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Lathrop State Park

Landscape with distant mountains, two lakes, and a field of greenery. In the foreground, a cactus with pink flowers. Cloudy sky above.

Dive In, Camp Out, Hike On, and Eat Up Plan a trip to the southern part of the state to experience the great outdoors at Lathrop State Park, just 3 miles west of Walsenburg. Nestled in San Isabel Electric’s stunning service territory, the year-round playground has endless activities for all stripes of outdoor enthusiasts. LAKES […]

A Hatch Like No Other

A person stands in a river wearing waders, focused on adjusting a fishing line under a clear sky with trees and rocks in the background.

Fly-fishing the caddis frenzy The Mother’s Day caddis hatch on the Arkansas River is one of those events Colorado fly-fishers look forward to every spring, although how it came to be named the Mother’s Day Hatch is anybody’s guess since it usually starts mid-April and is pretty much over with by the time Mother’s Day […]

Playing Solitaire

Gray bird perched on a branch, looking upwards against a blurred dark background.

A bird call pierces the crisp morning air near my cabin in the Poudre Canyon. “Ping! Ping! Ping!” Living on my own, I enjoy getting to know my wildlife neighbors, large and small. They are fascinating company. The high-pitched note rings out repeatedly, like an invitation, as I walk my dog down our dirt lane. […]

Dolores: Small Town, Big Charm

delores co bike hostel

Dolores, Colorado, is a small town in a canyon bordered by rock cliffs and the Dolores River that feeds directly into the McPhee Reservoir. The river was named by Spanish priests in 1776 during their journey to California, calling it Rio de Nuestra de las Dolores – the River of Our Lady of Sorrows. The […]

The Case for Homemade Jerky

Slices of beef jerky on a slate board with a wooden bowl of black peppercorns in the background.

It’s a gloomy winter day in the Colorado foothills, but it’s pretty cozy down here in the basement by the fireplace where I’m tying flies and searching Google to find out how ducks and geese can dangle their feet in bitter cold water all day, or roost on a frozen lake overnight, without their toes […]

If the Snowshoe Fits

Person in red jacket snowshoeing on a snowy trail through a forest of snow-covered trees under a clear blue sky.

Just because we live in Colorado doesn’t mean we all ski. Sure, it’s a great winter sport, but I don’t love it enough to endure the weekend crowds and traffic gridlock, let alone the high prices of lift tickets and gear. I haven’t skied or snowboarded at a Colorado ski resort in nearly 15 years, […]

Hut Trips with Kids

Group of people in winter clothing pose in front of a log cabin named "Fran's Cabin," surrounded by snow and trees.

Like many new parents, when our friend clan started procreating, we kept right on doing what we did before being saddled with children. Foremost come winter: going on hut trips, where the whole family skis into a cozy cabin with all the creature comforts. Luckily, Colorado is blessed with a bounty of such abodes. Their […]

Exotic Turkey Recipes and Mixed Bag Musings

Hunter in camouflage and orange vest walks down a dirt path in a dry, wooded area under a cloudy sky. Sign nearby reads "Vehicles Prohibited Beyond This Point.

I was assigned the honor of roasting the holiday turkey for our multifamily Thanksgiving dinner this year, so I’ve been surfing the net and watching the cooking channels for a clever new recipe to try out on the relatives. Talk about information overload. On my first search, I counted 20-some ways to cook a turkey: […]

Feathered – Fine and Fierce

A hawk perches on a wooden structure in the rain, surrounded by green foliage.

Editor’s Note We heard from a Poudre Valley REA member and reader in mid-October who correctly identified the bird pictured with the article as an immature Cooper’s Hawk, not a Red-tailed Hawk. We appreciate our “hawk-eyed” readers who are able to educate us and let us know of published errors. The photo accompanying Dennis Smith’s […]

Devil’s Head Hiking

A wooden lookout station perched on a rocky cliff overlooks a vast forest and mountain range under a clear blue sky with scattered clouds.

Devil’s Head is one of the more recognizable peaks on the Front Range, being the most prominent feature on the horizon between Mount Blue Sky to the north and Pikes Peak to the south. The rocky outcrop stands high above the foothills of the Rampart Range, belying its modest elevation of 9,748 feet. I first […]