Innholdsfortegnelse for 2018 i 5280 Traveler

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…

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.…

If you’re going to drive eight hours from Denver to Four Corners, we hope you’ll give yourself more than a single day to explore the majestic landscape. But for those of you who are simply passing through on your way to somewhere else (Moab is 145 miles farther; it’s nearly 500 miles to Vegas), here’s a one-day, cram-it-all-in-so-you-can-brag-to-your-friends itinerary. MUST DO ‣ 9 A.M. Get a primer about the ancient tribes of Four Corners at the Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center & Museum in Dolores. The $4.8 million facility is one of the most engaging interpretive centers we’ve had the pleasure to enter. And it’s just $3. Things you must do, besides getting lost among the artifacts and interactive displays in the 40,000-square-foot venue: Grind corn with stone tools;…

‣ MANCOS Fahrenheit Coffee Roasters: Fahrenheit has been serving Mancos well-balanced brews for 12 years. If you’re feeling peckish, Fahrenheit’s oversize homemade pastries—giant, gooey, delicious cinnamon rolls, anyone?—will tame your hunger. Absolute Bakery & Cafe: It can be difficult to snag a spot in this tiny breakfast and lunch spot, but trust us: It’s worth waiting for sandwiches served on fresh bread, soups created from scratch, and decadent desserts (strudels and cookies of every imaginable variety). And since nothing on the menu costs more than $12, you won’t feel guilty about splurging on a bunch of macaroons for the road. Olio: Befitting its name (an “olio” is a miscellaneous collection of things), Olio is part restaurant, part wine bar, and part art gallery. Experience all three Tuesday through Saturday, starting…

Colorado’s plentiful sunshine, meager rainfall, and varied terrain would suggest the state is an ideal location for world-class golf courses. And it is, being home to the likes of Cherry Hills Country Club, the Broadmoor Golf Club, and Red Sky Ranch and Golf Club. But those courses aren’t exactly new. In fact, the Centennial State hasn’t seen a ground-up golf course development in nearly a decade. That’s about to change. TPC Colorado, a par-72 championship course built on the edges of Lonetree, McNeil, and Welch reservoirs in Berthoud, will open to the public next month. The semi-private course (rounds start at $150) and clubhouse represent phase one of the master-planned Heron Lakes community, which will eventually include 1,200 homes, a community center, a pool, a fitness facility, a restaurant, and…

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…

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…

WATER: Arkansas River LOCATION: Bighorn Sheep Canyon and Royal Gorge, Colorado TRIP LENGTH: 2 days THERE ARE PLENTY of occasions to get a paddle wet sans guide, but rafting through Class III and IV rapids probably isn’t one of them. And, truthfully, having someone who knows not only the river’s secrets but also area landmarks, local lore, and where to score an après-float sixer can elevate your experience. Another way to upgrade your trip? Make it an overnight excursion with an outfit like American Adventure Expeditions (with locations in Cañon City and Buena Vista). Many Colorado guiding services offer multiday white-water quests; however, American Adventure’s overnight setup ($300 per person)—including its two-day itinerary and riverside location—is unsurpassed. First, the 32-year-old company’s Cañon City outpost has quick access to two amazing…

MUST DO In April 2017, when President Donald Trump ordered Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke to review—and potentially dismantle—all national monuments established after 1996 that are larger than 100,000 acres, a single monument in Colorado landed on the list of 27: Canyons of the Ancients. Established in 2000, this 176,000-acre monument along the Utah border holds the largest concentration of archeological sites in the country. In some places, they can be as dense as 100 per square mile. And unlike the structures at Mesa Verde, which you can only enjoy from afar or amongst a crowd, Canyons of the Ancients is open to backcountry exploration. All you need is camping gear, water, and an adventurous streak, and you can discover 800-year-old pueblos, rock art, and pottery shards from ancient…

