HIKING
Telluride
In 1880 hardworking silver miners founded Telluride, which sits at 8,745 feet in the San Juan Mountains. The town has kept its historic core but now it's fun-seekers working up a sweat. Telluride serves as a trailhead, sprouting miles of routes that curl into the mountains, past waterfalls, and around alpine lakes.

THE TRAILS On your first day let Telluride Mountain Guides (from $200 per half day; 970-728-6481) lead the way or pick up a trail map at Paragon Ski and Sports (970-728-4525) and choose your own path. Either way, start small to let your body adjust to the elevation. The 2.7-mile Jud Wiebe loop climbs a ridge above the town, with views of Ingram Falls and the ski resort across the valley. Once you get your mountain legs, hike the five-mile Bear Creek Canyon trail to the top of the ski resort, at 12,736 feet. For a longer outing, take the gondola to the top and explore the backcountry via the Wasatch Trail and the Swamp Ice Path. This 15-mile burner climbs 6,000 feet and ends at Trout Lake near Highway 145, where you can call a taxi (970-728-6000) to whisk you back to town.

BONUS SPORT Telluride has 250 miles of biking trails. Pick up a rig and map at Easy Rider (from $35 per day; 970-728-4734).

EATS & DRINKS Fill up on organic Mexican fare at La Cocina de Luz (970-728-9355). Stop by the West End Tavern (970-728-1808) for icy margaritas. Honga's Lotus Petal (970-728-5134) serves grass-fed beef and blackened tofu. Later, listen to live music at the Fly Me to the Moon Saloon (flymetothemoonsaloon.com).

STAY A downtown fixture since 1891, the New Sheridan Hotel (from $125; newsheridan.com) recently underwent a full renovation.

GET THERE Telluride is 360 miles southwest of Denver. Or fly into the Telluride or Montrose airports. --Lisa Jhung

WHITEWATER
Grand Junction
Perched on the eastern edge of the Colorado Plateau, a geological feature that contains eight national parks, 14 national monuments, and 29 wilderness areas, Grand Junction attracts all types of adventurers. "Summers are insane," says local river guide Amie Mollack. "Hikers, mountain bikers, fly-fishermen, boatersÉeveryone hangs out downtown." This agricultural city of 40,000 especially draws Chaco-wearing, visor-sporting river rats. The Colorado River skirts the side of town, and the Green River, the Dolores, and the Gunnison are all close by. Local outfitters offer everything from 90-minute kayaking classes to multiday canyon trips; plan an itinerary that suits your time and interests and mix in some time on terra firma.

THE RIVERS Grand Junction's marquee run is the Westwater section of the Colorado. It's doable in a single day, but that leaves no time for anything but bouncing down the rollicking Class IIIÐIV rapids. Take two days so you can explore the various side canyons' pictographs and waterfalls, and camp on the sandy banks. Adventure Bound River Expeditions (from $330; 800-423-4668, raft-colorado.com) picks you up and drops you off in town. The more remote Black Canyon of the Gunnison River requires a drive to Montrose plus a mile hike to the put-in. It twists for 14 miles through a 2,700-foot canyon and down Class III chutes, slots, and rock gardens. Only two commercial rafts launch daily, so book a one-to-three-day trip well ahead of time with Dvorak Kayak and Rafting Expeditions (from $235 per day; 800-824-3795, dvorakexpeditions.com). If you want to stay in town, sign up with Whitewater West (from $35 per day; 970-241-0441), which runs kayak courses on the Colorado.

BONUS SPORTS Trout teem in the local rivers: Ask the experts at Western Anglers for advice on water conditions, flies, and guides (970-244-8658, westernanglers.com). Swap rod for rig and pedal Grand Junction's extensive network of trails, or hammer the slickrock in nearby Fruita with Over the Edge Sports (rentals from $40; 970-858-7220, otesports.com).

EATS & DRINKS Coffee Muggers (970-255-0700) is a popular downtown cafe with good java and muffins. The Rockslide Brewery (970-245-2111) makes nine kinds of ale and has a busy outdoor patio. WW Peppers (970-245-9251) serves upscale southwestern fare: think blue almond enchiladas and grilled steaks.

STAY Just west of town, the Two Rivers Winery and Chateau (from $79; tworiverswinery.com) has 10 rooms and sweeping views of the grapevines and rockscapes.

