Most Recent


  • Published On: November 19th, 2019
    The long and winding trail alongside Vail's Piney Lake.

    Winter in Vail is unforgettable, but a visit to the hills around this quintessential resort town in the heart of Colorado’s Gore Range during the warmer months is pure magic. Hiking options abound throughout the hills surrounding Vail, but it’s the high alpine lakes hidden in the upper reaches of the Gore that make for […]

  • Published On: November 14th, 2019

    Get away from any trailhead in Colorado and the noise of everyday life disappears. Wind whispers through stands of pine trees and aspen leaves chatter like unruly children. But in the fall, things get a little louder. Rocky Mountain elk, some of the largest land mammals in North America, are feeling frisky. Fall is the […]

  • Published On: November 13th, 2019
    20170616_Wyoming_Grand Tetons

    Size isn’t everything in a mountain. Neither is topographic prominence, or isolation, or vertical rise, or geologic age, or symmetry, or wildness. The best mountains, of course, are those that get lodged in your heart so that you feel them even when you’re far away, and lodged in your subconscious so that you dream about […]

  • Published On: October 29th, 2019

    There’s nothing like a scary story or creepy folklore to add some extra spirit to your hike. And there’s no better season than fall—the time for haunts and haints—to point your hiking boots in the direction of the spooky trails across the United States. The these hikes all feature some association with the supernatural (or, […]

  • Published On: October 22nd, 2019

    So much to do, so little time. From the rolling mountains of the Southeast, to the jagged peaks of the West, to the river canyons, waterfalls, and old-growth forests of the Pacific Coast, the Continental United States is home to a lifetime's worth of places to visit and things to do. RootsRated works with outdoor […]

  • Published On: October 15th, 2019

    It’s no secret that Coloradans love the outdoors, and it's pretty obvious why. Look at this place; it's gorgeous! From canyons to mountains to waterfalls, Colorado has it all. It's no wonder that so many people move here from all over the country, and truth be told, that's one of my favorite parts about living […]

  • Published On: October 11th, 2019
    Clear Creek Canyon Rock Climbing

    Intro Clear Creek Canyon in Golden is about 40 minutes from Boulder. As a sibling to Boulder Canyon, the rock climbing here is less established but offers a bit more variety in terms of rock — gneiss, schist and sandy granite are all present, most of it relatively solid. Because the canyon is about 12 […]

  • Published On: October 8th, 2019
    WinterinColorado

    Choosing a university or college graduate program is a big decision—there are tons of options out there, and every one of them is going to have pros and cons. Add in the extensive application process and then waiting to hear whether or not you’ve been selected. While it’s important to consider the reputation of the […]

  • Published On: October 4th, 2019
    20170509_Colorado_Mount Bierstadt_Sunrise

    These are the kind of articles that keep me up at night. Whittling down a list of Colorado’s best day hikes to a mere twenty is a daunting task. There are literally hundreds of hikes that would fit the bill, and none of them would be wrong. If that comes off like a big, fat, […]

  • Published On: October 4th, 2019
    Guide to Rocky Mountain National Park

    An Insider’s Guide to Rocky Mountain National Park: Unveiling Nature’s Majesty All Year Round Rocky Mountain National Park, a sprawling wilderness of towering peaks, alpine meadows, and crystal-clear lakes, beckons adventurers year-round. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, a thrill-seeker, or someone seeking tranquility, the park offers an abundance of experiences. In this insider’s guide, we […]