By
Seth BosterJanuary 4, 2018 | updated 9 years ago
An aerial view of the south slope of Pikes Peak July 30, 2002. Mark Reis photo (MARK REIS)
DonÔÇÖt let another year end with you wishing to have spent more time in ColoradoÔÇÖs great outdoors. The choices are limitless, but donÔÇÖt be overwhelmed. The key is to make a checklist. We hope youÔÇÖll find this one useful heading into 2018, whether youÔÇÖre a native or a newbie. (By Seth Boster)
#12. South Slope Recreation Area Difficulty: Easy to Moderate This area recently opened to the public after being off limits for more than 100 years. Access is by permit only on the ColoradoSprings.gov website. The 4.7-mile trail (one-way) takes you past three reservoirs, through meadows and offers a unique view of the south side of Pikes Peak. Learn more here. (The Gazette)Raft remote waters People from around the world come to Colorado for rafting trips. We as residents should seek less famous rapids, such as those on the Dolores River. Few can say they’ve ventured the majestic stretch through sandstone cliffs and unspoiled desert, and that’s because the Dolores has a short running season. When we get closer to April, check with outfitters near Cortez and Durango, including Mild to Wild Rafting and Arkansas Valley Adventures. When to go: Late spring/early summer (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK)Bag a thirteener. Buck the fourteener trend and climb slightly lower peaks that can be just as glorious and challenging. To bag two thirteeners in one trip, drive almost 7 miles up Rocky Mountain National Park’s scenic Old Fall River Road and park near the Chapin Creek trailhead. Steeply ascend Mount Chapin, then take the trail up mounts Chiquita and Ypsilon, both above 13,000 feet. When the 8-mile trip is done, you’ll have seen some of the better panoramic views in the park. (JAMES WOOLDRIDGE)Achieve riding glory Assuming you’re well-traveled on your mountain bike — as it goes for Colorado’s singletrack addicts — we offer three must-hit destinations, hoping you have yet to get at least one under your belt: ◘ 18 Road in Fruita, mixing in nearby Kokopelli and Rabbit Valley trail systems ◘ Phil’s World near Cortez, mixing in Durango’s Hermosa Creek Trail ◘ Oil Well Flats system near Cañon CityWhen to go: Summer/fall (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK)Discover hidden Colorado A dirt path behind a nondescript fence off U.S. 287 leads to a rare, wild place that is off the radar of explorers. About 30 miles northwest of Fort Collins is the Phantom Canyon Preserve. “How does this even exist?” a Nature Conservancy supervisor asked during our visit in 2017, as she stood above a verdant floor where a river ran and the views of granite walls joined those of the distant Mummy Range. Access is limited to one of the state’s last roadless canyons. Go to the Conservancy’s website for scheduled field trips in the summer: bit.ly/2krWFdz Email phantomcanyonevents@tnc.org or call 970-484-9996. When to go: Summer (MARK REIS)Ski with Olympic royalty America’s first man to win a medal in alpine skiing in 1964 is alive and well. Indeed, Billy Kidd is skiing almost every day of Steamboat Resort’s season. And he wants you to join him. No guarantees he’s there — he travels quite a bit — but often at 1 p.m., he’s at the top of the gondola, ready to greet you with tips and stories. Good luck keeping up with him down the intermediate Heavenly Daze run. When to go: Winter/early spring (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK)Behold the dunes The Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is no secret. Still, if you haven’t been, make 2018 the year. It is a true western oddity, a sci fi-like scene where huge waves of sand meet sparkling waters and snow-capped peaks. Less than a three-hour drive from Colorado Springs, take a day to boogie board the dunes — running down is also a thrill — or camp out and see the stars as you’ve never seen them before.When to go: Summer/fall/spring (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Catch yurt fever In case you haven’t heard, “glamping” is in, and at the heart of the fad is the yurt. More and more are coming to Colorado’s tourism industry. Here are two recommendations: ◘ Spanning 71,000 acres in the state’s northwest mountains, State Forest State Park is an underappreciated gem with several groomed and ungroomed trails for winter adventure. Eight yurts can be reserved through Never Summer Nordic (970-723-4070, neversummernordic.com). ◘ A more expensive ($240 a night) and more luxurious option (a gourmet meal in the snowy mountains) would be Tennessee Pass Nordic Center, Cookhouse and Sleep Yurts. Outside Leadville, cross-country ski or snowshoe to your meal and your yurt, enjoying sweeping vistas along the way.When to go: Winter/early spring (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)7. Cooler temps make soaking in our abundant hot springs feel even better. (MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE)Take Some Llamas Trekking Yes, llamas are quite the photogenic animal. They’ll make all of your hiking photos that much better. They also have a very practical purpose though as pack animals. Planning a multi-day hike? Make them carry your stuff. (The Gazette)
