I'm considering a move to Colorado. Massachusetts is miserable.

Anyway, everyone tells me Denver is pretty much around 50-60 year round. I love the mountains(hiking, mountain biking, and of course wheelin). I've been lingering on the four corners forum checking out pictures etc... but I don't know where exactly most of these places are.

So my question to you: If you were to move to colorado what part would you move to?

I don't want to be "in" the mountains but right outside them is fine. Location to major city isn't a huge deal because I won't be changing jobs although if all the trails are around one thats fine too. Basically if I can be 1hr or so from the trails I'd be happy.

Any opinions, trail suggestions, etc... would be awesome. Thanks Guys!

 

Well from what I have been to SW CO is BEAUTIFUL!! Telluride, Silverton, and Ouray. But they are mountain towns. If you can find something fairly close to them, maybe Durango I would do it up. But most those trails are late summer trails. I know snow is a big issue so I am sure the locals will chime in with their opinions.

 

As you can see, I live in Littleton which is basically a suburb southwest of Denver. Denver is very close to the mountains and Littleton is even a little closer. The rumors you heard about it being 50-60 year round in Denver are wrong. I'm not going to lie...it can get pretty cold in the winter but you can also have some weeks where it will snow 2-6" and then be 60-70 degrees the next day and all the snow will melt...all while the mountains are getting pounded with snow! The Spring is very nice here and it can get relatively hot in the Summer. It is very dry here.

I've lived in Colorado (Littleon, Loveland and Fort Collins (both north of Denver about 50 miles)) all my life except for 2 years down in Fort Worth, Texas and I wouldn't trade Colorado (including the weather) for anywhere!

As far as trails nearby Denver; well, I'm still learning this area but I know there plenty within an hours drive or slightly further. I'm sure there's other locals on here that know the trails even better and I'll be asking them to show me around as well once some of the snow melts and the trails open back up.

All in all, Colorado is GREAT and I think you'd love it here...especially if you're not going to have to hunt for a job

Sent me a PM if you have any other questions or would just like to know more about the Denver area and what it has to offer.

Good luck on your decision.

Nick

 

Nick, thanks for the great info. I'm making a trip to Denver in mid-april to scope things out and will probably head down towards Colorado Springs as well.

 

I live in MA and I can vouch for him. MA stinks. I do A LOT of hiking/camping/hunting/fishing/etc... I'd love to move to CO someday so i'll be watching this thread closely.

 

JeepinMass, i just got a delivery from amazon. It's a book entitled "Colorado 4-wheel drive roads" You should check it out. The ISBN is 978-0-930657-40-6. It's over 200 pages of trails in colorado with maps, difficulty levels, etc... I'm in love.

 

I live in Vail, pretty much in the middle of the mountains. Where I am it is rare to be able to get on many trails before late June. When the snow does finally melt, it is simply amazing! By late September we are fighting with snow again in the higher areas. Fortunately, we are less than two hours from Grand Junction and 4 hours from Moab, so we have almost unlimited opportunities to get out year round if you don't mind a bit of a drive. If you don't want to live in the mountains then I would look at Grand Junction, where you can be in Moab in a couple hours or hit a trail on your lunch break. I moved to Colorado from Michigan, and will never leave. The outdoor opportunities here are second to none, but even more significant is that the people are among the best you will ever meet!

 

I'll have to check it out. I work a very favorable schedule at work and I was thinking about taking a month or two off and driving out there for a bit and seeing how it is.

 

I'm moving to Monument (wife and kids all ready there) as soon as I get some things straighted out. I love it there about 15 miles north of Colorado Springs and 50 miles south of Denver. Great schools and nice small town with still the small town feel. I havent had a chance to really get out and cheek any trails out yet but a few years ago me and a buddie did the Silverton ares for a week and had a blast and have been wanting to go back. Grand junction is a little more mellow as far as weather and is closer to Moab though. Denver just to many people for me.
Just my 2 cents

 

i moved to glenwood springs almost a year to date...its interesting living here. But i am 3 hours to denver, 3 hours to Moab, and 3 hours to the telluride area. I am pretty centered in the state to get to anywhere. The only problem is the cost of living. Cant touch a single family home for less then 450-500k here.