Sports & Recreation

Urban hikes have a reputation for being short, one-day jaunts around a park. Not so with the historic High Line Canal trail, which ventures through eleven municipalities, starting in Waterton Canyon in Douglas County and continuing for 71 miles to Green Valley Ranch in northeast Denver. Coursing alongside cottonwood banks, the trail takes hikers through parks, golf courses, cemeteries and more. And although more than 500,000 people use the trail each year and roughly 350,000 people live within a mile of it, there are plenty of spots where city hikers can find a bit of much-needed solitude.

highlinecanal.org

Marc Moser has been a staple in the Denver market for a quarter-century — he arrived in 1996 — and over the years, he’s carved out a role as the voice of Colorado hockey, thanks to his combination of insight and passion. Simply put, he knows how to freak out in ways that make fans want to freak out, too. He spent eleven years calling Avalanche games on radio before jumping to the squad’s television broadcasts for the past two. And while the ongoing battle between Altitude TV and Comcast offers limited opportunities to hear him celebrate every Nathan MacKinnon goal, Moser also co-hosts the morning-drive program on Altitude Sports Radio 92.5, where he regularly proves that his sports knowledge goes well beyond ice and pucks.

Altitude TV/Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM

Because of concerns over his health, Michael Porter Jr. fell in the 2018 NBA draft, and the Denver Nuggets — with a front office that seems able to find every diamond in the rough — picked him fourteenth overall. That insight has paid off this season, as the healed 22-year-old MPJ is starting and averaging over 17 points and 7 rebounds per game, all while shooting above 50 percent from the field and above 40 percent from three-point range. Look to Porter to keep getting better as the playoffs come around.

nba.com

Across the South Platte River from Overland Park Golf Course, Ruby Hill Park offers plenty of crowd-pleasing amenities: Levitt Pavilion, a sprawling outdoor concert venue that puts on fifty free shows each year; a bike park where mountain and dirt bikers can practice their skills; a baseball field; picnic areas; and some of the best sledding in town. Despite all that, the sprawling grounds, with stunning panoramas of downtown Denver, also have room for reflection and solitude. Pick a spot in the bright-green grass and lie down, look up at the sky or out over the skyline, and experience peace in the middle of metro Denver.

denvergov.org

Dinger, the purple triceratops of Coors Field, is the perfect mascot for kiddos. He’s gentle, a bit rotund, funny, and more or less Barney reincarnated, with the added themes of Colorado and baseball thrown into his genetic makeup. And that makes sense, because a beautiful baby Dinger was hatched from an egg in 1994 at Coors Field, which was built on ground where diggers once found real dinosaur bones.

If Dinger is the indica of mascots for adults (you can chill while he entertains your kids), Rocky is the cocaine. Watching the insanely gymnastic mascot for the Denver Nuggets is like attending a Cirque du Soleil show — without the annoying drunk tourists of Vegas. Instead, you’ll just have to ignore the annoying drunk sports fans of Denver while catching the crazy trick shots that Rocky hits from atop a ladder. This mountain lion roars.

Looking for a classic game of miniature golf, with all the zany bells and whistles, plus holes that are easy enough for kids but still challenging for adults? Try Westminster’s Adventure Golf and Raceway. The three eighteen-hole courses — Buccaneer Bay, Adventure Cove and The Lost Continent — boast an array of animatronics, gorgeous landscaping and well-lit fountains. Between chattering deities and exploding volcanoes, you will be amused, unnerved and constantly entertained. Built in 1989, the facility offers plenty of kitschy nostalgia for kids of all ages, along with bumper cars, go-karts, a ropes course and a maze. A day here is sure to be a hole in one.

