Fort Collins Outdoor Activities

The veteran equestrians at Estes Park Horseback let riders get an up-close look at the picturesque property of Elkhorn Lodge during year-round trail rides. The lodge is situated along the border of Rocky Mountain National Park. Consequently, horseback-riding excursions wind past several spectacular sights, including the Continental Divide and Old Man Mountain, easily distinguished by its inability to operate its smartphone. During winter months, snow-dusted paths stretch before riders, while spring and summer adventures trot along trails dappled with sunlight. Estes Park Horseback encourages guests to tote along cameras to capture scenic views and potential sightings of elk, bighorn sheep, and other animals roaming through the area.

Cody Walker muses that within the stillness of Rocky Mountain National Park, "You get a sense that it's the way it should be." His father, Rex, grew up on a steady diet of cowboy films, eventually following his dream to Colorado where he met his wife, Queeda. Queeda was born into a family of homesteaders who caught and broke wild steeds. In 1959, they channeled their passion for the old-west lifestyle into Sombrero Ranches, eschewing souvenir-shop gimmicks for horseback expeditions that, much like avalanches of super glue, bond visitors with their steeds and natural surroundings.

Today, Cody carries on his parents' legacy with a staff of ranch hands from nearby homesteads and college students participating in equine-science programs all across the country. After training in a vigorous program that's evolved during more than 50 years, his employees launch short rides or lengthy adventures. Cody distinguishes the Continental Divide ride as one of the most awe-inspiring; it begins at Bear Lake at 6 a.m., wending across the Continental Divide and to Grand Lake during a nine-hour stretch.

Cody Walker muses that within the stillness of Rocky Mountain National Park, "You get a sense that it's the way it should be." His father, Rex, grew up on a steady diet of cowboy films, eventually following his dream to Colorado where he met his wife, Queeda. Queeda was born into a family of homesteaders who caught and broke wild steeds. In 1959, they channeled their passion for the old-west lifestyle into Sombrero Ranches, eschewing souvenir-shop gimmicks for horseback expeditions that, much like avalanches of super glue, bond visitors with their steeds and natural surroundings.

Today, Cody carries on his parents' legacy with a staff of ranch hands from nearby homesteads and college students participating in equine-science programs all across the country. After training in a vigorous program that's evolved during more than 50 years, his employees launch short rides or lengthy adventures.

As the sun starts to melt last night's snowfall, cross-country skis gently glide over the freshly groomed trails of Grand Lake Nordic Center. The peaks of Rocky Mountain National Park and Arapahoe National Forest rise in the distance, with shifting views and perspectives as guests make their way through different trails. Newcomers can take a lesson in cross country skiing or snowshoeing while more advanced outdoorsmen tackle the snow enclaves of Randall's Romp or Spirits Haunt. The nearby lodge offers steaming bowls of soup, while children can take a tumble down the tubing hill or play rock-paper-scissors with a Yeti.

In 1996, Jeff Martin left behind his career as a computer software programmer in Michigan to pursue his dream of a more rugged and exciting lifestyle—that of a dogsled musher. After a couple years of studying the trade, he founded Dog Sled Rides of Winter Park in 2000. Today, the outfit’s crack team of 80 Siberian and Alaskan huskies pulls sledders and their knowledgeable guides through the snowy expanses of the Fraser Valley. Covering between four and five miles in 45 minutes, each ride features dramatic views of the Continental Divide and Winter Park Ski Resort. Along the way, the guide relates the rich history of the sport, describes local attractions, and points out wildlife such as moose, coyotes, and herds of roaming landscape artists.

Straddling the border between Wyoming and Colorado, Two Chicks Paintball's unpredictable terrain throws obstacles and tactical diversions at players. Recreational soldiers carrying the field’s rented Tippmann 98s can maneuver through the trees and hide in forested fields as they strategize attacks and retreats. They can take cover behind looming boulders, which protect from opponents' quick spray of paint and give shooters a chance to catch their breath or recite their favorite inspirational movie monologue to their team before advancing. At the range’s speed-ball field, players can engage in short stints of fast-paced warfare before retreating to the picnic area to refuel their stomachs. For those who arrive unequipped, all the accouterments are available for rent, including paintball guns, safety gear, supplies, and camouflage jumpsuits.