Many of us call Colorado home not because of what we glean from those 9-to-5 work experiences, but rather because of what we can do after escaping that cubicle.

Sometimes, though, knowing where to go can be overwhelming - especially in the summer.

There are mountains to climb, fish to catch, trails to roam, bikes to ride and boats to sail - and limited time to do it all before the snow falls again.

So we've asked six experts to whittle down those summer adventures to definite award-winners you don't want to miss. Click here to get directions. The crowd-pleasers are:

Top 14er for amateurs

Grays Peak

* Why it made the list: Considered a Class 1 peak at 14,270 feet - the easiest ranking - it has an easy, accessible trailhead with camping, gentle terrain and a round-trip length of eight miles.

* Drive time from Denver: 1 hour

* Now that's interesting: If you take the Grays Peak Trail, you also can summit another peak the same day - Torreys Peak, just 3 feet lower. It's one of the few places where amateurs can bag two 14ers in one day and go home feeling like they can make it to the top of Colorado like their hard-core buddies. Grays Peak is ranked ninth out of Colorado's 53 14ers and is the highest peak on the Continental Divide in the U.S.

* Cost: Free

* Info: 14ers.com

* Runner-up: Quandary Peak

* Who picked it: Ken Kehmeier

Top fly-fishing spot

Cheesman Canyon, below Cheesman Reservoir

* Why it made the list: Boasting red canyons and an easy hike to the South Platte River, it offers abundant rainbow and brown trout fishing from midsummer to September.

* Drive time from Denver: 1 hour, 20 minutes

* Now that's interesting: During the 2002 Hayman Fire, parts of the South Platte River ran black with ash for weeks. The following spring, flash floods clogged the river with soot, killing thousands of fish. Today, sand and decomposed granite have replaced the ash, making Cheesman Canyon prime trout-spawning habitat.

* Cost: Approximately $30 for a fishing license and habitat stamp

* Info: colorado trouthunters.com, wildlife.state.co. us/fishing

* Runner-up: Big Thompson River

* Who picked it: Ken Kehmeier

Top feathered feature

Chico Basin Ranch

* Why it made the list: A working ranch, Chico Basin provides the perfect environment to find birds rare to Denver. Situated along one of the birds' migrant trails, the ranch offers grasslands, streams, food and cover for the birds.

* Drive time from Denver:

21/2 hours

* Now that's interesting: Chico Basin is one of Colorado's largest historical cattle ranches with 87,000 acres. Dating to prehistoric times, large numbers of Indians lived on its ranges, and later, trailblazer Charles Goodnight grazed his cattle herds in the region.

* Cost: $10 per person

* Info: chicobasinranch.com or 719-683-7960

* Runner-up: Pawnee National Grassland

* Who picked it: Mike Foster

Top wildflower hike

Herman Gulch Trail

* Why it made the list: You can see more than 100 different kinds of flowers during this seven-mile round-trip scenic mountain hike, including streams and valleys.

* Drive time from Denver: 50 minutes

* Now that's interesting: Don't be fooled by the trailhead's proximity to busy Interstate 70. Starting on an old sawmill road, you get away from the noises of traffic five minutes into the hike. The first mile of the trail is forested, then opens up to subalpine flowers. At the trail's end, Herman Lake is surrounded by smaller waterfalls. The best time to go: July or August.

* Cost: Free

* Info: fs.fed/us or 970-295-6600

* Runner-up: Willow Creek Trail, Roxborough State Park

* Who picked it: Mike Foster

Top four-wheeling trail

Mount Antero

* Why it made the list: This is the 10th-highest peak in Colorado at 14,269 feet. If scary rides are your thing, you'll like this steep mountain in an open-air four-wheel vehicle, says Roger Kirby of High Country Jeep Tours.

* Drive time from Denver: 3 hours

* Now that's interesting: Mount Antero is popular among gem hunters with its wealth of aquamarines, topaz, smoky quartz and black onyx. What you find, you keep. Legend has it, a man found an aquamarine and sold it for $500,000 a few years ago.

* Cost: If you head up on your own, the splendor is free. If you want to go with a guide, it's about $100 for an all-day tour.

