The skort is one of humankind’s greatest inventions — it’s versatile, comfortable and perfect for movement of all kinds, from pickleball to hiking or just a brisk walk on a hot day. Littleton-based FestaSports agrees. With a motto of “activewear for every body,” this Colorado company developed a sporty skort made especially for tennis and pickleball with options for a skort optimized for golf, hiking and beyond. Sizes range from XS to 3X, and these skorts (starting at $67) come in a ton of patterns and custom options. (annafesta.com/FestaSports) — Beth Rankin

Trusted running shoes

I used to have a rule regarding running shoes: To avoid injuries, I would never buy a pair until my physical therapist watched me run on a treadmill, testing two or three brands, to identify the one that worked best with my biomechanics. That ended when Hoka began importing its shoes to the United States in 2010. My PT and I were confident that Hoka worked best for my mild pronation, and I’ve been running in them ever since. They have oversized midsoles that provide more cushioning than most running shoes while still providing sufficient stability, and they are surprisingly light. I also use their trail shoes for trail running and for hiking on smooth trails. Hokas are also popular with people who work on their feet, such as nurses. I swear by them. (Men’s and women’s running shoes start at $124, at hoka.com) — John Meyer

Tanner Original Batting Tee

Any real baseball player knows that hitting off the tee is not just for little kids learning the game. From high school to the pros, the best hitters spend countless hours with the tee, honing their swing. The Tanner tee is the most durable and reliable tee on the market. Its hand-rolled flex-top withstands years of hitting, and it has multiple height adjustments so you can work all areas of the zone. ($100, tanner.rawlings.com) — Kyle Newman

Triple Play Records

A record store may sound like an unusual place for outdoor activities, but Triple Play Records in downtown Grand Junction is more than just a music shop. In addition to selling vinyl, it also sells disc golf equipment, such as discs and bags. The store even keeps beginner’s sets — complete with a driver, mid-range disc and putter — stocked to help newbies get into the sport. 530 Main St., Grand Junction, 970-243-3974 — Tiney Ricciardi

Quick release

Here’s the golf accessory you didn’t know you needed: a magnetic towel clip for your golf bag. A friend gave me one last season and it quickly became one of those things that everyone who sees me use it suddenly must have. A small caribiner hooks onto your golf bag. Hanging from it is a mini-golf-ball-shaped magnet. (Other designs are available, too, but that’s the cutest.) The bottom half of the “ball” is attached to another small caribiner, onto which your towel hooks. Need to wet your towel before a match? Just pull the halves of the metal ball apart and, voila, the towel slips off without fuss. Snap it back on and you’re quickly off in search of that elusive birdie. Find one version of it for $14.99 at amazon.com. — Barbara Ellis

Shop local

I’m a big believer in shopping local, where the employees are experts on the goods they sell. This applies to Road Runner Sports, where the person helping you pick out a running or walking shoe is also a runner. Quality, well-fitted shoes are important in preventing injury, so even if the pair you choose costs $10 to $20 more than what you would find at a big-box retailer, it’s still cheaper than a visit to an orthopedic clinic. Road Runner Sports has multiple locations across the Front Range, including Denver, Lakewood, Golden, Westminster and Lone Tree. roadrunnersports.com — Noelle Phillips

All-Star Pro Elite Catcher’s Glove

Billed as the “most iconic mitt in professional baseball,” this glove is also perfect for the serious amateur player, whether it be a men’s leaguer, a high schooler or a youth ballplayer who is dedicated to his craft. The best catcher’s glove that money can buy, its pocket is true and its premium-grade Japanese steerhide leather stands the test of time. A must-have for all backstops. ($450, at all-starsports.com or area retail stores.) — Kyle Newman

Try it before purchase

If you want a new tennis racquet or pickleball paddle, head to this local store to get expert guidance on what will work for your style of play. Here, you can test equipment by hitting balls against a wall inside the store. Once you narrow your choices to two or three racquets or paddles, Game-Set-Match allows its customers to put down a deposit and take those racquets home for one week to test on an actual court. Once you pick a favorite, the deposit applies to the purchase price after returning everything. This assures athletes get the racquet or paddle that will elevate their games. Game-Set-Match Inc. has two locations:  2480 S. Colorado Blvd. in Denver and 4800 Baseline Road, Suite D102, in Boulder. gamesetmatchinc.com — Noelle Phillips

Haag Composite Wood Bat Model 73C

Most men’s baseball leagues are wood bat, so you’ll need a reliable stick. Haag Bat Company should be your choice. The company started in Parker about a quarter-century ago (since relocated to Georgia) and has been making high-quality, handcrafted wood bats ever since. Their composite bats pack pop and are extremely durable, breaking far less than the average wood bat. ($155, at haagbatco.com) — Kyle Newman

