Close to Colorado Springs

Black Forest Regional Park — walk through the aftermath of the most destructive forest fire in state history

Castlewood Canyon State Park — East Side, West Side — great scenery, but very popular

Cheyenne Cañon — Seven Bridges Trail, Mt. Muscoco, Columbine Trail, Helen Hunt Falls

Cheyenne Mountain State Park — Lots of trails through oak and pines on the lower slopes of Cheyenne Mountain

Dawson Butte Ranch Open Space — Easy five-mile loop through pine and scrub oak forests with views of the Front Range and Dawson Butte.

Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms (Littleton) — Demonstration gardens, historic farm, and trails

Devil’s Head National Recreation Trail to Fire Lookout Tower

Eagle Peak — steep, hard climb to great views of Pikes Peak and north Colorado Springs

Fox Run Regional Park — walk through a Ponderosa forest and maybe see black Abert’s Squirrels

Garden of the Gods — Central Garden Trail, Balanced Rock, Siamese Twins

The Incline

Lincoln Mountain Open Space — not super exciting, but close and not crowded

Monument Rock — rock outcropping and easy trails in Pike National Forest

Mount Herman Trail — “like The Incline, but without steps”

New Santa Fe Regional Trail — Palmer Lake to Monument, Monument to Baptist Road —flat and easy walk along old railroad bed

Palmer Lake Reservoir Trail — short but steep hike to two small lakes in pine woods

Palmer Park — Templeton Trail, Overlook — the feel of the wild right in the city

Pulpit Rock — views of Colorado Springs

Red Rocks Canyon Open Space — great views of mountains and city with quarries and ponds

Spruce Mountain/Spruce Meadows Open Space

Ute Valley Park — the feel of being away right in town

Further away

Arkansas River whitewater rafting through the Royal Gorge (Cañon City)

Eleven Mile State Park (Lake George)

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument — easy to moderate trails through meadows and pine forests at 6,800 feet with great views of Pikes Peak.

Great Sand Dunes National Park — sand, and lots of it, also tubing and sand sledding if you’re so inclined.

McCullough Gulch Trail (Summit County) — moderate trail with a lake and waterfall

Mount Evans (Idaho Springs)

Mueller State Park (Divide) — Trails 7 and 8, Grouse Mountain Overlook, Raven Ridge Overlook

Paint Mines Interpretive Park (Calhan) — small canyon, easy hike, stunning colors

Pancake Rocks and Horsethief Falls (Divide)

Rocky Mountain National Park — Bear Lake, Trail Ridge Road, West Side

Roxborough State Park (Roxborough Park) — amazing sandstone formations

Spinney Mountain State Park (Lake George)

Tunnel Drive Trail (Cañon City) — beautiful, easy trail along the Arkansas River near Royal Gorge

Vindicator Valley Trail (Goldfield) — two-mile loop with amazing views at 10,000 feet past the remains of old gold mines