* Info: highcountryjeeptours.com or 1-866-458-6877

* Runner-up: Tincup Pass

* Who picked it: Roger Kirby

Top paragliding launch

Lookout Mountain in Golden

* Why it made the list: Not only is it convenient to Denver, but when you launch off the mountain, you can catch a glimpse of views unique to the city: the downtown skyline, Coors brewery headquarters, Rocky Mountain National Park, and, if your timing's right, School of Mines freshmen placing rocks on the mountain to form an "M," an annual tradition, as seniors whitewash them.

* Drive time from Denver: 30-40 minutes

* Now that's interesting: Buffalo Bill was buried at Lookout Mountain in 1917. His memorial is a top visitor attraction in Colorado.

* Cost: If you own a glider: free. If not, a tandem ride runs $150.

* Info: peaktopeakpara gliding.com or 303-817-0803

* Runner-up: Aspen

* Who picked it: Kay Tauscher

Top public lake for water-skiing

Boyd Lake in Loveland

* Why it made the list: This relatively stable lake almost always has a smooth place for skiers on its 1,700-acre surface. Boyd also boasts warmer water than most other public lakes in Colorado.

* Drive time from Denver: 1 hour

* Now that's interesting: The lake's adjacent grasslands are home to many hard-to-find birds, such as the Slaty-backed, Great Black-backed, Lesser Black- backed and Mew gulls, as well as Piping and American Golden plovers.

* Cost: Boats must be registered; a park pass costs $7 for a day, but prices vary depending on length of stay.

* Info: parks.state.co.us, ci. loveland.co.us, 970-669-1739

* Runner-up: Jackson Reservoir

* Who picked it: Johnny Walker

Top river tubing

Big Thompson River above Sylvan Dale Ranch

* Why it made the list: The Big Thompson River offers a thrill for everyone - whether you're looking for calm waters or challenging rapids as you float a picturesque canyon. Given the right water conditions, expect a whoopee ride.

* Drive time from Denver: 70 minutes

* Now that's interesting: Heavy mountain runoff is expected to make rivers volatile this summer, so we encourage calling a river outfitter to find out how quickly the river is running before jumping in, especially if you're looking for a calm ride.

* Cost: Free

* Info: loveland.org or 970-667-6311

* Runner-up: Cache La Poudre River in Poudre Canyon

* Who picked it: Johnny Walker

Top bike loop for road cyclers of all levels

Cherry Creek State Park

* Why it made the list: Called Denver's backyard or Denver's recreation club, Cherry Creek State Park offers an ideal place for road bikers with its weaving 13-mile loop. A few hills provide a challenge for cyclers.

* Drive time from Denver: 20 minutes from downtown

* Now that's interesting: The wildlife doesn't scare easily here because of the park's popularity, so watch for fox, deer, coyotes and eagles.

* Cost: The bike ride is free, but you'll have to pay for parking, unless you park at the soccer- field lots north of Cherry Creek High School, where it's free.

* Info: parks.state.co.us or 303-690-1166

* Runner-up: C-470 Morrison Loop, a 35-mile ride

* Who picked it: Mickey Berry

Top mountain-bike ride with a view of Denver

Castle Trail at Mount Falcon

* Why it made the list: Great for hill training, the six-mile round- trip ride offers spectacular views at the top, where you can see panoramic views of the Denver skyline, the Great Plains, Mount Evans and Red Rocks Park.

* Drive time from Denver: 20 minutes

* Now that's interesting: Mount Falcon Park used to be owned by Red Rocks founder John Walker. The remains of his mansion are still there, as is the foundation of the summer home he intended to build for the use of future United States presidents.

