5280 Traveler 2018

If traveling is a skill, I believe I’m well on my way to mastering it. I actually enjoy scouring the internet for cheap flights and having my inbox fill with travel deals. I spend hours reading articles with titles like “12 Multi-Purpose Travel Essentials You Need For Your Next Adventure.” And I’ve successfully bartered at a market in Jerusalem, driven a car over a speed-bump-laden highway in Mexico, and found my way home after a late night on Australia’s Gold Coast. But no matter how much I’ve traveled—five continents, 18 countries, and 25 states, so far—there is one big obstacle (besides my bank account) standing between me and that pro-status travel badge: packing. Without fail, I suddenly forget the cardinal rule of layering and arrive at my destination to find…

CAFFEINATE LIKE A LOCAL Start your day at Evergreen’s community coffeeshop, the Muddy Buck Cafe. While ordering an Indonesian or Ethiopian blend—sourced globally and hand-roasted in-house—ask your barista about the charred rock walls and wood beams dating back to the building’s former life as the Evergreen Hotel, founded in 1896. (The place has been a magnet for fires over the decades.) Return on Wednesday evenings for a cocktail or craft beer during the cafe’s free open mic nights (4 to 9 p.m.). SHRED THE PARKS What goes up must come down. That’ll be your mantra as you and your mountain bike tackle an intermediate 13-mile loop that begins in Alderfer/Three Sisters Park, runs through Dedisse Park, and summits scenic Evergreen Mountain, climbing a total of 1,973 feet. The route provides…

Craggy peaks, aspen-lined trails, and brilliant wildflowers—these are a few of our favorite things about Colorado’s mountain towns. For both locals and tourists, though, another category of entertainment is moving up the marquee. “A lot more people [are coming] to Crested Butte not for the recreation opportunities but for the arts,” says Jenny Birnie, executive director of Center for the Arts Crested Butte, which is currently undergoing an expansion. And Crested Butte isn’t alone: Two other mountain towns have recently debuted arts properties. We pull back the curtain on the high country’s new additions. 1 CRESTED BUTTE Annual patronage at the 31-year-old Center for the Arts Crested Butte (CACB) rose 17.5 percent in 2016 and reached 48,105 visitors in 2017. In the summer of 2017, the CACB broke ground on…

OUTLAW MOUNTAIN COASTER Steamboat Resort’s monster of an attraction opened in September 2017 and descends 420 vertical feet over 6,280 feet. That makes it the longest mountain coaster in North America (beating out Copper Mountain’s newer, 5,800-foot-long coaster). THE HAUNTED MINE DROP On Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park’s newest ride, which opened in summer 2017, visitors might get so caught up in the retelling of a fictional 19th-century mining accident that they won’t notice the floor dropping away. They’ll realize what happened, though, after they plunge 110 feet into Iron Mountain. EPIC DISCOVERY Last year, Vail Resorts’ summer concept expanded to Breckenridge, where adventures include the Expedition Zip Line Tour and the Alpineer Challenge Course. Purchase a day pass ($62 or $89) or go à la carte.…

HAPPY TRAILS Climbing 1,100 feet over 1.2 miles, Hanging Lake Trail is a calf buster. But the aquamarine pond at its apex, perched improbably on a cliff, is also a jaw dropper—and why more than 150,000 people descend upon the Glenwood Canyon gem each year, most of them during the summer months. Thankfully, there are other nearby hikes (with similar characteristics) that show off equally stunning landscapes, minus the crowds. SAME DISTANCE, LESS SWEAT Main Elk Creek Trail Thirty minutes northwest of Glenwood Springs, this three-mile out-and-back trail follows lush Main Elk Creek past 800-foot walls of granite and limestone. The scenic payoff at the end—a rocky riverbank ringed by spruce and fir trees—feels almost undeserved, given the relatively small effort the rolling hike demands. Extended Stay: Pack your tent…

AMATEUR OSPREY ULTRALIGHT CAMERA CASE EXTRA LARGE Price: $40 Headquarters: Cortez Features: Padded main compartment, neck/shoulder strap Best For: Keeping your SLR handy while you explore the Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness CASUAL TOPO DESIGNS CAMERA CUBE Price: $59 Headquarters: Denver Features: Padded side walls and base, cinch top closure, adjustable internal dividers Best For: Overlook shots in Rocky Mountain National Park PROFESSIONAL MOUNTAINSMITH T.A.N. KIT CUBE LARGE Price: $70 Headquarters: Golden Features: Water-resistant exterior, color-coded pockets for new and used memory cards Best For: Dayhiking Kenosha Pass with every lens you own FRAMED Three tips for crafting a fall foliage masterpiece from 5280 contributing photographer Jason Hatfield. TIP 1 Avoid The Icons: Off the most popular trails, you’re less likely to encounter other photographers for sunrise or sunset shots (the most…