Activities in Front Range
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Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway
Travelers have been making the trip to the summit of Pikes Peak (14,110ft) on the Pikes Peak Cog Railway since 1891, when Spencer Penrose built it. Katherine Lee Bates was so impressed by her 1893 trip to the summit that she was inspired to write 'America the Beautiful.' Diesel-powered, Swiss-built trains smoothly make the round-trip in three hours and 10 minutes, which includes 40 minutes at the top.
The train makes no official stops, but engineers will drop hikers at Mountain View, where you can hike the 1.5 mile to the six-mile mark of the Barr Trail at Barr Camp (9,500ft), which makes for a 7.5-mile hike up. It's the best way to day hike Pikes Peak, and you may as wel…
reviewed
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Boulder Creek Bike Path
The most utilized commuter bike path in town, this fabulously smooth and mostly straight creekside concrete path follows Boulder Creek from Foothill Parkway all the way to the spilt of Boulder Canyon and Four Mile Canyon Rd west of downtown – a total distance of over 5 miles one-way. The path also feeds urban bike lanes that lead all over town.
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North Boulder Recreation Center
- Boulder, USA
- Activities › Gym
If you need a workout and the weather isn't cooperating, book some some gym time here. The weight room and indoor hoops court are more than adequate, and the 25m lap pool is fabulous. Or perhaps you'd prefer a game of raquet ball or a yoga class? They have it all for a simple 24hr day-use fee. Bring your own towel or rent one for $1.
reviewed
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Yoga Pod
- Boulder, USA
- Activities › Yoga
One of the hippest, if most-oddly located, studios in Boulder. But don't let the 29th St Mall location throw you off. There's plenty of free parking, the place isn't corporate and the instruction is first rate. When the Fourmile Canyon Fire hit Boulder, they offered free yoga to those displaced by the Fourmile Fire.
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Six Permissions
West of the Pearl St Mall, this tiny apothecary offers Chinese herbs and organic facials, and has an attached acupuncture clinic. In addition it offers a range of deep tissue, lymphatic, Swedish and sport massages. Your Zen wishes will be fulfilled here. Massage is available by appointment only.
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Barr Trail
The main trail to Pikes Peak is a popular 12.8-mile trudge from the trailhead near the Manitou Springs Depot at 6600ft. That makes for an elevation gain of 7510ft to the summit at 14,110ft. Many hikers split the trip into two days, stopping to overnight at Barr Camp at the halfway point (10,200ft).
Although you can't buy one-way tickets on the Cog, you may choose to buy a round-trip and use it to get to Barr Camp. You'll have to ask the engineer to stop for you. You'll be let out onto a spur trail 1.5 miles from Barr Camp where you can join the main trail to the summit. Then you can take the train down. That makes the trip a fun 7.5-mile day hike. Also, many hikers leave …
reviewed
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Red Rock Canyon Park
Red Rock Canyon is one of the region's newest and best slices of open space. A former quarry, and part of a red-rock vein that runs through Colorado Springs to the Garden of the Gods, this 787-acre park was nearly developed into a golf course and townhouses.
Thanks to committed residents who fought the good fight, Red Rock Canyon is, and will remain, open to all, including hikers, runners, cyclists and equestrians. Trails from Red Rock connect to Bear Creek Regional Park and North Cheyenne Canyon Park. Rock climbers have access to over 80 bolted climbing routes, but they must register at the Garden of the Gods Visitors Center first or risk a $500 fine. Some trails are for…
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Pikes Peak Highway
From the town of Divide, west of Manitou Springs on US Hwy 24, you can drive the Pikes Peak Toll Road to the summit. It's sometimes closed in winter due to bad weather. If it's open, and you have a set of skis or a snowboard and at least three people - one driver and two riders - there is some great (and free, after you pay the toll) backcountry powder skiing with easy drop-in and pick-up points along the serpentine road.
The locals would kill us for listing mile-markers, so you'll have to drive the highway and look for tracks. The drive itself is a beautiful one-hour snaking drive through boulder fields to the wide blue sky. This highway (and the cog railway) were built …
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Tube Boulder Creek
Boulder's favorite summer ritual is to pick up an inner tube at this tubing and rafting center and float down Boulder Creek from the whitewater park at Eben G Fine Park to 30th St. Speak to the staff about safety.
The park's high water and sculpted ledges can get rocking in early season, and you may even get flipped. But the creek mellows below 9th St, and can get low in late summer leaving a much more placid whitewater park as the only navigable stretch.
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Wonderland Lake Trailhead
This easily accessed North Boulder trailhead links to 2.4 miles of trails within the City of Boulder's terrific open space mountain parks program. Better for runners or fast walkers than hikers (trails are pretty flat here), the trails skirt a lovely artificial lake, surrounded by knee-high grasses and tucked up against the foothills. Dogs are allowed but must be leashed.
