra nc h in McEl mo Ca nyon offer s un ique ac commodations, from the cozy Cowboy Log Cabin to the intimate Sk y Kiva .

Ex pl or e Ut e Mo un ta in Tr ib al Pa rk : The only way to visit is on a guided tour with a rugged hike to see cliff dwellings. Vi si t Cr ow Ca nyon Ar ch ae ol og ic al Center: Indu lge your in ner archaeologi st wh ile le ar ni ng ab out on goin g regional research You ca n even volunteer for a ha nd s- on oppor tunity. Southwest Colorado’s slice of the Four Corner s is tr uly where ancient hist or y meet s modern adventure.

Have fu n ex plor in g th is ex tr aord ina ry region.

8 Colorado farm -to-table gems

By Br it ta ny An as Spec ial to Th e De nver Post

Sum mer is a ta st y ti me in Colora do, with ta rt cher ries, succulent Olathe sweet corn, and juic y Pa lisa de peaches.

Ar ou nd the st at e, chef s at top fa rmto -t able re st au ra nt s work clos ely with lo ca l fa rmer s to ge t the fr eshe st pr odu ce ha ul s th ey ca n bu il d th ei r se asona l menu s ar ou nd . While it ’s ha rd to pred ic t what exac t dishes will be plated later this summer (hailstorms, late freeze s, snacky pe st s, and other variables can all doom crops), chef s did share some of thei r favorite summer go -tos for Colora do cook ing.

To ge t a ta st e of su mmer, sa mple se ven fa nt as tic fa rm -t o- ta ble re st aura nt s.

Annette

Ja me s Be ar d Aw ar d-wi nn in g Chef Ca roline Glover is a summer regula r at the City Pa rk Fa rmers Ma rket .

One dish she look s forward to featuring at Annette each season is a late -July panzanella salad bursting with zest y tomatoes, drenched with a charred cucumber vinaigrette, topped with big, crunchy cro ut on s ma de fr om Ba ke ry Fo ur ’s bread, and sprink led with fresh ba sil. Glover’s simple succotash gives Olathe sweet corn a lead role, and her decadent dulce de leche desser t calls for fresh Palisade peaches.

To ma ke the most of Colora do’s shor t grow ing seasons, Glover plans to stock up on stone fr uits—peaches, plums, necta ri ne s—th is su mmer to pr es er ve as sauces and glazes.

“C olora do st one fr uit just keeps getting better and better,” Glover says 2501 Dall as St ., Suite 108, Aurora; annettescratchtotabl e.com

Potager

At Po ta ge r, a Ca pi to l Hi ll bistro serv ing farm-to-table dishes since 1997, Chef Paul Wa rthen loves to showca se se asonal produc e in sou fflés, li ke one with cheese, char red corn and fermented tomatoes

The re st au ra nt pa rt ners with more than 30 fa rm s and lo ca l pu rveyor s and te nd s to it s ow n plot s and pa tio ga rde n. It pluc ks ed ible flo we rs for ga rni shes but mo st ly us es the ha rves t for st a ff me al s.

Wa rthen, who grew up on a 500-acre da ir y fa rm in we st er n Ma ryla nd , ha s forged relationships with loca l fa rmers, st ay ing on top of what they ’re grow ing.

One of his favorite ea rly summer time ingredients is green garlic, which he prepares in late May and early June to marinat e for a burrat a or turn into a powder to dust foca ccia

Come pe ac h se as on , Wa rt hen us es the st one fr uit for cr isps , pies , sa lsas , and, perhaps most interestingly, a peach soup ma de with Colora do riesli ng. Eile en Wa rt hen cu rate s Pota ger’s st el la r wine list

1109 Ogde n St ., De nver; pota ge rrestaurant.com

Somebody People

With homema de pa st a, Me diterr a -

nean dishes, and natura l wines, Somebo dy Pe ople is a cheery Sout h Br oa dway rest aura nt that meat eaters love as much as vega ns

Chef Just in Freema n wins over diners with vegan ma keovers of dair y- dominant dishes like ca cio e pepe, tira misu, and mushroom risott o. The rest aura nt pa rt ners with lo ca l fa rmer s to source microgreens from Mountain Man Micro Fa rm s and gour me t mu sh ro om s from Ja cob’s Mushrooms.

In the su mmer, lo ok for di shes li ke marinated tomato sa lad served with cucu mb er s, on ions , and herb s on top of creamy whipped vega n feta . Pro tip: Come for Su nd ay supp er to enjoy a seven-course pr ix fixe menu for $42 per person . That ’s when the cu lina ry te am ha s ca rt e blanche to tran sform le ft over pr oduc e fr om the we ek

into a unique pre-fixe menu to avoid excess wa ste.

1165 S. Broa dway, # 104, De nver; somebodypeopl e.com

Rootstalk

When Chef Matt Vawter wa s at Merca nt ile in Denver, shoppi ng for fr esh pr oduc e wa s se am le ss: He could ju st st ep out onto the Un ion St at ion plaz a and ma ke rounds at the Saturday fa rmers ma rket . Logistics became much more difficult when he struck out to open Rootstalk in Breckenr idge in the fa ll of 2020. “We’re up at 9,600 feet—there’s not a lot of opportunit y to grow up here,” says Vawter, who in 2024 was named the James Beard Award winner for Best Mountain Chef

Rest aura nt s

FROM PAGE 34

So , he pa tc he d to ge th er de li ve ry rout es th roug h hi s ne twork in or der to so ur ce fr om fa rm s li ke Es ot er ra Cu li na ry Ga rd en , a fa vo ri te am on g Colorado’s chefs, and others on the Wester n Slope so he could br ing the best of the best to his modern Amer ican restaura nt in the high countr y.

In the summer, Root st alk, located in a histor ic home on Breckenr id ge’s Ma in Street , serves Colorado produce- centric dishes like an heirloom tomato sa la d. It also offers different ta kes on corn—cor n ca ke s, cr ea me d corn , corn with pork , and a th re e- si st er combin at ion with corn , be an s, and squa sh . Vawt er al so preser ve s su mmer ’s bounty, li ke cherries, apricots, nect ar ines, and peaches.

207 N. Main St ., Brecke nr id ge; root stalkb reck.c om

The Plimoth

Pe ache s may be Color ado’s produc e da rl in g, but don’ t sleep on the st at e’s cher ries Paonia grows superlative ones, and they he ad li ne su mmer menu s at The Pl imot h, fr om cher ries on top of sa la ds to cher ry ba rbecue sauce la dled over smoked pork loin to cher ry ta rt s for desser t.

Since day one of opening in 2013, ChefOw ner Peter Ryan ha s pr ioritized sourcin g the be st in gred ient s from as close of a radius as possible That way, diners can, say, enjoy carrots that were plucked just hours before their reservation.

“We don’t just buy from fa rmers because it ’s loca l; it ’s loca l and it ’s good,” says Ryan, who is in consta nt communication with loca l fa rmers year-round and shop s the City Pa rk and Boulder fa rmers ma rket s in the summer for his dishes like ratatouille and succot ash.

2335 E. 28th Ave., De nver; th eplimoth .c om

CO

aura nt s FROM PAGE 35

Coperta

Co pe rt a, a No rt he rn Ca pi to l Hi ll re st au ra nt se rv in g Sout he rn It al ia n dishes, ra rely repe at s menu it em s and re cipe s from se ason to se ason , except for char red young fava beans with light and br ight lemon aioli.

“T here is a sm al l wi ndow ri ght before the Four th of Ju ly ever y su mmer wh er e th e fa va be an s ca n be ea te n whole in thei r po d, and they ar e such a treat and absolutely wonder fu l,” says Paul Reil ly, cu lina ry direct or of beast + bott le group.

The fa rm -t o- ta ble conc ep t ca rr ie s th roug h to the co ck ta il menu , wher e ba rt enders ma ke a ma rg herita ca rrot a with spic y tequ ila, oran ge ju ic e, and a simple sy rup ma de with freshly juic ed ca rrot s from loca l fa rms.

400 E 20th Ave., De nver; cope rtad enve r.com

Bin 707 Foodbar and Tacoparty

Chef Jo sh Nier nb er g, a 2025 Ja me s Beard nominee, is a pioneer in the farmto -table movement in Colorado, opening Bin 707 almost 14 years ago with the entire menu being an exercise in seasonalit y and regional cook ing.

The re st au ra nt re cent ly move d to a sp ot on Gr and Ju nc tion’s Ma in St re et close to Nier nberg’s second rest aura nt , Ta copa rt y, which also ta kes adva nt age

The Plimoth features fresh produce including Paonia’s cherries in various dishes including salads, cherry barbecue sauce for smoked pork loin, and cherry tarts for de sser t.

CO URTESY OF PLIM OTH

of the region’s bounty with Al pa st or made with an adobo that uses local guajillo peppers, sage, and juniper. Come Au gu st , Ta copa rt y ma ke s a killer Olathe sweet corn soft serve, and the sa me ic e cr ea m tops the Pa li sa de Pe ach cobbler at Bi n 70 7 Fo odba r. It ’s worth a tr ip to the Wester n Slope to tr y. Bin 707: 400 Main St ., Gran d Juncti on; bin707.c om

Ta copart y: 126 S. 5th St ., Gran d Juncti on; ta copart yg j.com

ssible by 4WD in summer and a 3-mile trek in winter.

Your guide to Colorado’s top glamping spots

By Ma rgaret Jack son

Spec ial to Th e De nver Post

Glampi ng in Colorado blend s ru st ic wilder ne ss with lu xurious comfor t, allowing you to ex perience the state’s natural beauty without sa cr ificing modern amenities.

Co lo ra do ’s gl ampi ng sc en e of fe rs some th in g for anyone se arch in g for a

memora ble outdoor ex perience , fr om secluded mounta in retreats to riverside escapes.

You ca n br in g a cooler with your favorite adult beverages without worr ying about dr iv ing. You ca n lock your cabin or yurt and not worr y about bears and bugs entering your tent .

“W hat’s so nice about the cabins and yu rt s is you ca n do st ar ga zi ng ,” sa id

Br id ge t O’ Rourke , st at ew ide in form ation officer for Colorado Parks and Wildlife “You disc onnect from your phone, and it ’s just peacef ul It ’s a place to zone out in nature.”

O’Rourke recommends book ing your glamping tr ip early to ensure you get the days you wa nt .

“If you wait until the summer, you can still find reservations, but they ’re more

likely to be during the week ,” she sa id Yonder Yurts

Lo ca te d in the ru gg ed ly be auti fu l St at e Fore st St at e Pa rk , Yonder Yu rt s offer s seven ha rd-sided yu rt s, ra ng in g in pr ice from $150 to $225 per night and ac commod at in g be tween si x and ni ne guests

Glamping

The yu rt s ar e ac ce ss ible vi a fourwheel- dr ive vehicles and shor t hi ke s. In the su mmer, a few ca n be re ache d in a two-wheel- dr ive ca r.

Vi sitors to St at e Fore st St at e Pa rk ne ar Gould wi ll enjoy 70,932 acre s of forest , rugged peak s, alpine la kes, and miles of trails

Riverside Colorado

Lo cate d in the sc en ic Poud re Ca nyon ju st 30 mi nute s outside Fort Collins, Riverside Colorado offers lu xurious ac commod at ions fr om ca nv as -w al le d tent s to ti ny homes and comfor ta ble cabins.

Guests ca n enjoy the on-site genera l store, The Poudre Park Market , and coffee at The Kind Bean. It ’s also just three mi le s we st of the hist or ic Mishawak a Amph it he at er, where you ca n di ne by the Poud re River and enjoy a concer t. Riverside Colora do is comm it ted to sust ainability. It uses sola r power and mi ni miz es envi ronmenta l impa ct by controlling foot tra ffic and shut tle services.

