In Colorado’s great outdoors, our interests are different. But the feeling is the same: a feeling of gratitude. 

That’s what we realize around this time every year, when we ask outdoorsy Coloradans the places for which they are most grateful. We heard from a climber, a runner, a mountain biker, a skier, a kayaker, a camper, a hunter and an angler. We also heard from the governor, whose answer might surprise you ー a peak still being discovered. 

This is something else we realize around this time every year ー just how much more there is to discover across Colorado. And for that, we are all the more grateful. 

Matt Payne, climber and photographer, Durango 

I’m most thankful for the Needle Mountains, the wild heart of the San Juans. In 2016, I climbed Turret and Pigeon peaks, and that view became the cover of my San Juan Mountain climbing guidebook. The Needles are steep, remote and gloriously untamed; a place where granite spires pierce the sky and the weather can humble you in minutes. Every time I’m in that country, I’m reminded how small we really are, and how lucky we are to have wilderness that still feels this raw and alive.

Anne Flower, ultrarunner, Colorado Springs

Hope Pass in Leadville offers some of the best views of the Collegiate Peaks for those who are brave enough to make the climb. I had the privilege of testing my grit and endurance by running up and over Hope Pass during the Leadville Trail 100 run this summer. The journey was long, but the experience is one that I will treasure forever.

Gary Moore, Colorado Mountain Bike Association, Morrison 

One of my most favorite places is Maryland Mountain in Black Hawk. This relatively new trail system has amazing trails that provide the full spectrum of experiences for hikers and bikers as well as a gorgeous landscape and stunning vistas of the Continental Divide. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to help bring the city’s vision (for the trail network) to life and stoked on all the smiling faces I see up there each time. It is the quintessential Colorado trail adventure.

Cam Smith, ski mountaineer, Crested Butte 

Colorado’s alpine wonder is easiest for me to find in springtime skiing in the Elk Mountains. The hustle and bustle of winter in a tourism town has faded, life slows down, and the snowpack becomes more stable in the changing season. A spring ski tour in the Elks might start with an icy approach to an epic view that turns into a fast-paced descent in the warming snow. Those days finish at the snowline as you change from ski boots to sneakers for a walk back to the car listening to creeks roaring back to life and wildlife stirring about. A sign that summer is imminent!

Kristine Hoffman, flyathlete, Boulder

I am most thankful for Chalk Creek in the Collegiate Peaks, where I completed my first Ültroüt challenge that included running 50 miles with an elevation gain of over 5,000 vertical feet, catching five fish species (rainbow trout, brown trout, cutthroat trout, brook trout and grayling) and drinking a 15% ABV craft beer (Epic Brewing) all within 18 hours. Running through the spectacular rock formations coming off the shoulders of Mount Princeton, up into the dense golden aspen  trees around St. Elmo and then past tree line into the alpine to fish the crystal clear waters of Pomeroy Lake, I found the beauty of the area lift the pain of all these miles. 

Jared Polis, Colorado governor 

As governor, I strive to be the ultimate champion for celebrating all of Colorado’s iconic great outdoors. Fishers Peak in Trinidad is very special to me. For generations Fishers Peak, an iconic symbol of southern Colorado, was out of reach for Coloradans and outdoor enthusiasts. Creating Colorado’s 42nd state park (in 2019) and expanding access for the local community and visitors, and summiting the peak of the newly minted state park was a day I will never forget. 

Monica Parpal Stockbridge, author of “Best Tent Camping: Colorado,” Denver

Sure, I’m the author of a tent camping guidebook. But packing up the family and skipping town isn’t always practical. Especially now that I have young kids, I’m grateful for accessible urban outdoor experiences. Earlier this month, I took my family to hike at Bluff Lake Nature Center in Denver. They’re undergoing a big campus improvement process right now, but our recent visit (via an alternate entrance) was peaceful and rejuvenating. We took in beautiful nature sights and sounds all around us, and the kids had plenty to explore and climb on. I call that a win!

Mike Harvey, Badfish CUP co-founder, Salida

The Pine Creek and Numbers section of the Arkansas River has been my backyard run for more than 30 years. I first paddled it in 1993 as an 18-year-old fledgling kayaker, and at 51 I still return at least once a week every season. I’ve probably run it more than 1,000 times, but I’ve never grown tired of it. Pine Creek, the hardest rapid on the Arkansas, feels like a fire hose that culminates in a crux move three-quarters of the way down. The Numbers offer the ultimate Class IV training ground. Aspiring Class V paddlers can find every challenge they need to take the next step, while intermediates will be plenty challenged just getting through. With all the changes in boat design, trends and my own approach to kayaking, this stretch of river has been the one constant for me.

Glenn Carlson, Trails and Open Space Coalition, Colorado Springs

Nestled deep into the national forest near Vail is my favorite spot for my annual elk hunting pursuit. After an ATV ride up a long, winding dirt road, we hop off and walk towards a large valley. The upcoming view is hidden until the very last second when all of a sudden … Wow.  This view overlooks the entire southern horizon with spectacular views of the Sawatch Range to the east, Mount of the Holy Cross to the south and the Elk Range to the west. The air is usually ultra crisp, if not snowy, and it’s a quick reminder of how lucky we are to live and play in Colorado.

Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk, Montezuma Land Conservancy, Towaoc

Our Mother Earth is so deserving of all that she provides for us. Helping my granddaughters learn how we are accountable for our Ute life ways. We must return, we share in creating reciprocity. Sharing in song, our footsteps and prayers, we are home. The veins of water, fruits, vegetables and what is beneath our feet are only because she shares with all that is natural around us. I am thankful for our Mother Earth!