Nestled at the base of the Rocky Mountains on the western edge of the Great Plains, Denver lies at the junction of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek, two major focal points for local outdoor recreation. With 300 days of sunshine per year, 20,000 acres of nearby open space, and a mile-high elevation, Denver is home to a large outdoorsy population that thrives on crisp mountain air, Chinook winds, and snow-capped peaks.

The South Platte River, a world-class fishery, offers some of the finest fishing in all of Colorado. Wild rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout are the most common catches. Cherry Creek, with its 880-acre reservoir, quiet coves, and sandy beaches, offers recreation for waterskiers, boaters, windsurfers, anglers, and swimmers. Twenty-seven miles of trails wind through wooded glades and lush meadows and allow visitors the opportunity to escape Denver's fast pace.

The Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, towering into the sky just west of Denver, is home to elk, moose, mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn antelope, mountain goat, bighorn sheep, black bear, coyote, lynx, and wolverine.

• Colorado State Parks -
• Colorado Division of Wildlife - Phone: (303)297-1192
• US Bureau of Land Management - Canon City Office: (719)269-8500
• USDA Forest Service - Rocky Mountain Region: (303)275-5350
• National Park Service - Intermountain Region: (303)69-2800

• Take in a starlit performance at the outdoor Red Rocks Amphitheater, nestled among 70-million-year-old red sandstone rock formations. The surrounding park is open daily.
• Ski or snowboard at one of Colorado's world-renowned Rocky Mountain resorts.
• Hike a portion of the Colorado Trail, which begins at Chatsfield Reservoir 10 miles south of Denver.