North London Mining Office

The hi st or ic Nor th London Mi ni ng O ffice , or The NoLo O ffice , is a gold mi ni ng site tr an sfor me d into a ba ckcountr y ex perience.

Located on Mosquito Pa ss outside of Alma , it wa s pa rt of one of the st at e’s riches t gold st ri ke area s from 1892 to 1942 The restored 1883 office now offers modern amenities like hot and cold running water, a shower, a fu lly equipped kitchen and WiFi

The NoLo O ffice reopened in November 2023 and is available year-round to NoLo members annual membership is $20 for over night accommodations at $400 per night.

The nonprofit NoLo orga nization offers wi nt er ba ckcountr y and su mmer ar ts , re cre at io n an d educ at io n pr ograms.

Rustic Rook Resort

Ru st ic Rook Re sort offer s glampi ng tent s, ca mp er cabi ns , gr ai n bi n vi llas and BYO tent site s ju st 19 mi le s from the Great Sand Dunes National Park entrance

Am en it ie s va ry by lo dg in g ty pe but include be dd in g, towels , USB battery pa ck s and a free hot brea kfast for some options. The accommodations offer views of the Sa ng re de Cr isto Mounta in ra nge.

Tent and cabin rates range from $140 to $4 00 per night, while tent ca mpin g sites cost $60 to $75 per night.

Guests ca n enjoy ca mp ac tivities, including games, trails, yoga , and live music on some nights. If you wa nt to slide

down the du ne s, rent sa ndboar ds for $2 0 da ily. Se vera l hot spri ng s ar e located nearby

Arapaho Valley Ranch

Ar ap ah o Va ll ey Ra nc h is a fa mily -o wn ed gu es t ra nc h ne st le d in th e

Ar ap ah o Na ti on al Fo re st ne ar th e

In di an Pe ak s Wi ld er ne ss in Gr an d County

Ac commod at ions ra ng e fr om comfortable glamping tent s and tipis to rustic cabins, traditional campsites, and RV sites.

You ca n fish, hike, or enjoy the tranquilit y of your surround ings

The ra nc h is al so home to the Re d Dog Sa loon. Measur in g just 80 squa re feet with four ba r stools, this sa loon is the sm al le st ba r in Colora do and fe atures a view of Arapaho Peak from the deck

La Junta KOA

The La Junt a KOA prov ides alternative s to tent and RV ca mpin g that elevate the ca mping ex perience

Vi sitors ca n choo se fr om cozy cabin s, includ in g delu xe option s with fu ll amenities, or ex perience an unforgett able st ay in a restored 1928 AT&SF Ra il-

road caboose.

For those who wa nt a more modern ex perience, the Sprout Tiny Home offers a char ming retreat.

The KOA prov ides a ba se for ex plorin g lo ca l at tr ac tion s, such as Be nt ’s Old Fort National Histor ic Site and the Koshare Indian Museum

Colorado Parks & Wildlife

Co lo ra do Pa rk s & Wi ld li fe of fe rs glamping ex periences at yurt s and cabins throughout the St ate Pa rk system

CP W’s yu rt s are ty pica lly equipp ed with fe at ur es li ke he at in g, and some have elec tr ic al outlet s, ma ki ng them suit able for year-round use.

Lo cation s li ke Golden Gate Ca nyon State Park, Mancos State Park, and Pearl La ke St ate Pa rk offer yurt rent als. Ea ch ha s it s ow n sc en ic appe al , and ma ny yurt s are set in secluded area s, prov iding a peacef ul retreat.

CP W’s ca bi ns ra nge fr om ru st ic to more delu xe Amen it ie s va ry depending on location.

La ke side option s include ca bi ns in Steamboat Lake State Park, Sylvan Lake St ate Pa rk and St ate Forest St ate Pa rk . All cabins require a minimum two-night st ay.

Rustic Rook’s gr ain bin villas feature a king bed or two full beds in the lo ft bedroom, a fold out couch, TV and tele scope with dune /mountain views. The firs t floor includes a bathroom, kitchen, and eating area The bins are fully climate controlled and have a concre te patio with seating and a charcoal grill.

Visi t 4 Colorado ranche s for old-fashioned ge taways

By Gi gi Ra gl and Spec ial to Th e De nver Post

Colora do ho st s a be vy of hi st or ic (c entu ry-old) gues t ra nc h pr oper ties from the mounta ins to the va lleys.

A guest ra nch va cation is one of the be st ways to enjoy Colora do’s incred ible wi lder ne ss and na tu ra l wonder s. With over 3. 5 million acres of federa lly protec ted wilder ness cont ained within 41 sepa rate wi lder ne ss area s, four national pa rk s, and 42 st ate pa rk s, there’s an abunda nce of stunning terrain to experience by horseba ck—or two legs

Many of these ranch properties started in the late 1800s as cattle ranches, providing hung ry miners and a grow ing popu-

lation with beef As tourism expanded in the state, some of these histor ic ranches transitioned to dude ra nche s, offer in g guests a ta ste of the Western lifest yle.

Su re , dude ra nc he s have ex is te d in Colorado for a cent ur y or more.

Di sc over four un ique prop er ties located in stunning area s of the state with fascinating orig ins: two traditional dude ra nches and two under-the-ra da r guest ra nch gems.

If the “c abin” wa lls could ta lk , what stor ies they could tell

Cherokee Park Ranch

LIVERMORE

You ca n ge t away from it al l at th is dude ra nc h. In 18 86 , Cher ok ee Pa rk

Cherokee Park Ranch owners preser ve its historical integrit y, showcasing a 120-yearold log lodge and cabins filled with we stern furnishings and antiques, along with displayed buggie s, sleighs, and wagons. RANCHES » PAGE 40

over flows with old-fa sh ione d we st er n char m.

Ra nch wa s a st agec oa ch st op for folk s jour neying from La ra mie to Denver.

The la st 15 mi le s of the dr ive fr om Fort Collins is on a dirt road, a remnant of the route once traveled by stagecoa ch or horseba ck during the 1880s.

“Makes you realize ju st how remote the ra nch is af ter wind ing up and down the ca nyon s with no st op si gn s, st reet li ghts and mo st import antly NO concrete,” says Christine Pr ince, one of the me mb er s of the fa mi ly-owned gues t ra nch.

Se t with in the sc en ic slop es of the Rawa h Wi lder ne ss, near Rock y Mounta in National Pa rk , the hi st or ic ra nch

The ow ners ta ke great ca re in ma inta ining the ra nch’s histor ic al integr it y, ca refully preser ving the struct ures and memorabilia of the era.

In si de th e 12 0- ye ar -o ld ma in lo g lo dg e and th roug hout the lo g ca bi ns , you’ ll se e an ar ray of we st er n- st yle fu rnishin gs and antiques that date ba ck to the ra nc h’s ea rly days . Enjoy a collection of old-fa sh ione d bu gg ie s, slei gh s, and wagons displayed around the proper ty

It mi ght be ha rd to le ave the fr ont porch sw ing of your cabin that overlooks the Ca che La Poud re River, but there’s plenty of horseba ck riding to do at this top-rated dude ra nch.

The ranch maintains its herd of about 130 quar ter horses. Besides the va riet y

of rides for all abilit y levels in the Colorado high countr y, there’s a chance to wran gle catt le and lear n team roping; polish sk ills at the indoor arena, ride out to a secluded river spot to do some fishing, and pa rticipate in the Fr iday night ro deo. Non-riders ca n hi ke , fish, or go river-raf ting.

Later, me et up with the re st of the crew for hayr ides, ma rshmallow roasts under the st ar s, or squa re da nc e and “boot n’ scoot” to live music in the evenings.

The Kids Program hosts fun activities specifica lly ge ared for children from 2 to 12 years old, like horseshoe pa inting, gold pa nning, cr it ter petting, sc avenger hunt s, and horseback riding Book an all-inclusive summer-to-fa ll we ek-lon g ra nch va cation from Satu rday to Fr iday.

Canyon of the Ancients Guest Ranch

CORTEZ

Locate d in the he ar t of Me sa Verde Countr y, the hist or ic guest ra nch is at the ed ge of Ca nyon of the Ancients National Monument , hence it s na me. Nestled within verdant McElmo Ca nyon, the proper ty is surrounded by Ance st ra l Puebloan archeology site s and cliff dwellings, with Sleeping Ute Mounta in looming in the dist ance. Fr om the ra nc h, it ’s le ss th an an hour ’s dr ive alon g the Sout hwes t Color ad o Tr ai l of th e An ci en ts Sc en ic By way to either Me sa Verde Nation al Pa rk , Four Corners Monument , Ca nyon of the Ancients, or Hovenweep National Monument and Sa nd Ca nyon

Once an open cattle ra nch in the late 1880 s, the va st spre ad belonged to Elden Zw icker, a legendar y loca l cowboy A few of the or ig inal buildings rema in. The old stone house where the Zw icker fa mily lived, the cowboy log cabin and the pioneer house.

When ra nch ow ners Ga rr y and Ming Ad am s boug ht the pr op er ty, they rest or ed and renova te d the rema in in g buildings to preser ve the we st er n herit age.

“A n aw ar d-wi nni ng do cum enta ry, ‘A merican Cowboy, ‘ was filmed 28 years ago about Elden and his fa mily ’s ra nchin g life st yle. It is a timele ss piec e that witness how ra nchers worked so ha rd on their la nd. We put it at ea ch guesthouse so gues ts ca n have a chance to se e and unders ta nd the hi st or y,” sa id Ming Adams.

The boutique collection of ranch rentals includes five cabins and guest houses with kitchens decorated in a fusion of Wester n and Native Amer ic an decor, as well as their newest addition, the dwellin gs at Sk y Vi llage. They al so include two guesthou se s de si gned by the couple, the Sk y Kiva and St ar Tower, inspir ed by 80 0-ye ar -old st ruct ur es locate d at ne arby Hovenweep Nation al Monument .

Onsite guests ca n ex perience a blend of the Old We st and Ancient Puebloan cult ure.

When not tour in g the ne arby site s, gu es ts ca n ro am the gr ou nd s, vi si t the an imals (dog s, cats, the incred ible non- ed ible herita ge pe t sheep gr oup, pet cows and chickens), go on an archeolog y tour of the proper ty ’s small ruin site with Indi genous rock ar t, or pitch in with fa rm chor es with Ga rr y and Mi ng , who enjoy me et in g and ta lk in g with guests

A two-night minimum is standard for rent als.

Rainbow Trout Ranch

ANTONITO

The southern Rock ies location of this dude ra nch will ma ke you feel like you ju st loped onto an old-fashioned we ster n movie set. Over a cent ur y ago great cattle dr ives pa ssed through trails leadin g nort h and even outlaw s li ke Butch Ca ssidy and the Sundance Kid roamed the ra nge. This ra nch is a cowboy and fisherm an’s pa ra di se in the midd le of the Sa n Juan Mounta ins within the Rio Grande River Va lley

In the ea rly 1900s, the ra nch st ar ted as a pr ivate fishing club for spor tsmen. For ov er a hu nd re d ye ar s, countles s fly-fi sher men have caug ht ma ny ra inbow trout in the Conejos River that flows through the proper ty

When the ma in lo dge wa s bu ilt in

1920, it wa s considered the la rgest log bu ildi ng of the ti me . A cent ur y later, the histor ic 18,000 -square-foot wooden lodge remains a focal point of the ranch.

For over 30 years, the fa mi ly-owned ra nch ha s be en a labor of love for the Va n Berkums.

“It is tr uly fa mi ly-owned and op erated Between us, we cover all aspects of the operat ions, although we hire a fabulou s st a ff to help in the su mmer and fa ll,” says Ja ne Berkum

Genera tion s of the fa mi ly intera ct with guests daily, from helping out with the horses to joining folk s at meals.