The fields are golden in the summer and green in the spring and during the icy winter, you can ice skate at your own risk.
reviewed
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Eldorado Canyon State Park
Eldorado Canyon State Park is one of the country's best rock-climbing areas, offering Class 5.5 to 5.12 climbs. They also have nearly a dozen miles of trails suitable for all levels of visitors - from hardcore athletes to toddlers and seniors. The park entrance is on Eldorado Springs Dr. Take Hwy 93 south from Boulder, head west on Hwy 170 and continue on the dirt road through town to the park gates. Stop by Boulder Rock Club for climbing tips before hitting these red rock walls.
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New Santa Fe Regional Trail
Eighteen miles each way, this wide open, gravel and earth trail rises gently from the southern end of the Air Force Academy to the Palmer Lake Recreation Area. You'll gain about 1000ft over the course of the ride, which isn't nothing, but it isn't too painful, and the ride back down will be fun. It's a great beginner mountain-bike ride, and if you like, you can link up with the paved Pikes Peak Greenway Trail at the academy and take it all the way into town.
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Boulder Falls Trail
A quick and relatively easy ramble along the upper reaches of boulder creek and into its headwaters. This trail begins approximately ten miles west of downtown Boulder, bends into a cozy but dramatic canyon with soaring granite walls and ends at Boulder Falls which alternates between trickling and gushing depending upon the season. A bit more than a one-mile roundtrip.
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Royal Arch Trail
Challenging but not excruciating, this roughly two-hour, 3.6-mile, well-signed trail leads you up along the Flatirons, through a vaguely-red rock canyon, through a keyhole and up to a wonderful natural rock arch where you'll perch on boulders, gaze at the Boulder basin, and, on clear days, glimpse the Denver skyline. Grab a trail map at the park office before hiking.
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Boulder Rock Club
Before you head up to the climbs in Eldorado Canyon State Park, get your chops at this indoor climbing gym, popular with Boulder's local rock rats. This massive warehouse is full of artificial rock faces cragged with ledges and routes, and the auto-belay system allows solo climbers an anchor. Staff are a great resource for local climbing routes and tips too.
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Pikes Peak Greenway Trail
Colorado Springs' primary paved bike path follows Monument Creek south from the Air Force Academy (where you can link with the New Santa Fe Regional Trail) for 14 miles into the city where it links with the rest of the Front Range Trail System an additional 20-plus miles of trails that connect Colorado Springs, Old Colorado City and Manitou Springs.
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Color Me Mine
An ideal activity for craftsy families. Here you can choose tiles, plates, vases, cups and bowls from among the hundreds of ceramic pieces on offer, and paint them any way you like. No need to be monochromatic: they have around 70 underglaze colors on the palate. The staff is helpful and fun, and they'll fire your pieces before you leave.
reviewed
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Yoga Rocks the Park
- Boulder, USA
- Activities › Yoga
An ambitious melding of yoga teachings and World Music, Boulder's fit, bronze yogis descend to the green grassy environs of Central Park (in August) or Carpenter Park (in September) for this fun series that includes a sweaty asana session and some soulful live music. After all, they do call the man Damon Zen Drummer for a reason.
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Boulder Ski Deals
Arguably the best deals on skis, snowboards, glasses, goggles and snow gear can be found in this laidback but professional temple to all things extreme and powdery. They sell, they rent, they bro out – even with the ladies. And they offer exceptional deals on season passes to Vail, Breckenridge, Beaver Creek and Arapahoe Basin.
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Challenge Unlimited
An Old Colorado City-based outfitter who for 20 years has lead cyclists on the lovely, fully supported downhill ride from the Pikes Peak summit into Manitou Springs. There are rides twice a day - in the morning and afternoon. Advance reservations are a must. They have a handful of other Colorado cycling itineraries too.
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Dunraven/North Fork Trailhead
From Estes Park, take Devils Gulch Rd for 9 miles east over the scenic divide through Glen Haven and past some picnic areas along the North Fork to a bridge marked ‘Dunraven Forest Access’ on your left (east), then proceed 2.5 miles to the trailhead.
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North Inlet Trailhead
Cam be reached via a short spur from the Kawuneeche Visitor Center, or from the road near Shadowcliff Lodge in Grand Lake.
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Elements
A storefront therapeutic massage den behind Barnes & Noble in the minimall on 30th and Pearl, Elements offers Swedish, hot-stone and deep-tissue work by the half-hour and hour. Simple yet rejuvenating, they take $10 off for first timers.
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Pop Jet Fountain
Bursts of water spring from the ground, sending kids squealing around in circles at this public fountain. It's a great (free) place to bring the kiddies when the temperatures rise, but be aware that the surface underfoot isn't soft.
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Om Time Yoga
- Boulder, USA
- Activities › Yoga
Just off the Pearl Street Mall, this fun yoga space offers a steady diet of alignment specific Anusara and breezy vinyasa yoga. There's at least four classes per day and workshops from renowned teachers too. The first class is free!
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