Outdoor Project

With its dense evergreen forests edged with granite boulders and meadows brimming with wildflowers, the Evergreen Mountain Loop at Three Sisters/Alderfer Park is a gem not be missed on the Colorado Front Range. Located just 41 minutes from Denver near the sleepy town of Evergreen, this trail is a sampling of everything the foothills have to offer, and it has riding almost all year round.

The Emerald Lake Trail Hike is a great option if you are looking for respite from the summer heat that bakes the Sierra. The trail is mostly shaded by trees and vegetation, and a swim in the lake awaits on hot days. Hiking to gorgeous, high alpine lakes and breezy, rocky summits is the key to beat the heat and still enjoy this magnificent terrain in the summer. This is a great hike for families with children, those new to hiking, and for fisherman, as Emerald Lake is filled with brook trout.

Easy shuttle access, fast and flowy trails, stunning vistas, and features to challenge nearly every rider all make Bennie Creek a staple for Wasatch-area riding. Like most trails in this area, there are several different options for riding this trail. Shuttling to the Rock Springs parking area offers a “best of all worlds” experience. Although you might see other riders on downhill bikes with 8-inches of travel, downhill bikes are definitely not necessary to have a riot of a time on this trail.

Looking out across the Mammoth skyline, Mammoth Crest is the long ridge that you can see from town and throughout the Mammoth Lakes Basin. The hike to the crest on the Lake George Trail is well worth the effort. You'll have sweeping views, and the trail offers a variety of foliage and terrain.

The Sea to Summit Trail was completed in 2014 in conjunction with the opening of the Sea to Sky Gondola, and it offers a great way to combine the Gondola with a half-day hike. While relatively short at just 7.5 kilometers, the trail climbs over 900 meters and has some steep sections with rocky scrambles and fixed ropes to keep it interesting.

Vancouver's most popular trail, the Grouse Grind is just that, a grind! Boasting nearly 3,000 feet of elevation gain in only 1.8 miles, this trail shows no mercy. The trail climbs it's way up through the old-growth forest so steeply that most of it has been reinforced with timber and stone stairs.

Once you reach the top, the Grouse Mountain Village and Chalet come into view and are a welcome site. A great place to fuel up and get some water, the village hosts a number of activities including educational wildlife shows, zip lines, and helicopter tours, just to name a few.

Peak bagging in Colorado usually means 14ers or 13ers that almost always involve long, steep treks above the timberline. Well, how about a peak that tops out at a not-so-lofty 10,654 feet and is an iconic landmark that is visible for miles? Add in a gloriously scenic route through wildflower-choked meadows that is doable by families and a 100-mile view at the top and you have the recipe for a great hike. Welcome to Rabbit Ears Peak! The peak is named for the unique rocky remnants of a volcanic plug that looked more like a rabbit in the past than it does today.

The top of Kuli'ou'ou Ridge provides unimpeded, expansive views of the entire southeast portion of Oahu. If you're looking for an escape from the sandy beach, a workout that will definitely get your heart racing, or you would like to get away from some heavy crowds, consider this adventure. 

Once you've found the trailhead at the end of a cul-de-sac in a suburb, find the trail by staying to the right and heading uphill on the unpaved path. 

As the highest summit in the state, 13,528-foot Kings Peak is affectionately known as the Ceiling of Utah (although prior to satellite measurement in 1966 the highest summit was thought to be South Kings Peak, the summit of which sits at a mere 13,512 feet of elevation). Possessing the 19th-highest topographic prominence in the contiguous U.S. at 6,348 feet, Kings is also one of the 57 "Ultras," or peaks with a prominence exceeding 1,500 meters.  

For the urban dweller who needs a quick escape or lunch break in the sun, the Sunset and English Bay beaches are perfect. Minutes from downtown, these beaches offer concession stands, washrooms, lifeguard-patrolled waters, and a paved walking/biking trail that links them all together.

The first of the three beaches is the Dog Beach. Technically considered a part of Sunset Beach, the Dog Beach is a stretch of sand starting at the Burrard Bridge and ending at the point of the first crescent. Although not big, it's a great place to take the dogs to swim, play, and  socialize.