Whether it ’s a ha lf-day or all- day ride with cascading waterfalls and Continental Divide views, there’s a horseback ride for kids and adults from beginner to adva nced Plus, a chance to show off your sk ills in the week ly rodeo.

There’s plenty of onsite ac tivities too, plus a heated sw imming pool

Considered one of the top fly-fishing ra nches in the countr y, guests ca n pa rticipate in the exclusive fly-fishing guiding and teaching prog ra ms offered.

“We focus on an education ba sed program so that our guests can become well

in formed ab out river and fish he alth , and be st pr ac tice s to pr omot e them ,” Berkum says

Pl an an old-fa sh ione d st ea m tr ai n ride ab oa rd “A me ri ca’s Long es t and Hi ghes t Na rr ow Ga ug e to round out your wester n va cation.”

The Cu mbre s & Tolt ec Sc en ic Ra ilro ad ru ns be tw ee n An to ni to an d Ch am a, Ne w Me xi co . Up on ar ri va l, ma ke ar ra ngements with the ra nch.

Arapaho Valley Ranch

GRANBY

It ’s ha rd to imag ine that underneath La ke Gr anby and Sh adow Mounta in water reservoirs, there wa s once an old town and a communit y of ra nches sc attered across pa st ureland.

In the 18 80 s, af te r mi ni ng , lo ca ls turned to ra nching, eventually conver ting to dude and guest ra nch operations as tour ism bega n to grow in the area

Af te r the Colora do Bi g-Thomps on projec t created the reservoirs, only one guest ra nch rema ined, saved by relocating to higher ground near Arapaho National Forest

Perched on the South Fork of the Col-

a private fishing club, it is renowned for rainbow trout fishing in the

orado River, the 40 -a cre spread showca ses some of the or ig inal buildings of the era, such as the ma in lodge, which features the smallest and one of the oldest ba rs in the st ate.

Hayden Hu ghes , ra nch ma na ger of Arapaho Va lley Ra nch (AVR) su ggests “a gr ea t way to im mers e your self in the hi st or y of the ra nch is to clai m a seat at the Red Dog Sa loon, and sip on a dr in k wh ile ta king in the ru st ic se tti ng of a bu ildi ng that is more than a cent ur y old.”

In 2023 , the ra nc h underwent upgr ades to it s fa ci lities and in fr as tr ucture. Guests ca n choose from kitted-out gl ampi ng tent s, tipi s, and wo od ca bins, includ ing a few histor ic choices, to ca mping and RV sites offer ing views of the Colorado River.

Plus, this year, there is a selection of yurt s.

The Gr anby lo ca tion is a midw ay point for ex plor in g Ro ck y Mounta in Nation al Pa rk and Wi nt er Pa rk pl aygrounds.

But there are plenty of ac tivities to enjoy on site These include biking the su rr ou nd in g tr ai ls , ca no ei ng or pa ddl e bo ar di ng Li tt le In di an La ke or nearby Mona rch La ke, fishing for ra inbow trout, or hiking the ma ny trails. If you’re af ter horseba ck riding, kaya king, or ra fting, the host ca n recommend operators nearby.

Ther e’s a tr ad it ion of mu sica l eveni ng s at the ra nc h, fr om gues t songfe st s and gu it ar-picki ng to live mu sic. Th is su mmer, the ra nch wi ll ho st two music weekend getaways with wester n and bluegrass ba nds.

Check their ca lendar for more information. Da ily rent als, open year-round.

Ex plore 7 sc enic hikes on Fron t Range

running alongside, the area is a popular place for hiking, biking, fishing and

Check out these ea sy-to-moderate hikes within 2 hours of Denver

By Jenni fer Broome

Spec ial to Th e De nver

Post

The Front Ra nge is packed with scenic trails, but some tr uly st and out.

With st unning geology, histor y, and un beat able views, these trails are all within two hours of Denver some are just 30 minutes away

Red Mountain Open Space

A Geologic Wonderland Drive time: 1.5 hours

Ju st 25 mi le s nort h of Fort Coll in s,

Re d Mounta in Op en Sp ac e is 55 ,0 00 acres of colorf ul rock formations, sa ndy wa shes, and rolling grasslands reminiscent of a Sout hwest de sert-like ex perience.

A 3.7-mi le lo op combin in g Si nk in g Su n, Bi g Hole Wa sh , and Bent Ro ck

Tr ai ls ta ke s you th roug h vibr ant and ru gg ed la nd sc ap es , includ in g a dr amatic canyon with striking geolog ic formation s, ma ki ng the hi ke educ at iona l and scenic

As you follow the creek th roug h the ca nyon, you will see millions of years of uplift , fold ing, and erosion. Po st -h ik e hi gh li gh t: Gr ab a sl ic e of ho me ma de pi e at Me Oh My Co ffe e and Pie in La port e or lo ok for the La ra mi e Fo ot hi ll s Bi so n Co ns er vati on He rd in So ap st on e Pr ai ri e Na tur al Ar ea .

Barr Lake State Park

A birder’s paradise

Drive time: 30 minute s

Ha lf wi ld li fe re fu ge and ha lf re creat iona l la ke , Ba rr La ke St at e Pa rk is a haven for bi rdwatchers, with over 370 specie s recorded A pa ir of ba ld eagles ha s nested here since 1986.

Hike the 8.8-mile loop or ex plore the wild life refuge’s boardwalks and ga zebos more leisurely. The best spot to view ba ld eagles, pelica ns, and herons is the

LEFT: Red Mountain Open Space is 55,000 acre s of colorful rock formations, sandy washes, and rolling gr as slands reminiscent of a Southwes t de sert-like experience

RIGHT: Half wildlife re fuge and half recreational lake, Barr Lake State Park is a haven for birdwatchers.

Hikes

FROM PAGE 42

Ga ze bo Bo ar dw al k, an ea sy 1. 3-mi le wa lk from the Nature Center for a 2.6mile round-tr ip hike. The wild life wonderment is especially enchanting during a sunr ise stroll

Post-h ike hi gh li ght: Pick fresh fr uit and flowers at Berr y Patc h Fa rm s in Br ighton

Caribou Ranch

Open Space

Mining, music history Drive time: 1 hour

Near Nederland, this 2,15 1-acre open spac e sits be tween 8, 30 0 and 10,0 00 fe et . The 3-mi le Blue Bi rd Lo op and Delonde Trail ta kes you through pines, as pe ns , me adow s, and the Colora do & Nor thwe st er n Ra il way re mn ants , once dubbed the “S witzerla nd Trai l of Amer ic a.” Hi ke the shor t spur trai l to the Blue Bird Mine Complex to wa nder around hist or ic mining struct ures, includ ing the bunk house feat ured in several movies.

The toug he st pa rt of the hi ke is a shor t incline up for an elevation ga in of 85 feet out of the meadow. While rich in mining and ranching histor y, it also ha s a fa scinating tie to the music industry.

From 19 71 to 1985, over 150 ar tist s, includ in g Bi lly Joel, John Denver, Rod Stewar t, and U2 , recorded albums. Ca ribou Ra nch Recording Studio produced 45 top-ten albums, 10 Grammy awards, and 20 number-one Billboard hits from this pr istine alpine setting.

Nederland, Caribou Ranch, a 2,151-acre open space, sits be tween 8,300 and 10,000 feet HIKES » PAGE 44

Post-hike highlight: Visit Nederland and ride the ha nd-c ar ved Ca rousel of Happiness.

Mount Falcon Park

Historic ruins Drive time: 30 minute s

Hi ke to the st one ru in s of a gr and 19 09 home and the corner st one of a pr es id en ti al su mm er Wh it e Ho us e drea m. Connec t Ca st le , Me adow, and Towe r Tr ai ls at Mount Fa lc on We st Trai lhea d for a 4-mi le hist or y-pa cked loop.

Hi ke fir st to the Ea gle Eye Shelter, once a fa mi ly su mmer cabin. St op for an overlook view of downtown Denver, then cont inue to the 1914 corner st one for a “c astle in the clouds.”

Goin g th is rout e save s the be st for la st In 19 09, Jo hn Br is be n Wa lk er bu ilt a grand home for his wife Et hel. It burned in 1918, but it s ruins rema in. For a toug her workout with a 2,00 0foot elevation ga in, st ar t at the Morr ison Trailhea d.

Post-h ike hi gh li ght: Ex plore Morr ison Natural Histor y Museum or see over 300 dinosaur tr acks at Dinosaur Ridge.

Silver Dollar Lake

A trio of alpine lakes Drive time: 1.5 hours

Why hi ke to one alpi ne la ke when you ca n see three on an epic wild flower hike?

Ne ar the su mm it of Gu anel la Pa ss , Si lver Doll ar La ke Tr ai l is a mo derat ely chal leng in g 4-mi le hi ke with rewa rd ing views of Naylor, Silver Dollar, and Murray La kes if you’re up for an ex tra chal lenge. A st eep incline at the st ar t leads to rolling terrain, wild flowers, and cr ysta l- clea r alpine la kes, idea l for a picnic.

Post-hike highlight: Ex plore histor ic Geor ge town and ride the Geor ge town Loop Ra ilroad

Waterton Canyon

Bighorn sheep spotting Drive time: 30 minute s

Odds are in your favor to spot bighorn sheep on th is ea sy tr ai l alon g a wide , flat dirt road follow ing the South Plat te River, which is idea l for all sk ill levels

At 2. 5 miles in, a rock y crag prov ides the best chance to spot bi ghor n sheep, some ti me s even cr os si ng the tr ai l to dr in k from the river.

Turn around for a 5-mile hike or continue deeper into the ca nyon Since this is the st ar t of the Colora do Tr ai l, you mi ght encounter some lon g- di st ance hikers beginning their trek to Dura ngo.

Post-hike highlight: Cool off at Chatfield Reservoir or grab a beer at Living the Drea m Brew ing in nearby Littleton.

Roxborough State Park

Red Rocks alternative Drive time: 45 minute s

Towering rock formations and unique geolog y ma ke this one of the most sce -

nic st at e pa rk s alon g the Front Ra nge.

The 2. 3-mile Fountain Valley Trail loops through dramatic red sa ndstone

It also ta kes you pa st the 1907 house and ba rn of Henr y Persse, who wa nted to turn the land into a resort in the early 1900s.

For a more chal leng in g 5-mi le hi ke , connec t Wi llow Creek and Sout h Ri m Tr ai ls for pa nora mic view s, ev en of

downtown Denver on a clea r day.

Post-h ike hi gh li ght: Play a round at Ar rowhea d Golf Course or head to Epic Sk y Trek in Ca st le Rock Nort h Americ a’s la rges t fr ee st andi ng aeri al ch allenge course is fa mily-f riendly. Gr ab your ba ck pa ck , la ce up your boot s, and hit these spec ta cu la r Front Ra nge tr ai ls ea ch a fu n advent ur e with nearby post-hike gems to enjoy.

Food halls to fuel your ou tdoor adventures

Va il Mounta in.

By Sh au na Fa rnel l

Spec ial to Th e De nver

Post

Fi nd in g a me al option th at do esn’ t re qu ir e a sit- down -a nd-b e- served situation is vita l be fore or af ter a hi ke , bi ke ride , sw im , or what ever you plan to ta ck le outside in the summer

You mi ght prefer qu ick me al s for a we ekend ge taway, but st il l wa nt qualit y cuisine. That ’s where food ha lls are ha ndy, and more ta st y than fa st fo od rest aura nt s.

Trending worldw ide, Colorado ha s no

shor tage of mu lt i- st alled food ma rket s where ever yone in the group ca n find something they ’re crav ing.

