VAIL'S #1
Yet again, Vail secured the #1 ranking in SKI Magazine’s Top Ten North American... [more]
It’s Summertime in the Rockies!
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re in on the secret. So please, don’t tell anyone else about your visit to Colorado in the summertime. Tell them about the afternoon thunderstorms — just don’t tell them they only lasted 15 minutes. Tell them about the bruising you took on your mountain bike — just don’t mention the spectacular views along the way.
Most visitors still think of Colorado as a wintertime getaway. Those of us who live here like to think of spectacular summers in the Rockies as our little secret. The mountains beckon us to set out on a hike, on a bike or on horseback. Rivers seem made for rafting. Rocks seem made for climbing. The truth is, though, our little secret is out. Mountain resorts that once boomed in the winter and slumbered in the summer are bustling year-round these days, with concert series offering everything from rock to jazz and classical and hot nightlife to keep locals and visitors busy ’round the clock. Some of your choices might surprise you.
Water Wonders
Maybe you’ve skied Colorado, but have you ever sculled Colorado? Cradled by the Gore, Williams Fork and Ten Mile mountain ranges, Lake Dillon Reservoir is 3,300 acres of shimmering waters in the mountains. Between the towns of Dillon and Frisco, the lake provides drinking water for the people of Denver and a range of summertime fun for those of us out here. Full-service marinas are available at both Dillon and Frisco, with a range of options for exploring this mountain lake. Need to feel the wind in your sails? Rent a sailboat. Need a little more power? Rent a motorboat. If you feel like doing the work yourself, try taking a canoe or a kayak out for paddle, or just kick along in a paddleboat. And yes, for those skilled at sculling, or who just want to be, oarboats are available for a cruise through the lake that’ll give your upper-body a workout.
You can even leave the sailing to someone else. Sailboat tours leave from Dillon. Scenic tours leave from Frisco. And for anglers, Lake Dillon is home to brown trout, rainbow trout and Kokanee salmon. Onshore, you’ll find cabins to rent, 313 campsites and plenty of hiking and biking trails, plus Jeep tours into the mountains to old ghost towns.
Rapid-Fire Thrills
If you prefer your adventures on water that’s moving a little faster, try rafting through some Rocky Mountain whitewater. It’s hard to imagine a more exhilarating way to explore the mountains than on a rushing river, plunging and crashing through narrow canyons. In Summit County, take a plunge through the raging waters of Brown’s Canyon on the Arkansas River. In Vail and Beaver Creek, take an icy trip through the legendary Shoshone Rapids on the mighty Colorado. In Aspen and Snowmass, discover the “roar” in the Roaring Fork River. Lots of well-trained raft guides are on hand to give you a safe taste of adventure in some of the finest whitewater in the country
Angling For Enjoyment Of course, you can enjoy these mountain rivers with a little less adrenaline. The same rivers that offer take-your-breath-away rapids also offer plenty of quiet nooks where anglers can cast a line from a fly rod and come away with a trout, and a little piece of solitude. These are Gold Medal fishing waters, from the Colorado to the Roaring Fork to the Frying Pan. Try asking at a bait shop for favorite spots that locals are willing to share. If it’s your first time, guide companies are happy to show you the art of the cast and take you to their favorite spots, either from the shore, or drifting downstream in a dory.
Mountain Magic
For some, the only way to be in the mountains is to be in the mountain, and lots of trails take off into the wilderness where you can surround yourself with wildflowers, shimmering aspens and the honey smell of deep timber. Set off however you like: on foot, a bike or on horseback.
It’s hard to find a mountain town without a bike shop, and the staff can offer lots of local wisdom about favorite trails, whether you’re a beginner or an expert. They can also outfit you with all the gear you need to spin your way into mountain bliss. The same mountains that make for killer face shots in the winter make for breathtaking mountain bike rides in the summer.
For those who prefer to get into the backcountry the old-fashioned way, lots of outfitters are available to get you on horseback for a Western amble through meadows of wildflowers and glades of aspen trees.
For an over-the top-experience, try soaring through the mountains in a hot-air balloon ride. Companies take off from Summit County, the Vail Valley and Snowmass Village, offering an unparalleled way to explore the splendor of the mountains.
