Colorado

Latest Stories

Snow Sports

“The West Looks like a Better Bet.” A Forecaster on the Coming Super El Niño.

AccuWeather forecasters predict feet of snow for parts of the West, while warm storms and rain could leave the Northeast and Pacific Northwest dry.

Ella CobbOctober 16, 2026

Exploration & Survival

The Search for Three Missing Children Came Down to One Very Good Nose

Three children wandered 1.5 miles from their family’s campsite near Buena Vista. A search-and-rescue team, led by K-9 Archie, tracked them down in the Colorado backcountry.

Suzie DundasSeptember 30, 2026

Exploration & Survival

Rescuers Used Spotlight Drones to Save a UTV Driver in Colorado

A midnight fall down a steep, loose slope required Grand County Search and Rescue to deploy complex rope systems—and an innovative aerial lighting setup.

Madison DapcevichSeptember 22, 20261

Exploration & Survival

An Ode to Colorado’s Most Popular Glacier, Which Just Melted into a Puddle

St. Mary’s Glacier, a beloved destination for summer camps and year-round skiers, melted this month for the first time in recorded history. Our features editor explores the emotion of losing a place that kept winter going all year long.

Frederick DreierSeptember 19, 20262

Environment

This Bear Died an Agonizing Death from Human Trash. Wildlife Officials Say It’s Part of a Horrifying Trend.

A necropsy revealed whole plastic garbage bags and non-flushable wipes inside the 300-pound animal. As drought and late freezes wipe out natural food sources, officials warn that frontcountry garbage management is becoming a matter of life and death.

Will BrendzaSeptember 12, 2026

Hiking

Podcast: The 19-Year Search for Michelle Vanek, Part 2

The latest Long Read on the Outside Podcast is the conclusion of our story on the search for Michelle Vanek, a 35-year-old mother of four who vanished in 2005 while hiking up Mount of the Holy Cross

Frederick DreierSeptember 12, 2026

Exploration & Survival

Authorities Just Identified the Two Climbers Killed on Colorado's Maroon Bells Days Apart

The Forest Service temporarily shut down access to Maroon Peak as search and rescue teams work to recover a missing climber—marking the second fatal incident in Colorado 14ers in six days.

Madison DapcevichSeptember 11, 2026

News and Analysis

This Rescue Cat Has Climbed Colorado’s 14-ers. Now He Is Headed for Everest Base Camp.

JJ Yosh and his cat Simon have climbed Colorado's highest mountains and traveled to more than 15 countries and four continents together. Now the "Backpacking Kitty" duo is taking on the Seven Summits.

Kinsey GidickSeptember 5, 20261

Environment

Marmots Have Gone Mainstream Thanks to Their Cuddly and Curious Ways

Our features editor took a deep dive into the cute and chunky critters to understand why the Internet has fallen for them. He learned six facts that every marmot fanatic should know.

Frederick DreierSeptember 5, 20261

Essays

I Woke Up to a Black Bear Trying to Break Into My Kitchen

A late-night bear encounter at my Colorado home scared the crap out of me. Turns out, I'm not alone.

John Clary DaviesSeptember 5, 2026

Environment

4 Million Gallons of Raw Sewage Just Leaked Into One of America’s Most Popular Recreational Rivers

A pipe failure near Pueblo released millions of gallons of untreated wastewater into a drought-stricken stretch of one of Colorado's most popular rivers, triggering high E. coli warnings.

Suzie DundasSeptember 2, 20264

Hiking

Falling 500 Feet Down a Colorado 14er Nearly Killed Me. It Didn’t Change My Outlook on Risk.

Colorado hiker Brandon Hinkle was completing the Maroon Bells Traverse when he tumbled down a sheer rock face and suffered multiple serious injuries. Hinkle recounts his harrowing story of survival, and offers his perspective on risk taking in the outdoors.

Frederick DreierSeptember 1, 2026

Exploration & Survival

Podcast: Searching for Michelle Vanek in Colorado’s Rugged Backcountry, Part 1

The latest Long Read on the Outside Podcast is the first half of our story on the search for Michelle Vanek, a 35-year-old mother of four who vanished in 2005 on a hiking trip. For 19 years, rescue crews in Colorado searched Vanek on the slopes of Mount of the Holy Cross.

