Outdoor Project

This is one of the wetland ponds in the Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat in Boulder, Colorado. The area is a sanctuary for waterfowl, aquatic creatures, and game animals, all within a short drive of the city. Birdwatchers frequently come armed with binoculars and notepads to identify as many birds as possible. The area is great for families with kids, who can explore the evenly-graveled paths and numerous wooden viewing platforms.

Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat is renowned among Boulder area bird watchers for its diversity of migratory waterfowl and other native birds. It is also a place for wildflower enthusiasts and any general lovers of nature. 

Reclaimed gravel pit mines from the 1960s are now ecologically restored to healthy wetlands. Ongoing restoration since the 1970s has left its former condition nearly unimaginable, but the adjacent manufacturing park is a reminder of the site's industrial legacy.

The hike to Nolan Lake is a moderate hike which should be a top destination when camping at Sylvan Lake State Park or one of the national forest campgrounds at Yoeman Park or Fulford Cave. The highlights of the trail are fabulous views of the western peaks of the Holy Cross Wilderness and the pristine high mountain lake at the end of the trail.

Sitting right at the boundary of Holy Cross Wilderness, Yeoman Park Campground is a wonderful place to find majestic scenery and solitude. Set in the high valley of Yeoman Park, the views up to the nearby peaks are spectacular. The campground is a typical national forest facility with minimal amenities apart from vault toilets, and access roads are rough. Most of the sites are more suitable for tent camping, but several are long and flat enough for medium-sized trailers and motorhomes. There are two ADA-accessible sites, and the vault toilets are accessible as well.

Swan Mountain Road climbs up and around Swan Mountain and connects Keystone and Breckenridge. The high point of the road is on Sapphire Point, where there is a parking lot and a small overlook about 100 yards up the trail to the west. Most people don’t venture past the overlook, but the entire loop trail is flat and easy for any ability and offers great views of Dillon Lake and the surrounding mountains. Along the way there are picnic tables, and the walk is short enough to carry lunch and settle in for a while.

A local favorite, especially for dog owners, the Old Dillon Reservoir area has several trails for hiking and biking in a small system that offers relative solitude in a very convenient location with fabulous views of Lake Dillon and surroundings. A great introduction to this area is the aptly-named Old Dillon Reservoir Loop. A particularly nice time to do this hike is an hour or two before sunset when the light is very golden.

The Dillon/Breckenridge/Frisco area is very bike-friendly, and there are many miles of paved paths that connect all the towns in the Dillon Lake area. In addition to hiking opportunities, the Dillon Reservoir Recpath is a terrific loop that is very scenic and mostly easy and flat, but two hills make the entire 18.7-mile loop a bit of a challenge. The path has a well-maintained surface and is plenty wide.

This mountain biking loop near Provo, Utah, may not have the epic vistas that so many mountain bikers seek, but the thick tree coverage, running creeks, small waterfalls, rock formations, open meadows, wildflowers, and variety of wildlife all add up to make the Wardsworth Creek Loop one of the most beautiful trails you will ever ride. Likewise, because of its relatively low elevation and the fact that it runs along a large creek nestled at the bottom of a small canyon, the trail remains surprisingly temperate throughout the year.

Trailside Bike Park is a great example of the Park City area’s commitment to supporting the sport of mountain biking. It is a free access, well maintained, and constantly improving favorite mountain bike park for Park City visitors and locals.

One of the earlier legal freeride trails in the Salt Lake City Area, Road to Arcylon is a great introduction to the discipline of freeride mountain biking. The fact that it works as a great, quick mountain bike trail ride near to Salt Lake City is just gravy.