COME TO LIFE / Ways to Love Summer A Few Favorite Sites: Moose at Deer Lakes near Lake City Bighorn sheep in Bighorn Sheep Canyon and Browns Canyon near Buena Vista Everything from sandhill cranes to greater prairie chickens, snow geese, eagles, hawks, sage grouse, lark buntings and more on Colorado Birding Trails around the state Any National Wildlife Refuge (see page 46) Elk and bighorn sheep in Poudre Canyon near Fort Collins More: COLORADO.com/ WildlifeViewing outfitters who can hook you up with the appropri-ate gear and lead you to routes you’ll never forget. A Few Favorite Sites: Castle wood Canyon State Park east of Castle Rock Rifle Mountain Park Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park near Montrose Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs Ouray Ice Park (winter) Clear Creek Canyon near Golden X Rock in Durango Falls Gulch near Buena Vista Colo-rado National Monument near Fruita and Grand Junction Eldorado Canyon State Park near Boulder Piedra River Trail near Pagosa Springs More: COLORADO.com/ RockClimbing 7 BALLOONING Cool summer mornings in Colorado make the perfect atmosphere for hot-air balloons. Floating along in a basket sus-pended from a beautiful balloon could be one of the most romantic flights you ever take. A Few Favorite Spots: Boulder Breckenridge Colorado Springs Ridgway/Ouray Longmont Steamboat Springs Pagosa Springs Fort Collins Winter Park/Fraser Aspen/ Snowmass Windsor More: COLORADO.com/ Ballooning 8 RV ROAD TRIPPING An RV trip through Colorado means inspiring views and unmatched experiences. Myriad roadways all lead to adventure, but if you need a few ideas to get started, consider heading along one — or several — of Colorado’s 26 Scenic and Historic Byways. Often taking you alongside the state’s most scenic vistas and to or near its 12 National Parks or Monuments, the byways are a tried-and-true family favorite. RV parks along the way will offer as many or as few amenities as suit your travel style, so get behind the wheel and get moving! CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: RVING IN VEGA STATE PARK, COLORADO STATE PARKS AND WILDLIFE/DUSTIN DOSKOCIL; THE RIVER COURSE AT KEYSTONE, VAIL RESORTS; NOAH WETZEL; MOOSE IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, JONATHAN PHILLIPS; ROCK CLIMBING NEAR OURAY, CELIN SERBO; HOT-AIR BALLOON, ISTOCKPHOTO. 6 ROCK CLIMBING Reach the state’s most stunning pinnacles with your own two hands. For first-time rock climbers, Colorado has plenty of More: COLORADO.com/RVing 7 9 6 GOLF Golf flourishes in Colorado’s varied terrain, where each contour becomes an opportunity for inspiring course design. Traditional courses are plentiful, but tucked away in canyons and mountainsides lay true creative gems, where innovation melds with Colorado scenery to push golf’s imagination to its very boundar-ies — and its ball farther into the high altitudes. A Few Favorite Places: Adobe Creek National Golf Course in Fruita Ironbridge Golf Course in Glenwood Springs The River Course at Keystone Resort TPC Colorado in Berthoud Conquistador Golf Course in Cortez Bear Dance in Larkspur Northeastern 18 in Sterling City Park Golf Course in Denver Redlands Mesa in Grand Junction Mount Massive Golf Course in Leadville Murphy Creek Golf Course in Aurora Golf Granby Ranch in Granby 4 34 / 1-800-COLORADO More: COLORADO.com/Golf Continued on page 36.
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2020: Page 34
