crunchy kat explores

snowy outing: snowshoeing at brainard lake

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distance: 6 miles (out and back) | elevation: 468’ (10,073’ starting) | difficulty: easy

Welcome to summer in Colorado, where the mountains are getting two feet of snow and ski resorts are looking to be open till the Fourth of July. Wait, what?! Yuppppp. Here in Colorado on the first day of summer, some towns were under winter weather adversaries. So yeah, looks like winter conditions aren’t going anywhere anytime too soon if you’re headed to higher elevations.

One of those places close to Denver? Brainard Lake Recreation Area. Basically, it is a winter playground and the gateway to the Indian Peaks Wilderness.

Mountains, United States, Utah

the perfect three days in moab

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When I moved to Denver six months ago, I was moving here for the mountains (cliche yadda yadda I know). And while I’m still not sure what region of the United States to consider Colorado part of (anyone with me that it should be the Midwest and what we call the “Midwest” should actually be the Mideast?!), I really only associated it with mountains (and maybe the plains). To be honest, I never really thought about how the desert was basically just a stone throw away.

After realizing Moab, the gateway to TWO national parks and tons of other outdoor activities, was only a five hour drive away, I scheduled a long three day weekend in the desert. And this self-proclaimed mountain lover kindaaaa turned into a desert lover too.

Moab is the type of place that could take a lifetime to explore, butttttt most people don’t have unlimited PTO for that. So maybe you’re just taking a quick weekend trip from Denver or Salt Lake City. Or maybe passing through on your way on a road trip to other national parks. Three days in Moab is not enough time to explore everything it has to offer, but you can still fit in some adventures. So how do you spend three days in Moab?

Mountains, United States, Utah

the best hike in arches national park

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best hike in arches national park devils garden loop.

Arches National Park, one of Utah’s Mighty Five, has the densest concentration of natural stone arches in the world. It clocks in at over 2,000! With so many arches (but to be fair, that number includes superrrr thin cracks as well), how do you find the best hike in the park?!

Colorado, Mountains, United States

where to hike in denver after work

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I’d jump out on a limb and say a big reason A LOT of people move to Denver is to be closer to the mountains. But just because you are working a 9 to 5 office job downtown in the city though doesn’t mean the only time you can get out and enjoy nature is on the weekends.

Lucky for us in Denver, we don’t have to only be weekend warriors. While you may not be crushing a 14’er after work, that doesn’t mean you can’t climb some mountains! Curious where you can get in a quick hike after work? Peep my four suggestions which are only a thirty minute (or less!) drive from the city.