Denver is a fantastic jumping-off point for
exploring the Rocky Mountains, considered some of the most spectacular in the
country. The Rockies’ 30 highest summits
are in Colorado, along with four national
parks, six national monuments, two national
recreation areas, two national historic sites,
three national historic trails, a national
scenic trail, 11 national forests, two national
grasslands, 41 national wilderness areas, two
national conservation areas, eight national
wildlife refuges, 44 state parks, a state forest,
323 state wildlife areas and numerous other
scenic, historic and recreational attractions
that will appeal to everyone in the family.
You don’t need to go far to experience the
beauty and wonder of Colorado’s many
outdoor recreational opportunities. In and
surrounding the region’s cities themselves
exist many other chances to get outside,
including such activities as golfing, skiing,
camping, hiking, bicycling and fishing.
Staying active outside is so much a part of
Colorado’s identity that the region has its
own sports television network. Altitude
Sports and Entertainment gives area sports
fans the most comprehensive regional sports
network in the Rockies. No matter what
sport, Altitude has something for everyone;
Basketball, Hockey, Soccer, Lacrosse, Base-
ball, Extreme, Outdoors, Boxing, Cycling,
High School sports, College sports, and
Professional sports. Altitude Sports and
Entertainment is also the official television
network of the Denver Nuggets, Colorado
Avalanche, Colorado Mammoth and the
Colorado Rapids. Colorado’s population
of athletes and outdoors enthusiasts keep
busy year-round. It’s no wonder the state
has the lowest obesity rate in the United
States. ESPN’s annual Winter X Games,
an event profiling sports such as skiing,
snowboarding and snowmobiling, has been
hosted on and off in Colorado since 1998,
and since 2002 has taken place in Aspen.
The Winter X Games will continue to take
place in Aspen through at least 2019.
A NOTE ON ALTITUDE: Denver truly is
“The Mile High City,” located at an elevation
of 5,280 feet. Natives are used to the altitude,
but visitors and recent arrivals—particularly
those used to living at or near sea level—
should be observant about how the altitude
affects them, especially during exercise or
other strenuous activity. Although usually not
serious, altitude sickness (when the body is
unable to take in enough oxygen) does affect
some, causing symptoms such as loss of
appetite, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue
or weakness and persistent rapid pulse, to
name a few.
HIKING AND MOUNTAIN
BIKING
Colorado is a paradise for anyone who
loves to hike. The metro region is relatively
close to the Rocky Mountains, with its
hundreds of miles of hiking trails allowing
visitors to take in the region’s natural
beauty and watch wildlife. But visitors do
not need to travel so far from Denver to
enjoy a pleasant outdoor walk or bike ride.
The Denver metro region has one of the
country’s largest park systems, and there
are more than 850 miles of paved, off-road
CYCLING RESOURCES
Bike Denver www.bikedenver.org
Boulder Valley Velodrome Clubs www.bouldervalleyvelodrome.com
Denver Bicycle Touring Club www.dbtc.org
Denver Cruisers www.denvercruiserride.com
Team Evergreen Bicycle Club www.teamevergreen.org
Photo courtesy of VISIT DENVER Photo courtesy of Steamboat Ski & Resort and VISIT DENVER
