Hiking in Colorado

Colorado is world renowned for its natural beauty and outdoor recreation. Hiking in a State Park, National Park or National Forest is an excellent way to experience colorado and get away from the crowds. There are hundreds of trails suitable for a short family excursion or for an endurance work-over. Hundreds of trails access spots for fishing and backpacking. Description - Spending the day hiking beside a rushing mountain brook or through a pine forest is an unforgettable experience! The truly adventurous should try an alpine lake above timberline or a trip through desert canyons. Get far away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Be prepared for cool evenings and hot days. Sunscreen is a must to protect you from the intense sun, particularly at high elevations. Also be prepared for afternoon thunderstorms and accompanying lightning which are a regular occurrence in the mountains in July and August. Carry lots of water as the climate is very dry. Acclimate before attempting a hike at high elevations. Be sure that someone knows where you are. Attractions - Most of the state's hikes are located in its vast public lands managed by the US Forest Service. The San Juan in the South Western corner of the state offers excellent experiences in the rugged San Juan Mountains. The nearby Rio Grande also offers adventures in the San Juan Mountains as well as the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The massive Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison has numerous trails in the San Juan and Elk Mountains as well as on the world's largest mesa. The Pike and San Isabel has opportunities in the Sangre de Critso, Collegiate and southern Front Range mountains. The White River offers experiences in the spectacular Elk and Gore ranges as well as the Flat Tops region. The Arapaho and Roosevelt offers hiking opportunities in the northern Front Range mountains. Finally, the Routt has trails in the northern part of the state. Rocky Mountain National Park offers numerous alpine experiences due to its large size and large percentage of land above timberline. Few states can boast the outdoor resources around the Denver metro area alone. Chatfield and Cherry Creek state parks have it all -- reservoirs for boating, sailing and fishing, horse rentals, sandy beaches, marinas and miles of hiking and biking trails as well as diverse ecosystems offering unique opportunities for resource education. National Parks and Monuments National Forests State Parks Black Canyon of the Gunnison Colorado Dinosaur Florissant Fossil Beds Great Sand Dunes Hovenweep Mesa Verde Rocky Mountain Arapaho and Roosevelt Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison Pike and San Isabel Rio Grande Routt San Juan White River Arkansas Headwaters Barbour Ponds Barr Lake Bonny Boyd Lake Castlewood Canyon Chatfield Cherry Creek Crawford Eldorado Eleven Mile Golden Gate Harvey Gap Highline Jackson Lake Lake Pueblo Lathrop Lory Mancos Mueller Navajo North Sterling Paonia Pearl Lake Picnic Rock Ridgway Rifle Falls Rifle Gap Roxborough San Luis Lakes Spinney Mountain Stagecoach Sweitzer Lake Sylvan Lake Trinidad Lake Vega

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