What was once the Arapahoe Greenway Trail was renamed in the mid-'90s for Mary Hampton Carter, who as mayor of Bow Mar in the '70s also took over leadership of the South Suburban Park Foundation, helping the organization pave the way for more trails and greenways in the area. Her namesake eight-mile, multi-use path winds through the southern suburbs along the tree-lined South Platte River, between West Dartmouth Avenue in Englewood and Viable Road in Chatfield State Park. Not only does it exemplify the best of urban bike corridors — the foundation stays on top of improvements, recently cutting the number of signs along the trail in half to put in better ones that were more easily understood, adding more parking en route and upgrading crushed-gravel spurs — but it also connects other trails in the Denver metro greenway system, including the South Platte River Trail, the Bear Creek Trail and the C-470 Bikeway. On any given day, you'll find commuters, families, dog-walkers, rollerbladers, you name it. Thanks, Mary.

Readers' Choice: Cherry Creek Trail

walkridecolorado.com

Ready for a ride you won't forget? Park at the lot for Beverly Heights Park, located at the base of Lookout Mountain Road, to embark on a 4.3-mile, 1,300-foot ascent from downtown Golden to the summit of Lookout Mountain. Arguably the best hill climb in Colorado, this ride was included in the U.S. Pro Challenge not once, but twice. If the 5 and 6 percent grades don't take your breath away, we guarantee the stunning views will. Bonus: The top of the ride is also the site of Buffalo Bill's grave. Cyclists can stop off at the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave to re-up on water and snacks before zooming downhill, preferably toward Coors Brewery.

visitgolden.com

If you're up for a big ride, the whole Lake Dillon Loop enchilada is 41 miles and goes from Breckenridge to Frisco, around Lake Dillon and on to Keystone, gaining more than 2,000 feet in elevation and pretty much ensuring that you'll need a late-afternoon nap (note that the majority of the uphill comes during the return to Breckenridge). For the less motivated, the 18.6 miles around the lake itself is a lovely ride at half the elevation gain, with the chance to see a moose or two, short but sweet sections through lodgepole pine, and plenty of views of the lake. Numerous spurs offer the chance to add more mileage. The best part, though, is the many options along the way for refueling with good food, coffee or cocktails.

summitbiking.org

A push for intermediates and still darn challenging for advanced riders, White Ranch just north of Golden is classic Colorado singletrack, with a little doubletrack thrown in for good measure. With plenty of technical drops, rock gardens that may require some walking, soft sand and several wavy-gravy sections, the twenty miles of trails offer something for everyone, but mostly for the more experienced rider. The hurtin' starts with the four miles of climbing on Belcher Hill, with a 1,849-foot gain. Once you reach the top, there are a few options for downhill fun, including 2.2 miles of rocky, tree-rooted, tight-turning trail, plus periodic planks and drops. That's nothing, though, because Maverick to Longhorn is probably one of the best top-to-bottom trails in the state; not only does it offer the usual ruts and rocks, but it also has several smooth, sweet singletrack sections for speed demons who can handle switching back and forth. The good news about that brutal climb: It's all gonzo going back down.

Readers' Choice: Buffalo Creek

Golden

jeffco.us

Teaching kids how to mountain-bike in Colorado is just like teaching them how to ski: You can't make it so painful and unpleasant that they never want to do it again. The clean, clear Shadow Pine Loop in Conifer — not so far that it's a chore to get there, but far enough into the foothills to feel like you're mountain-biking — is just right for introducing the finer points, from pushing a little on the uphill and navigating singletrack to watching for pedestrians and crossing a small bridge. Most of the 3.4-mile lollipop loop trail, some of which is a little wider than typical singletrack, is completely shaded by trees, and the initial ascent is about as gentle as it gets, a very gradual climb that opens onto a meadow and the chance to see some elk and deer. The return downhill is easy but fun, too, and pretty much guaranteed to make your budding biker a lifelong fan.

Conifer

mtbproject.com

Mountain bikers have discovered what cross-country skiers have known all along: The Dirty Bismark, which runs alongside the Morgul Bismark road-race course, is a winter wonderland, a rural paradise that's perfect for fat-tire fun in the snow. More plains riding than mountain, the fifteen-mile loop trail, known locally as the "Happy Meal Loop," alternates between singletrack and dirt road, but you still get plenty of mountain views all around, as well as a little bit of uphill and a lot of wide-open prairie to fall into without hitting anything but powder (and maybe a few cows).

Marshall Mesa Trailhead

bouldermountainbike.org

From Fort Collins, head west through Poudre River Canyon on Highway 14 toward Walden for the 220-mile-long Walden Loop. It makes for a lovely day trip, bookended by Fort Collins on one end and the North Park town of Walden — aka the Moose Capital of Colorado — on the other, cutting through Rocky Mountain National Park and zipping right past Grand Lake. Less popular than other motorcycle routes, Walden is thus much less trafficked; while there are a few restaurants and stops on the way, expect long stretches of just you and the well-maintained roads. For an even more isolated journey, hop onto County Road 27 at Rand, a nicely graded gravel road that leads to Gould, where you can get back onto 14.

motorcycleroads.com

For those of us who like a little afternoon delight in the great outdoors, Colorado is getting a bit crowded; it can be dang near impossible to find open space that isn't already occupied. But Castlewood Canyon near Franktown attracts few enough people on the weekends, and mid-day during the week, it's pretty much empty. Because it's located on the plains and not in the mountains, this state park with thirteen miles of trail is often overlooked, and the paved, wide-open trail that leaves from the parking lot definitely does not foreshadow what lies ahead, which includes a canyon with plenty of nooks and crannies and a cliff-lined path leading past a small cave to a trail edged by thick forest with plenty of soft ground. Looking for a little romance? Check out the waterfall on the Creek Bottom path, and remember, the trees aren't talking.

cpw.state.co.us

A hike with kids can be a fun, easygoing day blowing off steam in the fresh air, or it can be hours of misery, with endless whining and a temper tantrum or two. That's why there are a few requisites for a successful family-friendly outing: the drive to get there can't be too long; there must be plenty of shade; the terrain should be a mix of hiking, climbing and chilling options; and there has to be a payoff. Located about a half-hour's drive from downtown Denver, the easy 1.6-mile Bear Creek Trail is a tree-lined paradise, home to lots of birds and small critters and picnic tables with charcoal grills, plus Bear Creek itself, right there alongside the path. If your kids are having a blast, you can keep going past the park boundary for another eleven miles. The only downside is that this is a mountain-biker mecca, too, especially on the weekends — so make a game out of counting them as they whiz by.

A welcoming community of runners of all types and skill levels — from occasional joggers to weekend warriors and marathoners — Rocky Mountain Road Runners hosts a monthly race series of reasonably priced, fully supported and officially timed ten- and twenty-milers ($10-$20 for non-members), along with free track workouts on Wednesdays at North High School for those looking to improve their interval training. You don't have to be a member, but for the $35 annual fee (or sixty hours of volunteering at the races), you get free entry into all of RMRR's races, plus discounts at area running-related retail outlets and a year subscription to Colorado Runner magazine, in case you need a little more of a push.

rmrr.org

Readers' Choice: bRUNch Running