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 [...]

[ad#Google Adsense]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 [...]

[ad#Google Adsense]There are 637 peaks in Colorado that are higher than 13,000 feet. More than half have no names or names that are not officially recognized by the USGS. In contrast, every peak over 13,000 feet in the Alps has a name. The neat thing is, if you know a peak that has no name, [...]

[ad#Google Adsense]Grand Mesa is the largest mesa in the world and covers roughly 500 square miles. The mesa stretches 40 miles east of Grand Junction, Colorado, nestled between the Colorado and the Gunnison Rivers which helped to shape this high mountain retreat. Reaching heights of 11,000 feet, the mesa is a cool, green oasis high [...]

Just past Cimarron, Colorado, on Interstate 50, there is a rough gravel road called Big Cimarron Road that leads south into the Uncompahgre National Forest. Plunging deep into the Uncompahgre National Forest, the road reveals some amazing off-the-beaten-path vistas, including the crystal blue waters of Silver Jack Reservoir. Normally, the road is relatively well maintained, [...]

Sparkling blue waters, soaring mountains, needle spires and pristine wilderness — these words capture the natural wonder of Curecanti National Recreation Area in Southwestern Colorado. At the heart of Curecanti is a trio of reservoirs along the Gunnison River. Blue Mesa Dam, situated just above the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, is at the head [...]

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison in Colorado is the deepest and steepest canyon in the United States. It is even deeper and steeper than the Grand Canyon of Arizona! While the view is not quite as awe-inspiring as the Grand Canyon’s vast vistas, the Black Canyon is equally stunning simply because it is hard [...]