When I slip on my worn hiking boots, it’s like wrapping up in a favorite afghan — comfortable and familiar. Trails are like that too, and I have my favorites — just as you likely do also. Paths so familiar that I know where to find the pasque flowers in May and the columbines in June.

Even then, though, there can be surprises, such as when a red-winged blackbird pair decides to nest near a favorite pond. Their songs make me smile each time I now walk that trail.

Still, summer is a good time to break out of your comfort zone and try something new.

Next time you venture into Larimer County, check out the Bay to Bay Trail on the south end of Horsetooth Reservoir. This moderate trail follows the shoreline and connects to the swim beach.

You’ve never been to Horsetooth Reservoir? It’s high time you checked it out. Admirable for its size and topography, one-day permits cost $10 per vehicle. Annual permits are $100 for Larimer County residents and $130 for nonresidents.

The reservoir offers three public campgrounds, including one that is accessible by boat. West of the reservoir, Horsetooth Mountain Open Space has 29 miles of hiking, biking and horseback riding trails.

Larimer County’s Department of Natural Resources manages all trails and campgrounds. Its program is funded by parking permits, campground fees and the county’s .25% open space sales tax initially passed in 1995. The tax was overwhelmingly extended in 2014 through 2043. As a result, Larimer County residents have conserved 56,000 acres of land and have access to four bodies of water, including all 1,898 acres of Horsetooth Reservoir. The county’s vision: “Healthy Landscapes, Healthy People.”

Healthy landscapes are the result of adequate park staff, regular maintenance, stewardship efforts and community support. Safe trailheads, clean bathrooms and good signage create public trails and open spaces that attract residents and visitors. Better physical and mental health may not be “why” they visit, but it is a proven result.

As for that beach on Horsetooth Reservoir, it’s full of families playing on water toys, off their screens and splashing in water. It makes me smile.

Susan Davies is the former executive director of the Trails and Open Space Coalition.