Thirst Colorado -- Fall 2026

SERVING UP THE COLORADO EXPERIENCE

Vol. 11, No. 4 Fall 2026

AUTUMN ROAD TRIP Exploring fall views and chill wineries

Plus

Nothing is out of reach for this rocket scientist Mighty Minturn is quintessential Colorado Rodeo Dunes brings golf to the Eastern Plains

SAY YES

AND ESCAPE THE ORDINARY

Midweek calls for bold flavors, handcrafted cocktails, and Bistro Mariposa's Wednesday Social Hour, featuring half-price appetizers and select drinks.

Discover all our dining options at MonarchBlackHawk.com including:

Must be 21. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800 GAMBLER (426-2537) or visit betsmart.colorado.gov. Please drink responsibly. y.

Steamboat Lake State Park

Constellation Prize

Experience our great outdoors, 43 state parks and night skies.

Plan your Adventure Reserve a state park campsite (six months in advance), purchase a park pass, obtain an off-highway-vehicle permit or buy a fishing license: cpw.state.co.us or 1-800-244-5613

CONTENTS

Fall

Destinations 8 Road to fall

2026

Beautiful landscapes and tasty wine await

14 Summits and Science Climber and rocket scientist ignores limits

20 NoCo Trail Unofficially speaking, this long haul is catching on

8

23 14ers and suds Top off your summit with the appropriate beverage

34 Avoid the beach Rodeo Dunes brings golf to the sandy Eastern Plains

38 Mighty Minturn Big fun surrounds this little town

14 Experiences 18 Fresh air GABF

Great American Beer Fest soaks up some sun

24 Events calendar

Find your favorite gathering in the state

31 Graceful

Artist Grace Monge uses every experience to create beauty

31 42 Dispersed camping

Exploring the great outdoors without the amenities

44 Craft libations

Looking for Colorado beer, wine, spirits, cider or mead? Done!

On the cover

Fall is a great time to enjoy the colors of the Colorado high country.

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42

Photo: John Hoffman - stock.adobe.com

CORRECTION: Lisa “Moose” Levy Kral should have been credited for the fantastic images in the Loving Lavender feature in the Summer issue.

SOUTHWEST COLORADO'S FOUR CORNERS

DRINK IN A DEEPER KIND OF FALL. Follow the Trail of the Ancients through glowing high-desert landscapes. Explore Mesa Verde National Park at a quieter pace. Then toast the harvest with heritage-apple cider and wine.

Stay in Cortez, Dolores or Mancos and make fall last another night.

SCAN TO PLAN

PLAN YOUR FALL ESCAPE

MesaVerdeCountry.com Experience the past. Find your present.

Fall 2026

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CONTRIBUTORS

Johnny Burkin

In addition to writing and copy editing for Thirst Colorado, Burkin writes screenplays and breaks down the chances of the Denver Broncos and Denver Nuggets returning to championship glory. And he’s been known to bend a few ears with a history lesson.

Malena Larsen

Larsen is a writer and Minnesota-to-Colorado transplant.

Her favorite subjects to write about are craft beer, outdoor adventures, and any topic where she gets to learn something new. In her free time, she enjoys trail running, taking photos of mountain goats, and checking out breweries with her pals.

Publisher Paul Johnson paul@thirstcolorado.com Associate Publisher & Editor Joe Ross joe@thirstcolorado.com Vice President, Sales Scott Kaplan scott@thirstcolorado.com Sales Linda Battle, Rebel Becker, Kylie DeMarco, Olivia Dodson, Christine Werner Design & Layout Sandy Birkey President & Founder Emeritus Wilbur E. Flachman Digital & Marketing Manager Steve Graham

Jay McKinney

McKinney is a Colorado native who grew up south of Denver in Sedalia. In 2020, he graduated from the Metropolitan State University of Denver with a bachelor’s degree in communications. Shortly after, he began contributing to Thirst Colorado. He is passionate about promoting the Colorado lifestyle and the independent craft businesses that make the state a magnet for creative people. During his free time, he enjoys playing golf, shooting pool and hiking throughout Colorado and neighboring Utah.

Contributors Johnny Burkin, Malena Larsen, Jay McKinney, Tiffany Thompson, David Young Thirst Colorado is produced by The Publishing House, a division of Colorado Word Works, Inc. All rights reserved.

Printed in the U.S.A. The Publishing House also produces Colorado’s Performing Arts Publications, serving arts venues along the Front Range.

7380 Lowell Blvd., Westminster, Colorado 80030 303.428.9529

Tiffany Thompson

Thompson is a Colorado-born writer and musician. In addition to her creative pursuits, she spends her time reading, checking out the Denver music scene, and watching movies with her partner and their cat.

Drink up life in large amounts, but restrict your alcohol consumption. We do not endorse or support excessive drinking.

Thirst Colorado is advertiser-supported. Reach us for print and digital advertising opportunities at 303-428-9529 or sales@thirstcolorado.com.

David Young

Young is a freelance writer based in Fort Collins who specializes in beer, whiskey and outdoor writing. Young has been published in SKI Magazine, GearJunkie, 5280 Magazine, USA Today and The Denver Post. Learn more at davidyoungcommunications.com.

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Except where noted, the content of Thirst Colorado is the property of the magazine and should only be reprinted with permission. Thirst Colorado is not responsible for false or misleading claims made in advertising or editorial materials published herein. Thirst Colorado Magazine is distributed in part by DJM Distribution, Inc., and Community Racks Distribution, LLC.

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FALL ADVENTURE

Fall Vines and Views

WINE SIPPING AND LEAF PEEPING ACROSS COLORADO

By Jay McKinney

W

hen Colorado’s stunning landscapes are illuminated in shades of yellow, orange and red with the changing color of leaves, it’s hard to argue that there’s a better time of year in the state than fall. The smoldering summer heat gives way to crisp mornings and signals a shift in wardrobe. Meanwhile patio season and all the activities of summer are still accessible as winter lurks in the near future. Fall is also harvest season for the state’s wine industry and it is a great time of year to get out and support local wineries while exploring the unrivaled beauty of Colorado.

When traveling in Western Colorado to see fall colors, traversing the 63-mile Grand Mesa Scenic Byway is highly recommended. The byway follows Highway 65 and connects Interstate 70 to Highway 92 in Cedaredge. As the largest flat-topped mountain on Earth,

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the Grand Mesa offers incredible scenery with vast meadows, an abundance of mountain lakes and aspen forests turned bright yellow.

GRAND MESA Along the Grand Mesa Scenic Byway, there are plenty of worthy stops. The Land’s End Observatory is a popular destination that lives up to its name. It’s a former ranger observatory that sits on the edge of the Grand Mesa and offers sweeping views of the Book Cliffs, Colorado National Monument, the San Juan Mountains and more.

From this vantage point, the foliage creates a mesmerizing sea of color. For those interested in hiking or biking, there are hundreds of miles of trails throughout the Grand Mesa that are easily accessible.

The scenic byway eventually leads to the town of Cedaredge and a drink may be in order. Chill Switch Wines was founded in 2012 by Dave Aschwanden who has been a champion of the

cbdusty - stock.adobe.com

Colorado wine industry. He’s been making wine for 22 years and is passionate about his craft, making natural wines from Coloradogrown grapes and no adulteration. Call ahead to schedule a tasting at Chill Switch Wines. Aschwanden also recommends Stoney Mesa Winery, Snow Capped Cider and Sips on Main as places in Cedaredge to visit.

Located nearby is the West Elks American Viticultural Area (AVA) based around the towns of Hotchkiss and Paonia. Along with the Grand Valley AVA, the two AVAs produce the bulk of the state’s wine. The West Elks AVA has some of the highest vineyards in North America with elevations exceeding 7,000 feet and its idyllic location in the North Fork Valley is special.

There are a handful of wineries and cideries in the region that offer tours and tastings by appointment and the producers are always eager to showcase the quality of wine being made in the West Elks area. Wineries to contact for a tasting include Alfred

Eames Cellars, Azura Wine Cellars, Black Bridge Winery, Qutori Wines, The Storm Cellar and others.

GRAND VALLEY Roughly 70 miles west lies the Grand Valley, where there are numerous wineries and orchards to visit. For those interested in a day adventure, plan on stopping by the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness and exploring either Big Dominguez or Little Dominguez canyons. The wilderness area is located between the two regions off Highway 50 and while it may not be bursting with color from the fall foliage, it is a great time of year to visit as the temperatures won’t be too extreme.

In the Grand Valley, Palisade is home to more than a dozen picturesque vineyards. Avant Vineyards uses estate-grown grapes to create small batches of tasty wine. With the Book Cliffs looming in the background, other locations offer great settings for tasting Fall 2026

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Azura Cellars and Gallery. Photo by John Fielder, courtesy of Colorado Wine Industry

Above: Avant Vineyards. Photo by John Fielder, courtesy of Colorado Wine Industry

Above: Bookcliff Vineyard.

Photo by Kai Makin, courtesy of Colorado Wine Industry

a variety of wines. Inspired by the towering mesas is Bookcliff Vineyards, a winery with locations in Palisade and Boulder that was recently named the state’s best winery by Tasting Table, a digital publisher. Along with Carboy Winery, Bookcliff is unique in having locations on both the Western Slope and the Front Range.

“Having a presence on both the Western Slope and the Front Range has been a huge advantage for Bookcliff,” says co-owner and CEO Jordan Dickard. “Together, the two locations let us tell the full Colorado wine story. Palisade shows where the wine comes from; Boulder shows how it fits into people’s everyday lives. That combination has helped us build relationships with guests across the state and keep Colorado at the center of the conversation.”

As far as places to experience fall colors, Dickard loves exploring the Grand Mesa but also believes Palisade is great during the harvest as the vines and orchards begin changing color.

To expand the Western Slope adventure, head south to the Four Corners area. Mesa Verde has its own color schemes ruled by a high-desert environment that includes Gambel oak and mountain shrubs. Not far from Mesa Verde in the San Juan Mountains, stands of aspen are mixed with various pine trees. Topping off a hike or drive is easy to do at nearby craft producers. Area wineries include Sutcliffe Vineyards in Cortez, Sauvage Spectrum in Ouray, Durango Winery, and Fox Fire Farms in Ignacio. And check out Fenceline Cider in Mancos, about a 10-minute drive from beautiful Mancos State Park.

Another Western Slope stop to consider is the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. The national park offers stunning views and nearby Gunnison features Buckel Family Wine, as well as High Alpine Brewing Co. Heading toward the Continental Divide, Corona Pass ascends from Winter Park for some amazing views along the Divide.

The Winter Park Winery is down the road in Fraser and Big Trout Brewing Co. is in the heart of Winter Park.

FRONT RANGE

Left: Photo courtesy of Chill Switch Wines

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Back on the Front Range and closer to Boulder, Bookcliff’s Dickard says any of the trails near Eldora Mountain and Nederland can offer spectacular aspen scenery, as well as many other national forest areas along the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway, a 55-mile route that connects Estes Park and Black Hawk.

“My ideal fall day is pairing one of those drives or hikes with a relaxed tasting – either starting or ending at one of our tasting rooms – so people can enjoy both the landscape and a glass of Colorado wine in the same outing,” Dickard says.

There are plenty of other areas to explore across the Front Range as well. Near Fort Collins, the Poudre Canyon is an extremely popular destination full of aspen, cottonwood and willow trees that transform the already beautiful canyon into a surreal spectacle.

Catch a show at the Mishawaka Amphitheater and grab a room at Riverside Colorado to keep your fun rolling in the canyon. Be sure to stop by Odell Brewing Company afterwards. While the brewery is a Fort Collins staple, the OBC Wine Project was launched in 2020 and has won over consumers. The winery and brewery are located right next to each other. Timnath Beerwerks, Salt Road Brewing and Hello Brew Co. are additional stops to consider.

For areas closer to Denver, check out Golden Gate Canyon State Park located west of Golden or Roxborough State Park further to the south. Roxborough boasts the same red rock formations as Red Rocks Amphitheater and there are a variety of trails and lookout points offering stunning views. The landscape is full of scrub oaks that change into an array of colors during the fall. After hiking through the park, Carboy Winery has a location in nearby Littleton that can satisfy the craving for a glass of wine.

In Colorado Springs there is no shortage of sites to visit for leaf peeping. Consider a day trip to the well-preserved mining town of Victor located about 45 miles west of Colorado Springs. Like the miners of the late 19th century chasing gold, the Vindicator Valley Trail offers views of golden aspen groves and is littered with mining relics. Mueller State Park and Pancake Rocks Trail near Divide are

The Storm Cellar. Photo by John Fielder, courtesy of Colorado Wine Industry

also great destinations worth visiting. Latigo Winery, located in the Black Forest region of Colorado Springs, welcomes guests to stop by and try its Colorado wines as well as local ciders and meads.

Hungry? Fountain Creek Winery and Eatery – just south of the Springs – will serve a good meal to go with their wine selection. ■

Alfred Eames Cellars. Photo by John Fielder, courtesy of Colorado Wine Industry

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ADVENTURE

As a matter of fact, it is rocket science

HOW A MOUNTAINEER FINDS MENTAL AND PHYSICAL TENACITY ON TOP OF THE WORLD’S TALLEST PEAKS

O

By Malena Larsen utdoor pursuits are often about something deeper than just having fun. For some, it’s to build resilience and prove something, for others, it’s to connect with nature.

For mountaineer and rocket scientist Meghan Buchanan, getting outside is a way to break down those invisible walls that keep so many of us stuck in place.

“She won’t achieve much academically,” a specialist said about Buchanan when she was in second grade, after getting her dyslexia diagnosis.

“My mom, on the other hand, reframed dyslexia without minimizing it,” Buchanan explained. “She told me I could be anything I wanted to be. I’d just have to try harder than a lot of people.”

Buchanan took her mom’s words and ran with them. Or rather, climbed with them. As a quintessential Colorado kid from

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Woodland Park, she hiked her first fourteener – a peak with an elevation of at least 14,000 feet above sea level – with her dad when she was only 12 years old.

Eventually, Colorado’s tallest mountains proved too simple for Buchanan. In 2005, she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain, standing at 19,341 feet, with her dad.

“I could be myself in the mountains; I felt normal,” Buchanan said. “I didn’t feel broken out there. Kilimanjaro will always be my favorite. My dad died three years after we hiked it. Every climb, I still talk to him. When things get rough, I ask him for help.”

She followed in her dad’s footsteps in more ways than one. “He was a brilliant engineer,” she shared. Buchanan earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering and a master’s in engineering management from the University of Colorado. She has built a successful career as a senior principal engineer in the aerospace and defense industry.

“I was in love with the idea of becoming an engineer and achieving something people said I couldn’t because of my dyslexia,” Buchanan said.

That same mindset carried over to other setbacks in her life. In 2011, Buchanan shattered her femur in a snowboarding accident in Vail. Doctors warned she might need a cane or wheelchair for the rest of her life.

“I thought, no way. I started rehabilitation right away,” she said.

Two years later, she summited Mount Kilimanjaro again.

“I knew I needed to figure out how to have more of that feeling in my life,” Buchanan said of her second Kilimanjaro climb. And that’s exactly what she did. “I became the first rocket scientist to climb the Seven Summits.” Climbing the Seven Summits means summiting the tallest peak on each continent.

THE SEVEN SUMMITS

♦ Africa: Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania Mount Kilimanjaro stands at 19,341 feet and is located near the border of Tanzania and Kenya. It’s a relatively non-technical climb, but altitude, weather, and the sheer size of the tripleconed volcano make it challenging.

♦ Antarctica: Mount Vinson Mount Vinson stands at 16,050 feet. Located in the remote Sentinel Range of the Ellsworth Mountains, this climb comes with extreme cold, strong winds, and remote, challenging terrain. “I teared up because I was lucky to be there,” Buchanan said. “Union Glacier is full of the world’s best mountaineers and some very eccentric people. It’s an amazing place to be.” Union Glacier is used as the primary starting point for expeditions to Mount Vinson along with other peaks in the Sentinel Range.

♦ Asia: Mount Everest, Nepal/China Mount Everest stands at 29,032 feet and is the highest peak in the world. It’s located on the Nepal–China (Tibet) border. Everest is a technical and physically demanding climb, with extreme altitude, harsh weather, and significant risk overall. Buchanan’s first attempt at Mount Everest in 2021 didn’t go as planned.

Multiple obstacles forced her to turn back before reaching the summit. “It was humbling and frustrating, but it taught me that failure doesn’t define me,” she said. She returned the following year, summiting successfully in May 2022.

Photos courtesy of Meghan Buchanan

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♦ Australia: Mount Kosciuszko, Australia Mount Kosciuszko stands at 7,310 feet and is located within Kosciuszko National Park. This peak is a non-technical climb with gentle slopes and well-marked trails.

♦ Europe: Mount Elbrus, Russia Mount Elbrus is a dormant volcano that stands at 18,510 feet. It’s located in the Caucasus Mountains in southern Russia.

♦ North America: Denali, United States Denali is 20,310 feet tall and is the highest mountain in North America. It’s located in the Alaska Range in south‑central Alaska.

Denali is known for its extreme weather, severe cold, and steep vertical pitch. “Denali was more rewarding than Everest because it was self-supported,” Buchanan noted. “You carry your own stuff. It doesn’t care if you’re male or female, rich or poor.” Buchanan is referring to the fact that on Everest, climbers often rely on sherpas to carry their gear, and the climb requires significant financial resources for guides, equipment, and logistics, making it a very different – and even more expensive – experience than Denali.

♦ Oceania: Carstensz Pyramid (Puncak Jaya), Indonesia Carstensz Pyramid stands at 16,024 feet and is located in the remote Sudirman Range of Papua. This peak is a steep, technical rock climb that requires ropes, scrambling and navigating dense jungle.

♦ South America: Aconcagua, Argentina Aconcagua stands at 22,838 feet and is located in the Andes near the Chilean border. Its high altitude and unpredictable weather make it a physically demanding climb.

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MESSNER VS. BASS You may have noticed that there are eight peaks on the Seven Summits list. This is because there are two commonly recognized versions of the Seven Summits: the Bass list, which includes Mount Kosciuszko (introduced by businessman Richard Bass). And the Messner list, which includes Carstensz Pyramid (championed by climber Reinhold Messner).

Unsurprisingly, Buchanan has completed both versions of the Seven Summits.

For her next major achievement, Buchanan has set her sights on the Explorer’s Grand Slam. This consists of climbing the highest peak on each continent and skiing the “last degree” to both the North and South Poles. The “last degree” refers to traveling the final degree of latitude on skis to reach each pole.

Buchanan has already completed the last-degree ski to the South Pole in Antarctica. The only challenge left is the last-degree ski to the North Pole. Finishing that would make her the first U.S.

woman to complete the Explorer’s Grand Slam.

Buchanan has achieved some of the most challenging bucket list items. According to her, it’s because she has grit (her own version).

“GGRIT: Gratitude, growth, resilience, integrity, tenacity. To me, it’s about not listening to those negative voices in your head,” she explains.

To help raise awareness for dyslexia and neurodiversity and encourage others to pursue their goals, she wrote GGRIT: Choose to Rise, a memoir and personal development guide. When Buchanan isn’t climbing the world’s tallest peaks or writing memoirs, you can find her enjoying a glass of wine in Minturn.

Buchanan’s achievements show that the true value of outdoor pursuits lies in testing ourselves, growing through challenges, and finding resilience. We may not all achieve the Seven Summits, but we can all find our own version of Mount Everest when we test our limits outside. ■

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GABF 2026 UNDER THE SUN

T

he Great American Beer Festival might be the nation’s most popular beer festival but the location is 100 percent Colorado. Always has been.

From the early days in Boulder to the event’s peak at the Colorado Convention Center in the years prior to Covid, Coloradans, naturally, have helped drive the monstrous gathering of beer lovers. This year’s Oct. 10-11 party will transform Denver’s Levitt Pavilion into a tasting zone with fresh air and a hillside to kick back and listen to music. