Grand Lake, Colorado

The climb to the summit of Arthur's Rock in Lory State Park provides relative isolation and solitude just 30 minutes from downtown Fort Collins along with great hiking, trail running, mountain biking, rock climbing, and horseback riding.Arthur's Rock Trail is the most direct route to the summit, ...

The Coyote Ridge Natural Area is one of several Larimer County "gateway" preserves and Open Lands that lead into the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, connecting the shrublands of the Great Plains to the Rocky Mountain themselves through a network of trails, parks, and preserves. The Coyote Rid...

September is famous in Colorado for clear, deep blue skies,sublimely perfect temperatures, and gold-digging – of the leaf variety, thatis. On September 9, wildflower season was recently past and the best of theleaves were yet to come, but it was the perfect, clear and sunny day to checkout the hi...

The main trail begins at the Cache La Poudre river on the Poudre Canyon Highway about 30 minutes from Fort Collins. After about .75 miles the trail splits. To go left on Greyrock Meadows trail adds 2 miles to your trip and provides excellent views of Greyrock Mountain and Meadows from the south, ...

Summary One of my favorite post-work rides in Fort Collins, Colorado is a short but challenging loop along Reservoir Ridge. The scenery is incredible and includes water, mountains, a great trail system, and a spattering of intermediate, rocky sections. This is a solid loop to get your heart rate ...

Loveland Pass is often very busy during the winter as people move through the pass to access the nearby ski areas and just as popular for tourists admiring the beauty of the continental divide in the summer. It is also the start of some great hiking trails like the Mount Sniktau Trail.  However, ...

Mount Sniktau is a great beginner 13er. This hike offers a fun ridge walk with amazing views! Make sure you come prepared, the wind can be pretty relentless. Parking is limited so make sure you arrive early.This hike will get your blood pumping from the moment you exit your vehicle. You will cli...

While a typical Colorado hike may be an ascent to your destination followed by a descent back to your car, the hike to Grizzly Peak at Loveland Pass (Grizzly Peak "D") breaks that mold. At 13,427 feet, Grizzly Peak stands in the path to Torreys Peak’s west face (14,267’). Even though it is only ~...

The name is uninviting, but Hell’s Hole is a scenic, shallow basin in the Mount Evans Wilderness near Idaho Springs. Starting elevation is about 9500 feet. Right after the trailhead, you pass through a few camping sites in the Chicago Creek Picnic Area. About five minutes into the hike is the per...

Starting from the Rock Creek Trailhead parking lot, it is an up and down trek to Upper Slate Lake. The trail map states 10 miles each way, but accounting for switchbacks it ends up being closer to 14 long, hard miles.You will be among aspens and pines for the first half as you have a few moderate...

At about an hour's drive from Denver, Grays Peak (14,270 ft./4338m) and its sister mountain, Torreys Peak (14,267 ft./4337m), are two of the most popular 14ers in the state. Because of this, a wealth of information is available on the internet. Rather than go into all the details of the technical...

The start of this route up the Kelso Ridge is the same as doing the standard route of Gray's and Torrey's peaks. From the trailhead cross the large metal bridge and continue on the great trail as it slowly climbs away from the parking lot and trailhead. This first section is not steep, but prov...

The first challenge you'll face on your way to the summit of Gray's peak is Steven's Gulch Road. My Corolla rolled up to the start of what I’ve seen described as a “4x4 road that should probably not be attempted in a low clearance vehicle”. But what the heck, it was late, and I didn't feel like w...

For this adventure, you'll be completing the Sawmill to Maverick loop. It is a short, but gentle trail that will take you through open meadows, to pine forests, and great views of Denver and Golden.Starting from the west parking area, cross the road and hit the Sawmill Trail. This trail starts ou...

I need to start by saying I stayed here on Memorial Day weekend, a very busy camping weekend in Colorado. Online searches for a suitable campsite were useless, everything was booked. It is hard to drive 2 plus hours to an area and hope you find a place for dispersed camping. Thankfully a friend t...

The Gateway Natural Area, part of the City of Fort Collins public lands system, is a wonderful (and close to the city) place to begin exploring the many outdoor assets and activities found in the greater Fort Collins area. The Black Powder Trail is a relatively easy, well-marked 1.5 mile out and ...