Three popular summer recreation area s Va il, Si lver thor ne and Fort Collins are home to next-level food ha lls.

Avanti Vail

As it s fla gship Denver lo cation celebrate s it s 10 th an nivers ar y, the ne w Avanti Va il launched onto a rocket-like trajec tory this winter, becoming an inst ant hub and br in gi ng much-nee de d bu zz to the Golden Pe ak ba se area at

Option s include gr ab -a nd-go brea kfa st (a ma zi ng coffee and lots of gourme t eg g sa ndwich choice s) at De to or, which transfor ms into a high-end brasserie in the evening. It offers br uschet ta , meat and cheese plates, and one of the va lley ’s most comprehensive caviar and oyster ba rs.

Glo’s raw se afoo d option s ar e even more plenti fu l, with fr esh su sh i and (cooked) ra men bowls.

Boychik’s Mediterranean fare hits the perfec t ba la nce of nour ishing yet comfort in g and offer s some of the ta st ie st hummus this side of the globe.

There’s always room for a pizza joint,

especial ly Powder Crus t, which serves thin-crust It alia n-st yle pizza using only non- GMO ingred ient s. For ultimate comfor t food af ter a long hike or bike ride, you can’t beat Backyard Burgers, especially its dolled-up gr illed cheese sandwich. The bar’s offer ings are equally next-level, with a long list of creative specia lt y dr inks and at least a few beat-the -heat frozen cock tails.

Winter proved that Avanti Va il is ever yone’s new favorite après spot . Since opening in ea rly season, sk iers and snowboarders have thronged the indoor and outdoor spaces, da ily noshing on snacks as a live DJ thumped music.

The plac e double s down on it s outdoor après offer ings for summer.

The weekend live entertainment continues with a lineup of DJs, ba nd s, and si nger -son gw riters as Av anti’s gr as sy outd oor spa ce be come s a sprawl in g competition ground for lawn ga mes.

It also host s week ly tr iv ia , free outdoor movies, and pa rties. Check Avanti’s Happenings page for the full lineup of summer events

Ne ar es t ad ve ntur e: Hi ke the st eep and lu sh Be rr y Pick er Tr ai l on Va il Mounta in

The Exchange in Fort Collins

Not so much a food ha ll as an openair food cour t, The Exchange is a collection of small businesses housed in shipping cont ainers

While ea ch rest aura nt ha s an indoor se at in g ar ea , ther e’s plenty of sh ar ed dining space outdoors

Re st au ra nt s include lo ca ls’ favorite Vato Ta co s, wh ic h sp ec ia li ze s in cr eat ive, a ffor dable , and authentic ta co s (the Baja shrimp is a must-order), quesa dillas, burr itos, and numerous tequila s and cock ta ils.

If you’re crav ing something more Italia n but with a simila r ha nd held appeal La Piadina is the place for freshma de folded (t aco-st yle) flatbreads. For visitors with more time on their ha nd s, Penrose is a full-sca le pub and taphouse with a spacious patio. It special iz es in fa rm-t o-table pub fa re , includ in g sa la ds, sa ndwiches, cock ta ils, and a leng thy craf t beer menu

Sp ea ki ng of cr af t be er, and bein g situated in it s Colora do epicenter, with 25 brewer ie s arou nd town, Fo Co Beer Collective ma ke s sa mpling ea sy. With a de ep, ro ta ti ng va riet y of excellent brew s from Color ado and be yond , it ’s ea sy to enjoy wh ile ever yone in your pa rt y grabs their gr ub of choice

An ot he r ne wi sh ne ig hb or in Th e Exchan ge is Yellow Crun ch, a Colombian empa na da haunt with fr ied pocket s for ever y pa late, arepas, trad itiona l, authentic Colombia n dishes, and ta st y ma rgar it as Ever ything on the menu is gluten-f ree and ma de from scratch.

The Exchange offers more than restaurants. It ha s a putt-put t venue, a pilates studio, and Wobble HiFi, the latest vendor to open a shop. Wobble HiFi is a listening bar with an ex pansive vinyl collection and high-fidelity sound system.

The Exchan ge’s cent er piec e qu it e litera lly oc cupy in g a toweri ng former grain silo in the midd le of the ac tion is Churn ice crea m. On busy af ternoons, you’ ll likely have to wa it in line for your cone or cup, but it will give you time to ma ke the tough decision of which (some quite eclectic) flavor(s) to order.

The Exchange is an open-air food cour t with busine sses in shipping containers, o ffering both indoor and outdoor seating.

Ther e is a re gu la r ro tation of fr ee live concer ts on site, as well as corn hole tournaments with surprising talent that is hy pnotizing to watch.

Nearest adventure: Spla sh around at Poud re River Whitewater Pa rk Bluebird Market in Silverthorne

Most people ca n ag ree that there is a dear th of high-qua lity yet reasonably priced food options near major ski areas. The exception is Bluebird Ma rket

Th is la rge spac e is home to Cr ep es

A La Cart , perhaps the mo st deliciou s wrap imag inable, whether savory (go for Pe st o Ch icken), swee t (L emon Sou ffle, plea se) or breakfast (the vegg ie is oozing with eg g, sauce and green st uff ).

No ma d Co ff ee wi ll ju mp st ar t consciousness in the morning, while Summit Sc oops (t he riches t choc olat e ic e cr ea m ar ou nd) or a fr es hl y dipp ed co ok ie at Cloud City wi ll sati sf y your sweet tooth.

Grab a Baja shrimp taco at long-standing loca l haunt Chimayo, a wood-fired

pizza at Melody’s Trattoria, a flaky empanada at Lazo, a green chile burger at Chef Daddy’s, a st acked BLT at Independent Deli, or freshly made soup and bread at Colorado Marketplace & Bakery. Bluebi rd’s mo st exciti ng ne w additions include a taphouse (après outpost) of Boulder brewer y icon Upslope. Silver thor ne’s histor ic Old Dillon Inn wi ll re op en th is su mmer for the fir st ti me si nc e 20 07. In al l of it s or ig in al glor y, the in n wi ll be enclosed with in the wa lls and roof of Bluebird Ma rket . Initia lly welcoming customers in the 1800 s, the st ruct ure wa s move d from Old Dillon to Silver thor ne when the Dillon reservoir filled the old town site in the 1950s. The inn’s new menu still focuses on Wester n-infused Mexica n fa re and a broa d as sort ment of wi ne , beer and cock ta ils.

The Old Di llon In n, circ a 2025, wi ll also serve brea kfast and lunch. Keep an eye on Bluebird’s site for further details. With a small outdoor patio feat ur ing herb boxe s where fo od ie s ca n sn ip off fresh ingredients, the Bluebird hosts the occa sional outdoor live concer t and DJ. Howe ver, one of the Ma rket ’s mo st winning feat ures is it s indoor Play Ga rten a ma ssive, enclosed area of slides and playgrou nd where kids ca n enterta in themselves and burn ex tra energy while pa rent s enjoy the surround ing bierga rten Neares t adventure: Pa dd leboard on Nort h Pond or hi ke/bike on Sa lt Lick trail.

These 7 pa tios feel like back yard parties

By Sh au na Fa rnel

l Spec ial to Th e De nver Post

Nothing beat s a cold pint of frothy suds in the su mmer except for sippin g it at a brewer y that doubles as a giant ba ck ya rd pa rt y.

Wi th Co lor ad o’ s mi nd -b og gl in g bounty of cr af t brewer ie s, there are a fe w st andout s for thei r ex pa nsive patios, lawn ga me s and outdoor live music. If you wa nt to ma ke the br ewer y your outside ac tivity for the day, here’s where to go

Breckenridge Brewer y LITTLETON

As a te st ament to it s sprawl in g outdo or sp ac e, th e Br ec ke nr id ge Br ewer y’s Litt le ton lo ca tion re fers to it self

as a “c ampu s.”

Indeed, the proper ty ’s “Far m House,” wh ic h chur ns out some of the mo st scru mptiou s brewer y fo od you’ ve ever ta st ed (a ma zi ng sa la ds and fish and ch ip s), si ts on 15 ac re s, includ in g a sprawling green lawn next to the South Plat te River and recreation trail.

Jo ckey for a picn ic ta ble or fir epit spot , ta ke a round on the boc ce cour t, and enjoy live mu sic on the outdoor st ag e wh ile sippin g your re fr es hi ng glas s of su mmer y brew s li ke Pa li sa de Pe ac h or Mounta in Be ac h ($3 du ri ng happy hour).

The brewer y ha s also pa rtnered with KBCO to host la rge-sc ale ticketed concerts with internationally acclaimed ar tists. Keep an eye on the ca lendar.

Patios

New Terrain

GOLDEN

New Terrain’s outdoor appeal is enha nc ed by it s lo cation at the ba se of North Table Mounta in, where you ca n st ar t hiking or biking directly from the pa rk ing lot.

You may ne ed to ta ke a fe w la ps arou nd the prop er ty be fore findi ng a se at on a we ekend when the plac e is teeming with brew fa ns, dogs and kids

The vi be is fe st ive th roug hout the week , especially with a regu la r lineup of free conc er ts on the outdoor st age, at least one food tr uck (usually two) onsite ever y day of the week , bike demos, and gear festivals.

The Golden br ewer y always ha s a ta st y se asonal conc oc tion on tap, but su mmer favorite s include the Su nt rip Belg ia n Wit, Golden Ha ze IPA, and Mirage sour

Knotted Root

NEDERLAND

Tucked off the beaten path in a quiet corner of Ne de rl an d, Kn ot te d Ro ot ma ke s noise with some of the ta st ie st craf t suds that even the most disc er nin g beer connoisseu rs wi ll appreciate, as well as a ca sual and ex pa nsive patio for sipping and dog-watching.

You’ ll se e plenty of mounta in bi ke s le an in g on the fenc e su rrou nd in g the gr avel lawn , wher e you ca n perc h at a sa gg y picn ic ta ble or ha nd-pai nt ed ba rrel to sip a heft y (7-8 percent ABV), ev er -r ot at in g conc oc tion of IPAs or smoothie sours.

Fo od tr ucks la nd here from Thursday to Sunday, along with a live DJ on Thurs day, a va riet y of live mu sic on Fr idays and Saturdays, and live ja zz on Sunday

Outer Range

FRISCO

Th is aw ar d-wi nn in g br ewer y is an aprè s la nd in g hub for lo ca l and vi sitin g ad ve nt ur er s in bo th wi nt er and summer.

In su mmer, the down st ai rs lawn is cr an ki ng with corn hole rounds and tunes, the latter delivered live by DJ or regional mu sician s at le ast one day of the we ek . Though fa mous for it s ha zy IPAs, Outer Ra nge ha s st epped up it s game in lagers, pilsners, stouts, saisons and Belgians. There are multiple new releases ever y Fr iday and a festival nearly ever y summer weekend.

If the dog sc ene be come s too much for you in the down st ai rs covere d patio or outside lawn, there’s also a dogfree deck upst airs with amazing views of Mount Royal and surrounding peak s.

Outer Range Brewer y is a vibr ant spot for locals and visitors, featuring cornhole game s and live music in the summer RIGHT: New Belgium’s flagship location hosts a lively atmosphere each summer weekend with diverse beer selections, including exclusive small-batch brews. Outdoor seating, bike racks, and large lawn game s enhance the experience, while communit y events like live music and the Foco Fondo bike event keep the excitement alive.

Patios

On-sit e Bi rdcr af t re st au ra nt serves some of Amer ic a’s best gluten-f ree fr ied chicken and ta st y tuna tots.

New Belgium

FORT COLLINS

Needing no introduc tion, the flagship lo cation of one of Color ado’s mo st famous and longest-sta nd ing microbrewer ies feels like a mini-C oa chella festival ever y weekend of the summer.