Golf gloves that last

How many pairs of golf gloves do you go through in one season? One of these Kirkland brand gloves, made from “premium Cabretta leather,” typically lasts me a full year — playing once or twice a week in season — and then some. With four in a package, it’ll typically be a while before I have to dip in for a new pair. (Four gloves, for left-handed or right-handed golfers, in sizes small through extra large, for $30, at costco.com or in stores.) — Barbara Ellis

Biodegradable pickleballs

Pickleballs eventually crack or just wear out from getting pounded onto concrete. And we all know how plastic never breaks down in a landfill. Why not love both the game and the planet by using biodegradable balls? Komodo (komodopickelball.com, about $30 for eight balls) and Core Eco (coreathletics.com,  about $40 for 12) both make balls that meet the official standards of USA Pickleball. Also available at local retail stores, like Game, Set, Match. — Noelle Philips

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Hike to a log cabin

In Snowmass, a trial brunch at The Cabin was such a hit that it will add more weekends in July and September. The Cabin is mid-mountain and boasts both indoor and outdoor seating, along with live music and views of the Elk Range. Since there is no lift access, guests can choose when they make reservations if they plan to hike, ride a mountain bike, or rent an e-bike (available at Four Mountain Sports and Aspen Collection) for the two-mile trek. Dogs can sit with you only at uncovered patio tables.

The Cabin will offer a weekend buffet brunch from July 4 to Aug. 9 and Sept. 4–27, running from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A sample menu is currently being finalized and will be available soon. Reservations will be available on the Aspen One website around June 15

In Steamboat Springs, it’s just a one-mile guided hike to Hazie’s in the Thunderhead Lodge. The menu at Hazie’s is priced for a buffet, so you can start with the granola station, for example, before moving on to the eggs Benedict station or the potatoes, French toast, or biscuits and gravy trays.

You’ll be soaking up the views of the Yampa Valley along the hike and from the dining room’s generous windows.

The guided hike has added Sundays to this summer event. Make reservations for this family-friendly experience that starts at the base of the gondola, ride up to Thunderhead Lodge, and from there walk as a group to arrive for patio seating with views. For anyone looking to book, they may visit steamboat.com/hikeandlunch.

Dine with a llama

The Garden of the Gods Resort & Club in Colorado Springs has partnered with Luxy Llama so that people having brunch on select weekends can interact with these singular animals. Grand View Restaurant is aptly named because, whether you’re seated inside or on the patio, the views to the west open to the shapely Garden of the Gods red rock formations.

The llamas are brought onto the lawn — and sometimes given an accessory like a scarf to wear — where guests can take photos of them or with this against this scenic backdrop.

While the llamas are calm and friendly, and there is some food available for guests to offer them, this isn’t about hugging them or climbing on them for a ride. There are additional programs to go on guided hikes with the llamas, too.

The brunch here has an elevated menu of things like eggs Benedict, chilaquiles, salads and cinnamon rolls.

Call the resort for upcoming dates and reservations at 719-329-6901.

All aboard the breakfast train

In Canon City, the Royal Gorge Route Railroad offers a Breakfast Train, which boards at 9 a.m., so that by the time you are seated and being served, it’s time for brunch. Your meal is made-to-order from the on-board 403 Grill while you sip on their “bottomless” coffee or a cocktail like a Mimosa or a bloody Mary.

No matter which train car you are booked in, all passengers are invited to stroll to the open observation car, where you can look up at the rocky canyon walls or down to the rushing Arkansas River below.

The hearty menu includes breakfast burritos or sandwiches, biscuits and gravy, and cinnamon rolls. When booking your ticket, you get to choose between the extra special ride with an engineer (these sell out way ahead of time), coach, deluxe, or observation class for different price points and then add on the meal and drinks when you check out.

Trains run daily throughout the summer. Breakfast costs $30-$35 in addition to the train fare.

Horses and hay wagons

Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch in Loveland offers “Chow Down” rides May through September for groups of six or more by reservation on specific days of the week. These breakfast/brunch rides are available to all, not just guests of the ranch. Will there be a cowboy cooking up a hot breakfast over an open fire for you? You bet!

The cost is $140 per person. Call 970-667-3915 or email ranch@sylvandale.com for days and information.

For those who prefer “soft adventure,” C Lazy U Ranch in Granby has a “Woodsie Cookout” where guests can opt for a hay wagon ride pulled by a tractor or walk the half mile to a scenic spot on the Reservoir Trail. This morning meal happens on Friday mornings in the summer and offers up fresh doughnuts, locally-caught trout, eggs, and pancakes sizzled on the outdoor grill.
Cowboy coffee, a roaring fire and a stunning view of the Indian Peaks make this a morning to remember.

