Longmont, CO Outdoor Activities
Recommended Outdoor Activities by Groupon Customers
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.
After ten years of surfing and sailing around the world, Anton Rainold finally became a record-setter in an entirely different sport. In 2003, he transferred his skills to a cooler climate and became the first man in the US to open a snowkite-specific shop and school, as Summit Daily News reported. In the Colorado Kite Force shop, Rainold's team outfits shoppers for applications such as backcountry kiting, park and freestyle riding, or kiteboarding on the water in the summer. In the snow, they lead lessons for children and families, sharing techniques on how to stay safe, secure, and ready to lasso an adorable baby zephyr at any moment. After several hours, students are ready to strap into skis or snowboards, grab the control bar, and speed across the snow under the power of a majestic four-line kite.
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.
Within an hour of Mountain Angler's Breckenridge headquarters, five rivers, a trio of reservoirs, a dozen small streams, and several ponds teem with fish. Jackson Streit, author of Guide to Fly Fishing in Colorado, founded Mountain Angler in 1985 with the intention of matching experienced guides with guests eager to explore the region. Mountain Angler personnel whisk clients away on river or lake boating excursions, full- or half-day walk-and-wade trips in pursuit of brook and rainbow trout, and fishing sessions on one of four private ranches. Before plumbing the watery depths on lengthier voyages, visitors can reel in fishing skills during lessons and load up on rods, wading shoes, and low-frequency whistles audible only to worms at Mountain Angler's fly shop.
The certified staff at Tortuga Bay lives and breathes all things scuba, offering everything from training and equipment to planned trips to exotic underwater destinations. The shop's greatest claim to fame is a state-of-the-art indoor, heated saltwater pool the website claims is the deepest in captivity.
Owner Ron Bland and his team of experienced instructors introduce beginners to diving with a three-step certification system that begins with online or classroom academic training and progresses to pool lessons and open-water evaluations. The scuba center also offers advanced courses and excursions for more experienced divers.
