Hiking this quiet Golden, Colo. landmark puts the visitor high above the Front Range.
Rocky Mountain Hiking
Santa Fe National Forest trails add spice to northern New Mexico
Hiking may not receive top billing in Santa Fe, but not far from town in the Santa Fe National Forest, several trails await the hiker.
Descending to the Rio Grande River in ancient footsteps
While this area doesn’t contain the deepest part of the Rio Grande River Gorge, easy access and the relative solitude found here make the Cebolla Mesa trail a rewarding experience.
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve — Harmonic convergence of valley, sand, stream and mountain
Tracing the route back to the campground, it occurred to me that while the stunning dunes are the marquee attraction here, it is up the lonely trails into the preserve that other, forgotten treasures may be found.
Brainard Lake area a well-traveled destination
The well-maintained trail to Blue Lake is about 3 miles in length and is suitable for most hikers.
Wyoming’s Encampment River Trail: Enlightenment in Encampment
On the eastern flank of the Sierra Madre Mountains, Encampment provides an off-the-beaten-path destination, perfect for solitude and hiking.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park: The hanging staircase through geologic time
But the sprawling Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, straddling the Gunnison River for 14 miles, offers the most exciting, scenic and challenging one-mile trek we’ve encountered.