The place offers a dizz ying selection of beers, including rare old favorites and br and-ne w, sm al l- batc h rele as es on ly available at the brewer y.

The outdoor se at in g wr ap s ar ou nd

the ma ssive building, where bike ra ck s and two-wheelers of all shapes and sizes are piled ever ywhere, like in Belg ium.

You ca n find super-sized lawn ga mes whenever you li ke (t hink Ka n Ja m but with full-sized cans and yoga ba lls), and quirky, fun, communit y-minded events fill New Belg ium’s ca lendar.

Thes e include li ve mu sic, outdoor line da ncing, swaps (puzzles, ge ar, etc. br ing the item for a free Fat Tire), tap ta lk s and one of the mo st fe st ive bi ke events in Amer ic a the Fo co Fondo, July 19 -20.

Stodgy

FORT COLLINS

A ne wer br ewer y in the neig hb orho od-y side of nort hwes t Fort Coll in s, St od gy fe el s li ke some one’s do ct or ed ba ck ya rd.

It fe at ur es ou td oo r sp ac e in bo th th e fr on t an d ba ck of th e pr op er ty, comple te with st ri ng li ghts and ha ndma de pi cn ic ta bles wi th tr ee st umps for se at s.

Ru st ic as it mi ght lo ok , ther e’s no ques tion th at St od gy know s how to th row a pa rt y. In addition to regu la r taps of new brews, the place host s ba ck patio drag shows, ha rvest celebrations, and flower crow ns on the summer solstice.

There’s also a food tr uck on site most days It ’s the on ly brewer y in the st at e to use 100 percent Colora do ma lt s and nearly all Colorado hops.

Goat Patch

COLORADO SPRINGS

Newer to Colora do’s craf t beer scene, Goat Patch oc cupies a smal l corner of

northern Colora do Springs. It ’s a la rge, enclosed gravel beer garden with mounta in views.

The sense of ca ma ra derie and community runs strong here, especially with Goat Patch’s Bleating Hear ts Initiative, wh ich donate s $1 from ever y pint to a loca l nonprofit . The be er ga rden come s al ive ever y weekend with free live ja ms cour tesy of the Summer Music Series, and there’s always a round of corn hole going. With a na me li ke th is, goat s ma ke a su mmerti me appe ar ance , usua lly in the form of goat yoga , and peda l pa rties happen ever y Thur sd ay with mu sic bi ngo and craf ts throughout the week

The Patch’s brew s have won awards and rotate regula rly, but for summer refreshment, you ca n’t go wrong with the Limeade Shandy.

Disc over state’s 11 best roof top bars

the deck at Corrida in Boulder in 2024.

Check out Burn Down, Ra re Bird, Ha lo and Stella r Jay

By

Br it ta ny An as

Spec ial to th e De nver Post

Why ventu re fa rt her when you ca n go hi gher for a su mmerti me es cape? Color ado’s be st ro of tops be ckon you to sip co ck ta il s

du ring golden hour and enjoy the gorge ou s si ghtl ines of the Ro ck y Mounta ins, citysc apes, and other pa nora ma s. Some prov ide a soundtra ck with live

ba nd s; ot hers let your dog join you for an al fresco af ternoon.

Here are 11 of the be st roof top ba rs around the st ate where you ca n enjoy a cock ta il (or mock ta il) this summer

BurnDown in Denver

BurnDown, a bar on South Broadway, boasts fa nt astic views from the roof top deck

“You ca n see the entire Front Ra nge

from Pi ke’s Pe ak al l the way to Long s Peak ,” sa id Alex Vickers, director of oper at ions and ma na gi ng op er at or. “O n clea r days, you ca n see Red Rock s, and, in the even in gs , you ca n even se e the concer ts lighting up the rock s.”

Ba r-goers ca n use the ba r’s commercial-g rade 25 X zoom set of binoculars to scope out the scener y.

Some popu la r su mmer cock ta ils include the Spray Tan, a coconut margarita with a toasted coconut rim, and the Bell of the Ba ll, a new vege table gin dr in k with freshly muddled red bell peppers.

Ha ng with the cool kids on a Thursday for the City Su ns et Mu sic Series , wh ich ru ns from Ju ne to late Au gu st , and includes concer ts on the third-floor open terrace.

Ad dr es s: 476 S. Br oa dw ay, Denver; burndowndenver.com

Rare Bird in Denver

Ne w for the 2025 su mmer ro of top season, Ra re Bird, an eighth-floor rooftop in Cherry Creek, will debut its woodfired oven

Fresh o ff a remodel, Tamayo’s de sign nods to Mexico, with woven gr as s fabrics, hemp tassel chandeliers, and an earth-toned color pale tte with pops of bright color.

Tamayo in Denver

It wi ll co ok di shes li ke a Colora do Pi zz a topp ed with gr een ch il i, gr il le d cheese, and a zest y tomato dip.

On to p of th e Ha lc yo n ho te l, th e ro of top ba r dr aw s a mi x of lo ca ls and to ur is ts an d wi ll ke ep a bu sy so ci al ca lend ar, with pi zz a cl as se s and tr iv ia ni gh ts on th e se co nd Tu es da y of ever y mont h.

On the la st Wednesday of the month from May to Oc tober, da re we say Ra re Bird transfor ms into a woof top? That ’s when pups can at tend “Bird Dog” happy hours

Addres s: 24 5 Columbine St ., Denver; halcyonhotelcherrycreek.com/dining-incher ry-creek /rare-bird

If ma rgar it as are your favorite summer sipp er s, go to the ro of top terr ac e at Ta mayo, Richard Sa ndoval’s modern Mexica n re st au ra nt that ’s be en a La rimer Squa re fix ture for nearly 25 years. Fresh off a remodel, the rest aura nt ’s design nods to Mexico, with woven grass fabr ic s, hemp ta ssel chandeliers, and an ea rt h-toned color pa le tt e with pops of br ight color.

The ba r is st ocked with over 100 tequilas and mezcals, and Tamayo’s signature cocktails like the spic y mango marga rita pa ir delightf ully with snacks like pork belly guac amole.

The ro of top crowd enjoys view s of Denver ’s sk yl ine and La ri mer Squa re , which char ms with it s si gnat ure ha mmo ck of tw in kl in g li ghts dr ap ed over the block .

Halo, on the 19th floor of the Kimpton

roo ftop bar at 5,817 feet

Addr es s: 14 00 La ri mer St ., Denver; ta mayodenver.com

Halo in Denver

A rela ti ve ne wc omer to Colora do’s roof top bar scene, Ha lo is located on the 19 th floor of the Kimpton Claret Hotel, a st ylish spot that opened la st summer in the Denver Te ch Cent er ’s Bellev iew St ation neighborhood

Perched at 5,817 feet , Ha lo st akes the claim for Denver ’s highest open-air rooftop ba r.

Hotel gues ts and lo ca ls ca n ta ke in si ghts of the Fr ont Ra nge and Cher ry Cr eek Re servoi r wh ile enjoyi ng ma defor- su mmer sips li ke the Su nset Spritz , spiked with Ap er ol and Pi ne apple Tepa che (a fe rmente d dr in k), and Ta ke Me to He av en , a pe ac h- laven de r gi n co ck ta il

Halo will continue its live music series

ever y Wednesday through Saturday this summer, feat ur ing loca l ar tist s. Addres s: 6985 E Chenango Ave, Denver; ha loba rdenver.com

West End Tavern in Boulder

We st End Taver n’s ro of top ba r on Pe arl St re et ha s been a Boulder favorit e si nc e 1987. The ex pa nsive 80 -s eat deck ’s planters bloom with wild flowers, and the space offers front-row views of the Flatirons.

Or, ha ng out in the more pr ivate Beaver’s Roof top Bar, which features a mini forest of spruce and aspen trees. Th is Boulder haunt fe at ur es excellent happy hour sp ec ia ls li ke “W in gs and Wh iske y Wednesdays” with wh iskeys and $1 buffalo wings all day. Happy hour happens from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Fr iday and includes seemingly

even la nd in g on Ti me’s 2025 ed it ion of the “World’s Gr eate st Pl ac es .”

54thirty Rooftop in Denver

Sorr y Gorgeous in Denver

inflation-proofed $6 cock ta ils and eats like Tavern queso ($6), fr ied clams ($6), and sliders ($7).

Thra sher Thursdays at Beaver ’s Rooftop Ba r is an all- day happy hour ex travagan za capped with live mu sic from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Address: 926 Pearl St., Boulder, thewestendtaver n.com

Stellar Jay in Denver

Popu lu s is the popu la r ne w hotel in town, de signed to mimic an aspen tree,

Th e 13 th -fl oo r ro of to p re st au ra nt an d ba r St el la r Ja y ha s be au ti fu l ar ched wi ndow s th at fr ame the view s ov er lo ok in g th e do wn to wn sk yl in e, Colora do’s gold capitol dome , and the Ro ck y Mounta in s.

The live -fi re cook in g feels ju st ri ght in th e su mm er, le nd in g a ca mp fi re aroma. Outside, the hotel’s bibliophilic de si gn cont inue s with lu sh plants and comf y patio fu rn it ure, perfec t for se ttl in g into for a ni ghtc ap li ke a Su nset Mule ma de fizzy with blood orange ginger beer.

Address: 240 14th St., Denver; stellarjayrestaurant.com

We’r e in the Mi le Hi gh City, but at 54 th ir ty (a ba r na me d af ter it s elev ation), you ca n ascend a little higher and get 150 feet closer to the sun. Th is spac ious ro of top ba r is on top of Le Méridien , acro ss from the Colora do Convention Cent er and a couple of bloc ks fr om the De nv er Pe rf or min g Ar ts Complex. In addition to serving some of the best mounta in views in the city, 54th ir ty ha s a co ck ta il menu that rotates with the seasons, shareable snacks like elote corn dip, and cozy seating around fire pits for those cooler summer nights

Address: 1475 California St.; 54thirty.com

Ri No ’s ne w So rr y Go rg eo us ba r opened in Oc tober and ha s interiors as beautiful as the views outside.

Abigail Plantier, the founder of Ma ximalist, an interior de si gn and branding fir m, wa nted the bounda ries of this float in g ro of top oa si s to blur She accomplishe d th is with de ep ta nz an it e wa lls and ceilin gs that create a transition to the ni ght sk y, al lowi ng the architec ture to recede so the sk yline ta kes center st age visually

Sorr y Gorgeous is on the 12th floor of Novel Ri No by Crescent Communities, a mi xed-use apar tment commun it y. It is

Rooftop ba rs

FROM PAGE 52

close to Mission Ba ll room , so you ca n stop for pre- concer t cock ta ils.

Addres s: 1350 40 th St .; entrance on Wa lnut Street , Denver; sorr ygorgeousroof top.com

Fire Restaurant & Lounge in Denver

Here’s a ridd le: Where ca n you find an ocea n view within Denver?

You’ ll find the an swer when you ascend to the four th floor of The Ar t, a hotel that comm is sioned a 10 0-foot-lon g piece of beach ar t from ar tist Rob Reynolds to be di splaye d acro ss the st re et from FIRE Rest aura nt & Lounge

The roof top patio ha s outdoor seating around fire tables, a summer cockta il menu, and prog ra mming like “Sunset Sessions” feat ur ing DJ Br ia n Howes from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. ever y Fr iday from May 23 to Aug. 29

Gues ts ca n also br in g thei r dogs to “Yappy Hour ” from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sundays from May 25 to Aug. 31 and enjoy 20% off deals, plus Tito’s donates $1 per cock tail sold during Yappy Hour to a loca l dog fund ra iser.