GET THERE Grand Junction is 244 miles west of Denver and 284 miles southeast of Salt Lake City. Or fly into Grand Junction airport. --Sam Moulton

PEAK-BAGGING
Vail
Nineteen 14,000-foot peaks (a.k.a. 14ers) are within a 90-mile radius, making Vail the ideal, if glitzy, base camp. To make the most of a week of peak-bagging, try these three mountains (doable as day hikes), chasing them with elk carpaccio and 90-minute sports massages.

THE PEAKS Warm up on Quandary Peak, about 35 miles southeast of Vail: It's a five-mile climb from the Forest Road 850 trailhead. (To avoid the thunderstorms that touch down most afternoons, set off before dawn.) Next take on 14,433-foot Mount Elbert 65 miles south of Vail. From the South Mount Elbert trailhead, you climb 4,873 vertical feet and 4.5 miles. Save Mount of the Holy Cross for last: It's a 12-mile grind from the Halfmoon trailhead. For guided ascents contact TrailWise Guides (www.trailwiseguides.com) or the Beaver Creek Hiking Center (beavercreek.snow.com). Gerry Roach's guidebook, Colorado's Fourteeners (Fulcrum; $20), is indispensable.

BONUS SPORTS On down days, raft the Class V rapids of Gore Canyon with Timberline Tours ($145; timberlinetours.com). Or rip down some of Vail's 363 miles of mountain-biking trails (rentals from $50 per day; vailsports.com).

STAY The Vail Mountain Lodge and Spa (from $150; vailmountainlodge.com) has sports massages and rooms with mountain views.

EATS & DRINKS Rehydrate and people watch at the Tap Room (taproomvail.com), overlooking Bridge Street. Gorge on locally raised steak and potato-crusted trout at Kelly Liken (kellyliken.com). Later, hit the Ski Bar, where DJs spin funk and hip-hop (skibarvail.com).

GET THERE Vail is 97 miles west of Denver. Or fly into Eagle County Airport. --Tim Neville

MOUNTAIN BIKING
Durango
Ever since the first World Championships of mountain biking were held on nearby Durango Mountain in 1990, Durango has become increasingly fat tire-friendly. Now the town of 15,000 is a biking hub with a scene that rivals Moab's. The winning mix: proximity to a diverse range of public lands, a trail organization that maintains and builds singletrack, and, in August, sunny days in the mid-70s, cooled by the occasional afternoon thundershower. "Just the local town trails could keep you busy for four to five days," says Ned "the Lung" Overend, six-time national mountain-biking champ and 26-year Durango resident.

THE RIDING Overend recommends taking a few days to tick off the town trails first: Horse Gulch, a 60-plus-mile network of desert trails; the Dry Fork Loop of the Colorado Trail, a technical 13-mile blast; and the nine-mile nest of trails in Durango Mountain Park. Next, test the World Cup course, in Purgatory Village, an eight-mile loop with 2,000 feet of climbing (durangomountainresort.com). Save for last the classic 20-mile singletrack Hermosa Creek Trail, a 45-minute drive away. It winds through aspen groves and pine forests as it follows the creek. SouthWest Adventure Guides leads trips (from $125; mtnguide.net). Pick up full-suspension rental Treks or Gary Fishers and trail maps at Hassle Free Sports (from $40 per day; 970-259-3874; hasslefreesports.com).

BONUS SPORT Work your upper body at Sailing Hawks, a collection of 100-plus bouldering problems, rated V0 to a tendon-popping V12, near Animas Mountain.

EATs & DRINKs Bread (970-247-5100) is a local bakery that serves fresh-roasted coffee and knobby oatmeal cookies. Stonehouse Subs (970-247-4882) bakes its own bread for its monster grinders. At East by Southwest (970-247-5533, eastbysouthwest.com), sushi collides with tortilla chips for surprising results. Locals rally on Thursdays for juicy burgers and dollar pints at the outdoor patio at Steamworks (970-259-9200, steamworksbrewing.com).

STAY The historic 25-room Rochester Hotel (from $148; rochesterhotel.com) is decorated in Old West style and is close to the action.

GET THERE Durango is 335 miles southwest of Denver. Or fly into Durango Airport. --Kate Siber