Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2008 - (Page 40) Outdoor Recreation and More Rock Climbing Nirvana Hiking Vail Resort ©Matt Inden/Weaver The Place to Hone Your Skills: Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs (shown below) Why? Wedged between the city and the foothills, these towering fins of orange sandstone provide an easy-toaccess and downright gorgeous place to climb — plus, you may have a few spectators below. The Place to Boulder: Lost Creek Wilderness, Pike National Forest Why? This often overlooked area north of Lake George is defined by bizarre pinkish granite plates and boulders that haphazardly cover the area. Take the McCurdy Park Trail near Tarryall and you’ll stumble upon exquisite boulders ideal for quick climbs. The Place to Be Gutsy: Ouray Ice Park, Ouray Why? Rather than build a ski area and attract powderhounds in winter, Ouray decided to set up an elaborate system of hoses around Box Canyon and become the ice climbing capital of America. The ice walls in this spectacular setting are more than 100 feet tall and in January draw the world’s top ice climbers for the Ouray Ice Festival. The Place to Have It All: Lumpy Ridge, Rocky Mountain National Park Why? Somewhat overshadowed by the mystique of the Diamond Face on Longs Peak, this complex of crags and spires immediately north of Estes Park offers every conceivable kind of climb. Spend all day on The Owl, without the 4am start needed on the Diamond Face. The Place to End All Arguments: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Why? Because it contains the third tallest cliff in the lower 48 states Because the rock is solid and doesn’t crumble in your hands Because it has attracted the biggest names in the sport, and even some of them came up short. Climb here and you can safely say you’ve proven yourself. ©Corey Rich, www.coreyrich.com/Aurora Photos 7Tread Trails to For every mountain range in Colorado, there are dozens of valleys to explore. And for nearly every valley, you’ll find a trail. We’ve made just a few recommendations to get you started. Before setting out on any hike, make sure you have adequate water (at least two quarts a person), sunscreen (up to SPF 30), enough clothing for changing conditions, and a good map and solid map-reading skills. Where to: See Wildflowers Blue Lakes Trail (Southwest), in the Mount Sneffles Wilderness, where more than 100 species of flowers bloom at once in mid-July. South of Ridgway, Map E-18. Where to: Backcountry Camp Flat Tops Wilderness Area (Northwest), east of Meeker, where backpackers can travel atop alpine mesas, camp along hundreds of lakes and listen to elk bugling at dusk. East of Meeker, Map D-4. Where to: ©Matt Lancaster Where to: Summit a Mountain Quandary Peak (Northwest), on the north side of Hoosier Pass, is a grand, 14,256-foot mountain with precipitous drop offs on its northern and southern faces. However, the trail up its eastern ridge is sustainable, easy to find, easy to follow and rigorous (without being too difficult). South of Breckenridge, Map G-5. Where to: Make Your Own Tracks Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve (South Central), where 19,000 acres of shifting sand provide hikers with wanderlust the opportunity to explore dunes in every direction. East of Mosca, Map I-10. Where to: Compare Foot Sizes With a Dinosaur Picketwire Canyons (Southeast), where the remote trail follows the longest dinosaur track set in North America. South of La Junta, Map M-9. Hike Among the Aspens Silver Pick Basin (Southwest), off Kebler Pass Road, where the largest stand of aspens in the world turns gold (and even red) at the height of fall color in late September. West of Crested Butte, Map E-7. Difficulty scale: * : easy : most difficult See a Spectacular Waterfall Where to: Ouzel Falls (Front Range), Rocky Mountain National Park, where a torrent of snowmelt tumbles off a dramatic cliff in the pines. West of Allenspark, Map I-3. 40 1-800-Colorado | www.colorado.com http://www.colorado.com
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