Ad dr es s: 12 01 Br oa dw ay, De nv er ; thea rthotel.com/dine -d rink /fire

Corrida in Boulder

Sip gin and tonics, snack on tapas, and take in the spectacular unhindered views of the flatirons at Corr ida, a Spanish-inspired chophouse in downtown Boulder with an open-a ir patio and glassed-in restaurant that took over a space in the former Daily Camera newspaper building. If that ’s not alluring enough, Corr ida’s roof top host s the Summer Sunset Series events, which include live music. Upcoming events are scheduled for June 19, Aug. 7, and Sept 18

Addres s: 1023 Wa lnut St ., Suite 400, Boulder; corr idaboulder.com

Devil’s Kitchen in Grand Junction

Golden hour hits di fferently on the We st er n Slop e with the li ght il lu minating ea rthy cr imson rock formations for a fiery alpenglow. Af ter a day of adventu re at the ar ea’s at tr ac tion s li ke Colora do Nation al Monu ment , Gr and Me sa , or Ratt le snake Arches , unwi nd on the four th floor of Hotel Maverick at the bout ique hotel’s on-sit e re st au ra nt ca lled Devil’s Kitchen.

You’re in peach countr y, so the summer dr in k of choice here is the Pe ach Haba nero Ma rgar it a. Ripe, sweet Pa lisa de peache s sourced from PeachFork Orchards ta me that kick of haba nero.

Addr es s: 84 0 Kennedy Ave., Gr and Junc tion; devilskitchenrestaurant.com

Fire Re staurant & Lounge is located on the four th floor of The Ar t hotel in Denver and o ffers outdoor seating with fire tables and a summer

Your ul tima te guide to more than 80 summer fe stivals

Celebrate food, music, ar t, and culture from Memorial Day to La bor Day

By Sa ra h Kuta

Spec ial to Th e De nver Post

Every su mmer, commun it ie s ac ro ss Colora do come together

to celebr at e fo od , mu sic, da nc e, ar t, cu lt ure, and herita ge. It mi ght sound Pollya nn ai sh , but th is ye ar espe cial ly, thes e an nu al ga ther in gs

ca n serve as a ra re br ig ht sp ot du ri ng an ot herw is e ch al leng in g moment . My advice? Tu rn off your news aler ts—e ven for a long we ekend—and get out there.

Chat up someone who doesn’t look or sound like you, order a dish with ingredients you’ ve never heard of, da nce an unfamilia r jig, suppor t an up -a nd-coming ar tist , give a stranger a high five at a concer t, and ba sk in the serenity of Colorado’s abunda nt wilder ness

As you star t planning for the summer, consider at tend in g these Colora do festiva ls be tween Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Editor’s note: We di d our be st to incl ud e as ma ny fe st iv al s as hu ma nl y possible (n o ar tificial intelligen ce here!) But if you know of one we missed , plea se let us kn ow.

May

MAY 22-26

Mo un ta in fi lm Fe st iv al . Cr av in g a ro ad tr ip? Point your whee ls towa rd Tellur ide for the Mounta infilm Festival. Spend Memorial Day weekend in Telluride at this film festival, which ha s been celebrat in g the “i ndom it able spir it ” of do cu ment ar y fil mm ak in g si nc e 19 79 Tellur id e.

MAY 23-26

Pl an et V. Ca n’ t ma ke it to Bu rn in g Ma n? Do n’ t sw ea t it , he ad to Pl an et V in st ea d. In spir ed by the an nu al Neva da de sert fe st iv al , Pl anet V is a mi x of live mu sic, ca mpin g and gl ampi ng , im me rs iv e ar t, wo rk sh op s, fir e an d ci rc us pe rf or ma nc es , ka ra ok e, sound he al in g and more Th is ye ar ’s mu sica l guests include Ra ndom Rab, Ma nic Focu s, Evan Hatfield and Tone Ra nger, to na me a fe w. Ca mpV, Ee 26 Ro ad , Va nco ru m.

GR ACE SMITH THE DENV ER PO ST

Jaydn Lewis, 3, at tempts to pop a bubble during the June teenth Music Fe stival in Denver on June 17, 2023. The two-day fe stival, began Saturday and continued into Sunday, taking over a portion of Welton Street

MAY 23-25

Me ad ow Gr as s Mu si c Fe st iv al .

There’s nothing quite like the giddy joy you feel at tend ing your first music festiva l of the summer—a nd, luck y for us, th at ’s us ua lly Me adow Gr as s. Now in it s 16th ye ar, th is Memorial Day gather in g feat ures perfor ma nc es by nearly two- dozen ba nds, ca mping, work shops, yoga , a beer fest , a song wr iting contest and other fa mily-f riendly ac tivities La Foret Conferen ce & Retreat Center, 6145 Sh oup Road , Colora do Springs.

MAY 23-26

Bou ld er Cr ee k Fe st iv al . Bo ul de r Creek Fest and the annual Bolder Boulder 10K ra ce are Boulder’s official kickoff to summer Grab the kids and head up U.S. 36 for a weekend filled with food, music, entert ainment, shopping, a beer fe st ival, an ar t batt le and ot her fu n in the sun. Boul der Creek Path , 1212 Can-

yon Boul evard, Boul der.

MAY 24 -25

Denver Arts Festival. Show some love to Colora do’s ma ny ta lent ed ar tist s by at tend in g th is tw o- day event, wh ic h is ba ck for it s 26th ye ar. Peru se thei r ma ster pieces while enjoying live music, food, dr inks and kids’ ar t activities. Central Park Conser vatory Green, 8304 E. 49th Pl ace, Denver

MAY 24 -26

Territory Days “C ow boy core” is al l the rage this year, and you ca n get in on the trend by at tend in g Terr it or y Days Th is ye ar is a bi g one for the fe st iv al , wh ic h is celebr at in g it s 50 th an niversa ry Help them celebr at e by donn in g your favorite cowboy hat and riding the mechan ic al bu ll, pa nnin g for gold and ja mm in g out to live mu sic. Old Colora do City, Colora do Av enue be tw ee n

23rd and 27th streets, Colorado Springs. May 30 -31 Mike the Headless Chicken Fe st ival The st or y behi nd th is Fr uita festival is just as biza rre as it sounds: It honors Mike, a chicken that reported ly lived for 18 months without a head in the late 1940s. Today, the two- day ba sh includes a 5K run, a car show, music, food, drinks, games, a Peep eating contest and lots of chicken cost umes. Fr uita .

MAY 31-JUNE 1

Outside Festival. Ba ck for it s second year in the Mile High City, the Outside Festival includes movie screenings, conversat ions with top at hlet es and ot her chan ge -maker s, cl imbi ng , yoga , bi ke s, ga mes, gear demos, and more. Musica l perfor ma nces this year by Khruangbin, Lord Huron, Sylvan Esso, Trampled by Turt le s and tons of ot her ar tist s. Civi c Center Park, Denver

V Planet V, inspired by Burning Man, o ffers live music, camping, ar t, and various performance s.

Festivals

MAY 31-JUNE 6

Boulder County Plein Air Festival. For the un init iated, “plein air” is a French term th at roug hly tr an sl at es to “outdoors.” Today, it mainly describes painters who ditch their studios and head out into nature for inspirat ion. At this fe sti va l, cr ea ti ve s ta ke thei r ea sels and ca nvases to sp ot s th roug hout Boulder County from June 1- 5, then pa int whatever be auti fu l sc enes they find. Then , from June 6 to July 4, their master pieces will be on display (and available for purchase) at the Ar mory in North Boulder. Boul der.

MAY 31

Troutfest Colorado. Curious about fly fishi ng? Th is one- day event is a great way to dip your toe into the water—pun intended—while also lear ning about the importance of protec ting Colorado’s rivers. Coors Fi el d, Denver.

MAY 31-JUNE 1

Animas Ri ve r Days . Watc h (or pa rticipate in) ad rena line -boostin g events like river surfing, kayak slalom, freest yle kaya king, downriver ra ces, and a river pa ra de at th is spla shy two- day ba sh Durango.

June

JUNE 5-8

Go Pr o Mo untain Game s. Su re , th is outdoor ex travagan za ha s plenty of huma n- cent ric fe at s—includ in g free st yle kaya ki ng , cl imbi ng and more But, if we ’r e bein g hone st , it ’s the dogs who stea l the show ever y year. Orga nized by the Va il Va lley Foundation, this upbeat festival includes grav it y- defy ing “Dock-

Dogs” events, in which adorable pooches leap into the air and spla sh into a pool while pursuing a favorite toy. Vail .

JUNE 6-8

Palisa de Blue gr as s & Ro ot s Fe stival. Spend three glor ious days along the Colorado River jamming out to national and loca l bluegrass ar tists. Other ac tivities include pa inting work shops, ca mping, padd le boarding, wine ta stings and more. Pali sa de.

JUNE 6-8

Colorado Medieval Festival. Dress in your best cosplay costume and spend the weekend amon g belly da nc er s, fa ir ie s, pr ince sses , aerial is ts and mayb e even a merm aid or two. 1750 Sa va ge Road , Loveland .

JUNE 7

Lake Dillon Beer Fe stival. Or ga ni zed by the Colora do Brewers Guild, this annu al be er fe st is one of the be st ways to kick o ff the su mmer Sip the cr is p conc oc tion s of more than 30 Color ado br ew er ie s wh il e ad mi ri ng the sh immeri ng waters of La ke Di llon By doin g so, you’ ll help ra ise mone y for the gu ild, as well as the Blue River Watershed Group. Di ll on

JUNE 7

Manitou Springs Colorado Wine Festival. Wi ne , fr iend s, su n, mu sic—what could be better? Find all that and more at this one- day gather ing, which shines the spotlight on Colorado wineries. Memori al Park, 502 Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs.

JUNE 7-8

De nv er Ch al k Ar t Fe st iv al Ev er y

Ju ne , ar ti st s de sc en d up on De nv er ’s Golden Tr ia ng le neig hborhood and unle ash a torrent of cre at ive go od ne ss on

Boulder Creek Fe st and the annual Bolder Boulder

o ff to summer

the side wa lk s. Ad mi re the clever, color fu l st re et ar t of more th an 20 0 ta lente d folk s. 12th Av en ue an d Ba nn oc k St re et , De nv er

JUNE 7-AUG. 10

Co lo ra do Sh ak es pe ar e Fe st iv al . Ma ry Ripp on Outdoor Theatre is st il l closed for renovations, but don’t use that as an excuse to sk ip the Colorado Shakespea re Festival at the University of Colorado Boulder. Running for over si x deca de s, the an nu al tr ibut e to the Ba rd is again held indoors at the Roe Green Theatre. This year ’s line -up of plays includes “T he Tempest,” “R icha rd II,” and “D oc tor Faus tu s.” Un iv ersi ty of Colora do Boul der campus

JUNE 8

Boulder Jewish Festival. Ba ck for it s 29 th ye ar, th is one- day fê te celebrat es Jewish culture with food, ar t, music and community Boul der.

JUNE 7-8

Taste of Fort Collins. Neon Trees and Fitz and the Ta nt ru ms are he ad li ni ng this year ’s two- day ba sh, including loca l ba nd perfor ma nces all weekend. Wa shington Park, Fort Collin s.

JUNE 12-15

Pa rk er Da ys . Ba ck fo r it s 49 th ye ar, Pa rker Days is a fu n-fil led, fa mily-f riendly a ffair with live music on four st ages , fo od , dr in ks , shoppi ng , st re et perfor mers, ca rnival rides, ga mes, and more. Downtown Parker.