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE GEOGRAPHY Question: Four Corners’ north-south thoroughfare U.S. 491 was once called Highway 666, or the Devil’s Highway. Parts of it also fall along the path of the Long Walk, which was forced upon which Native American tribe? Answer: The Navajo. In the winter of 1864, the U.S.government “relocated” more than 8,500 Navajo, forcing them to walk over 300 miles—from northeastern Arizona into New Mexico—in eight weeks. More than 200 people died during the Long Walk of the Navajo. ENTERTAINMENT Question: What Four Corners(ish) town was memorialized in an Eagles song? Answer: Winslow, Arizona, which sits outside of the Hopi Reservation, just off of Interstate 40. (Well, I’m a-standin’ on a corner in Winslow, Arizona // Such a fine sight to see // It’s a girl, my Lord, in…

MUST DO MOUNTAIN BIKE AT HOOD MESA Every October, Farmington hosts one of the oldest mountain biking races in the country: the Road Apple Rally, where racers take on Glade Run Recreation Area’s slickrock and boulders. (Just keep an eye out for Jeeps and other rock crawlers while you ride.) You can sample the rest of the area’s singletrack on your own anytime. The Hood Mesa, Piñon Mesa, and Kinsey’s Ridge trails just north of town are popular options that hold miles of varied riding for every ability level. PADDLE THE ANIMAS RIVER’S WHITE-WATER PARK Farmington sits at the confluence of the Animas and San Juan rivers, and the town made the most of that by installing a white-water park along the Animas on the south side of town in…

WATER: Green River, Mineral Bottom to Spanish Bottom LOCATION: Canyonlands National Park, Utah TRIP LENGTH: 4 to 5 days PADDLING 55 MILES in a 16-foot, two-person canoe presents a few challenges—like where to stash the portable toilet and how to not get your camera wet. You’ll want to solve these packing quandaries (and others) before shoving off from the Mineral Bottom boat launch, because leaving essentials behind isn’t an option. And, yes, a camera is required equipment on a four-day journey that takes you through one of the country’s most remote and picturesque landscapes: Canyonlands National Park. Although the navigating—and campsite-finding, tent-pitching, and cooking—is up to you after setting sail, having an outfitter, like Moab’s Tag-A-Long Expeditions/Adrift Adventures, assist you with information about required permits, rental gear (about $175 for…

10,000ish years ago PALEOINDIAN Prehistoric humans hunt mammoths and other large mammals and gather in small groups. 6000 B.C.–500 B.C. ARCHAIC As the climate warms, killing off big game, the hunter-gatherer population increases and their nomadic wanderings become more patterned; they move with the seasons, eating more fruits and berries and smaller animals. 500 B.C.–500 BASKETMAKER II Humans begin to cultivate crops, mostly maize, and remain in locations longer, building and living in more permanent structures, often dug into the ground, called “pit houses.” 500–750 BASKETMAKER III The Four Corners region sees a population boom as hunters transition from spears to bows and arrows and farmers cultivate additional crops. Single farms develop into communities with “great kivas”—large, public buildings for ceremonial purposes. 750–900 PUEBLO I The villages grow larger, and…

MUST DO The area around Bluff, Utah, was once at the center of Ancestral Puebloan life; today, it’s at the center of adventures through Utah’s canyon lands. Monument Valley, Natural Bridges National Monument, and Canyonlands National Park are all accessible from this pioneer town, which was founded by Mormons in 1880 (you can still explore remnants of their original settlement at the Bluff Fort Historic Site in town). But the best way to marvel at the region’s geologic and human history is with a trip down the San Juan River. Four Corners Adventures & Wild Rivers Expeditions runs half-day to seven-day tours that include food and lodging (i.e., camping, but you don’t have to do any setup, cooking, or cleanup). If you have the time, do the full canyon tour…

‣ Cell service in many parts of Four Corners is spotty, so plan accordingly. ‣ The dirt roads in this region can be as slippery as snow after a hard rain. Be cautious when driving in wet conditions. You’ll only be able to go as fast as the car in front of you in Mesa Verde, so leave yourself about an hour to drive the 20 or so miles from the entrance to the cliff dwellings on the other side of the park. ‣ The ranger-led hikes in Mesa Verde sell out quickly, but you can purchase tickets up to two days in advance. ‣ Bring cash for souvenirs from the artisans at Four Corners Monument (they range from about $5 to $500). Not all artisans accept cards and checks,…