Big Horn National Recreation Area

There’s something refreshing, almost restorative, about bringing Thanksgiving out of the dining room and into the open air. For campers and outdoor lovers, celebrating the holiday at a campsite blends tradition with the invigorating benefits of nature. Fresh air sharpens the appetite, lifts the mood, and makes every familiar ritual feel a little more vibrant. Cooking outdoors becomes part of the adventure. Dutch-oven stuffing simmering over coals, roasted root vegetables, or even a camp-friendly...

If you live in Colorado, chances are your group chats, social feeds, and late-night drives have had a single theme this week: “the northern lights” or Aurora Borealis. A rare and powerful series of solar storms lit up our skies for three incredible nights, turning the State and the Front Range where I live into an impromptu aurora-watching festival. And for those of us in Boulder, it felt almost surreal—like the sky was auditioning for a cosmic art show. I spent the second night of the storm in ...

Across campsites and forest trails, a quiet revolution is reshaping the way people eat outdoors. Sustainable camping, once focused mainly on reusable gear and leave-no-trace ethics, now extends to the campfire kitchen, where responsibly sourced foods are taking center stage. Outdoor recreation often has a big impact on the environment. It doesn’t have to be that way. More campers are trading in freeze-dried meals and plastic-wrapped snacks for local produce, ethically raised meats, and homemade ...

Tucked into the quiet residential neighborhoods of northeast Boulder, known as Gunbarrel, Twin Lakes Open Space is a local gem that blends everyday convenience with a true sense of wild Colorado beauty. For those of us lucky enough to live nearby, it’s a go-to spot for a morning dog walk, an after-work run, or simply a slow stroll to reset the day. With two sparkling lakes, originally created for water storage for agricultural use offer mountain views, and a surprising variety of wildlife, it fe...

Nestled in Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks, Long Canyon offers a surprisingly lush escape—a short yet richly rewarding hike that stands in stark contrast to the arid foothill surroundings. Distance: 1.5 miles with significant elevation change approximately 905 feet making this a moderately strenuous yet manageable out-and-back adventure. Difficulty: Rated hard by the City of Boulder with steep sections that are icy during the winter. Trekking poles are recommended and from October to Mar...