Fairway Fun
Golfers will find their mountain bliss on the greens, and they’ll find plenty of Colorado courses well above par. Even if you’re not staying at a golf resort, you’ll find lots of options with tough challenges and the privacy and feel of a members-only club, all designed by top-notch architects. Local legend holds that the thin mountain air will drive your ball farther here. Maybe that’s true, or maybe these panoramic vistas give the inspiration for a little added oomph.
Down the valley from Aspen and Snowmass Village, you’ll find River Valley Ranch, a challenging course designed by Jay Morrish along the Crystal River in the pleasant town of Carbondale. Set amid a 520-acre residential community, River Valley Ranch is public but feels private, with stunning views of glorious Mount Sopris looming in the distance. Just a few minutes from downtown Aspen, you’ll find the Aspen Golf Club. The Frank Hummel-designed course offers 7,215 yards of play and is open seven days a week, with a full-service pro shop, lessons with PGA staff, a driving range, cart rental and restaurant.
Down the road from Vail at the town of Eagle, you’ll find the Arnold Palmer-designed Eagle Ranch Golf Course. The course winds through the beautiful Brush Creek Valley, while the peaks of the Sawatch Range tower above. Five sets of tees ranging from 5,400 to 7,500 yards provide challenges for all skill levels. And a name like Eagle Ranch has to bring some luck, right? The Vail Golf Club, designed by Ben Krueger, offers golfers stunning views of the Gore Range. (For all you bird-lovers, it’s also designated an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.) This par-71 championship course has a pro shop, driving range, locker rooms, restaurant and snack shop.
In Silverthorne, The Raven at Three Peaks is a spectacular semi-private club with panoramic views of the Gore Range (or is that the “Fore” Range?) everywhere you look. Course designers wanted to make sure golfers remember where they are while sending the balls soaring over the fairways. Native grasses line the bunkers, and Colorado pines and aspens wind through a course marked with sparkling creeks and lakes. The Breckenridge Golf Club has the distinction of being the only municipal golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus. The 27-hole regulation course takes golfers on a mountain excursion past crystal streams, beaver ponds, native grasses, sagebrush and natural wetlands.
There are many more outstanding golf courses in Beaver Creek and Copper Mountain, as well as throughout the Central Rockies.
When you’re done with adventuring, come back to town and reenergize with a gourmet meal, then switch gears for a little nightlife. It used to be, coming to the mountains meant leaving the city life behind. Now, we like to think we have the best of both worlds.
So, if you have to tell your friends about it, go ahead, and bring them with you next time to do everything you didn’t get around to on this trip. But please, keep our Colorado summer secret among friends. As for everyone else, just tell them you went to Idaho.
David M. Frey is a freelance writer in Carbondale, Colorado. His work has appeared in various newspapers and magazines, including the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, the Denver Post and American Profile.
Aspen and Snowmass
Water Wonders
Of course, you can enjoy these mountain rivers with a little less adrenaline. The same rivers that offer take-your-breath-away rapids also offer plenty of quiet nooks where anglers can cast a line from a fly rod and come away with a trout, and a little piece of solitude. These are Gold Medal fishing waters, from the Colorado to the Roaring Fork to the Frying Pan. Try asking at a bait shop for favorite spots that locals are willing to share. If it’s your first time, guide companies are happy to show you the art of the cast and take you to their favorite spots, either from the shore, or drifting downstream in a dory. 
Down the valley from Aspen and Snowmass Village, you’ll find River Valley Ranch, a challenging course designed by Jay Morrish along the Crystal River in the pleasant town of Carbondale. Set amid a 520-acre residential community, River Valley Ranch is public but feels private, with stunning views of glorious Mount Sopris looming in the distance. Just a few minutes from downtown Aspen, you’ll find the Aspen Golf Club. The Frank Hummel-designed course offers 7,215 yards of play and is open seven days a week, with a full-service pro shop, lessons with PGA staff, a driving range, cart rental and restaurant.
There are many more outstanding golf courses in Beaver Creek and Copper Mountain, as well as throughout the Central Rockies. 