JUNE 12-15

FI BA rk Wh it ew at er Fe st iv al . Ever y year, advent urous kaya kers, pa dd le boarders and rafters from across the nation cong regate on the Arka nsas River in Sa lida for a weekend of wh it ewat er ra ces and other feat s of athleticism. You

can also enjoy live music, a parade, kids’ ac tivities, vendors and more at this beloved annual event, which ha s been going strong since 1949 Sali da

JUNE 13-14

Vail Craft Beer Clas sic. This two- day ba sh ha s al l the trapping s of a serious go od ti me: Colora do cr af t be er, su nshine, mounta in views, food tr ucks and live music. What else do you need? Vail .

JUNE 14 -15

Ju ne te en th Mu si c Fe st iv al . Ju nete enth commemor at es the day when the la st of the nation’s en sl aved pe ople lear ned of their freedom, when the Un ion Ar my ar ri ve d in Ga lves ton to share the news of President Abra ha m Li nc ol n’s Emancipation Procla mation. Denver ites have been celebrating Juneteenth since at least the 1950s and, today, the festiv ities fill the street s of the histor ic ally Black neighborhood of Five Points. Enjoy a pa ra de , perfor ma nc es, block pa rties and more 2701 Welton St ., Denver

JUNE 14 -AUG. 3 (WEEKENDS ONLY)

Co lo ra do Re na is sa nc e Fe st iv al Tr avel ba ck in ti me to a 16th-c entu ry me diev al amus ement pa rk , La rk spur, fil le d with sc ru mp tiou s ro as t tu rkey legs, invi gorati ng st age show s, ga me s, kids’ ac tivities, and ta lented ar tisa ns

JUNE 18-AUG. 20

Snowmass Rodeo. Giddyup! Now in it s 51st year, the Snow ma ss Rodeo ta kes plac e ever y We dnesday, ra in or sh ine, delivering classic events like ba rrel riding, sa dd le bronc , bull riding and more. Come ea rly to enjoy a “cowboy dinner,” me ch an ic al bu ll ride s, a pe tt in g zo o, shoppin g and other fa mily-f riendly activities Sn owma ss

Festivals

JUNE 19 -22

Telluride Blue gr as s Fe stival. If you ca n snag ticket s, plan a road tr ip to Telluride for a bit of ca mping and community, plus a whole lot of mu sic, in the shadow of the Sa n Juans. Tellur id e.

JUNE 20-22

Food & Wine Classic. It usua lly sells out, but if you ca n score ticket s to this annual Aspen affair, you can rub elbows with celebr ities, chefs, sommeliers, mi xologists and other foodie experts. Aspen.

JUNE 19 -JULY 31

Br avo! Va il Mu si c Fe stiv al . No excuses: You’ve got si x week s to at tend the Bravo! Vail Music Festival, which br ings internationa lly acclaimed orchestras to the Va il Va lley Ba ck for it s 38th season, this cult ural celebration includes more than 60 perfor ma nces Vail

JUNE 20-22

Strawberry Days . No, your eyes are not de ceiv in g you: Th is swee t tr ibut e to the hu mble st rawb er ry st ar te d in Ju ne 18 98 , me an in g 2025 wi ll be it s 128th year running. Enjoy live music, a pa nc ake brea kfast, running ra ces, ar ts and cr af ts , fa mi ly ac tivities plus fr ee st rawber ries and ic e crea m. Gl enwood Springs.

JUNE 21

Re d, Wh it es & Br ew s in th e Bo at . Wine, beer, food and live music are on tap for this one- day ba sh in downtown St ea mboat Spring s. St ick arou nd for a few days to tube the Ya mpa River, hike amon g the wi ld flowers or ge t your self a cowboy hat from F. M. Li ght & Sons Steamboat Springs.

JUNE 21-22

Ba con and Bourbon Fe stiv al. Tr eat your self to a de ca dent we ekend fil le d with ba con and bourbon in Ke ys tone There’ ll be ba con- eati ng cont es ts , bacon songs, and the crowning of a ba con pr ince and pr incess Keyston e.

JUNE 25-29

Ro ck y Mountain Star Star e. Ta ke a nap (or severa l) so you don’t miss a moment of this five-day stargazing bash, orga nized by the Colora do Springs Astronomical Societ y. Listen to insightf ul lectures, marvel at the cosmos and nerd out with fellow astrophiles. Gardner.

JUNE 25-29

Bo ul der Co me dy Fe stiv al . Boulder may be la nd locked But, come June, it ’s slat ed to become a “sea of hi la rity ” as come di an s de sc end up on the city for five days of laughs, gags, jokes and allaround good times. Boul der.

Be th Scot t of Boulder works out move s on a climbing wall during the Outside Fe stival at Civic Center Park in Denver on June 2, 2024

JUNE 25-JULY 1

As pe n Id ea s Fe st iv al . So lv in g th e world ’s mo st pr es si ng pr oble ms wi ll re qu ir e a lo t of coll ab or at ion. Fort unately, ma ny of the smar te st people on the pl anet come to Aspen ever y su mmer to chat about ever yt hing from artificia l intelligence and the cr iminal justice system to space ex ploration and huma nita rian cr ises.

JU NE 25 -J ULY 6

Gr ee ley St am pe de . Ob se ss ed wi th the hit tele vi sion show “Yel lows tone?” Pret end you’re a cowboy at the Greeley Stampede, which includes rodeo events, concer ts, a carnival, a Western ar t show, pa ra de s and more. This year ’s live music li ne -up includes Sc ot ty Mc Cr eery, Pa rk er Mc Collum , Luda cr is, Wa rr en Zeider s and Just in Moore. Greele y.

JU NE 26 -29

Jazz Aspen Snowmass June Experience The Roar in g Fork Va lley is st unning in late Ju ne , as wi ld flower blooms begin to pa int the la nd sc ape with color. See for yourself while at tending this belove d mu sic fe st , wh ich ta ke s plac e at 12 venue s al l over As pen. Th is ye ar ’s li ne -up includes Ch ri st one “K in gfi sh” Ingram, Dumpst aphunk , Shay na Steele an d ma ny ot he r pe rf or mi ng ar ti st s. As pe n.

JU NE 26 -29

Telluride Yoga Fe stival. Couldn’t we al l benefit from a few days of peac e and tr anqu il it y ri ght now? Se t amon g the ru gged ly beautifu l mounta ins of Telluride, this four-d ay gather in g wi ll leave you fe el in g in spir ed and de eply connect ed Tellur id e.

JU NE 27-29

Colorado Lavender Festival With it s cheery pu rple flowers , he aven ly sc ent and flora l flavor, lavender is a treat for al l the senses Celebr at e th is so ot hi ng herb with live music, semina rs, demos, work shops, fa rm tours and other ac tivities on the We st er n Slope. Pali sa de

JU NE 27-29

Blue s From the Top Music Fe stival

Or ga ni ze d by the Gr and County Blue s So ciet y, th is th re e- day pa rt y includes perfor ma nc es by ar ti st s li ke the Fa bulou s Thunderbirds , Sonny La nd re th , Dw ay ne Dopsie and The Zyde co Hellra iser s, Litt le Fe at and ot her ta lent ed musicians. Wint er Park

JU NE 27-J ULY 12

Green Box Ar ts Fe stival. Now in it s 17 th ye ar, th is two-we ek cu lt ur al cornucopia includes classes, perfor mances, ca mp s, cons er va tion , pa rt ie s, ex hi bitions and more. Gree n Mo untain Fall s.

JU NE 28 -29

Denver Pride. Don your mo st colorful ‘fits and spend the weekend celebratin g love and diver sity at Denver Pr ide, which includes a 5K ru n, a pa ra de, live pe rf or ma nc es , fo od and commun it y. Civi c Ce nt er Park , De nver.

July

JU LY 2-AUG. 24

As pe n Mu si c Fe st iv al an d Sc ho ol . Si nc e 19 49, th is ei ght-we ek event ha s be en a cher ishe d su mmer st aple in the Ro ar in g Fork Va lley. It al lo ws youn g adult mu sici an s to perf ec t thei r cr af t wh ile givi ng audience s world-cla ss opport un it ie s to ex plor e cl as sica l mu sic. The sc he du le includes more th an 30 0 en ri ch in g ev en ts , fr om le ct ur es an d co nc er ts to re ci ta ls an d fa mi ly pr ogr am s.

JU LY 4- 6

Ch er ry Cr ee k Ar ts Fe st iv al He ld over the Four th of Ju ly, this presti gious th ree- day fe st ival spot li ghts more than 25 0 ju ried ar ti st s. Fi nd your ne xt favorite ma st er piec e wh ile peru si ng the pr ints , sc ulpt ur es , pa inti ng s, ce ra mic s, and jewelr y at Ch er ry Creek North Sh op ping Di st ri ct in De nver.

Festivals

FROM PAGE 56

JU LY 5-10

Ro o ftop Ro de o. Th is is no aver age ro de o—it is held at 7, 522 fe et ab ove se a le vel. Enjoy ni ghtly Pr of es sion al Ro de o Cowb oy s As so ci at ion ev ents , hear t-wa rming spec ta cles like mutton bu st in’ and a kids’ st ick-horse ro de o. Estes Park

JULY 3-AUG. 3

Colorado Music Festival. Revisit some old favorite s—li ke Be et hoven’s “O de to Joy”—a nd ex plore some new, le sser-known works—like Grammy-w inning composer Joan Tower’s new sa xophone conc er to “L ove Returns”—dur in g this mont h-lon g su mmer conc er t se as on All told, you can enjoy 19 orchestral and chamber music perfor mances. Boulder.

JULY 10-13

High Mountain Hay Fever Bluegras s Fe stiv al Ma ke your way to the We t Mounta in Va lley for this four-day music fe st , wh ich ra ises fu nd s for Cust er County char ities. This year ’s line -up includes Rhonda Vincent & the Rage, Ismay, Beck y Buller Ba nd and other ta lented bluegrass musicians. Westcliffe.

JULY 17-20

Boulder Environmental/Nature/Outdoors Film Festival. Join other film, science, and outdoor spor ts aficionados for four days of screenings, interv iews, live music, and other events in Boulder.

JULY 11-20

Cr es te d Bu tt e Wi ld fl ow er Fe st ival. Crested Butte ma rket s it self as the “w ildflower capita l of Colora do”—and they ’re not exag gerating Celebrate the colorf ul blooms with other flower fa ns during 10 days of guided hikes, creative wr it in g se ss ions , pho to gr aphy workshops and more. Crested Butte.

JULY 12-13

Ar t in the Park . Ex plore work s of ar t ma de by more than 120 lo ca l and national ar tists at this family-f riendly fest , which also includes food tr ucks, a beer ga rden, live entert ainment, intera ctive ac tivities and a kids’ area . St eam boat Springs.

JULY 12-13

Keystone Wine and Jazz Festival. Sip and sa mple wine while st rollin g alon g River Ru n Vi llage and grooving to the fu nk y beat s of ta lent ed ja zz musicians like Dotsero and Gregor y Good loe. Keyston e.

JULY 18-19

Ro ya l Go rg e Wh it ew at er Fe st ival. Ween ie dog ra ce s, a st andup pa ddleboa rd pa ra de , yoga , kaya k and ra ft

ra ces, live music and more await at this fu n-fil le d fê te on the Arka nsas River. Cañon City.

JULY 18-20

Pearl Stre et Ar ts Fe st . St roll alon g Boulder’s fa mous Pe arl Str ee t pe de str ia n ma ll—i n the shadow of the Flatirons—while perusing incred ible work s from more than 100 ar tist s. Boul der.

JULY 24

Th e Big Eat. Color ado’s vibr ant culi na ry commun it y ne ed s ou r supp or t, pe rh ap s no w more th an ev er Show your love by at tend in g th is fe st ive annual pa rt y orga nized by EatDenver, the nonprofit membership group representing independent food and beverage concepts along the Front Range. Galleria at th e De nv er Pe rfor ming Ar ts Co mple x, 1400 Curt is St .

