Slush season in the Centennial State comprises those unremarkable weeks between ski resorts’ closing days and the start of summer. Avoid (too) muddy and (too) wet trails with these four ideas:

Winter Park Resort’s Closing Day, April 24

Closing day at this ski resort means being able to watch skiers and riders attempt to navigate an on-mountain obstacle course before a pond-skimming finale.

5280 January 2016
More From The Issue

Fruita Fat Tire Festival, Fruita, April 28 to May 1

Fruita’s desert terrain calls to early-bird mountain bikers waiting for the Front Range to dry out. Every spring, the small Western Slope town swells with thousands of riders there to enjoy expansive single-track, live bands, cycling vendors, and, of course, beer.

She Flew Birding Tours, South Park and Gunnison, April 29 to May 1

Spot some of the state’s most dazzling birds—including white-tailed ptarmigan, Gunnison sage grouse, and rosy-finches—during this guided tour across southern Colorado.

Chief Mountain Trail, Near Idaho Springs, starting late April

Antsy to get your hiking boots on? The three-mile round-trip Chief Mountain Trail gains about 1,000 feet in elevation, making it a solid, if short, early-season workout. The trailhead is located just past Echo Mountain Resort. Tip: Strap snowshoes to your backpack, just in case.