Outdoors
Colorado gives you a lot of room to roam: mountains, rivers, plains, high desert, and plenty of public land. Pick the activity in front of you. We will help you check the rules, then point you to the official source for the details that can change.
Common first stops
Pick the guide closest to your day
Start with the closest match. Each guide tells you which land manager or state office to check before you act.
- Cornerstone guide Hunting in Colorado Licenses, the big-game draw, over-the-counter tags, where you can hunt, field rules, CWD, and the CPW pages to check before a trip.
- Cornerstone guide Fishing in Colorado Licenses, bag limits, Gold Medal waters, where you can fish, Clean-Drain-Dry, and the stream-access issue that trips people up.
- Cornerstone guide Camping in Colorado State parks, national parks, dispersed camping, fire bans, food storage, and simple checks before you claim a site.
- Safety hub Weather & Natural Hazards Lightning, hail, flash floods, wildfire smoke, avalanches, winter roads, altitude, alerts, and when to turn around.
Hunting and fishing
Licenses, seasons, access, field rules, and the shared system behind both activities.
- Cornerstone guide Hunting in Colorado Licenses, the big-game draw, over-the-counter tags, where you can hunt, field rules, CWD, and the CPW pages to check before a trip.
- Cornerstone guide Fishing in Colorado Licenses, bag limits, Gold Medal waters, where you can fish, Clean-Drain-Dry, and the stream-access issue that trips people up.
- Shared overview Hunting & Fishing: How It Works How the license system works, why the Habitat Stamp matters, when State Wildlife Area access applies, ethics, and harvest reporting.
Camping, riding, and collecting
Public-land rules, campsites, off-road routes, shooting, and what you may take home.
- Cornerstone guide Camping in Colorado State parks, national parks, dispersed camping, fire bans, food storage, and simple checks before you claim a site.
- Cornerstone guide OHV & Off-Road Riding Registration, nonresident permits, where to ride, what makes a machine street legal, and how to check COTREX or the MVUM.
- Cornerstone guide Foraging, Rockhounding & Collecting Mushrooms, berries, rocks, gems, fossils, antlers, firewood, and Christmas trees. Know what you can keep and what needs a permit.
- Rules signpost Where You Can Target Shoot Where target shooting is allowed, where it is closed, how fire rules affect it, and what to know before you set up.
Trails, water, and wildlife
Plan the day, understand the access, and know what to do around water and wild animals.
- Field & safety guide Hiking, Biking & Trails Altitude, lightning, trail etiquette, fourteeners, hiking, biking, e-bikes, and what to check before a big day.
- Field & safety guide Boating, Paddling & Water Safety Boat registration, ANS stamps, inspections, life jackets, operator-age rules, cold water, and places to paddle.
- Field & safety guide Rivers, Tubing, Swimming & Hot Springs Tubing, swimming holes, hot springs, rafting, river access, toxic algae, and simple water-safety checks.
- Field & safety guide Wildlife & Animals What to do around moose, bears, and mountain lions, plus common animals, wildlife rules, disease cautions, and safe viewing.
- Where-to-go guide Birding & Wildlife Watching Where to watch by habitat and season, free apps, migration events, festivals, and how to watch without stressing wildlife.
Weather, winter, and the night sky
Check changing conditions, winter roads, avalanche basics, and places where the stars stay bright.
- Safety hub Weather & Natural Hazards Lightning, hail, flash floods, wildfire smoke, avalanches, winter roads, altitude, alerts, and when to turn around.
- Road safety guide Winter Driving in Colorado COtrip checks, current traction and chain rules, tire labels, storm driving, closures, and what to do if the car stalls.
- Seasonal guide Winter Sports Skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, ice fishing, avalanche safety, cold, altitude, and ways to get started.
- Where-to-go guide Dark Skies & Stargazing Dark-sky parks and towns, observatories, meteor showers, simple gear, and ways to help keep the night dark.