JULY 25-27

Buff al o Bill Days . Wi ll ia m “Bu ff alo Bi ll” Co dy died more th an a cent ur y ago. But his legendar y Wild West spir it lives on at this three-day bash in Golden, which includes an ar ts and craf ts festiva l, mutt on bu st in’, a pa ra de and live music. Gold en .

JULY 25-27

Mountain Fair. Camaraderie and community are at the hear t of this Ca rbonda le tradition, which is ba ck for it s 54th

summer. The line-up is jam-packed with ac tivities, like dance lessons, limbo conte st s, pie- and ca ke -b ak in g cont es ts , wood-split ting competitions, yoga , ar t, live music and more Carbon dale

JULY 25-AUG. 5

Vail Danc e Fe stival You’re gu ar ante ed to fe el in spir ed af ter at tend in g one (or severa l) of the 14 perfor ma nces throughout the Vail Valley. Marvel at the incredible ar tistry of dancers representin g top compan ie s, includ in g the Paul Taylor Da nc e Company, the New York City Ballet, the American Ballet Theatre, the Roya l Da nish Ba llet and the Philadelphia Ba llet . Vail .

JULY 31-AUG 2

Telluride Re serve. Spend three days enjo yi ng cu ra te d me al s, educ at iona l semina rs, delicious ta st in g events and ou td oo r ad ve nt ur es —a ll se t ag ai ns t the beautiful ba ckdrop of the Sa n Juan Mounta ins. Tellur id e.

August

AUG. 1-3

Le ad vi ll e Bo om Days You haven’t li ve d if yo u’ ve ne ve r se en a hu ma n spri nt in g alon gside a donkey One of the be st plac es to catch a bu rro ra ce? At Leadville Boom Days, which also includes tons of other fun ac tivities like a street fair, a car show, motorcycle games and kids’ events. Leadvill e.

AUG. 2-3

Fo rt Co llin s Ar t Fe stiv al . Im mers e your self in ha ndcr af te d go od s and visual ar ts, from sculptures and paintings to ceramics and woodwork Fort Collin s.

AUG. 2

Heritage Fire. Spend the evening celebrating live -fire cook ing, heritage -breed an imals and heirloom vegetable s with chef s and fa mi ly fa rmer s at th is cu lina ry ex travagan za . Sn owma ss.

AUG. 2-3

Bluegrass & Beer Festival. The name says it al l: Sip re fr eshi ng cr af t be er s while ja mming out to some of the best string ba nd s in the nation. Keyston e.

AUG. 2-10

Sand & Sage Round- Up. Th is 9- day event double s as the Pr ower s County Fa ir and includes 4-H events, a pa ra de, a ca rnival, rodeo events, delicious food and dr in ks, and fa mily-f riendly ac tivities. Lamar.

AUG. 7-10

Colora do Br azil Fe st . No pa ssport? No problem. Celebrate Brazil’s rich heritage through music, dance, culture, and food at this enriching event, which the Boulder Sa mba School host s. Boul der.

LEFT: The Lake Dillon Beer Fe stival, organized by the Colorado Brewers Guild, features over 30 Colorado brewerie s and raises funds for the guild and the Blue River Watershed Group. RIGHT: Stacy Furukawa, foreground, holds an umbrella up to keep cool while she watche s and suppor ts her friend and chalk ar tist Chelsey Christ y center, as she works on her chalk ar t piece during the 20th annual Chalk Ar t Fe stival on Sept 4, 2022, in Denver

Festivals

FROM PAGE 57

AUG. 7-10

Va il Wi ne Cl as si c. If you cons ider yourself an oenophile—a lover of wine get yourself to the Va il Va lley for a long we ekend of wi ne ta st in g, wi ne hi ke s, semina rs, pa ired meals and more Vail

AUG. 8-10

Sculpture in the Park Now celebrating it s 41st year, this immersive ex perience at Benson Sculpt ure Ga rden is the nation’s largest outdoor juried show and sa le. Proc eed s help the Lovela nd Hi gh Plains Ar ts Council purcha se new, perma nent piec es to add to the 10 -a cr e pa rk . Be nson Sc ulpt ure Gard en , Lo veland

AUG. 8-10

Rock y Mountain Folks Festival Cool off in the re freshi ng waters of the St . Vrain Creek while listening to ta lented folk mu sici an s li ke Jon Muq, Al ysha Br il la , Ba nd it s on the Ru n and ot hers. Lyon s.

AUG. 8-10

Te llurid e Jaz z Fe stiv al . Ja zz , fu nk , and soul performances take center stage at this multi- day gather ing in Tellur ide, which ha s been running for nearly five deca des. But that ’s not all: You ca n also do yoga , ta ke a histor ic al wa lk ing tour and ma rch in a New Orleans-st yle second line pa ra de. Tellur id e.

AUG. 9-10

Ar t in the Park . Anot her ar t fe st ival in Lovela nd? Both Ar t in the Pa rk and Sc ulpt ure in the Pa rk are pa rt of “T he

Weekend of Ar t.” At this two- day event, wh ich is now in it s 58th ye ar, you ca n ex plore the work s of more than 250 visu al ar ti st s and cr af ts pe ople . No rt h Lake Park, Loveland

AUG. 9-10

Plein Air Ar t Festival Over 20 ar tist s will spend four days pa inting outdoors around the Roar ing Fork Va lley. When they ’re all done, ar t lovers are invited to check out (a nd, idea lly, buy) their work at Snow ma ss Ba se Village. Snow ma ss

AUG. 9-10

Este s Park Wine Festival. Sip, sw irl, and sa mple around Bond Pa rk while listening to live mu sic and mu nching on ta st y bites from food vendors.

AUG. 15-16

Palisade Peach Festival Shout out to Colorado’s peach growers, who tirelessly br ing us the sweetest , juiciest , most perfe ct ly ba la nc ed fr uits ever y su mmer Now in it s 57 th year, this two- day ba sh includes live mu sic, food tr ucks, cooking demos, kids ac tivities, a peach eating contest and so much more. Pali sade.

AUG. 16

Cidermass. Cr isp, bubbly, ta rt , sweet and refreshing, ha rd cider is a versatile summer pour. You ca n ta ste more than 30 hard ciders, spir it s, and hard seltzers at this af ternoon event on the Snow mass Ma ll. Snowm ass.

AUG. 21-23

Breckenridge Wine Classic. Kids may be he ad in g ba ck to scho ol, but plenty of summer rema ins for us adults Ma ke the most of the gorgeous weather by attend in g the Br ec kenr id ge Wi ne Classic, which includes ta st in gs, semina rs,

pa ired meals, and more. Breckenr idge.

AUG. 22-SEPT. 1

Colorado State Fair. Orga nizers have been putting on the Colora do St ate Fa ir since 1872 , so they know a thing or two about having a good time. Carnival rides, livestock shows, concer ts, delicious fa ir food, and more ma ke this annual celebration worth planning. Pu eblo.

AUG. 23

Boulder Taco Fest. Who doesn’t love ta cos? (No, really, are there people out ther e who don’ t li ke ta co s?). The genius es behi nd th is one- day pa rt y decide d to de dicate an enti re fe st ival to this delicious and versatile snack, with a 5K ta co run, lucha libre wrestling, ma rga rita s and cr af t be er. Bo ul de r Ci vi c Area an d Librar y, 1001 Arapah oe Ave., Boul der.

AUG. 23

Olathe Swee t Corn Fe stival Fresh, ju ic y, swee t corn is one of su mmer ’s greatest plea sures—and you ca n eat as much as you wa nt at this one- day pa rt y in Mont ro se . Enjoy live mu sic, a ca r show, a recipe cont est and ot her ta st y ac tivities. Ol athe.

AUG. 28-31

Four Corner s Motorcycle Rally. You don’t have to be a motorc ycle rider to have a good time at this four-day ba sh, which includes bike shows, work shops, vendor s, tatt oo ar ti st s, live mu sic, rodeo events, food and dr inks and more A few notable highlights? The Ives’ Brothers “Wall of Death” and the dr if ter cross ra ces. Durango

AUG. 29 -31

Jazz Aspen Snowmass Labor Day Ex-

perience. Send off the summer in st yle at this epic three- day Roar ing Fork Va lley music fest Head liners include Imagine Dr agon s, Lenny Kr av it z and Lu ke Comb s, plus addition al perfor ma nc es by Ca nnons, Lawrence, Ma x Mc Nown, Ma rc us Ki ng Ba nd and Gr ave Bowers & the Hodge Podge. Sn owma ss Vill age.

AUG. 30-SEPT. 1

Labor Day Lift Off This has been a Labor Day trad it ion in Colorado Spri ng s for nearly five decades. Spend three days watching color ful hot air ba lloons soar through the air, with the mounta ins as the ba ckdrop—or book a flight and get a bi rd’s eye view. The fe st ival includes fo od vendor s, be er and wi ne ta st in gs , evening ba lloon “glows,” and camaraderie. Memori al Park, Colora do Springs.

AUG. 30-SEPT. 1

Co mm on wh ee l Ar ti sts Co -o p Ar t Fe stival. Now in it s 51 st ye ar, th is Labor Day we ekend trad it ion br in gs 10 0 ar tist s and craf t ar tisa ns to Colora do. Manitou Springs.

AUG. 30-SEPT. 1

Wi nd so r Har ve st Fe st iv al . Go in g strong for 103 years, the Wind sor Ha rvest Fe st ival includes a pa ra de, hot air balloons, a pie- eating contest, fireworks, a car show, and so much more. Wind sor.

AUG. 30-SEPT. 1

Estes Park Labor Day Arts and Crafts Show. Find your next favorite ma st erpiec e or st ar t your holiday shoppin g ea rly at th is th ree- day trad it ion in Estes Pa rk , which the Estes Va lley Sunr ise Rota ry Club or ga ni ze s. Proc eeds from the show help pr ov ide gr ants to lo ca l nonprofits and scholarships for local student s. Bond Park, Estes Park.

GRANBY

TOP 10 SUMMER ACTIVITIES

1.ENJOY A DAY ON LAKE GRANBY

Whether by pontoon or paddleboard, enjoy a day on the water surrounded by mountain views.

2.SPEND SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE RODEO

Grab your boots and hats and come out for a roarin’ good time at the rodeo! Don’t miss this Granby summer tradition at Flying Heels Arena.

3.MOUNTAIN BIKE AT GRANBY RANCH

From lift-accessed downhill trails to beautiful ridgeline crosscountry rides, there are riding experiences for all types of mountain bikers.

4.VISIT THE TRAIN MUSEUM

The Moffat Road Railroad Museum is as much fun as it is educational. It features Colorado’s largest permanent Christmas model train display.

5.TRY THE SUMMER TUBING HILL

Snow Mountain Ranch offers a fun spin on traditional winter tubing. The snow-like surface is misted with water for an exhilarating ride, then a magic carpet takes you back up.

6.CAMP UNDER THE STARS

From campgrounds with full amenities to primitive sites, breathtaking mountain views will greet you each morning outside your tent or camper door.

7.CAST A LINE

Fishing can be found along the Colorado and Fraser Rivers and the shores of Lake Granby. For the little ones, there is a kids fishing pond at Kaibab Park.

8.STOP BY MUSIC & MARKET

Listen to live music and shop for produce, meat, eggs and art on Thursdays. Plus, enjoy food and a beer garden.

9.EXPLORE DOWNTOWN GRANBY

Stroll along Main Street to view colorful murals, visit shops, enjoy lunch on a restaurant patio and sample treats like honey caramels and homemade apple pie.

10.TAKE THE SCENIC ROUTE

The scenery around Granby is absolutely stunning and worth exploring; take a drive and bring your camera!