Hiking

But enough of winter already. The other three seasons turn the Rockies into a hiking nirvana (heck, even winter is great if you go in for cold-weather tramping). Mount Elbert, Colorado's highest peak at 14,433 feet, towers over San Isabel National Forest and can't be beat for day hikes. For classic hiking in revered locales such as the Tetons or the Beartooths, Greater Yellowstone is tops. In particular, if you've got a weekend to spare, Wind River in Wyoming — from Big Sandy Opening to Cirque of the Towers—offers up glacier systems, tundras, meadows, and a surprisingly gentle trail once you hit 10,000 feet.

If you're headed on a long-distance hike, the Continental Divide Trail in Colorado's Weminuche Wilderness has 500 miles of wild trails, alpine meadows, and fishy waterways. For some pristine solitude and serious altitude, make this your first stop.