For hikes in the Denver area, contact the city Department of Parks and Recreation (tel. 303/964-2500) for information on Denver's park system. Or contact any of the following agencies: Colorado State Parks, Colorado Division of Wildlife, National Park Service, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, or U.S. Forest Service. A good source for the many published area maps and hiking guides is Mapsco Map and Travel Center, 800 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203 (tel. 800/456-8703 or 303/623-4299). Other sources are local sporting-goods stores and bookstores.

Mount Falcon Park offers excellent trails that are easy to moderate in difficulty, making this a good place for families with children. There are also picnic areas, shelters, and ruins of an old castlelike home. From Denver, go west on U.S. 285 and north on Parmalee Gulch Road; the park is open daily from dawn to dusk, and admission is free. Mountain bikes and horseback riding are permitted, as are leashed dogs.

Other relatively easy trails near Denver are in Roxborough State Park (tel. 303/973-3959), 10 miles south of Littleton--the 1-mile Willow Trail and the 2 1/4-mile Fountain Valley Trail. Three other trails at Roxborough are more strenuous, but worth the effort if you enjoy beautiful red rocks and the chance to see wildlife. To get to Roxborough Park, exit Colo. 470 south onto U.S. 85 and turn west onto Titan Road, then south again at Roxborough Park Road to the main entrance. Admission costs $5 per vehicle. The park is open daily from 8am to 8pm in summer, 8am to 6pm at other times. Dogs, bikes, and horseback riding are not permitted.