Colorado’s mountain communities are some of the most beautiful in the world—regardless of the season. Consider the peaks, the rivers, the forests and the 350 days of sunshine every year. These attributes make the region a mecca for outdoor adventure enthusiasts, who come for pursuits such as rafting and hiking in the summer and skiing and sleigh riding in the winter.
Outdoor excitement is available to everyone, including meeting delegates, and a variety of destination management companies make it easy for groups to enjoy team-building experiences—from roasting marshmallows by a bonfire to balancing on high ropes courses.
Aspen/Snowmass
Think back to the last time you watched a Coors Light commercial. Remember the impossibly beautiful snow-capped mountains in the background? Those were the Maroon Bells, the mountain range that punctuates the Aspen/Snowmass area and serves as the backdrop to a variety of outdoor adventure options.
“Groups love to take bikes during the summer and head out to the Bells,” says Renee Fleisher, director of group services for Blazing Adventures, a local adventure outfitter. “We can take them on a small uphill bike ride for about three miles, and then a naturalist can take them on a walk around the lake. The Maroon Bells are the most photographed peaks in the whole country, and people just love going up there and experiencing them.”
In addition, Blazing Adventures has access to several mountain cabins, which are also popular for groups keen on the great outdoors.
“We like to take groups up to the Beaver Run Ranch because it has a stocked fish pond nearby,” Fleisher says. “We will bring out Jeeps, bikes and fly-fishing guides and set up activity stations. Delegates then have the opportunity to rotate from activity to activity.”
The company can also take groups up to Moon Run Ranch, a private horse ranch in Old Snowmass that has a nice outdoor tent for events, and out to Burlingame Cabin, where around 35 attendees can gather around a bonfire, cook s’mores and listen to country music.
“Aspen and Snowmass are wonderful because they are not overrun with people; you can really enjoy the environment without crowds around you,” Fleisher says. “We have one of the tightest forest service operators in the country, so all of our trips are under regulation. We are simply not allowed to take huge groups on trips.”
Vail/Beaver Creek
The idyllic communities of Vail and Beaver Creek are primed for outdoor group adventure.
In addition to skiing and snowshoeing in winter, planners can book groups on a snowmobile tour with Nova Guides, a local outfitter. The company regularly takes groups up to the White River National Forest at Historic Camp Hale, about 12,500 feet above sea level. Half-day and full-day excursions are available.
During the summer, Nova Guides offers team-building activities such as Jeep Scavenger Hunts and white-water rafting trips. For the scavenger hunts, groups break off into teams and get clues, a camera and a map. The next few hours are spent traversing local trails. Lunch can also be arranged for the trip. For the white-water rafting adventures, the company teaches raft teams to work together and also teaches orienteering skills with GPS devices and maps.
Breckenridge
Imagine a team-building experience where your job is to herd cattle. That’s the idea at Summit Destination Management Company, where groups can partake in a “City Slickers” type of activity.
“People love the experience,” says Donna Horii, director of sales for the Breckenridge CVB. “It’s over in Park County. Summit will drive you over there, you get on the course, and you move those cows. It is a real bonding experience to do with your team, and it is something you can’t do in many other places.”
Not into the cow scene? Fear not. A walk down Main Street in downtown Breckinridge can serve as the perfect outdoor reprieve for groups, according to Horii.
Additionally, groups can get a taste for Breckinridge’s rich mining history with a visit to the Dry Gulch mining area.
“The area is tented throughout the summer. They have a huge outdoor fire pit and incredible views of the outdoor valley,” Horii says. “It is a great place to go for a corporate outing. You can have s’mores and a nice barbecue.”
Keystone
Just 30 minutes north of Breckinridge is the beautiful community of Keystone. Those in the mood for team building can head over to Rusty Spur Ranch, located a few miles outside of town. There, groups can enjoy trail rides and even do some cattle ranching.