* Cost: Free

* Info: co.jefferson.co.us or dirtworld.com or 303-271-5925

* Runner-up: Red Rocks Park

* Who picked it: Mickey Berry

The experts

KEN KEHMEIER, FORT COLLINS

Age: 48

Roots: Colorado native

* Colorado Division of Wildlife senior aquatic biologist * Avid hiker when accompanied with a fishing pole

* Snorkeled in South Platte River for fish habitat work

MIKE FOSTER, LAKEWOOD

Age: n/a

Roots: Colorado native

* Colorado Mountain Club member of 40-plus years

* Avid bird-watcher and hiker

ROGER KIRBY, BUENA VISTA

Age: 57

Roots: Tennessee native; moved to Colorado in the '70s

* Founded High Country Jeep Tours in 1996

* Has been four-wheeling more than 30 years on thousands of mountains and trails

KAY TAUSCHER, BOULDER

Age: 48

Roots: Has lived in Colorado for 10 years

* Peak to Peak Paragliding owner

* Started company five years ago

* Paragliding "for too many years to count"

JOHNNY WALKER, WESTMINSTER

Age: 56

Roots: Colorado native

* Served as official ambassador for Colorado tourism

* Started producing tourism directories 10 years ago

MICKEY BERRY, DENVER

Age: 65

Roots: Colorado native

* President of Colorado HeartCycle Association, a nonprofit volunteer organization in its 30th year of providing bicycle tours (heartcycle.org)

* An avid road rider for decades, but one who doesn't pass up mountain-bike opportunities

HOW TO GET THERE

Directions to our top picks:

Top 14er for amateurs

Grays Peak

How to get there: Take Interstate 70 to Exit 221 at Bakerville. Go south to Forest Road 189. Stay straight at the junction and follow the Grays Trail sign. The road circles Kelso Mountain, ending at the trailhead.

Top fly-fishing spot

Cheeseman Canyon, below Cheeseman Reservoir

How to get there: From Denver, drive south on Hwy. 85 (Sante Fe Drive) about 20 miles to Sedalia. Turn right onto Highway 67. Drive about 18 miles southwest to the river junction. At the T-intersection, turn south onto County Road 97 (South Platte Road). At Deckers, take County Road 126 to the trailhead. The river is about a 20- to 25-minute hike.

Top place feathered feature

Chico Basin Ranch

How to get there: From Interstate 25, take Exit 122 east to Old Pueblo Road. Follow the signs to Hanover. Take a hard right just north of Fountain Creek Bridge to Hanover Road. Follow Hanover Road approximately 13 miles east to Peyton Highway, where you’ll reach a stop sign. Take a right (south) on Peyton Highway and go 1 mile to Chico Basin Ranch Gate. The ranch headquarters is 4 miles south of the gate.

Top wildflower hike

Herman Gulch Trail

How to get there: Head west on Interstate 70, take Exit 218 3 miles west of Bakerville.

Top four-wheeling trail

Mount Antero

How to get there: If you have your own 4-wheel drive vehicle, take Highway 285 south from Denver. You will come to a T in the road at Johnson Village. Head to Buena Vista. From Buena Vista, head south to the small town of Nathrop. At the south end of town is a right turn (County Road 162) that will take you toward the Mount Princeton Hot Springs. Take this road west for 12.5 miles to the labeled left turn for Mount Antero. You can take the 4-wheel road to the top. If you don’t have a vehicle, check with a 4-wheel outfitter for directions.

Top paragliding launch

Lookout Mountain in Golden

How to get there: Take 6th Avenue west to Golden Turn left onto Lariat Trail (19th Street). Follow the winding road to the top of scenic Lookout Mountain.

Top public lake for water-skiing

Boyd Lake in Loveland

How to get there: Go north on Interstate 25 toward Fort Collins. Take exit 257B (Hwy. 34 West) to Madison Avenue. Take a right on Madison and follow the state park signs.

Top river tubing

Big Thompson River above Sylvan Dale Ranch

How to get there: Go north on Interstate 25 toward Fort Collins. Take exit 257B (Hwy. 34 West). Head west until you see the river, about 15 miles from the Interstate. Sylvan Dale Ranch will be on your right. Look for pullouts along the canyon route.

Top bike loop for road cyclers of all levels

Cherry Creek State Park

How to get there: Take Interstate 225. Take Exit 4 onto South Parker Road.

Top mountain-bike ride with a view of Denver

Castle Trail at Mount Falcon

How to get there: Head west on I-70 for 5 miles. Turn south on C-470. Continue for 5.6 miles to the Morrison exit. Head into town and turn left at the third stoplight, following the signs for Highways 8 and 285. Turn right on Forest Avenue and follow signs for Mount Falcon. Castle Trail is at the main entrance of Mount Falcon.

Back to Top