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More than enough, you would think, to crush the small gray bird weighing only a few ounces who bobbed up and down on a rock in the midst of the spray. Yet this American dipper posed only briefly before flying back to its mossy nest behind the waterfall. Famous for walking underwater to find bugbits for dinner, dippers — also known as water ouzels — raise their babies behind the falls.

The dipper was not the only wonder we witnessed on our waterfall walk. A kaleidoscope (collective noun for butterflies) of little blue butterflies puddled in the mineral-rich mud nearby, and yellow swallowtails cruised the creek corridor. A golden-mantled ground squirrel scurried about the rocks. And gardens of larkspurs, blue penstemons and golden banners flourished in the mist, defying our current drought.

One advantage of slowing down in old age is that you take time to savor the moment and appreciate the minutiae. Along the 0.3-mile walk from the parking lot we stopped to listen to ruby-crowned kinglets and remembered the hermit thrush who built a nest here last year. We found coralroot orchids and remembered the hundreds of fairy slipper orchids that have crowded the woods in the past. We watched a tiny baby mouse try to find a hole and rejoiced (along with Walt Whitman) that a mouse is miracle enough.

When we were younger, we charged on up the trail — possibly the best waterfall trail in the county — often bypassing Copeland Falls in our hurry to get to the more dramatic sights above. Calypso Cascade is 1.8 miles from the parking lot; Ouzel Falls (where we have found rare brownie lady’s slippers), 2.7 miles; and Ouzel Lake, 4.9 miles. Still more lakes lie even higher.

Botanist William Cooper named these falls and many other Wild Basin features when he mapped the area in 1911 and sold his map for only 15 cents. He named Copeland Falls for John B. Copeland, a local pioneer and farmer. Calypso Cascade, he named for Calypso bulbosa orchids or fairy slippers once abundant along the trail. And Ousel (the word Shakespeare used) is derived from the Old English word osle, meaning a black bird.

There’s so much to see on the short road from the entry station to the parking lot that we drive slowly (pulling over for faster cars). Last year, we watched a gamboling fawn in a meadow while its mom nursed a second fawn. We have watched red-naped sapsuckers, red-breasted nuthatches and western tanagers from a picnic table where we stop for lunch. And moose have occasionally appeared. This year’s moose was a “ghost moose,” so called because it had scratched off most of the dark outer hairs in an effort to relieve the itching caused by ticks.

That leads to a warning: Do a tick check when you get home, as the little buggers are abundant this year.

Colorado’s waterfalls are at their thunderous, tumultuous best in June when the snow melt sends torrents of water down from the mountains. North St. Vrain Creek, which feeds the waterfalls along this trail, is now so wild it looks like one continuous waterfall. So now is the time to go.

The trail begins at the south end of the Wild Basin Ranger Station parking lot and crosses several small streamlets as it ascends gently to Copeland Falls. The connecting trails to the falls are a bit steeper and may require some scrambling in a few spots.

To reach Wild Basin in Rocky Mountain National Park, take U.S. 36 north from Boulder to Lyons. Turn left onto South St. Vrain Canyon Road (Colorado 7) and continue to the Wild Basin turnoff near Allenspark. Turn west onto a road that dead-ends in 2.3 miles at the parking lot.

Early morning is the best time to see wildlife, and if you arrive at the entry station before 9 a.m., you don’t need a reservation. Whenever the station is open, however, you need to pay an entrance fee or show a park pass. Between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. you need a timed entry permit available at https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry.

Ruth Carol and Glenn Cushman are the authors of Boulder Hiking Trails, available on Amazon.

The 287-acre Knapp Ranch started by Bud and Betsy Knapp is about 30 miles west of Vail and adjacent to the White River National Forest and the Holy Cross Wilderness.

Ken Mirr of the Mirr Ranch Group, which listed the property for sale, said in a statement that the ranch is regarded “as one of the Western Region’s most iconic mountain, fishing and conservation ranches.”

The Knapps expanded their vision beyond building an informal country retreat for family and friends to making it a working farm, using sustainable practices, according to the Mirr Ranch Group.

The Knapps bought the property in 1993, their son, Aaron Knapp, said.

“The first two years were spent working with the (U.S.) Army Corps of Engineers rehabbing West Lake Creek, which runs right down the middle of the property,” Aaron said.

They reintroduced native plants, fish and insects and created pools for fish. The Knapps built cabins and then the main house on a hill.

The Knapps moved to the ranch full-time in 2006, Aaron said. The couple sold their home in Los Angeles to live in the Colorado mountains.

“We’d come up to Vail all the time when I was a kid,” said Aaron, who lives in nearby Eagle. “We took vacations all the time so it was a very natural transition for my dad to go from Los Angeles to Colorado.”

Aaron said his parents worked with the U.S. Forest Service to cut down beetle-infested pine trees and clear other vegetation. They also worked with Colorado State University, which had weather stations in the area. They consulted with the school on high-altitude farming.

