Biking Lake Pueblo - Day Trip Series Part 6

Lake Pueblo has 200 year Juniper trees.

By Nate Van Noord (RO Staff)

If you’re like me, it’s tough to put the bike up for the winter. I still gotta get out for a ride - even in the colder, shorter days. Biking in the Springs can be hit or miss with the snow, ice, and mud though. So instead, I like to drive an hour south to Lake Pueblo State Park and Reservoir. It’s usually 5-10 degrees warmer and the snow falls in light amounts. And due to the high altitude and stronger sun, the snow rarely remains on the ground for long.

The park has green, blue, and black trails and the views are outstanding. The trails wind through the reservoir’s fingers, inlets, and mesas. There are enough trails to explore for days. And the park is unique in it’s covered in shale rock. It was once sea bottom thousands of years ago.

Photo credit: Reserve America

After riding, I also like to explore downtown Pueblo - about 10 minutes away. The city has some cool old buildings and public art work - including along their Riverwalk. For lunch, I’ve enjoyed the Colorado sourced lamb burger at Bingo Burger. And a couple blocks away, I like to chill and do some reading at Solar Roast Coffee. And for some nighttime activity, downtown also boasts Neon Alley. It has over 40 retro, neon signs that have been restored.

Exploring Ft. Collins - Day Trip Series: Part 3

Skyler and Luna

By Nate Van Noord (RO Staff)

My niece, Ellie, and her husband, Skyler, moved from Colorado Springs to Ft. Collins in December of 2021. They met as students at Colorado State and moved to the Springs after college for work. But after five years, they decided to move back to Ft. Collins. They enjoy being in a college town and the cultural amenities it has to offer.

So in the summer of 2021, I made a day trip up to Ft. Collins to visit them. I met Skyler and their dog, Luna, for a hike at Arthur’s Rock Trailhead in Lory State Park. The trail was a moderate two mile hike to the top, gaining about a 1,000 ft. in elevation. The top overlooked Horsetooth Reservoir, Fort Collins, and the surrounding Front Range. With the Wyoming border about 30 miles away, I felt like I could almost see it.

After, we met Ellie for lunch at Little on Mountain and I had maybe the best burger of my life. It was infused with bone marrow and so juicy and flavorful. After lunch, we walked the surrounding historic neighborhood of Old Town and it’s Victorian homes from the 1800s. Then, we made our way downtown, dipping into different shops like Nuance Chocolate, before settling into Wolverine Farm Publick House for a drink, perusing the books, and admiring their gardens.

I’ve visited dozens of college towns through the years, and I must say, Ft. Collins is one of the best.

Hiking The Crags - Day Trip Series: Part 1

The Crags Trailhead

By Nate Van Noord (RO Staff)

Since our cold-season hours have changed at Routes, and we are closed on Mondays, I have been taking day trips from The Springs.

Both friends and folks online recommended a 5 mile hike called The Crags. It is also known for being a trailhead leading up to Pikes Peak. So, I made the 45 minute drive from Old Colorado City to the trailhead in Divide, just past Mueller State Park.

The trail meandered past aspen groves in the last stages of yellow, wound along 4 Mile Creek, and was well marked with signage.

The dictionary defines a ‘crag’ as a steep or rugged cliff or rock face - which fits this trail perfectly. The granite found throughout the area erodes horizontally into monumental slabs or vertically into colossal cusps.

At the top of The Crags.

It was 800 feet in elevation gain to the top, where I soaked in a view of the Catamount Reservoirs and the Rampart Range. All the twisted conifers shaped by the wind also caught my eye. On a Monday morning, there were only few other hikers at the summit.

On my way back home, I stopped at Hungry Bear in Woodland Park for a brunch of buckwheat pancakes. A favorite of locals and tourists alike, the diner has hundreds of teddy bears hanging from the walls.

I’ve been told The Crags is a good spot to snowshoe, so I will have to return this Winter.