The mountains outside our door. A more distant basecamp for adventure. A stretch of the Colorado Trail and newly public land waiting to be explored.

These were some of the responses we heard to the question we ask around this time every year: What are we most thankful for across this state’s great outdoors?

It’s the season of thanks, after all. And the responses, as ever, make us feel all the more thankful to call Colorado home.

Logan Hjelmstad, mountaineer, San Luis Valley Great Outdoors, Alamosa

The Sangre de Cristo Range and Wilderness is one of the most unique mountain ranges in the state and a place I am thankful to not only look at out my front door every day, but to also have the access and ability to use as my playground. I’ve spent a decade living in and exploring these mountains as a runner, climber, skier and trail steward, but to this day I still get goosebumps every time I see that namesake deep-red alpenglow at sunset.

Katie Mazzia, angler and runner, Eagle

Nathrop is one of the best adventure towns in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. I find myself visiting this area frequently in the summer for running and fishing challenges. You can catch five different species of trout in streams, creeks and lakes surrounded by strikingly beautiful chalk-like, kaolinite canyon walls, the Collegiate Peaks, hot springs and the old mining town of St. Elmo for a quick snack or souvenir. And so many options for a quick side track on the Continental Divide Trail or Colorado Trail.

Joe Kozlowicz, Tarantula Cycles co-owner, Trinidad

Fishers Peak is blossoming into the incredible public property we all hoped for. With few other trail users for now, it offers solitude in nature, an abundance of wildlife, fascinating history and distinct biomes to experience as you traverse the park and as the seasons shift. It is a true bridge between mountains, deserts and plains. And being able to summit the town’s mighty sentinel via trail is forever satisfying and humbling.

Erin Ton, La Sportiva mountain runner, Boulder

The San Juan range has always been my favorite in Colorado. Specifically, there is an area within the San Juans called the Weminuche Wilderness and, to narrow it down even more, a sub-range called the Grenadiers. This July, in an effort to finish Colorado’s centennial peaks (100 highest), I climbed Arrow, Vestal and the Trinities in one day from Molas Pass. It was one of my favorite days I have ever had in the mountains because of a feature called Wham Ridge up Vestal Peak, which resembles a giant skateboard ramp that gets steeper and steeper as you near the summit.There is truly no place in Colorado that epitomizes freedom and sublime beauty quite like the Grenadiers.

Diarra Cropper, vice captain of Black Men Run-Denver, Manitou Springs

My favorite area to run in would be North Cheyenne Cañon in Colorado Springs for many reasons. There are numerous trails to choose from, all with their own degrees of difficulty. The amazing views you get from every turn and every route make the pain worth it. And any trail with a creek, waterfall, or any water source you get to run by and through I’m all for.

Father John Nepil, mountaineer, Archdiocese of Denver

High up in the San Juans, between the old mining towns of Silverton and Lake City, is the American Basin. As a base camp for fourteeners, the Colorado Trail and other adventures, this particular camp is a place of deep and joyous memories, the offering of the Holy Mass and some of the greatest beauty in the western United States.

Maggie Reichel, Southern Colorado Trail Builders board, Pueblo

Lake Pueblo State Park offers so many ways to enjoy this beautiful corner of the world. Whether I’m mountain biking through the canyons near South Shore, kayaking on the lake, floating the Arkansas or hiking the trails with my 3-year-old son and 4-month-old daughter, there is something for every season of life. And for every season of the year as the trails typically dry out quickly from the handful of storms we receive in the winter. Minimal trail traffic, October tarantula sightings and killer sunsets over the Wet Mountain Range make me pause to give thanks.

Melinda McCaw, Elevate Kids co-founder, Grand Junction

The Colorado Trail is one of my favorite places to run and push my limits to see what I can do. I especially love the section above the Elk Creek Drainage all the way to Cataract Lake. This is such a beautiful area; it’s like a candy store for your eyes. I love being up there surrounded by the beauty and the quiet.

Justin Spring, The Conservation Fund’s Colorado director, Boulder County

Lost Canyon Ranch in Castle Rock is my top pick as a newly protected open space that will soon be open to the public. One of the best things about living in Colorado is the incredible access to outdoor trails right near our homes — and throughout the expansive Front Range. Spending time outside as part of my job and connecting with nature is always the best part of my day.