The property is at roughly 9,000 feet in elevation. The family had a store for a while in Eagle where they sold home-harvested honey and produce from their farm and other area farms.

The Knapps wrote about their ranch in the book “Living Beneath the Colorado Peaks: The Story of Knapp Ranch.”

The site fronts about three-quarters of a mile of West Lake Creek. The ranch has senior water rights, ponds, creeks and aquatic systems.

The site also has a private trail network and is near world-class skiing, hiking and year-round amenities, the Mirr Ranch Group said. The ranch is within an hour of the Eagle County Regional Airport.

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On Monday, the agency announced that it anticipates charging $5 for a day-use permit and $25 for an overnight camping permit, starting in the summer of 2027. However, the prices people pay will total $6 and $31, respectively, as reservation site recreation.gov charges a processing fee of $1 for day permits and $6 for overnight permits.

People come from across the U.S. to see the Blue Lakes’ show-stopping turquoise waters and to summit Mount Sneffels’ 14,150-foot peak. In 2023, the Forest Service began considering a permit system to reduce foot traffic to the Blue Lakes and surrounding Mount Sneffels Wilderness, near Ridgway and Telluride, after studies showed that the area had sustained significant damage from overcrowding.

About 35,000 people recreate there annually, the vast majority of which come from June to October, according to the Forest Service. The permit system intends to slash that number to about 8,000 visitors per year. Permits will be required from June 1 through Sept. 30, which is the height of summer tourism to the area.

“The majority of the revenue generated from the fees would be used on-site to manage these areas, which is key to allowing us to reduce resource damage and continue providing high-quality recreation opportunities,” Dana Gardunio, Ouray District Ranger, said in a statement.

Decreasing the number of people who hike and camp near the Blue Lakes is essential to restoring the environment and ensuring it remains a wild location for future generations to visit, Gardunio previously told The Denver Post.

Gorgeous Colorado hike reopens this summer with new rules for hiking, camping, human waste

In fact, the Forest Service closed the trail altogether in 2025 to remediate some of the impacts. Crews focused on re-seeding human-made campsites that eroded the soils, ripping up user-made trails, clearing dead trees, and cleaning up human waste.

While hikers and campers do not need permits this year, there are new rules they need to be aware of before visiting. For example, human feces must be packed out and campers are required to carry bear-resistant food storage containers approved by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee.

Additionally, there are capacity limits for both cars and individuals who plan to camp overnight. Those who cannot find a designated parking spot at the trailhead or a camp site at least 100 feet away from both water and trails should be prepared to turn around.

“Right now, the rule is that you should be parking in designated spots only, and if there aren’t spots, then you would leave,” Gardunio said in an April interview.

The Forest Service is soliciting public comment on the fee proposal from now until Aug. 31. Locals can submit comments via email to sm.fs.bluelakes.vump@usda.gov, or online through the Forest Service’s Rocky Mountain Region Recreation Fee Proposals website. Comments can also be submitted to the Ouray District Ranger office, at 2505 S. Townsend Ave., in Montrose, by mail or in-person.

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The Pitkin County Regional Emergency Dispatch Center in western Colorado was first alerted to the injured hiker at 2:17 p.m. Saturday, according to a news release from Mountain Rescue Aspen.

Search and rescue officials said the hiker, who has not been publicly identified, fell roughly 200 feet from Buckskin Pass.

That pass is a popular out-and-back hiking route spanning 9.3 miles with nearly 3,000 feet of elevation gain and is rated “hard” on a scale of easy to strenuous, according to AllTrails. The trail can be extended to include Snowmass Lake, which increases the total distance to 17.5 miles and the total elevation gain to 5,049 feet, according to AllTrails.

Recent reviews left by hikers on the website said that slippery, unpacked snow in higher elevations makes the trail unsafe for inexperienced hikers.

Mountain Rescue Aspen crews found the fallen hiker roughly 3.5 miles into the trail just after 3:45 p.m., according to the agency’s news release.

“Mountain Rescue Aspen conducted a medical assessment, stabilized injuries, and began helping the hiker back down to the trailhead,” officials stated in the release.

Once at the bottom of the trail, crews handed the hiker over to paramedics, who took the hiker to the hospital, according to Mountain Rescue Aspen. All rescue crews were out of the field by 5:45 p.m., according to the agency.

Search and rescue officials did not specify what caused the hiker to fall.

Climbers and hikers should be prepared for potential injuries in technical terrain, dress appropriately for changing mountain conditions, bring technical gear appropriate for the route and carry a two-way satellite communication device when traveling in remote areas, according to the release.