Denver has an array of first-rate municipal courses, but this year’s winner is the re-envisioned eighteen-hole City Park Golf Course. The 135-acre course, originally built in 1913, was shut down for nearly three years as the City of Denver reworked its stormwater drainage system. Although old trees were lost in the process, the course reopened last fall with updated landscaping, new water traps and revamped course elevations that offer both a nod to history and surprising fresh challenges. The pro shop is the talk of the town, with a contemporary design, helpful staff, and a patio with an epic view of downtown and the mountains.

cityofdenvergolf.com

We regular folk weren’t always allowed to play Fox Acres — the course was for members only until 2015 — but we all kissed our drivers when it opened to the public. With hole names like Moose Crossing, Sleeping Elephants, Black Bear and Fox Den, as well as fifteen lakes and over a hundred sand traps, this course in Red Feather Lakes is long on high-country appeal and challenges — but smoking one down the middle of a rolling green in the crisp northern Colorado air makes all those lost balls worthwhile. Revel in your +25 score and the beautiful views at a brewery in Fort Collins on the way home, and don’t forget your windbreaker, just in case.

1700 County Road 67J, Red Feather Lakes

970-881-2574

golfclubatfoxacres.com

Golf is a sport that requires skill in the short, medium and long games, and Family Sports is the place to practice all three. It boasts a double-floor driving range that is both heated and fully lighted, so golfers can practice into the late evening hours, in the winter. The $5 starting price for a bucket of balls is a bargain, while the generous practice facility next to the driving range includes chipping areas, putting greens and even sand traps. It all adds up to unbelievable value. Fore!

The 420-acre Westminster Hills Dog Park is a glorious oasis from the ever-rising drama plaguing smaller dog parks. With so much space and plenty of trails, you can hike the hills as Fido roams far from bullying dogs — but there are also opportunities to make new friends of both the two- and four-legged variety. In recent years, parking has become an issue, but between two lots — one at 10499 Simms Street and another at 11610 West 100th Avenue — you can usually find a spot. Once you snag one, both you and your dog can have an unparalleled adventure in an otherworldly landscape.

cityofwestminster.us

With many other sporting options shut down, the popularity of disc golf soared over the past year. And while the region offers plenty of challenging courses for advanced players, few spots are as good for noobs as the Johnny Roberts Disc Golf Course at Memorial Park in Arvada. Although most of the tees are beginner-friendly and relatively short, there are still trees and water obstacles. It’s a great spot to practice your putt or introduce newcomers to the sport. Just be prepared to socialize: This course can get crowded.

8001 West 59th Avenue, Arvada

720-898-7000

arvada.org

Are you and your kids hoping to bump into families for an impromptu play date? Or are you looking for love? A jogging buddy? A football or Frisbee game? Something a little more risqué? Maybe even a ghost to chat with? No matter what kind of company you’re looking for, you’re bound to find it at Cheesman Park. (Yes, even ghosts. The park was built on the former Mount Prospect Cemetery.) Between picnickers at the pavilion, roughhousers on the playground, and runners and bikers circumnavigating the park on the trail, Cheesman is your destination for free community fun.

Bristlecone offers an encouraging environment for people who want to learn more about firearms but aren’t draped in a “Don’t Tread on Me” flag (though those people would probably be welcomed, too). Owned by husband-wife duo Bryan and Jacquelyn Clark, the shop offers affordable ammo and firearms to rent and buy, multiple ranges and a virtual-reality shooting and training simulator. Unlike most spots, when the ammo shortage of 2020-2021 hit, Bristlecone didn’t jack up its prices; it’s also known as one of the most LGBTQ-friendly ranges in town. Bristlecone has instructors who are well trained, sensible and friendly, teaching classes in self-defense as well as shotgun, rifle and pistol training, with special attention to the importance of addressing mental health issues and gun safety.

Love blasting things out of the sky? Whether you’re interested in sporting clays, skeet or trap, Colorado Clays Shooting Park, on the outskirts of north Denver, is a must-visit destination for shotgun enthusiasts. But the park, which sports a variety of classes and even party packages, also has offerings for rifle and pistol shooters. There are classes for beginners through masters, as well as some targeting women and youth. Don’t have the gear to shoot? No worries: You can rent a gun and buy ammo and eye/ear protection on site.

The burgers and other bar bites are so good at Highland Tap & Burger — the first in the Tap & Burger group that has now spread to Sloan’s Lake and Belleview Station — that most of us don’t even look up from our food long enough to realize that, hey, this is a pretty damn good sports bar, too! But between nibbles of wings, scoops of extra-cheesy mac and cheese, and mouthfuls of the Shroom Luva’s burger (our favorite), you and your friends just might realize that you’re surrounded by well-placed TVs tuned into the best sports action during any given season. You don’t have to be a Broncos fan, either; just don’t badmouth the New England Patriots too much or you might find co-founder (and Tom Brady diehard) Juan Padró breathing down your neck.

