Denver-Area Recreation

The beautiful state of Colorado is absolutely loaded with parks and outdoor recreation. Even in the Denver area you can find plenty of activities to occupy your free time and get in some good exercise at the same time. For the leisure enthusiast, head to Washington Park and play a game of volleyball, walk around the park or take a paddleboat ride on the lake. For those looking to find a larger body of water to boat or jet-ski, find your way to Cherry Creek State Park and Reservoir or Chatfield Reservoir. Both reservoirs have marinas that hold motorized boats, jet skis and sail boats. Cyclists have countless opportunities to ride throughout the Denver area. The Highline Canal and Cherry Creek Path are both popular paths that wind through Denver and surrounding suburbs.

The city of Boulder, just a short drive northwest of Denver, is widely recognized as an outdoor recreation paradise. If mountain climbing gets your adreneline flowing, then Boulder is your spot. On any given day you will find climbers scaling the famous foothills known as the Flatirons. Made of sandstone, the Flatirons are synonomous with the city of Boulder. In addition to climbing, there are many hiking and mountain biking trailheads beginning at Chautauqua Park, the base of the Flatirons. Through the years an impressive number of elite athletes from around the world have come to Boulder to enhance their training, in part because of the altitude and training facilities.

Beyond the front range of Colorado, and into the Rocky Mountains, lies a nearly infinite number of activities and locales to experience something truly unique. The most recognizable sport in Colorado takes place in the winter months. Skiing and snowboarding continue to surge in popularity, making Colorado the winter destination in the United States. Currently there are 25 resorts in the state of Colorado, more than any other state in the country. Many resorts look to or have expanded terrain to not only sustain the growth but also draw more visitors to their mountain. A number of the resorts in Colorado have added terrain parks to keep up with the demand by snowboarders and free-skiers for half-pipes, fun boxes and rails. For the more casual winter sports fan, some of the mountain resorts offer snow tubing and ice skating. Click here more information on all of the mountain resorts. Back country skiing and riding is another option-but make sure you take the proper safety courses before heading out there...and never go at it alone. Another popular winter sport is snowmobiling. This is a well-liked activity for riding around or travelling to a destination that would otherwise be impossible in the deep mountain snow.

Mountain Sports-Summer

Although winter is the prime revenue season in Colorado, the summer months offer a more diverse outdoor experience. With 43 state parks scattered throughout the state you can go on a new adventure nearly every week of the year. Several mountain resorts with winter sports offer mountain biking during the summer. Simply purchase a lift ticket and you have access to thousands of acres of downhill terrain. In addition, the mountains of Colorado offer hundreds of designated mountain biking trails. If you love the adreneline rush of mountain biking, then there's a good chance that you can get your fill river rafting or kayaking down one of the many mountain rivers. River rafting and kayaking are available on the Arkansas, Colorado & Poudre Rivers, among others. Hiking trails can be found just about anywhere in the mountains. Due to the varying difficulty levels (from easy to extremely strenuous), hiking is a popular activity for people of all ages and physical conditions. As a challenge to the athletically inclined, attempt to climb some or all of the 14,000 foot peaks in Colorado. There are 53 in all. For a more relaxing adventure check out one of the state's rivers for some top notch fly fishing. The Roaring Fork River near Aspen and the Eagle River near Vail are some of the best spots. Other desirable summer outings include camping, four-wheel driving, and horseback riding. Click here for more information on outdoor recreation opportunities around the state.