On a cool September day in 1976, a group of die-hards took off on their bikes to conquer the grueling trek over Pearl Pass. Little did they know, they would pioneer the legendary tour from Crested Butte to Aspen, which draws dozens of mountain bike fanatics to the quaint mountain town every year.

Originally opened as [...]

With 165 named trails and 2,965 acres of open skiing, Steamboat is one of the best ski locations in Colorado and is famous for its powder skiing. The light fluffy snow is so unusual that it has received its own name — Champagne Snow — and people come from all over the world to enjoy [...]

Experience the magic of Breckenridge Ski Resort in Breckenridge, Colorado — fantastic runs, great powder and stunning scenery. Breckenridge Ski Resort boasts 2,358 acres of Colorado’s finest ski country, including five terrain parks, two half-pipes and 155 trails spread across four huge peaks. Breckenridge grooms 29% of the runs daily, and has snowmaking capabilities on [...]

Just west of Pikes Peak is a beautiful valley — a valley in which one of the richest fossil deposits in the world can be found, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. Over 50,000 specimens have been discovered, representing 1,700 species of animals and plants, including 14 foot wide petrified redwood stumps. In fact, the world’s [...]

Called Crested Butte for the unusual tuft of rock on the top, the Crested Butte ski area has some stunning view of the Maroon Bells Snowmass Wilderness Area and the West Elk Wilderness Area. In 2004, Crested Butte Mountain Resort came under new management. The new owners, Tim and Diane Mueller, have invested more than [...]

Rocky Mountain National Park provides countless opportunities for breathtaking scenery and extraordinary outdoor experiences. It is one of the most well-known, well-traveled and recognizable parks in the country, and yet it offers countless opportunities to experience the wilderness and glory in the majestic peaks. Topping it all is Longs Peak, elevation 14,259 feet, its rugged [...]

Among the dozens of ski areas in Colorado, Beaver Creek is considered one of the best and is perhaps one of the least well known. Many World Cup skiers say Beaver Creek is their preferred place to compete. From personal experience of almost every ski area in Colorado, it’s also this author’s personal favorite place [...]

Three million years ago, the Rocky Mountains were pushed up by plate tectonics, and the Arkansas River rose with them. Over the millions of years, the stream cut a 10-mile lone channel for itself through the surrounding granite. Because the stone is so hard, the erosion was very slow and precise, which causes the canyon [...]

Colorado National Monument near Grand Junction, Colorado, is only 31-square miles — a tiny fraction of the huge Colorado Plateau, which covers more than 500 square miles. Yet this small section packs a mighty punch. It has some of the best redrock expanses, deep canyons and sandstone towers the Southwest has to offer. Best of [...]

Strange to think that the tallest sand dunes in the United States are actually high in the mountains, but it’s true. Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, elevation 8,000 to 13,000 feet, has more than 30 square miles of sand dunes. That’s something like five billion cubic yards of sand.

So how did huge sand [...]