Outdoor Project

Sylvan Lake State Park is a popular, but not overused, unit of the Colorado State Parks system. Located just 15 miles off the I-70 corridor in the middle of the state, it is fairly easy to get to and well worth the effort.

The Son of Mill Trail is a great introduction to incredible mountain biking near Vail. You'll gain almost 1,500 feet as you grunt up Red Sandstone Road only to be rewarded by a ripping descent through the aspen-trimmed mountain meadows on tight twisting single track all the way back to town. The route described here is a loop that can be made into several different rides if you want to continue to Lost Lake and beyond.

The Mount Fromme Mountain Biking Trails provide a spectrum of world-class routes on Vancouver's North Shore. This challenging loop is on the very advanced end of that spectrum, and these trails can be brutal if your reach exceeds your ability. Before undertaking this loop, be sure you are riding within your limits.

The Aspen Meadows Campground in Colorado's Golden Gate Canyon State Park is a hidden gem nestled in the backcountry of the park.

The Brainchild of Todd "Digger" Fiander, Ladies Only was originally build in 1992 and has since become mountain biking classic on Vancouver's North Shore, so much so that a complete rebuild was needed after so much use. In 2010 reinforced burms, new features, and tons of attention to detail returned Ladies Only from a decaying and worn out trail to one of the top trails in the world.

The Peavine Peak Trail is an arduous, rewarding hike that involves a 2,600-foot climb to the summit of Peavine Mountain that stands dominant over Reno, Nevada. Peavine Peak is actually two peaks. The west peak stands at 8,131 feet and is about 29 feet higher than the east. It is capped with radio towers that are visible from throughout the Reno and Sparks metro area. Peavine also has a place in local lore, as gardeners and food growers will tell you that the disappearance of snow on Peavine is when the time is right to plant your spring seeds.

Cal-Cheak Recreation Site is a day use area and campground consisting of 55 drive-in sites separated into three separate clusters in a heavily treed area just 15 minutes from Whistler Village. The campground is fairly basic, offering fire pits and picnic tables, water, pit toilets, and firewood for sale. Most of the sites are quite shady with varying degrees of privacy; the nicer sites have direct access to either the Cheakamus River or Callaghan Creek.

The pleasantly gentle hike to Boom Lake in Aberta's Banff National Park is a nice escape from the crowds that hike to the more accessible lakes of the area. But Boom Lake is not to be missed! After exhausting your legs on some of the steeper, longer hikes in Banff National Park, you'll find this hike a nice rest. This glacier-fed lake earned its name from a boom of down trees blocking its exit flow. Several submerged logs, most likely due to avalanches, can be seen on the lake's bottom through its clear water. 

The Nighthawk Hiking Trail near Boulder is an excellent route through a vast open space. Just outside the little bluegrass town of Lyons, Hall Ranch is one of the area's several designated Boulder Country Open Spaces. Hall Ranch offers numerous multi-use trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. The Nighthawk Trail is the only trail that is exclusively designated for pedestrian use. This offers a bit more solitude, as Hall Ranch is a local favorite for mountain biking.

Sawtooth Mountain in Oregon's Cascade Range is another great peak to hike for forested solitude and magnificent mountain views.