The great thing about Colorado is the wide-open spaces, the mountain ranges and the fresh air, plus the wildlife is everywhere, especially in the state parks. If you are thinking about getting away from it all and heading to the hills, you may want to opt for your nearest state park. Here are a few choices to get away from it all right in your own backyard.
Cheyenne Mountain Park
If you like to hike, you may want to pack a bag and head for Cheyenne Mountain Park. After all, there are eight miles of trails for hiking, biking and more here to explore. They even have trails for horseback riding and walking your four-legged friend. If you would like, you can even camp out here since they have 51 full-service campsites available and 10 basic walk-in tent sites. From mid-April to October, they also have coin-operated showers, laundry, a playground and an activity room available. Bring the whole family and play a game of disc golf or practice your archery skills. They also have wildflower and bird walks, as well as geocaching for the explorer in you. The camping is open 24/7, but the park hours for regular usage are from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. The park is located at 410 JL Ranch Heights in Colorado Springs. For more information, visit https://cpw.state.co.us/
Eleven Mile
Steamboat Lake
Lake Pueblo State Park
Next time you want to go fishing, try Lake Pueblo. With a view of mountain ranges, this lake has more than 4,500 acres of water, which makes plenty of room for fish. Bring your rod and reel, and comfortable chair, to sit back and take in the wide-open view. You can also bring your boat to explore further. They have full-service marinas. This is a fun area for water sports. Many people choose to go tubing here, as well as sailing, motor-boating, water-skiing and more. Once you are done playing in the water, go for a nice bike ride or go hiking on miles of trails and look at the Arkansas River. Bring a picnic for when you get hungry. Want to stay the night? They have over 400 campsites to choose from. The Lake Pueblo State Park is located at 640 Pueblo Reservoir Rd. in Pueblo. For more information, visit https://cpw.state.co.us/
