Outdoor Project

Scenic, short, and suitable for the whole family, the Arkansas River Trail is a must-do hike if you are visiting the quaint river town of Buena Vista.

The tame walk along the wild river begins at the Buena Vista River Park at the far east end of Main Street, follows the western banks of the river for .75 miles, where a turnaround at Ramsour Road near the southern part of town leads hikers back north. There are picnic tables and benches along the way for visitors to stop and take in the views of flora, fauna, and the mountains that surround the Arkansas River Valley.

After a long day full of fishing and boating on Cottonwood Lake, off-roading and horseback riding nearby mountain trails, or simply relaxing and watching wildlife, even the most dedicated adventure seekers need a place to lay their head for the night.

Tucked away among the 14,000-foot collegiate peaks lies Cottonwood Lake, a gem among giants. Cottonwood Lake is situated at 9,550-feet and offers countless outdoor activities during all four seasons of the year.

While it is well known for hosting some of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Cypress Mountain on the North Shore is also known for some of the Vancouver area's steepest and best freeride and downhill mountain biking trails.

The Menzies Trail makes for a gorgeous mountain bike ride through BC's Golden Ears Provincial Park. One of the Fraser Valley's gems, Golden Ears Provincial Park is only 60 short kilometers from Vancouver and a great escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. The park draws people in for all sorts of activities such as swimming, boating, camping, and hiking, and bikers and horseback riders are allowed on the park's mulit-use trails, too.

Gold Creek Campground is one of three major campgrounds in Golden Ears Provincial Park. During the summer months the park draws in many weekend and summer holiday guests, which can make getting a reservation very difficult. Gold Creek Campground is the only one of the three that has year-round camping, as the other two close in September for the winter season.

More Cowbell is one of the newer mountain bike trails in Utah's Hurricane Cliffs Trail System. It is easily and quickly accessed, fast and flowy, and easily ridable by beginners. Beyond that, it sits on a lower shelf of Gooseberry Mesa and offers incredible views in every direction.

The Brew Lake Trail offers slightly less hiked but no less magnificent access into the Pacific Ranges. Hikers in the Sea-To-Sky corridor are undeniably spoiled with an incredible array of trails to explore, and with Garibaldi Provincial Park encompassing almost everything on the east side of Highway 99, it is no surprise that the majority of the most popular trails are located within the park. These trails provide access to extremely  beautiful and remote wilderness areas, they are all well-used and well-maintained, and we are very lucky to have them.

JEM is one of the older mountain bike trails in Utah's Hurricane Cliffs Trail System, and it is a classic ride for the area. It is easily and quickly accessed, offers beautiful views, and it is a good ride for beginners.

Stairs Gulch is a short, challenging hike close to Salt Lake City and just a few miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon. You can access the hike directly across from the Storm Mountain Day Use Area entrance. This hike is unique because it heads up the creek atop stones and boulders past a succession of waterfalls and sheer cliffs that loom overhead. A traditional trail zigzags alongside the creek, but it is much more fun to hop from boulder to boulder up the waterfalls, crossing the creek to find ideal routes. Discovering your own route up the gulch is one of the joys of this hike.