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With fourteener season approaching, I’ve got a suggestion if you’re looking for a great hike to prepare your quads, hamstrings, knees and ankles for the rugged trails found on our highest peaks. And you can’t beat the convenience of the location.

Overlooking Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Mount Morrison tops out at nearly 7,900 feet with 2,000 feet of elevation gained in less than 2 miles. That means it’s steep and remarkably similar to conditions you’ll face on fourteeners — minus the high altitude, of course.

You may have admired it from the upper concourse at Red Rocks, longing to hike it despite posted “No trepassing” signs. The peak isn’t off limits, though. The trailhead is located at Red Rocks Park’s Entrance 4, located about a half mile west of Morrison. The trail to the summit ascends the mountain’s south ridge.

It is not an easy hike. Leave the kids at home. Dogs are prohibited.

“It’s not a family-friendly hike,” said Kristoph Kinzli, a professor at Colorado School of Mines whom I met recently on the trail. “That’s actually why it’s great as a fourteener training hike. It’s rugged, it’s a difficult hike, you get a lot of loose rock. It’s for avid hikers and mountaineers for training.”

Kinzli, an avid fourteener hiker who teaches civil and environmental engineering at Mines, hits that trail seven or eight times a year for training.

“It’s fairly comparable to some of the elevation gain you get (on fourteeners) when you’re getting over 1,000 feet per mile,” Kinzli said. “There’s nothing else like that, real close to Denver. I’ve met people who do it to train for really big mountains, and they’ll do it three times back-to-back in the same day. I’ve seen people with massive packs who are training for Denali or (peaks) in South America.”

That morning, Chatfield High School held its graduation ceremony in the amphitheater. Halfway up the ridge, we could hear Pomp and Circumstance. On the way down, we heard the names of graduates being read as they received their diplomas.

Mount Morrison has some history, too. A cog railway to the summit opened in 1909, followed by similar sightseeing inclines on Lookout Mountain (1912) and South Table Mountain (1913). All three were defunct by 1920, though, in part because the automobile road to the top of Lookout was completed in 1913. The lower terminal of the Mount Morrison Incline was located near what is now the amphitheatre’s lower north parking lot. The amphitheatre opened in 1941.

The hiking trail is very steep at the bottom, a little less so in the middle sections and steep again at the top, passing through rock bands near the summit. Mount Blue Sky is visible to the west. Views to the east take in Red Rocks Park, the Dakota Ridge hogback, Green Mountain and downtown Denver in the distance.

Although the parking lot is located at the south end of Red Rocks Park, most of the trail is on Jefferson County Open Space land and is part of Matthews/Winters Park. Jeffco’s map for that park shows the path of the trail with topographical lines.

The steepness of the trail is only one of its challenges. Much of the trail is strewn with loose rocks. Other sections take the hiker over loose sand and gravel, which can cause lots of slipping and sliding. Many will find the descent as challenging as the ascent. Trekking poles are highly recommended.

Mount Morrison is definitely not a casual hike, but casual hikes aren’t the best training for fourteeners.

“It’s the best training around,” Kinzli said. “You’re not going to find anything steeper close to Denver.”

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The app is especially important to Colorado, it turns out, because the state placed second to California for the most navigations (activities recorded by app members) and elevation gained, according to 2025 data released by the company. Colorado was also third for hiking distance with 11.6 million miles logged, following Oregon and California.

But not all trails on AllTrails are created equal. Here are the 10 most popular hikes in Colorado, listed from most to least navigated using AllTrails last year. Routes range from easy to strenuous, and all are within a two-hour drive of Denver.

10) Herman Gulch

Arapaho National Forest, Dillon

Hike length: 6.6 miles out and back

Elevation gain: 1,758 feet

This short but challenging stretch of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT) is especially popular during peak wildflower season. Rosy paintbrushes and blue and white columbines line the path in July, followed by golden willows in autumn. The start of this hike is especially steep, as is the last half-mile to Herman Lake, but the views are unparalleled. Plan to start early, as this trail ascends above treeline.

9) Lost Lake via Hessie Trail

Roosevelt National Forest, Eldora

Hike length: 4.2 miles out and back

Elevation gain: 830 feet

A popular day trip and backpacking destination, Lost Lake is located just west of Eldora. A free shuttle operates between the town and the Hessie Trailhead on select dates between May 22 and Oct. 11, as parking is limited. This moderate route features several waterfalls and wooden bridges over Boulder Creek, along with eight designated campsites around the lake. Note that moose are often seen on this trail.

8) Mount Bierstadt

Mount Evans Wilderness, Idaho Springs

Hike length: 7.3 miles out and back

Elevation gain: 2,736 feet

Many summit Mount Bierstadt as their first fourteener given its distance from Denver and lesser degree of difficulty. Still, this Class 2 trail demands serious effort. From the trailhead, a wooden boardwalk leads to steep switchbacks and some scrambling near the 14,064-foot peak, which offers panoramic Front Range views. Arrive before dawn to secure parking and to beat summer’s afternoon storms.

