Expert's Pick
SOUTH SLOPE RECREATION AREA
We're spoiled in Colorado Springs with how quickly we can get in the woods. But it's more than worth the hassle of arranging a journey to an unrealized sector of America's Mountain. Opened to the public in 2014 after a century closed, the South Slope is available to a limited number of hikers, mountain bikers and anglers who pay $15 to drive a long, winding dirt road through dense forest to a sparkling chain of lakes. Behind a gate awaits the Mason Trail, a 9-mile round trip that's a perfect way to experience the pristine area. If you can secure a visit Thursday through Sunday between Memorial Day and Labor Day, you won't soon forget this spellbinding place. Register to visit through city parks: http://bit.ly/213uwqs
— Seth Boster