In winter, Keystone’s Nordic Center offers some great cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, with more than nine miles of trails. Tours are also available. Tip: The full-moon tour is incredible.
Copper Mountain
Colorado is peppered with world-class golf courses, and the community of Copper Mountain is no exception. As a warm-weather activity, planners can schedule a tournament at the Copper Creek Golf Club.
A unique outdoor option in winter is Two Below Zero, a sleigh ride company in nearby Frisco that can arrange rides through the snow, concluding with a delicious dinner and live music.
Colorado Springs
Outdoor adventure lovers will find themselves in heaven in Colorado Springs, according to Chelsy Murphy, spokeswoman for Experience Colorado Springs.
“If you want to do something super active or just something nice and leisurely, we have it all,” she says. “It really helps that the mountains are so close—they are just 10 minutes away.”
Murphy recommends calling Royal Gorge Zipline Tours for help with active group activities.
“They are a rafting and zip line service provider,” she says. “They will take you rafting for a half day, and you can go zip lining for the other half of the day. They take you on the Arkansas River, which is about an hour south of us. The rapids run from class II to class V, so there is something for everyone.”
In winter, Murphy advises groups to hook up with Front Range Climbing Company for some extreme adventure.
“They take groups ice climbing,” she says. “Over on North Cheyenne Canyon, there is a waterfall that freezes in the middle of winter. They will take beginner ice climbers out there, and it is a lot of fun.”
Cave of the Winds is also a great place for groups.
“The caves themselves are a consistent 54 degrees throughout the year, so you can go on a variety of tours year-round,” Murphy says. “They have flashlight tours, which are great.”
Outside, on the rim of a 600-foot drop into Williams Canyon, the Wind Walker Challenge Course appeals to the thrill-seeker in every attendee.
“It is a really cool high ropes course where they snap you in and you walk on a series of ropes and platforms,” Murphy says.
Steamboat Springs
For a relaxing yet exhilarating experience, planners might consider booking groups on a hot-air balloon ride in Steamboat Springs. Wild West Balloon Adventures takes attendees up in balloons for views of the Flat Top Mountains and Hahn’s Peak. As an extra bonus, the trip can include a champagne breakfast.
Durango
For those who have always dreamed of participating in the Iditarod, here’s some good news: You don’t have to travel all the way up to Alaska for the experience. Instead, take part in a team-building activity with Durango Dog Ranch. The ranch offers dog sled tours through the scenic mountains. Just make sure to hold on tight—this is a serious adventure that will no doubt bond your team.
For a warm-weather outdoor option, Soaring Tree Top Adventures features 27 zip lines through picturesque old growth forest. The company recently launched two new spans of over 600 feet, enabling participants to race each other through the forest. The adventure is open to up to 46 guests.
Groups that would rather opt for a sit-down adventure should check out the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, which is available for group adventures. The train leaves from downtown Durango and snakes through the Animas Valley, concluding at the Sleeping Beauty Ranch—a nice spot for dinner.
In Durango, planners can also check out Trails 2000, an organization that facilitates volunteer-focused team-building activities. The company is dedicated to maintaining trails in Durango, and an afternoon helping the environment can help groups bond.
Telluride
Just two hours north of Durango in the San Juan National Forest, Telluride is the perfect place for serious adventure. If delegates aren’t afraid of heights, the guided Via Ferrata team-building program might be an ideal choice. The activity can be described as extreme hiking, since instead of walking on land, you traverse along steps affixed to a mountainside. Don’t worry: You’re strapped in, and the views are magnificent.
Another great outdoor option is the Box Canyon Amazing Race. During the activity, facilitated by the Telluride Tourism Board, participants solve clues that will take them to landmarks around the area.
In winter, the Telluride Tourism Board encourages high-octane groups to partake in a Winter Rescue Challenge, in which participants use GPS devices to navigate through chilly terrain. The activity is especially geared for small groups.
Katie Morell is a Chicago-based freelance writer and former Meetings Focus editor. www.katiemorell.com.
