Activities

The Colorado Rockies are one of America's greatest playgrounds. Information about Colorado's recreational areas and activities is provided in each regional section.

Bicycling

Most streets in the larger cities have bike lanes and separated bike paths, and Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, Durango, Crested Butte, and Colorado Springs are especially bike-friendly. Cities and biking organizations often offer free maps.

The Rockies are a favorite destination for bikers. Wide-open roads with great gains and losses in elevation test (and form) the stamina for road cyclists, while riders who prefer pedaling fat tires have plenty of mountain and desert trails to test their skills. Many cyclists travel between towns (or backcountry huts or campsites) in summer. Unmatched views often make it difficult to keep your eyes on the road.

Bike Rentals

Thanks to the popularity of the sport here, it's usually easy to find a place that rents bicycles, both entry-level and high-end. Bike shops are also a good bet for information on local rides and group tours.

Safety

On the road, watch for trucks and stay as close as possible to the side of the road, in single file. On the trail, ride within your limits and keep your eyes peeled for hikers and horses (both of which have the right of way), as well as dogs. Always wear a helmet and carry plenty of water.

Fishing

Fact: trout do not live in ugly places. Hence it is in Colorado, with unbridled beauty, towering pines, rippling mountain streams, and bottomless pools that blue-ribbon trout streams thrive, much as they were when Native American tribes, French fur trappers, and a few thousand miners first placed a muddy footprint along their banks.

Make the Most of Your Time

To make the best use of a limited vacation, consider hiring a guide. You could spend days locating a great fishing spot, learning the water currents and fish behavior, and determining what flies, lures, or bait the fish are following. A good guide will cut through the options, get you into fish, and turn your excursion into an adventure complete with a full creel.

If you're not inclined to fork over the $250-plus that most quality guides charge per day for two anglers and a boat, your best bet is a stop at a reputable fly shop. They'll shorten your learning curve, tell you where the fish are, what they're biting on, and whether you should be "skittering" your dry fly on top of the water or "dead-drifting" a nymph.

Know the Rules

Fishing licenses, available at tackle shops and a variety of stores, are required in Colorado for anyone over the age of 16. Famed fisherman Lee Wolff wrote that "catching fish is a sport. Eating fish is not a sport." Most anglers practice "catch and release" to maintain productive fisheries and to protect native species. A few streams are considered "private," in that they are stocked by a local club; other rivers are fly-fishing or catch-and-release only.

Hiking

Hiking is easily the least expensive and most accessible recreational pursuit. While gear such as trekking poles, expensive boots, and water filtration systems are recommended for "conquering Fourteeners" and multiday backpacking treks, all that's really essential are sturdy athletic shoes, water, and the desire to see the landscape under your own power.

Hiking in the Rockies is a three-season sport that extends as far into fall as you're willing to tromp through snow, though in the arid desert regions it's possible to hike year-round without snowshoes. One of the greatest aspects of this region is the wide range of hiking terrain, from high-alpine scrambles that require stamina to flowered meadows that invite a relaxed pace to confining slot canyons where flash floods are a real danger.

Horseback Riding

Horseback riding in the Rocky Mountains can mean a quick trot on a paved trail through craggy red rocks or a weeklong stay at a working dude ranch, where guests rise at dawn and herd cattle from one mountain range to another. Horse-pack trips are great ways to visit the backcountry, because horses can travel distances and carry supplies that would be impossible for hikers.

What to Wear

Clothing requirements are minimal. A sturdy pair of pants, a wide-brim sun hat, and outerwear to protect against rain are about the only necessities, but a long-sleeve shirt is also recommended. Ask your outfitter for a list of things you'll need. June through August is the peak period for horse-pack trips.

Choosing a Dude Ranch

Dude ranches fall roughly into two categories: working ranches and guest ranches. Working ranches, where you participate in such activities as roundups and cattle movements, sometimes require experienced horsemanship. Guest ranches offer a wide range of activities in addition to horseback riding, including fishing, four-wheeling, spa services, and cooking classes. At a typical dude ranch you stay in log cabins and are served family-style meals in a lodge or ranch house; some ranches now have upscale restaurants on-site, too. For winter, many ranches have snow-oriented amenities.

When choosing a ranch, consider the level of physical activity your group is after and whether the place is family-oriented or adults only. Check on the length-of-stay requirements and what gear, if any, you are expected to bring. Working ranches plan around the needs of the business, and thus often require full-week stays for a fixed price, while regular guest ranches operate more like hotels.

Rafting

Rafting brings on emotions as varied as the calm induced by flat waters surrounded by stunning scenery and the thrill and excitement of charging a raging torrent of foam. Beginners and novices should use guides, but experienced rafters may rent watercraft.

Choosing a Guide

Seasoned outfitters know their routes and their waters as well as you know the road between home and work. Many guides offer multiday trips in which they do everything, including searing your steak and rolling out your sleeping bag. Waters are ranked from Class I (the easiest) to Class VI (think Niagara Falls). Ask your guide about the rating on your route before you book. Remember, ratings can vary greatly throughout the season due to runoff and weather events.

"Raft" can mean any number of things: an inflated raft in which passengers do the paddling; an inflated raft or wooden dory in which a licensed professional does the work; a motorized raft on which some oar work might be required. Be sure you know what kind of raft you'll be riding—or paddling—before booking.

Wear a swimsuit or shorts and sandals and bring along sunscreen and sunglasses. Outfitters are required to supply a life jacket for each passenger that must be worn. Most have moved to requiring helmets, as well. Early summer, when the water is highest, is the ideal time to raft, although many outfitters stretch the season, particularly on calmer routes.

Skiing and Snowboarding

The champagne powder of the Rocky Mountains can be a revelation for newcomers. Forget treacherous sheets of rock-hard ice, single-note hills where the bottom can be seen from the top, and mountains that offer only one kind of terrain from every angle. In the Rockies the snow builds up quickly, leaving a solid base that hangs tough all season, only to be layered upon by light, fluffy powder that holds an edge, ready to be groomed into rippling corduroy or left in giddy stashes along the sides and through the trees. Volkswagen-size moguls and half-pipe–studded terrain parks are the norm, not the special attractions.

Many resorts have a wide variety of terrain at all levels, from beginner (green circle) to expert (double black diamond). Turn yourself over to the rental shops, which provide expert help in planning your day and outfitting you with the right equipment. Renting is also a great chance for experienced skiers and snowboarders to sample the latest technology. Ask about current "demos" available for rent. Demo gear is often of a higher quality than streamlined rental gear and will perform better across the mountain.

Lift Tickets

Shop around for lift tickets before you leave home. Look for package deals, multiple-day passes, and online discounts. Many ski shops also offer discounted lift tickets. The traditional ski season runs from Thanksgiving until early April, with Christmas, New Year's, and the month of March being the busiest times at the resorts.

Skiing the Rockies means preparing for all kinds of weather, sometimes in the same day, because the high altitudes can start a day off sunny and bright but kick in a blizzard by afternoon. Layers help, as well as plenty of polypropylene to wick away sweat in the sun, and a water-resistant outer layer to keep off the powdery wetness that's sure to accumulate—especially if you're a beginner snowboarder certain to spend time on the ground. Must-haves: goggles and plenty of sunscreen, because the sun is closer than you think, and a helmet, because so are the trees.