Frederick DreierAugust 29, 2026

Exploration & Survival

A Cyclist Died on a Colorado Trail. Then His Memorial Shelter Saved Another Cyclist.

When a mechanical breakdown left a rider exposed to extreme temperatures on Colorado's Grand Mesa, a shade structure built in memory of Jeff Higgins provided critical refuge.

Madison DapcevichAugust 27, 2026

News and Analysis

The Country's First Nature Library Lets You Check Out Camping Gear For Free

This first-of-its-kind 15-acre "nature library" near Denver lets you borrow more than 650 outdoors-related items for free and features hands-on play spaces designed to combat screen fatigue.

Daliah SingerAugust 20, 2026

Exploration & Survival

A Cat Vanished for 39 Days Near Great Sand Dunes. A Feline Survival Expert Explains How She Stayed Alive.

When Fridge the cat disappeared near Great Sand Dunes National Park, rangers gave her zero odds. A feline behaviorist explains to Outside how the instincts, physiology, and hunting tactics of the cat kept her alive for 39 days in apex-predator territory.

Kristy HamiltonJuly 20, 20261

Hiking

An Injured Hiker Spent the Night on a Colorado Peak. These 7 Survival Items Kept Her Safe.

When a seasoned hiker injured her knee on Colorado’s chossy Broken Hand Pass, her 13-hour rescue in the dark became a testament to why prep isn't just for beginners.

Kristy HamiltonJuly 15, 20262

News and Analysis

Should You Cancel Your Trip Because of Wildfires? Here’s the Latest Advice.

Wildfires are blazing in Canada and across the U.S., including northern Minnesota, right now causing many travelers to rethink plans. Here's the latest advice on what to consider before you cancel a trip and how to stay safe on the ground.

Jen MurphyJuly 16, 2026

Environment

I Am Watching a Massive Wildfire Burn the Colorado Mountains from My Back Deck

As the Gold Mountain Fire explodes to 28,000 acres in Southwest Colorado, local residents face the unnerving reality of daily life continuing under a thick blanket of smoke. Here is what the long-term consequences mean for the region.

Nick Hunter RobertsJuly 6, 20261

Hiking

Colorado Just Suffered Its First Bear Attack of 2026 After a Hiker Was Stalked for 30 Minutes

A black bear trailed a hiker in Golden, Colorado, for half an hour. She did everything right and was still attacked, marking the state's first attack of 2026.

Owen ClarkeJune 23, 2026

Colorado

Latest Stories

“The West Looks like a Better Bet.” A Forecaster on the Coming Super El Niño.

The Search for Three Missing Children Came Down to One Very Good Nose

Rescuers Used Spotlight Drones to Save a UTV Driver in Colorado

An Ode to Colorado’s Most Popular Glacier, Which Just Melted into a Puddle

This Bear Died an Agonizing Death from Human Trash. Wildlife Officials Say It’s Part of a Horrifying Trend.

Podcast: The 19-Year Search for Michelle Vanek, Part 2

Authorities Just Identified the Two Climbers Killed on Colorado's Maroon Bells Days Apart

This Rescue Cat Has Climbed Colorado’s 14-ers. Now He Is Headed for Everest Base Camp.

Marmots Have Gone Mainstream Thanks to Their Cuddly and Curious Ways

I Woke Up to a Black Bear Trying to Break Into My Kitchen

4 Million Gallons of Raw Sewage Just Leaked Into One of America’s Most Popular Recreational Rivers

Falling 500 Feet Down a Colorado 14er Nearly Killed Me. It Didn’t Change My Outlook on Risk.

Podcast: Searching for Michelle Vanek in Colorado’s Rugged Backcountry, Part 1

A Cyclist Died on a Colorado Trail. Then His Memorial Shelter Saved Another Cyclist.

The Country's First Nature Library Lets You Check Out Camping Gear For Free

A Cat Vanished for 39 Days Near Great Sand Dunes. A Feline Survival Expert Explains How She Stayed Alive.

An Injured Hiker Spent the Night on a Colorado Peak. These 7 Survival Items Kept Her Safe.

Should You Cancel Your Trip Because of Wildfires? Here’s the Latest Advice.

I Am Watching a Massive Wildfire Burn the Colorado Mountains from My Back Deck

Colorado Just Suffered Its First Bear Attack of 2026 After a Hiker Was Stalked for 30 Minutes

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