7) Lake Haiyaha via Nymph Lake Trail

Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park

Hike length: 5.2 miles out and back

Elevation gain: 1,112 feet

Located in Rocky Mountain National Park, this extension of Colorado’s most popular trail connects four alpine lakes: Nymph, Dream and Emerald, as well as Haiyaha. To reach the last in the series, take the side trail on the east end of Dream Lake, passing Longs Peak views before reaching Lake Haiyaha. Trout swim in its brilliant turquoise waters, while elk and sunbathing marmots are often seen from the path.

6) Mount Galbraith Loop via Cedar Gulch

Mount Galbraith Park, Golden

Hike length: 4.3-mile lollipop loop

Elevation gain: 921 feet

With its easy access, moderate difficulty and expansive views, the Mount Galbraith Loop is appealing. Follow the narrow Cedar Gulch Trail, then veer left at the junction to ascend the circuit clockwise, admiring Golden scenery and the distant Denver skyline. Though rocky, the loop’s descent is shaded by pines, unlike much of this otherwise sunny hike. Be wary of rattlesnakes in the warm months.

5) Saint Mary’s Glacier

Arapaho National Forest, Idaho Springs

Hike length: 1.7 miles out and back

Elevation gain: 508 feet

Past the town of Idaho Springs, drive up forested Fall River Road to this short but famous and much-loved trail with its grand views. The route gains steady elevation to the glistening shore of Saint Mary’s Lake, which is set beneath a semi-permanent snowfield. Many hikers cool off on this patch of frost before returning the way they came. Be sure to arrive early, as lots fill quickly during peak season; there is also a $20 parking fee.

4) The Manitou Incline

Pike National Forest, Manitou Springs

Hike length: 4.1-mile loop

Elevation gain: 1,978 feet

Despite its heart-pounding difficulty, the Manitou Incline is the state’s fourth busiest trail. Railroad ties of a former cable car track create its steep staircase, which ascends around 2,000 feet in less than a mile. Downhill hiking is not permitted on the Incline, but three bailout points help ease concerns. Those who reach the top return via the Barr Trail’s switchbacks. Note: free online reservations are required.

3) Peaks to Plains and Welch Ditch

Clear Creek Canyon Park, Golden

Hike length: 2.5-mile lollipop

Elevation gain: 239 feet

Located west of downtown Golden, the Gateway Trailhead provides hikers access to this easy lollipop route, which features a short segment of the paved Clear Creek Trail (previously known as the Peaks to Plains Trail). Around the one-mile marker, cross the sturdy Welch Ditch suspension bridge and start back towards the trailhead, following along the rugged canyon walls that often draw rock climbers.

2) Red Rocks Trading Post

Red Rocks Park, Morrison

Hike length: 1.6-mile loop

Elevation gain: 364 feet

Visitors to Red Rocks Amphitheatre see a new perspective of the landscape on this short, moderate loop. The dusty path weaves between spiky yucca, twisted shrubs and towering sandstone formations of rusty hues. Despite the frequent crowds, mule deer are a common sighting. Hikers can start this trail at the Trading Post or from access points adjacent to the Upper South Lot.

1) Emerald Lake

Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park

Hike length: 3.3 miles out and back

Elevation gain: 715 feet

It may come as no surprise that Colorado’s busiest trail is set in Rocky Mountain National Park. On this moderate route, hikers pass lily pad-covered Nymph Lake and dramatic Dream Lake views before reaching the edge of sparkling Emerald Lake. From May 22 to Oct. 18, timed-entry reservations are required, and the park’s free shuttle is recommended, given limited parking at the Bear Lake Trailhead.

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LOS ANGELES — In bright sunshine, with the Pacific Ocean sparkling far below, two middle-aged men hopped on mountain bikes and started climbing a steep dirt road above Zuma Beach in Malibu. They pedaled up more than 2,000 vertical feet, chatting comfortably about marriage, careers and early retirement.

They did not discuss the fact that, until recently, a climb like this would have reduced them both to gasping wrecks. Or that their brisk pace would only have been possible for world-class athletes.

Their secret? Tiny electric motors tucked between the pedals that quietly quadrupled their leg power.

Across California, electric bikes are proliferating at an astonishing rate as overwhelmed public officials struggle to rewrite the rules of the road.

Nowhere is the tension more obvious than in once-tranquil parks and on remote mountain trails, where people go to escape the maddening march of technology.

The intrusion of e-bikes, with their faint but unmistakable electric whine, is sparking a fierce backlash from traditional trail users and forcing land managers into a confusing new debate over safety and fairness.

To many longtime riders, the whole thing feels like sacrilege.

