We as a culture are constantly on the move, and guidebooks or websites aren’t always something we have access to. Apps that help to facilitate our adventures in the great outdoors can be the difference between going and staying home, because they provide helpful information and a more user-friendly interface than old school maps. The problem is that there are hundreds of outdoor apps on the market: so which ones are really worth it? We’ve compiled some pros and cons of five of the most popular outdoor apps to help you be in the know. 1. AllTrails With a catalogue of over 50,000 trails in both... Read More

Begin Angry Outdoorsman. I am mad, but not near as mad as I was when I originally wrote this post last Wednesday.  You see, it has been over three weeks since the government shutdown started on December 23rd.  During this time most of our National Parks have remained open. Also during this time basic services have been halted—things like collecting entrance fees, guiding tourists, plowing the roads, cleaning toilets, emptying trash bins, and restricting access to certain parts of the parks.  Seven people have reportedly died in the parks during this time, which is actually less than the average... Read More

The state of Colorado has a reputation for being a recreational mecca, and trail running is easily one of the most popular activities around. Since the state has approximately 37,254 miles of hiking trails, you’re bound to find a new favorite here if you haven’t already. You can access the map of the trails in one place at the Colorado Trail Explorer. The Colorado Trail Explorer initiative was started as a part of the “Colorado the Beautiful Project” by Governor John Hickenlooper and was created with the aim of increasing public interest in staying active outdoors. The Denver Post reported... Read More

Just 3 miles south of the Entrance to the Great Sand Dunes National Park is an amazing waterfall that is not that well known and often only lightly trafficked. It is called Zapata Falls and while most tourists head there during the summer to escape the high temperatures at the great sand dunes, the real beauty is seeing this waterfall completely frozen.   There is no doubt that most visitors to the Great Sand Dunes see the sign for Zapata Falls on their way into the park, but the rocky entrance road and their (probable) itinerary of getting to the sand dunes likely wards off most visitors. Add... Read More