A stone’s throw from Denver, the first segment of the Colorado Trail takes you up a semi-accessible dirt road from Littleton into Waterton Canyon and on to the epic, 200-some-feet-high Strontia Springs Dam. The scenery here turns spectacular fast. Although the wide trail — which doubles as a road for Denver Water — is often packed with mountain bikers and hikers, dogs aren’t allowed. But the throngs trekking into the canyon for the relatively easy walk (800 feet of elevation gain over 12.4 miles out and back) share the corridor with deer, Bighorn sheep, mountain lions, black bears and golden eagles.

denverwater.org/recreation

There is no shortage of magnificent camping in Colorado, and the state and federal park systems offer terrific options. But if you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind memorable experience, make a reservation at Sedalia’s Everland Eco-Retreat and Immersive Art Park. At this new facility, you can submerge yourself in narrative-based installations and landscapes, try out a variety of adventures, and explore the surrounding streams, ponds and forests while camping — or even glamping. No, this isn’t your average rustic trip into the backcountry, but it’s a chance to connect with the environment and your community through art, yoga, wellness and play.

676 Pine Creek Road, Sedalia

everland.co

During the pandemic, many of us got hooked on the solitary, safe activity of fishing. And when we wanted to escape the cares and concerns of the all-too-real world, there was no better place to take the plunge than Cheesman Reservoir. After a scenic drive along Highway 285, then down Jefferson County Road 126 and forest Service Road 211, a quick hike takes you to the dam, named for Denver water pioneer Walter Cheesman. It was the world’s tallest when it was completed in 1905, and acquired by Denver Water in 1918. But while it remains an engineering marvel, we’re most intrigued by the fishing hole below the dam, on the scenic Goose Creek Arm Trail, where you’re almost guaranteed to bag a big Northern pike — and plenty of alone time.

denverwater.org/recreation

Yes, there are smarter places to go swimming in metro Denver than Confluence Park. But is there anywhere that’s more fun? People will warn you that the water’s not safe and that syringes and broken glass cover the ground — and they’re probably right. Still, on a blistering summer day, cooling off where the South Platte River and Cherry Creek collide is just what the doctor ordered. Keep your shoes on, don’t drink the water, and plan on showering after your dip. But when you do take the plunge, know that swimming at that spot is a tradition that long pre-dates Denver’s founding, and it’s one that won’t go away any time soon.

denver.org

With 21 percent of its trails marked as beginner, Copper Mountain makes itself known as a ski resort that wants to get you started. West Ten Mile is one of its most forgiving and widest green runs, and it’s usually so much less crowded than other easy runs that it’s a veritable boulevard of unbroken (read: ungroomed) dreams on a powder day. Take the Kokomo lift to the Lumberjack lift, then get ready to practice carving those turns. Go ahead and face-plant, because everyone else is a beginner, too, and they’re at least a football field away. And if you get tired of being a gaper (that’s you, newbie, and the “gaper gap” is a telltale sign: Your helmet should be snug against those goggles), you can head to the tubing hill for guaranteed top-to-bottom thrills with no spills.

coppercolorado.com

A longtime favorite of both locals and out-of-towners, the Pallavicini (aka Pali) lift has held a special place in their cold, wind-shredded hearts, even more so now that the circa 1978 lift has been retired. But fear not: The new chair is a double with a capacity of 1,200 peeps per hour, which means even more expert-level skiers and shredders can take advantage of Gauthier, a 46-degree monster pitch that’s known locally as 5th Alley. Adding to the fun is its crazy-narrow lane; you’ll often see skiers double-checking their bindings as they wait to drop in. Find this rocky, raucous gully by cutting across the snow fence off the lift, then start down the 4th Alley (another fun chute), and keep your goggles peeled for signs to Gauthier. Godspeed.