Traditional mountain bikers are among the most hardcore of adventure athletes. Surfers and skiers land in water or snow when they wipe out; a mountain biker who loses control flying down a steep trail risks going head first into a tree or skidding across sharp, unforgiving rocks.

And going downhill is the fun part. The long, slow, excruciating climbs are what make so many quit the sport.

Which is why traditionalists get a little salty when lesser athletes on e-bikes blow past them ascending steep slopes — sometimes expending so little effort they could have a hot dog in one hand and a beer in the other.

E-bikers are “soft, weak humans” who “disgrace the sport,” according to one recent post on a Facebook page devoted to mountain biking. Others have called for banning any bike with a motor from dirt trails altogether.

Suddenly, these fearless and intimidating souls who spent decades fighting for their right to ride on public land — regardless of what anyone else wanted — sound like so many gate-keeping trail Karens.

They’re not alone. Federal, state and local land regulators are struggling to keep up with the rapidly changing technology while managing the conflicts it creates.

Traditional mountain bikers resent e-bikers. Hikers, who already worry about bikes flying down narrow trails, now have to worry about e-bikes flying up from behind. People on horseback, or those out for a quiet stroll with their dogs, wish everyone on wheels would just stay home.

Meanwhile, the bikes themselves are changing faster than the rules that govern them.

Early e-mountain bike designs offer relatively modest “pedal assist,” boosting a rider’s effort until they reach about 20 miles per hour — more than enough power on narrow dirt trails.

Newer designs push speeds closer to 30 mph, enabling riders to keep pace with city traffic. Others have throttles and require no pedaling at all — they’re essentially electric motorcycles capable of hitting 60 mph.

The result is a baffling spectrum of machines so hard to tell apart that some public land regulators are drawing an equally hard line.

Rancho Palos Verdes allows traditional, “analog” bikes on its extensive trail network within a nature preserve overlooking the Pacific Ocean, but prohibits e-bikes entirely. In Los Angeles, city officials are considering an e-bike ban on all equestrian, hiking and recreational trails while allowing them on dedicated bike paths.

State parks are trying to find the middle ground with a more fragmented approach, allowing pedal-assisted e-bikes that provide a boost up to 20 mph almost everywhere in Chino Hills, for example, but restricting them to just a handful of trails at Crystal Cove.

The goal is to “proceed cautiously, with resource protection and visitor safety being paramount,” said Adrien Contreras, assistant deputy director of parks for the state of California. Officials want to let people enjoy themselves, but not at the expense of turning quiet trails into “full throttle” freeways.

Consistent enforcement is tricky, however.

“You never have enough staff to monitor every bit of the trails,” Contreras said.

Contreras understands both sides of the debate. He grew up riding BMX bikes and still likes to hop on an old-fashioned bike when he wants some exercise. But about a year ago, he bought an e-bike “that I love dearly,” he confessed.

He rides it on paved trails near his home in Sacramento.

“It’s great when you’re just trying to get somewhere and you don’t want to show up all sweaty,” he said. “And I absolutely understand if all you want to do is get out and explore — what a wonderful way to experience the parks.”

But he walks his dogs on the same paths he rides, and he worries about getting run over by groups of kids who “absolutely bomb down the trail” on powerful e-bikes.

“So it’s something I experience in my day-to-day life,” he said. “Something that I’m always navigating.”

Craig Lester, founder of Malibu Mountain Bikers, leads e-bike tours in the Southern California hills. Like so many others, he used to consider electric motors “cheating” — until his son turned 13 and he could no longer keep up.

“I didn’t really have an option other than to go get an e-bike,” Lester said.

He ticked through the familiar arguments in the new technology’s favor: E-bikes make the sport accessible regardless of age, injury or fitness. They encourage people to ride farther, faster and more often. And they benefit the environment if people use them for errands instead of hopping into gas-guzzling cars.

But the real appeal is simpler than all of that — they’re just so much fun.

In less than three hours, we covered nearly 14 miles and climbed almost 3,300 feet, with plenty of stops to chat and admire the scenery. We never broke more than a mild sweat.

Most of our mileage was on fire roads, but we also rode narrow trails, rolling over boulders and logs with the help of the wide tires, plush suspension and, of course, electric motors.

In places, the terrain was so steep and loose that it would have been hard to climb on foot, and hopeless on a regular bike. With the motor, one enhanced pedal stroke was all it took to realize that going up would be every bit as easy and addictive as coming down.

It felt like a superpower — like you had stolen something from the universe.

For Lester, the biggest challenge isn’t the terrain. It’s the maddening patchwork of regulations.

“In one ride, you might cross six or seven jurisdictions, and they all have different rules on e-bikes,” he said.

He tries to stick to federal land because it’s usually the simplest, he said. Managers typically allow low-power, pedal assist e-bikes wherever analog bikes are permitted.

