Celebrate Colorado’s 150th anniversary by visiting state parks for free on August 3, joining 14er Climb: Summit 2026, a statewide 14er challenge

To celebrate Colorado Day and the state's 150th birthday, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is offering free entry to all Colorado state parks on Monday, Aug. 3, 2026. CPW is one of many sponsors of 14er Climb: Summit 2026, a Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry (OREC) event celebrating Colorado’s 150th anniversary and America’s 250th anniversary.

The state legislature created Colorado Day to mark the anniversary of statehood, granted in 1876 by President Ulysses S. Grant. The state recognizes this annual holiday on the first of the month, and state parks celebrate the occasion with free entrance on the first Monday of August.

14er Climb: Summit 2026 on August 1
Celebrate Colorado’s 150th and America’s 250th anniversaries by joining this statewide 14er hiking challenge. Whether you hike a peak or choose the Flat 14ers option, we welcome Coloradans of all abilities to get outside, honor our shared history, and celebrate the future we’re building together.

Learn more and see which summit you want to tackle first: https://cpw.info/4vZHpXu

Free State Park Entry on August 3
This free entry day is an opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in the beauty of Colorado state parks and their diverse landscapes. All other park fees remain in effect, including camping reservations, boat and off-highway vehicle registrations, and hunting and fishing licenses. CPW also has apparel, stickers and postcards honoring this historic event available at cpwshop.com.

CPW urges all state park visitors to act as stewards of our state’s land, wildlife, and water. By balancing outdoor recreation with mindful conservation, we can all protect Colorado's natural beauty. Here are some outdoor tips to help you recreate responsibly.

***  To thank U.S. military members for their dedicated service and sacrifices, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is continuing to offer free admission to all Colorado state parks for active-duty military, veterans, and National Guard members during the entire month of August.



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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

• Ramble On: A History of Hiking

Amazon is offering "Ramble On" at a 29% discount right now

FYI: Amazon is currently selling Ramble On: A History of Hiking for just $11.99. That's 29% off the regular price!

It's not clear how long they will offer this discount, but it's usually only for a limited time.

This is a great opportunity to learn about the rich history of the world's greatest outdoor activity! You can also impress your friends with your knowledge of hiking the next time you're on the trail with them!

Hiker walks 10 miles after being impaled by trekking pole

A Billings, Montana man was impaled by a trekking pole on Granite Peak last week. The freak accident occurred roughly 2 miles below the summit. After assesing his injuries, David Cifaldi, a nurse, determined that he could walk back to the trailhead on his own power. That trip covered nearly 10 miles and took roughly six and a half hours to complete.

KCENNews in Texas provided a full report on the story. Warning: some of the images may be a little disturbing:





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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

• My new edition on hiking history is available on Amazon

Lightning in the Rockies

Rocky Mountain National Park posted this on their social media yesterday:

Thunderstorms and lightning are common in Rocky Mountain National Park during the summer monsoon season during the months of July and August. Before heading out on your next adventure, know how to protect yourself when thunder roars and lightning strikes.

When you recreate, take time to pay attention to your surroundings and know the most high-risk places to be compared to the safest locations to be during a lightning storm. When it comes to lighting, there are no fully safe places in the outdoors.

If possible, shelter inside a vehicle or a building. If you are out on a hiking trail, the next best option is to get below treeline and shelter at the base of a cluster of low-height trees or in a lower elevation dry ditch or gully.

Taking a drive on Trail Ridge or Old Fall River Roads? Stay in your vehicle. Do not walk to overlooks or stand outside in parking areas.

Avoid the following highest-risk locations during a storm:

🌩️ The top of a mountain peak
🌩️ Exposed open slopes above tree line
🌩️ Caves or rock outcroppings on the side of a mountain
🌩️ Areas near open water
🌩️ The base of a single tall tree
🌩️ The inside of a tent when camping in an exposed area
🌩️ Areas near rivers, streams, creeks and places with wet and boggy ground

For more lightning safety tips, visit www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/lightning-safety.htm

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From Montana to New Mexico, the American Rockies stretch for more than a thousand miles. Within this spectacular mountain range are thousands of miles of hiking trails. With such an overwhelming number of options, how will you find and choose the most scenic and rewarding hikes?

Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Rocky Mountains takes all the guesswork out by focusing on some of the most amazing hikes across this range, and provides you with a handpicked list of options that will allow you to make the most of your trips in the Rockies:

On this date in hiking history: Mazamas established atop Mt. Hood

In 1894, the Mazamas held their inaugural meeting atop Mt. Hood, the highest peak in Oregon. To become a charter member of the prospective club, hikers were required to attend this meeting.

On June 12, 1894, organizers published an advertisement in the Morning Oregonian announcing the forthcoming meeting, which was to include a “typical mountain banquet.” On July 17th, more than 300 people responded to the advertisement by arriving at one of two staging areas along the flanks of the 11,249-foot mountain. Two days later, a total of 193 climbers (155 men and 38 women) reached the snow-capped summit, of which 105 would become charter members. Before descending the peak, the newly minted organization released three homing pigeons with notes announcing to friends in Portland that the club had been successfully established.

Today, the Mazamas are one of the largest hiking and mountaineering clubs in America.

Here’s a photo of prospective members climbing the Cooper Spur on Mt. Hood to take part in the inaugural meeting atop the mountain:

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Virtually no one went hiking before the 19th century. What occurred that inspired ordinary people to take a walk through the woods for pleasure? Ramble On: A History of Hiking explores the rich history of hiking, and how it evolved into one of the most popular pastimes in the world.