The Future of Colorado Adventure is Female

Explore Denver by B-Cycle, credit Visit Denver.

Throughout Colorado, female makers and shakers create valuable travel experiences for visitors, staking a claim in industries as varied as fly-fishing and skiing to soul-restoring retreats. In 2019, Colorado is also raising the bar for pro women's cycling, designating the 2019 Colorado Classic as the only UCI standalone women's stage race in the Western Hemisphere.

To mark International Women’s Day on 8 March, we’ve rounded up the top five female-focused adventures in Colorado.

1. The Colorado Classic goes Female, inspiring women to have a two-wheeled Colorado adventure

The Colorado Classic is shifting gears with an exclusive, women’s only race, 22-25 August 2019. The Colorado Classic will become the only UCI women’s standalone stage race in the Western Hemisphere—fulfilling its mission to create a socially impactful world-class race. The Colorado Classic was the first major USA cycling race to go without podium hostesses, and just last year it expanded its races to four stages and intentionally designed the male and female routes similarly—showing its commitment and dedication to women since its inauguration. With the elimination of the men’s race, the Colorado Classic now serves women exclusively and has big plans for its 2019 race, including quadrupling its prize purses and team stipends, introducing free live streaming and longer, more challenging routes, thus empowering female athletes on a global stage. Feel empowered by the female cyclists and support the gals as they finish the grueling, mountainous course in Denver Downtown, or cycle Colorado’s landscapes yourself, with female only guided mountain biking trips in Boulder from April until September with Sacred Rides or by exploring Denver’s 800+ miles of cycle trails. The city has a bike share scheme, Denver B-Cycle, in which you can keep a bike all day and return to any docking station in Denver.
www.coloradoclassic.com / https://boulder.sacredrides.com/ / www.visitdenver.com

2. These Boots were made for Wading

31 May – 1 June 2019, The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs

These Boots were made for Wading women's
fly-fishing retreat. Credit Kim Cross.

This three-day women's only fly-fishing retreat serves as an introduction to one of Colorado’s best-known sports and past times, and for those who are already acquainted, a space to perfect their form. Colorado Springs based luxury hotel, The Broadmoor, partners with Orvis, a leading name in fly fishing, and provides clinics that teach women the basics of the sport. Wine tastings, cooking demonstrations and nightly fireside s’mores allow women to bond over the day’s activities. The retreat, which was originally announced for the end of June 2019 has had such an amazing response that it quickly sold out, meaning a second weekend has just been announced from 31 May - 1 June 2019, reel it in before it sells out!

www.broadmoor.com/these-boots-are-made-for-wading/package-options/

3. Find your Inner Cowgirl through Body, Mind, Equine

9-12 May 2019, C Lazy U Ranch, Granby 

C Lazy U Ranch hosting Body, Mind, Equine retreat.
Credit C Lazy U Ranch.

Love horses and yoga? This all-inclusive women’s retreat focuses on how to use yoga and yogic practices to improve horsemanship from ground to saddle. The three-day escape, which takes place at award-winning dude ranch, C Lazy U, begins each morning with a gentle yoga class, followed by workshops on meditation, breath-work and exploring the parallels of yoga and horsemanship.
www.clazyu.com/special-event/find-your-inner-cowgirl-though-body-mind-equine/

4. Leave The Boys Behind - an Aspen adventure

Year Round, Aspen Alpine Guides, Aspen

Aspen's Maroon Bells, credit C2 Photography

Be inspired and empowered by the mountains. After a few conversations that shed light on not-so-great female outdoor experiences, Aspen Alpine Guides set out to create a space where women could experiment freely outdoors – without pressure or intimidation. Running since 1987, this woman-led guide service feels more like a community and it explores back country adventure trips regularly through skiing, backpacking, road biking and more in Colorado’s renowned mountain playground, Aspen.

www.leavetheboysbehind.com

5. Chicks Climbing and Skiing

Adventure in Ridgway/Ouray with specific dates throughout year

Ice climbing in Ouray,
credit Colorado Tourism Office.

‘Chicks’ offers courses for women taught exclusively by female instructors, where you can learn the basics of avalanche rescue, back country skills, ice and rock climbing, skiing and more. Established with the goal of empowering women through mountain sports, the programme marks its 20th anniversary in 2019. Whether you aspire to be a ‘Chick with a Pick’ navigating the ice walls of Ouray Ice Park or a ‘chick with sticks’ on the slopes, the mountains are calling!
www.chickswithpicks.net

Getting there

Virgin Australia and Qantas offer direct flights to the US and American, United and Delta airlines have connections into Denver International Airport (DIA), the gateway to Colorado and the Rocky Mountains. A new train service will connect you from DIA to downtown Denver in minutes.

Find out more and get a copy of the Colorado Official State Vacation Guide at www.colorado.com