Once you've picked the sport or activities you want to pursue, ask yourself a few questions: How physically fit am I really? How much skill in this particular activity do I have? How dangerous is this activity? How much money am I willing to spend? Answering these questions honestly can make the difference between a successful vacation and an unmitigated disaster. Some activities, such as cattle drives, require an outfitter, while others, such as biking, camping, or hiking, you can do on your own. Obviously, if you're attempting a dangerous sport in which you're inexperienced, such as rock climbing, it's imperative to go with someone who (literally) knows the ropes.
If cost is an issue, prearranged escorted tour packages that include virtually everything can often save you money. On the other hand, you'll be with a group, with limited freedom and flexibility to strike out on your own. Some people enjoy the company of their fellow tour members and the convenience of having everything arranged; others can't stand it. It's your choice.
Most outfitters and many tour operators keep their group size small and offer trips of different lengths and varying levels of ability. The best outfitters run well-organized trips and are willing to answer any and all questions, promptly and fully. They should have well-maintained equipment, possess appropriate land-use permits, and be fully insured. If you have any doubts, ask for the name and phone number of a satisfied former customer, and call that person and ask about their experience.
Several government agencies and other organizations provide maps and information that can be extremely useful for a variety of activities. These include Colorado State Parks (for state park, boating, RV, and snowmobile regulations), 1313 Sherman St., no. 618, Denver, CO 80203 (tel. 303/866-3437; www.coloradoparks.org); the Colorado Outfitters Association (for a list of licensed guides and outfitters in the state), P.O. Box 1949, Rifle, CO 81650 (tel. 970/876-0543; www.colorado-outfitters.com); the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (for topographical maps and information on activities on the vast amount of BLM land in the state), 2850 Youngfield St., Lakewood, CO 80215 (tel. 303/239-3600; www.co.blm.gov); the U.S. Forest Service (for maps and information about activities and facilities in national forests), Rocky Mountain Region, P.O. Box 25127, Lakewood, CO 80225 (tel. 303/275-5350; www.fs.fed.us/r2); and the U.S. National Park Service (for information on national parks, monuments, historic sites, and recreation areas), P.O. Box 25287, Denver, CO 80225 (tel. 303/969-2000; www.nps.gov). Another source for information on National Park Service properties is the National Park Foundation's website, www.nationalparks.org.
Of the hundreds of outdoor recreation sites on the Internet, we prefer GORP (Great Outdoor Recreation Page), www.gorp.com, or you can go directly to the Colorado section at www.gorp.com/gorp/location/co/co.htm, which provides detailed information about hiking trails, fishing accesses, watersports, and other activities on Colorado's public lands, with links to related sites. The Denver Post, the state's major daily newspaper, has an especially good website (www.denverpost.com) with quite a bit of outdoor recreation information.
Those looking to buy or rent equipment will find shops practically everywhere in the state, particularly in resort towns. A convenient, statewide resource is Gart Brothers, the state's largest sporting-goods chain. For the location of the store nearest you, contact the Gart Sports Castle, a huge sales, repair, and rental facility, at 1000 Broadway in Denver (tel. 303/861-1122; www.gartsports.com).
