I love outdoor water activities. I am big into canoeing (on a river or a lake), Kayaking, boating, rafting, tubing, swimming, and water skiing. You name it, I love it. Because there are so many water activities, I haven’t thought about trying something new until recently. Last weekend, or the first time ever, I went paddle boarding. I had a blast and can’t wait to do it again! I went to Big Soda Lake Reservoir just off C470 in Morrison. But you can paddle board anywhere there is water. Some popular places near Denver include: Chatfield Reservoir, Cherry Creek Reservoir, Aurora Reservoir, and... Read More

Are you in Denver and you want to do something fun this weekend, but you do not want to drive? Did you know you can bike from Denver to Golden using the Clear Creek Trail? This trail is great to have a nice relaxing ride and the best part is, there is beer on both ends of the trail! The Clear Creek Trail is a well-kept wide bike path extending 20 miles. The end points are Platte River Trail north of I-76 in Welby and US 6 in Golden. Throughout the ride you will pass through Adams county, Denver County, and Jefferson County. This trail is mostly concrete and well kept. There is a small break I... Read More

Looking for a fun place to bike or hike this weekend? Look no further, I have the perfect place. Lookout Mountain in Golden offers a lot of unique hiking areas. One of my personal favorites is the Apex Park, which is made up of 8 trails creating 9.6 miles of adventure. The Apex Park offers breath-taking beauty, fresh mountain air, wildflowers, wildlife, and of course exercise! This area is well-known for its biking and hiking. It is considered moderate when it comes to difficulty. Hikers, feel free to roam freely on Bonanza, Grubstake Loop, Hardscrabble, Pick’N Sledge, Apex, Argos, Enchanted... Read More

Have you always wanted to do a backpacking trip but have never actually got around to it? Something always gets in the way? Not sure what gear you need? Well, stop making excuses and get out there; because I got you covered when it comes to gear. I just got back from an amazing 4th of July backpacking trip in the Grand Tetons in Wyoming. It was an amazing way to spend an extended weekend with someone I love, get up and close to awesome wildlife, and be amazed with 360 degrees of beauty. As I was backpacking, I realized the gear you need can be overwhelming. So, I have prepared a top five list to... Read More

The 4th of July is right around the corner. Have you thought of how you are going to spend the holiday? You could stick around Denver, there is plenty to do such as watch fireworks and BBQ with friends. OR you could head out into the wild with some friends, a tent, and a sleeping bag! In 300 words, I am going to attempt to convince you to go camping this Independence Day…Here is goes. Health Unplug, unwind, and enjoy the beautiful state of Colorado. Camping is good for your mind and body. First your mind: The wilderness gives you an excuse to put your electronics down and completely free your... Read More

“One, two, three, four, five. Once I caught a fish alive. Six, seven, eight, nine, ten. Then I let him go again.” Have you been fishing yet this year? With the weather forecast in the 80’s for Father’s Day weekend, I can’t think of a reason not to go fishing! Not sure how to prepare for a day of fishing? I’ve got you covered. Below are the three big planning steps. One: License If you are going to fish, Colorado requires you to have a license. And for only $26, you get a year of fishing fun. The season goes from April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018. So, get it quick to make sure you get... Read More

Getting out of the city for a run is not always easy. That’s why it is important to know your options when it comes to running in Denver. Below are my top three places to run in Denver. The Classic: Washington Park Washington Park has been a Denver favorite for years. With two lakes, a great path around the edges, and a big lawn for volleyball or other lawn sports; Washington Park offers about 160 acres of pure fun. All the outdoor activates easily make it one of Denver’s favorite parks. The park is full of dogs, cyclists, and (you guessed it) joggers. This 2.5 mile gravel path around the... Read More

It is that time of year when thousands of people start making their way up one or more of the 14ers Colorado offers. I thought I would share my first 14er experience up Mount Bierstadt. We selected Mount Bierstadt for two reasons. First, it is one of the closest 14ers to Denver. Second, it is a beginner-friendly 14er. Notice I did not say easy. That is because 14ers, even class 1 or 2, are not easy. In order to safely summit, you will need to be mentally and physically prepared. I am a runner and consider myself fit, but there is no way of knowing how your body will handle the altitude and the... Read More

All that training I did paid off last weekend. I completed my race in Colorado Springs at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. It was a great experience. The course went through the zoo and up the mountain to William Rogers Shrine. Over the first two miles we climbed 1000 feet and it was incredible and challenging; but worth it for the views. The course was on a nice road that usually does not allow foot traffic. This is the only race that the zoo allows foot traffic to the shrine. Even though you will not be able to walk to the shrine this year you can still visit the zoo and take the gondola up to the... Read More

With warm weather on the rise (minus the recent snow storm), race season is kicking off. My first race of the season is on Saturday. This is a short run with a high intensity climb for the first two miles in Colorado Springs. Because of the incline my normal training routine was not going to work. So I researched trails close to me with an incline. I found what I was looking for in Golden, CO and my training trail quickly became Chimney Gulch Trail. Chimney Gulch Trail starts in Golden and climbs 2.5 miles up Lookout Mountain. During that 2.5 miles, be prepared to ascent 2000 ft.  The trail... Read More