Broomfield, CO Outdoor Activities

Good Times Adventures’ first five guides took to the trails surrounding Breckenridge in 1986, leading their first visitors around on a ramshackle collection of 20 mismatched, antiquated snowmobiles. Those first forays weren’t fancy, but they were full of lessons. Through the years, the guides put those early learning experiences to good use, collaborating with the US Forest Service to expand their network of trails and acquiring a powder-smoothing snowcat to groom more than 40 miles of scenic routes through Swan Valley and White River National Forest. Today, more than 30 employees organize excursions for hundreds of guests, drawing their vehicles from a fleet of more than 100 of the latest seasonal models.

The even, glossy swathes of snow suit not only the treads of snowmobiles, but also those of dog sleds. Breckenridge local Orion takes the reins of his father’s business and an Iditarod-style sled, leading passengers along the same trails with dogpower rather than horsepower. Good Times’ staff welcomes guests—whether travelling by animal or machine—back to their lodge after each excursion to enjoy scenic views, complimentary hot chocolate, and snowsuit fashion shows.

Terry Sandmeier, informally known as Captain Sandy, began cultivating his lifelong passion for sailing as a boy growing up on the Gulf of Mexico. He first acquired the taste for sailing while cruising along the gulf coast from Texas to Mississippi. Today, with more than 35 years of experience, Captain Sandy alternates between sailing Colorado's mountain lakes and the warm waters off the Florida Keys. He imparts his experience to burgeoning sailors aboard his US Yachts 18, teaching them skills from interpreting the wind to lassoing passing clouds on breezeless days.

Nestled in River Run Village at the base of Keystone Mountain, NorSki Sport Rental arms outdoor enthusiasts with high-quality, custom-fitted equipment from manufacturers such as K2, Nordica, or Rossignol. Cold-weather cavorters lock into a snowboard or pair of skis for a speedy journey down the slopes, or slip on a pair of snowshoes to traipse about Keystone’s extensive trail system in search of the abominable snowman’s ice-sculpture garden. For warmer amusement, patrons rent Specialized brand mountain, touring, and hybrid bikes during the summer months. NorSki’s knowledgeable team of mechanics carefully dotes on each piece of rental equipment, maintaining a fleet that is both safe to ride and assured of its self-worth.

Paddles slice through churning waters, keeping rafts on their course down Clear Creek as it cuts through the Denver Mountain Parks . At the base of the red crags of Gore Canyon, the white-capped water of the Colorado River foretells rafters’ trips through daunting class IV and V rapids. Elsewhere, guests make like protoplasmic coat hangers as they zipline over the scenery of Idaho Springs.

But rafting trips and zipline tours are just the beginning. Arkansas Valley Adventures leads all kinds of expeditions through Colorado’s mountains and valleys, tossing in ATVs, hot air balloons, helicopters, horses, and fishing rods with the paddles and ziplines. While flying down the Eagle River explorers will have plenty of chances to get in touch with their rugged side and ask ancient rock faces whether the paleo diet is an apt reflection of the habits of early humans.