El Paso

Hot Air

Ballooning

"Dancing with the Cars"

By The “Good Guys in the Black Hats”,

Patsy Buchwald and Ken Tadolini

Ridgway, Colorado is located approximately 260 miles and five hours from Colorado Springs. Their fifth annual hot air balloon event, titled BALLOONS ~N~VAROOM, meant another road trip for the OUTLAW Balloon Team on Mother’s Day Weekend.

Beautiful Ridgway, with 100-year-old cottonwoods in the town park, is nestled in the picturesque Uncompahgre Valley and surrounded by tall majestic snow-capped peaks of the Cimarron and San Juan Mountains. It continues to be one our favorite ballooning destinations.

State Parks

Spinney Mountain Is Now Open

HARTSEL, Colo.--Spinney Mountain State Park opened to shore fishermen and boats on Wednesday, April 30, providing anglers with one of their coveted, annual spring fishing rites. The opening officially marked the beginning of the 2008 Spinney Mountain Reservoir fishing season.

According to Park Manager Kevin Tobey, “The reservoir is down 4.5 vertical feet below the spillway elevation, so boats were allowed to launch at both the North and South Boat Ramps.”

Nearby Eleven Mile Reservoir remains closed to boating due to significant ice, but does offer large areas of open water along the shoreline for shore fishing as the ice cap melts. It will open to boating when the ice clears off.

El Paso

County Parks

By Todd Marts

Garden Stepping Stones Saturday, June 7, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. Homemade stepping stones are a great way to personalize your garden or walkway. Choose from various materials for your own creation, and enjoy a tour of the Bear Creek Xeriscape Gardens. ($5.00, reservations required, 520-6387)

Little Wonders: Great Grasshoppers Tuesday, June 10, 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Discover the world of nature with your 2 or 3 year-old. Interactive activities and a short hike make this the perfect introduction to the outdoors for your child. ($2.00/person, reservations required, 520-6387)

Guided Bike Ride: Santa Fe Trail Saturday, June 14, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. June is Bike Month! Enjoy a ride along the Santa Fe trail with stops along the way to learn about the natural and cultural history of this historic path. Bring your own bike, helmet, water and snacks. Ages 6+ only. ($2.00, reservations required, 520-6387)

Bear Creek Nature Camp: Bugs and Birds Monday-Friday, June 16-20, 9:00 a.m.-Noon

Wide Open Spaces

Escape, Explore And Enjoy

Summertime in Winter Park & The Fraser Valley brings a variety of adventures to challenge every outdoor enthusiast!

Mountain biking, whitewater rafting, kayaking, horseback riding, golfing and nearly every other imaginable adventure awaits outdoor enthusiasts in Winter Park and the entire Fraser Valley this summer.

A quick 90 minutes from Denver, Winter Park & The Fraser Valley provide adventure and escape for the adrenaline junkie and the soul-searcher alike.

Can’t wait to get that bike out of storage after a long winter? Winter Park isn’t called “Mountain Bike Capital USA for nothing!

More than 600 miles of biking trails winding through public lands, such as the Arapaho National Forest, Rocky Mountain National Park and the Indian Peaks Wilderness offer the perfect challenge for any bike lover.