During a season when many skiers were looking for solitude — and trying to avoid making new friends in lift lines — uphill skiing became increasingly popular. And while almost any slope could look inviting to those willing to tackle the climb, Aspen definitely made uphill skiers feel welcome, with all four of the area’s mountains — Aspen, Snowmass, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk — allowing uphill skiing during operational hours (with some variation on the rules because of COVID), along with two-day uphilling clinics and America’s Uphill Race in March. It’s all downhill from here!

aspensnowmass.com

It may not be part of one of the famous hut systems that traverse the state, but Weston Pass Hut, situated between Leadville and Fairplay, is every bit as comfortable and cool a backcountry experience (it’s got all the hut basics and sleeps twenty) as those better-known mountain shelters. In true hut fashion, it requires a bit of a haul — via skis, snowshoes, snowmobiles or snowcat — to access in winter, with views of Mount Holy Cross and endless open sky en route. In summer, though, the hike or bike to this cozy, rustic lodging at 11,950 feet offers high-alpine wildflower-blanketed meadows and random wildlife sightings. Even better is that the owners — mostly longtime Leadville locals — constructed the solar-powered structure using earth for three of the walls and the roof.

westonpasshut.com

While everyone else heads to Janet’s and Francie’s cabins in the Summit system, hardcore hikers and cross-country skiers make a six-mile beeline to well above treeline at Section House, a renovated 1882 building that sleeps twelve and overlooks South Park and Breckenridge on Boreas Pass at 11,481 feet. The road is closed to this winter-only lodging — which sits well past the also-intimate Ken’s Cabin — adding to the isolation and stone-cold quiet, and if the altitude doesn’t get you, the views of the Continental Divide from the no-frills historic cabin will take your breath away. Pretend you’re one of the railroaders who lived in this old mining town by firing up the wood oven and reliving the days of the pit-toilet outhouse.

summithuts.org

Although the Barstool Sportsbook mobile app has not yet landed in Colorado, the Barstool Sportsbook retail space at the Ameristar Black Hawk is definitely a welcome addition to the scene. In this well-designed area, bettors can grab a beer from the sportsbook bar, place a bet at the in-person counter and take in games from one of the many large, flat-screen TVs. Stoolies can geek out over the Barstool-themed nature of the space, and those feeling adventurous can even play card games, as the Ameristar has tables with dealers set up inside the sportsbook.

While sports bettors around Colorado can place bets on mobile apps, placing wagers in person is limited to sportsbooks at casinos. But if you want to stay in Denver, the Celtic on Market — an official off-track-betting facility as well as a great Irish bar — offers the next best thing through its FanDuel Cash at Counter partnership, which lets you bet on the games, then watch them in the big first-floor bar.

Some of us don’t want to do CrossFit or bike 25 miles on a Thursday night. Some of us just want to throw a little sack and drink some beers. Or go bowling and drink some beers. Or play mini golf and drink some beers. (Now, that’s true coordination and performance.) The Rocky Mountain Bar League has these very athletic activities covered for you, hosting regular bouts of bowling and cornhole at bars like Moe’s BBQ, the Dive Inn and Stoney’s Bar and Grill, as well as booze-friendly putt-putt at Aqua Golf. League and tournament options are opening up in May, so get the crew together and start training for fun this summer.Best Sports Bar for WatchingGames

rockymountainbarleague.com

Give us a beer and a comfortable seat, put that seat in front of a TV, and put that TV on the game we need to watch, no matter how obscure. That’s what we want from a sports bar, and that’s what the original Stoney’s — with 31 HD TVs and two projection screens — is all too happy to provide. We’re still not sure what team Stoney’s represents the most — show up on a football Sunday and try to figure it out yourself — but that please-everyone mentality ensures that there’s a spot for you at this big bar. (We like the location at 1035 East 17th Avenue, too, but the Lincoln Street spot is our go-to). And since Stoney’s has a subscription to DirecTV (the only major cable carrier of Altitude Sports in Denver), you can go to the bar without worrying whether you’ll be able to see the Nuggets or Avalanche. Watching the game in the world today takes everything you’ve got on some weekends, but at Stoney’s, everyone knows your team. Maybe even your name.