E-bikes are becoming so common that he doesn’t worry about raised eyebrows from other trail users anymore. Almost everyone is friendly if you slow down and say hi, he said.

“And if you’re really exceeding the limits and flying around blind corners, they have a right to yell at you,” he said.

If only regulators were so easy to charm. Under pressure to ensure safety above all else, Lester worries they’ll decide it’s easier to ban everything than to sort through the nuances.

“All it would take is one serious injury,” he said. “One really bad case could ruin this for everyone.”

Times staff writer Sandra McDonald contributed to this report.

©2026 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Jefferson County Open Space, which owns Matthews/Winters Park, acquired the family-owned parcel known as Braun Ranch for $7.3 million last week, with The Conservation Fund serving as a facilitator in the transaction. Great Outdoors Colorado contributed $2.3 million toward the purchase.

The acquisition expands Matthews/Winters Park, which already has nearly 14 miles of trails in the Morrison valley between 7,000-foot peaks to the west and the Dakota Ridge hogback to the east. Its trails are popular with hikers, trail runners and mountain bikers, and it borders Red Rocks Park, which is owned and managed by the city of Denver. Red Rocks Park has a trail network of more than 10 miles that connects with Matthews/Winter trails.

The Braun Ranch acquisition expands Matthews/Winters to the west, topping out at more than 1,000 feet over the Morrison Valley and offering a view that includes Mount Blue Sky, 35 miles to the west. Matthews/Winters Park has two parts, north and south of Red Rocks Park. Braun Ranch is expanding the northern part.

“Absolutely thrilled with the acquisition,” said Hillary Merritt, who manages land conservation for Jeffco Open Space. “It is such a great opportunity for us to connect two currently disconnected parts of the park, and it’s really a beautiful property.”

The viewpoint at the top, with vistas to the west, north and east, is nearly as high as Lookout Mountain just to the north. The main trailhead for Matthews/Winters Park, located just south of the Interstate 70 Morrison exit, lies 800 feet below. The expansion area is also accessible from Red Rocks Park via the Red Rocks Trail, which connects to the Morrison Slide Trail within Matthews/Winters.

“You can be on the trails of Matthews/Winters that everybody knows and loves,” said Justin Spring, Colorado director for The Conservation Fund. “And, in the near future, have the chance to go further west and have more of a backcountry experience — really get away from the city.”

Spring said he and Merritt have been working on the acquisition for a year and a half. The Conservation Fund, a nonprofit, identifies at-risk landscapes to prevent them from falling into the hands of developers and facilitates their transfer from private ownership to public land agencies.

“We saw this property was for sale,” Spring said. “It’s been on the market for a couple years. There were developers looking at it, and then interest rates went up. It created a remarkable window of time where it was too expensive to buy and hold and speculate as a developer. We were fortunate to stumble into it when it was at a better price point, and we brought it to our friends at Jefferson County.”

Great Outdoors Colorado accepted a grant application outside of its normal cycle of grant submissions in order to make the deal possible.

“We had to move quickly,” Spring said. “They agreed to accept a grant application out of cycle because they saw how timely and urgent this opportunity was.”

Matt Brady, a regional program officer for Great Outdoors Colorado, said preserving wildlife habitat was one of the reasons the agency was so supportive of the deal.

“This is obviously a migration corridor for elk and mule deer, so that is added benefit, especially in this foothills transition zone where there is rare connectivity at this scale,” Brady said. “There is strong development pressure in this part of the state, so it definitely checked the box in that sort of thinking.”

Great Outdoors Colorado was also mindful that Jeffco Open Space draws visitors from far beyond the county’s borders. Of its 27 parks, 24 are situated along or in the Front Range foothills, and Jeffco estimates that its parks attract 10 million visitors annually. Only one national park attracts more. Rocky Mountain National Park attracts just over 4 million visitors annually.

“The Matthews/Winters open space property is a highly trafficked trail system,” Brady said. “Jeffco is aware that they’re serving a population of recreationalists that is much broader than the county, with the millions of people that live and recreate on the Front Range.”

As of last Wednesday, Braun Ranch is officially part of Matthews/Winters Park. Jeffco plans to build at least one trail from the existing Morrison Slide Trail to the top of the expansion area. There is no timeline yet for construction.

“Siting a trail is going to be a little bit challenging,” Merritt said. “We certainly want to do an investigation of natural resources and make sure we are creating a sustainable trail, because it is quite steep. That will be part of the challenge. We’re hoping (to build) at least one trail that would get us from one side of Matthews/Winters to Mount Morrison. That would be in conjunction with Denver Mountain Parks, because that is their property, but we already have one trail that goes up the other side (from the south), and this might be a good opportunity to connect.”

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