Summer Activities

B

asalt during the summer is a place filled with extreme athletes looking for the next trail to blaze or the next rapid to navigate. But for those who are more careful with life and limb, there are many hiking trails throughout the area to take you to where nature is at its finest. Basalt also has some of the best fly fishing in the country in the Frying Pan River. And just a few miles away from Basalt is Ruedi Reservoir, one of the most pristine mountain lakes in the state.  All the traditional lake activities are there for you to enjoy.

Featured

Road & Mountain Biking
The biking in the Roaring Fork Valley is world Class. Basalt is filled with great road and mountain bike rides. Basalt is the best starting points for excellent road rides to Missouri Heights. Aspen close by has great paved trails throughout town as well as being a starting point for Independence Pass. The mountain bike rides in Snowmass and Aspen are so plentiful, it would take several summers just to scratch the surface. The best source of information on rides is the outdoor stores in the Valley. Most of these shops offer bike rentals and are staffed by locals who know the terrain as well as anyone.

Basalt Ski and Bike

Mountain Bike Tours and Bike Rentals
(970) 927-3460

Hiking & Camping
The Roaring Fork Valley is packed with more trails and camping areas than you could imagine. People who have lived here for decades have barely scratched the surface of what’s out there. For detailed information, contact the Forest Service or the Chambers’ of Commerce listed among the Important Numbers at the front of this book or any of the excellent outdoor shops listed in the Shopping section. These two ranger stations are a great place to start.

Aspen/Sopris Station
806 Hallam St
(970) 925-3445

Carbondale Station
620 Main St
(970) 963-2266

Campgrounds
Throughout the Valley, you can find some great places to take the entire family camping while not driving very far. Some of the campgrounds that are accessible by car and beautiful are Avalanche Campground, Bogan Flats, Ruedi Complex, and Redstone Campgrounds.
(877) 444-6777
www.ReserveUSA.com

Glenwood Canyon Resort
1308 County Road 129, Glenwood Springs (970) 945-6737 www.glenwoodcanyonresort.com
Located on the spectacular banks of the Colorado River in Glenwood Canyon is the all new Glenwood Canyon Resort, formerly Rock Gardens Campground. Centrally located in the heart of the Rockies between Vail and Aspen, we’re now open year round and provide a complete camping facility with a multi-activity outdoor center on site. Additionally, the Resort offers brand new fully furnished cabins, camper cabins, RV sites with full hook ups. Your choice of several types of lodging, a variety of activities and the magnificent location right on the Colorado River makes Glenwood Canyon Resort the perfect choice for a family getaway.

Hiking

ASPEN/SNOWMASS
www.aspensnowmass.com
The Big 4 Ski Areas, Aspen, Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass, turn into prime hiking and biking terrain in the Spring, Summer and Fall. You can easily get your workout in, or for those looking for a more relaxing scenic hike, the gondola at Aspen runs throughout the summer.

Aspen Wilderness Outfitters
39551 Hwy 82, Aspen
(970) 922-6600
www.aspenwilderness.com
We offer a variety of trail rides ranging from half day to full day. We also offer breakfast and lunch trail rides for the whole family.

Maroon Bells Outfitters
3125 Maroon Creek Rd, Aspen
(970) 920-4677 www.maroonbellsaspen.com
The Lazy-T Ranch offers guided horseback rides to the scenic Maroon Bells and other scenic spots in the Aspen area.

Snowmass Rodeo
100 Elbert Lane, Snowmass Village
(970) 923-3520
www.snowmassrodeo.org
Re-discover the “Old West” as you watch real cowboys compete for cash prizes in bareback, team roping, daily ribbon roping, barrel racing and bull riding.  

WHITEWATER RATING

Rock Gardens Rafting
www.rockgardens.com
Join us on the Colorado River for an exciting whitewater rafting adventure. We offer whitewater raft trips in Glenwood Springs for all ages and experience levels. Enjoy a family float trip down the milder waters of the Colorado or Roaring Fork Rivers or experience adrenaline pumping whitewater rafting through the Shoshone Rapids on the Colorado. See Ad on back page.

Blazing Adventures
555 East Durant Ave.,(Gondola Plaza)
Aspen and Snowmass Village Mall
(970) 923-4544 www.blazingadventures.com
The largest selection of half and full day raft and inflatable kayak trips on the Roaring Fork, Arkansas and Colorado Rivers. Offering guided tours: Biking, Jeeping, Hiking, Sunset Dinners, Hot Air Ballooning, Fly-Fishing, Horseback Riding and more! Catering to all levels, expert guides, commitment to safety, 34 years providing great customer service and exhilerating adventures.

Blue Sky Adventures
www.blueskyadventure.com
Welcome to the oldest rafting company in Glenwood Springs offering guided river trips through the scenic and beautiful Glenwood Canyon. For 32 years, your hosts, Gary and Pat Hanson have been offering economical river trips on the Colorado and Roaring Fork Rivers.

FLY FISHING

Frying Pan Anglers
132 Basalt Center Circle, Basalt
(970) 927-3441
www.fryingpananglers.com
We are a specialty fly fishing shop and a licensed insured outfitter in the State of Colorado. We provide guided services on the Frying Pan River, and float and guiding services on the Roaring Fork and Colorado Rivers. Whether you are a beginner or an accomplished angler, you can’t go wrong by using one of our guides.

Roaring Fork Anglers
www.roaringforkanglers.com
We’ve been guiding on these waters since 1980 and hold outfitting permits for float and wade fishing on the Roaring Fork, Eagle and lower Colorado Rivers. We also offer wade fishing on both the Frying Pan River and the Crystal River, and have access to several private ranches and spring creeks that are capable of producing trophy trout.

Taylor Creek Fly Shop
183 Basalt Center Circle, Basalt
(970) 927-4374
408 E. Cooper Street, Aspen
(970) 920-1128 @ Aspen Sports www.taylorcreek.com
Enjoy excellent year-round fishing on three of the nation’s premier trout streams with the guides at the Taylor Creek Fly Shop. We have been guiding beginners and experts alike for over twenty years on area waters. We offer both full and half day wade trips on all area streams in addition to float trips on the Roaring Fork and Colorado Rivers.

GOLF

River Valley Ranch Golf
303 River Valley Ranch Drive, Carbondale
(970) 963-3625
www.rvrgolf.com
Situated at the foot of the majestic Mt. Sopris, RVR is a 520-acre residential Carbondale golf and resort community nestled in the spectacular Crystal River Valley. The rolling valley floor and Crystal River unite to create a prime landscape from which to craft a magnificent mountain golf course. With the natural palette of the valley’s riparian corridors, wetlands, grasses and rolling topography, RVR has been heralded as “the new jewel of the Rockies” by Golf Magazine, which named RVR to its prestigious “Top 10 You Can Play” listing.

Aspen & Snowmass Community Course
Situated just as you enter town, these two 18-hole courses also double as the cross-country courses in the winter. They are situated in some of the most spectacular scenery in the country and offer as close to a private golf club experience as you will find on a community course.

River Valley Ranch Tennis Club
111 River Valley Ranch Drive, Carbondale
(970) 963-6300
www.rvrma.org
A beautiful location to play tennis. RVR’s Tennis Club offers a variety of programs throughout the summer to get your tennis game ready. See Ad below.