Summits are always a big draw no matter where they are. The ability to see for miles makes them appealing and they give a feeling of accomplishment that comes from knowing you made it to the top on your own. We like the summit hikes in Poudre Canyon because they strike a good balance between not to close to Fort Collins and not to far away. There are even good options for beginners. Gateway Natural Area: The Gateway Natural Area has two easy and short trails that will give you some great views up and down the Poudre Canyon. The……

Whether you don't have time to walk a long trail out and back or you just don't want to, we want to help. Here are some places to visit that offer some great scenery with little, and sometimes no effort beyond driving. In these areas you don't have to walk the entire length of a trail. Just sit and enjoy a peaceful lake or take a stroll and turn around whenever you want. [caption id="attachment_1953" align="alignright" width="150"] Lake Marie from the Medicine Bow Peak Trail[/caption] Mirror Lake or Lake Marie: Both of these lakes sit right below Medicine Bow Peak……

One of our favorite things about spring is the waterfalls. When the snow melts, even the smallest streams comes to life and every waterfall becomes captivating as the water tumbles over rocks and sometimes beneath them. To help share all this, we put together this list of waterfall hikes near Medicine Bow Peak in the Medicine Bow National Forest. Lake Marie Falls: We put this one first because it's the easiest one to get to but I don't feel right calling it a waterfall hike since you can almost see it from your car. It isn't the most dramatic thing……

Whether training for a race or just trying to break up a workout routine, a good hill workout can be a great thing. There is certainly no shortage of trails with hills for your training needs around Laramie but we have picked the ones we like best for a good hill workout. Tie City and Happy Jack: There are a couple good options here. To get into the steep stuff right away, start from the east trailhead for Headquarters Trail. You will gain almost 500 feet in the first mile and come out above Browns Landing. Or you can start……

I could make this very short by saying that anything immediately west of town will provide a great hill workout for hiking, running or mountain biking. But I'll try to do a little better than that with our thoughts on the best trails for a hill workout near Fort Collins. Foothills Trail: I think this one is a no brainer. It's right on the edge of town making it very quick and easy to get to. If you start near Hughes Stadium you can be climbing right away toward Horsetooth Reservoir. There are a couple rocky sections but there is……

If you are new to mountain biking or just looking to get back into the swing of things before you hit the hard stuff we put together this list of easy mountain bike trails near Laramie to help you out. Chimney Park: I can't think of a better place than Chimney Park to learn how to ride a mountain bike. The trails are wide, the elevation is very gentle and as long as you stay on the trails you just won't find a place that's difficult. You'll notice pretty early on that every intersection is marked so you will always……

It's getting to be that time of year when we put the skis in the back of the shed and tune up the mountain bikes. Some people have been riding all winter in one way or another but for those looking for an easy place to either learn or to just blow out the cobwebs we put together a list of easy mountain bike trails near Fort Collins. Pineridge Natural Area: There are two things that make this a great place for an easy mountain bike ride. It is close and it is flat. The Pineridge Natural Area is just……

Here is our list of the easiest trails to get to near Laramie for when you need a quick trail fix, whether that is hiking or mountain biking or whatever. Vedauwoo and Blair: Vedauwoo is very close to Interstate 80 making it one of the most conveniently located trail systems around. It is very popular with rock climbers and the main trail, Turtle Rock Trail, gets a lot of use from hikers and mountain bikers. There are many side trails you can follow if Turtle Rock Trail is too crowded and there are plenty of unique rock features to stop……

There are days when you just don't have the time or motivation to head out deep into the mountains for some good old fashioned exploring. If you fall into this category from time to time, or even all the time, and live near Fort Collins, don't worry. We've put together our list of easy trails to get to near Fort Collins. Lory State Park and Horsetooth Mountain Open Space: (As I'm writing this Lory State Park is closed because of the Galena Fire) These two parks are next door neighbors sitting on the west side of Horsetooth Reservoir with Lory……

Our favorite early spring trails are those that tend to be the first ones clear of snow and mud so we can get out and explore all the great things that spring has to offer. This is a great time of year to get out and watch all the streams, plants and animals come to life and it should be no surprise that the Pole Mountain area features very prominently in this list of early spring trails near Laramie. El Alto Trail in Curt Gowdy State Park: This trail leads to my favorite scenic spot in Curt Gowdy State Park.……