Pueblo and southern Colorado are meccas for great outdoor activities. Try walking, cycling and hiking.

By:
April 3, 2024

Walking and hiking are excellent outdoor activities that offer numerous health benefits and can contribute to overall fitness and mental well-being.

Colorado has plenty of warm and sunny days so be sure to take a few minutes, get outside and take a walk.

Walking helps improve circulation, lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease. Walking and hiking engage multiple muscle groups, including the legs, core and arms. This can help tone and strengthen muscles and burn calories to help with weight management.

Physical activity has been linked to improved mood and reduced stress. Walking and hiking outdoors, especially in nature, can reduce anxiety and enhance well-being.

Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting a new exercise routine, especially if you have pre-existing health conditions.

Here are some great outdoor locations in Pueblo and southern Colorado to walk, hike, ride or enjoy other outdoor activities.

Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo

Pueblo's Historic Arkansas River Project is delightful as an place to enjoy outdoor activities in Pueblo, offering walking paths and boat rides. Photo courtesy of Historic Arkansas River Project.
Historic Arkansas River Project is delightful as an place to enjoy outdoor activities in Pueblo, offering walking paths and boat rides. Photo courtesy of Historic Arkansas River Project.

Pueblo’s downtown area is outdoor fitness friendly. Just off I-25 at exit 98B is the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk. Learn about the history of Pueblo and the 1921 flood while walking or jogging the mile-long trail, which is handicap accessible with multiple entry and exit points. Pets are welcomed and encouraged.

Pueblo River Trail Levee System

Pueblo's River Trail system has new pedestrian bridges to access either side of the river and is a great outdoor activity in Pueblo. Photo: UCHealth.
Pueblo’s River Trail system has new pedestrian bridges to access either side of the river. Photo: UCHealth.

Pueblo’s 30-mile-long trail system got its start in 1976 as part of the U.S. Bicycle Route system established to celebrate America’s bicentennial. Today, you can travel from Lake Pueblo to Colorado State University Pueblo on a well maintained and well-marked trail. There are plenty of places to stop along the way: the Whitewater Kayak Park, the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk, Union Avenue and Runyon Lake. Upgrades are underway for additional accessible parking lots and ramps to access the levee side of the river trail.

Lake Pueblo State Park

You don’t need a boat to experience or appreciate one of Colorado’s most visited state parks. Lake Pueblo State Park offers more than 15 miles of paved and unpaved trails with moderate elevation changes. Trails above and below the dam areas are perfect for walking, hiking, biking and running and connect through the Nature and Wildlife Center into downtown Pueblo. Views of Pueblo Reservoir and the Wet Mountain range, especially at sunset, can’t be beat.

Enjoy outdoor activities near Pueblo on the trails that wrap around the shoreline of Lake Pueblo State Park. Photo courtesy of Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Enjoy outdoor activities near Pueblo on the trails that wrap around the shoreline of Lake Pueblo State Park. Photo courtesy of Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Pueblo West

The expansive trail system in Pueblo West offers plenty of outdoor opportunities, including views of Pikes Peak and the Front Range. Photo courtesy of Pueblo West Metro District.
The expansive trail system in Pueblo West offers plenty of outdoor opportunities, including views of Pikes Peak and the Front Range. Photo courtesy of Pueblo West Metro District.

Pueblo West features some of the most accessible and plentiful hiking, walking, and biking trails in southern Colorado. Paved, unpaved, and equestrian trails link Pueblo West’s neighborhoods and offer amazing views of Lake Pueblo State Park, Pikes Peak and the Wet Mountains. Some trails connect to Lake Pueblo State Park and the Arkansas River Trail system into Pueblo.

Pueblo Mountain Park

Pueblo Mountain Park includes more than 8 miles of trails and 611 acres of land owned by Pueblo and managed by the National Wildlife Discovery Center. Photo by Eric Philips, courtesy of Pueblo Mountain Park.
Pueblo Mountain Park includes more than 8 miles of trails and 611 acres of land owned by Pueblo and managed by the National Wildlife Discovery Center. Photo by Eric Philips, courtesy of Pueblo Mountain Park.

Head west from Pueblo to the foothills of the Wet Mountains and hike through towering ponderosa pine trees, blossoming wildflowers and abundant scrub oak. Intrepid hikers will reach the highest point in the park: The Fire Tower, a double-tier lookout built for recreationists in the 1930s with views of Beulah Valley, Pikes Peak and Pueblo Reservoir. Pueblo Mountain Park is 26 miles west of Pueblo in Beulah, Colorado.

Lake Isabel

Trails intertwine throughout the Lake San Isabel area, offering easy access to picnic areas and hiking trailheads. Photo courtesy US Forest Service
Trails intertwine throughout the Lake San Isabel area, offering easy access to picnic areas and hiking trailheads. Photo courtesy U.S. Forest Service.

Lake Isabel is a hidden gem southwest of Pueblo in the San Isabel National Forest. This 40-acre reservoir sits in a mountain valley on the border between Pueblo and Custer County near Rye, Colorado. Lake Isabel can nearly be circumnavigated along a flat, easy walking path with handicap access. Beyond the lake, there is an extensive system of well-maintained hiking and mountain biking trails stemming from the Lake Isabel Recreation Area into the surrounding national forest.

Pueblo To do in Colorado

About the author

Born and raised in Pueblo, Colorado, Seip graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Southern Colorado and later obtained a master’s degree in education from Walden University in Maryland. After graduation, he started his career in the media industry, working as a news reporter, director and program manager at KCSJ Radio/Pueblo Broadcasters Inc. He then moved into the arts sector, working at the Sangre De Cristo Arts and Conference Center in Pueblo.

His passion for education led him to pursue a career in teaching, spending 20 years in Pueblo School District 70 teaching science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), music and computer science. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he served as the public information officer and assistant director for the Pueblo School District 70 Department of Student Services. Currently, he serves as a communications specialist for UCHealth Parkview Medical Center.

Seip is married to Kerry, a music and STEM teacher in Pueblo School District 70, and is the proud father of two adopted children, both currently attending universities in Colorado.