Willow Spring Open Space is a convenient and beautiful outdoor opportunity for walking, biking,…read moreleashed dog-walking, and horse-riding (bring your own horse). The paths are concrete and/or gravel, there are benches for rest opportunities, and there are doggie bag receptacles so owners can pick up after their pets. This large space is surrounded by residential communities and roadways, but I felt like I was in my own little world while walking. According to signage at the park, the trail is open from 6am to 11pm. Willow Spring Open Space is also the home of the Englewood Dam (an earthen embankment dam used for flood control) and there is a service center on site for regular maintenance. As a visitor to the area, I walked the trail here a few times and found the area to be incredibly photogenic and easy to follow. It should be noted that signage on the trail indicates coyotes are active in the area. When I inquired about this to locals, they confirmed this is true, but that during daylight hours, they rarely come out of their dens unless they are sick. However, caution should be used during dawn/dusk/dark. Enjoy!

The day started at union station and for awhile did not know if the guide was going to show up…read more When time came, two guides popped out, split people into two group and led us to the van. PRO TIP: try avoiding the most back row if you have long legs or any stress with mobility. Because once you sit there, the seat is assigned and you will have to deal with being cramped in a tighter space. And you basically are always the last one to get off. This was one of the biggest cons. Moving on, the tour itself was great. We stopped by a cafe on the way to and back, for food and bathroom breaks, and pretty soon, the van took us to the Rocky Mountain with beautiful views and even saw many wildlife - the big horn sheep, elk, deer (i think), and, not to forget, smaller animals like birds, mouse, and chipmunks, but no moose spotted. Nonetheless, the breathtaking view of the Rockies is certainly worth the journey. The guide was very knowledgeable about trees and shared many stories about the places and tips for visiting Denver in general! She also took us to a few Native American owed stores that featured indigenous art that were very cool to see. One thing to note is that I think the Colorado Sightseer, the tour company, had listed at least two slightly different itineraries, and I might have been sent to the one I did not pick. I noticed because I intentionally picked the tour with visits to two visitor centers, vs the one I went on only took us to Beaver Meadows. Not a big deal bc I did get still get my stamp, and the tour used most of the day's time efficiently by visiting many attractions. But this might be something you want to make sure if the stops matter a lot to you. Nonetheless, with a group tour, it is understandable and expected for the itinerary to potentially change. For instance, the day I went, the tour guide actually too us to visit places in different order to avoid crowds. Another thing to really appreciate is that the tour provided some snacks, extra gloves/beanies, which were really a lifesaver in the cold mountains. I know I was not fully prepared for it and so glad I could borrower some!

Our day trip to Rocky Mountain National Park was great. Anne was a super guide, giving us loads of…read moreinformation about the area. Bonus was her recommendations for places to each in Denver. I wish we had a Lo Dough in the OC!

One of my go to trails in Colorado when I go for a run . It's pavement most of the way along the…read moreroad until you head underneath the bridge & it has an off-road spot. This is a great trail for avid biker ‍, runner ‍, or someone on a stroll. It's a well maintained trail with plenty of space to maneuver around other's who are exercising.

Absolutely the most wonderful group of guides for your adventure to Africa. Highly recommend them…read morefor your Adventure to Africa. Tent camping would be the top of my list along with a hike at Mount Meru. An experience to remember for a lifetime.

Faraja was a wonderful guide who successfully got us to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro with the utmost…read morehospitality and professionalism. (Everyone in our group summited.) The trip on Lemosho route was absolutely stunning and one of the most picturesque places I've ever been. Faraja's team expertly pointed out everything from the history of the trail to the flowers and wildlife around us. As for the hike itself, Faraja took care of nearly everything, allowing me to just focus on the trek. The tents and equipment were top-notch and the food was delicious. (Grilled cheese before summit day was definitely a morale booster.) How they got a watermelon to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro is beyond me. Thanks again for an amazing trip, one that I cannot recommend highly enough, and hope to do again some day.

We had so much fun on the Yampa River trip with Centennial Canoe in June that we decided to go on a…read moretrip on the Colorado River through Horsethief and Ruby Canyons with them in July! I'd been on this stretch of river before but my wife hadn't and I wanted her to see the magnificent canyons and paddle this fun stretch of river while enjoying the cooking and hospitality provided by Centennial's amazing guides. Mike, Nolan, Cam and Alba were our guides on this trip and they didn't disappoint. There's a surprising amount of work organizing a river trip from getting required permits, complying with government requirements, planning and supplying meals, providing adequate water, providing bathroom facilities (the Groover is the 'Gender Neutral Restroom' ;-)) as required by the BLM, working out shuttle arrangements, and more. Centennial does it all so efficiently that I suspect customers who haven't planned their own canoe trips don't even realize what's gone on in the background to make these trips as smooth and comfortable as they are. Each night after we had pitched our tents and those on the trip were getting together, our guides would bring out snacks and wine for us to have while they prepared dinner. Andy, a college professor and historian, was on this trip to talk about the history of the region and share stories of early settlers and outlaws that were in this part of Colorado. I've given this company 5 Stars, but I can also say that I keep coming back to spend time with them and repeat customers is a sign of a well run service. Luxury in the back country!

We had an amazing trip on the Colorado river. Tim and Dean were great guides and excellent cooks…read more They were very accomodating for our friends who are plant based and the meals were amazing. It was a great way to unplug and really enjoy Colorado. This is my 3rd trip and I will be going again!

We went to CO to visit family and experience the beautiful outdoors, and a Geological Hike, the…read moreVolcanic Gems Geology Hike, with Dr. Rox was our first excursion on the weekend. Dr. Rox was fantastic. Both my wife and I are teachers, and so we loved how academic the hike was as Dr. Rox would pause and explain the rock cycle, tectonic movement, or the birth of the Rocky Mountains. We were also delighted that our two teenage sons asked a bunch of questions and were obviously engaged in, not only the Geology lesson, but also the local flora and fauna. Dr. Rox answered every question, and, when she didn't know the name of a plant, she pulled out a trusty book and looked it up. She kept things light, but we definitely learned a lot as well. When we reached the end of the hike where the zeolite crystals had grown in the geodes, we climbed all over the rocks finding crystal after crystal. It was certainly an impressive site. We really loved both the scenery and our guide, and I would recommend this hike to anyone with any interested in geology. A big thanks to Dr. Rox for making our hike so fun and educational!

The overview summary of Trail Gems encapsulates it for me: "guiding you through the incredible…read morebeauty of Colorado's wilderness." I live in Colorado, but I do not appreciate its beauty enough. I also never knew the story behind the beautiful rock formations and natural landscapes I pass by everyday. Rox provides context and explanation for a natural history of the beautiful sights of Colorado. Rox is also very organized and thoughtful, making sure we had water, snacks, and umbrellas. We got to look, touch, break, and collect all different kinds of rocks in a variety of gorgeous locations. It was fun to explore and engage in a tactile activity. In our modern world where so much of our lives are spent behind screens, this was a truly relaxing yet exciting activity and exploration tour in the outdoors. It was creative and fun. I felt like a kid again!

We booked the "Rocky Mountain Escape" tour for about $90 per person, and it ended up being one of…read morethe best parts of our trip. The tour lasted a little over 4 hours and is considered a half-day experience. Our guide, Aaron, was awesome! He is super friendly, funny, and full of great info about Denver and its history. Pickup was right in front of Union Station, and the tour started right on time (a few people in our group were running behind, of course haha). We made several stops along the way, and every single one had amazing views. We even got to see some wildlife: bighorn rams, elk, and a fox! Aaron was great about pulling over so everyone could grab photos whenever we spotted something cool. There were about 11 of us in total, which made it feel like a nice small group instead of a big crowded tour. It was our first time exploring the Rocky Mountains, and we're so glad we chose Aspire Tours. I would definitely recommend them...and don't forget to tip your guide.

We had a great tour with Jeff as our driver and knowledgeable guide. The day could not have gone…read morebetter.

After researching many trip places, I booked a 3-day camping trip with Jeremy!…read more During the trip, Jeremy took us through a scenic trail in Roosevelt National Park. It was stunning & a bit chilly despite it being the middle of August. However, it was beautiful and I will definitely book again! Jeremy is extremely knowledgeable about the area, had everything planned out well, and is a wonderful cook. When I had booked the trip, I had told him I wanted the Colorado camp-life experience, and he delivered! This trip included history, beautiful views, and a touch of National Parks (minus the bears)! For anyone looking for a getaway in the Colorado mountains, this is your guy! As someone who doesn't camp often and flew from sea level, I was well taken care of!

The RiNo Evening Food Tour was wonderful. The restaurants we chose e were perfect! This area has…read morea lot to offer artwise!! Jeremy was also super flexible when my flight was delayed, and I needed to reschedule for the following evening!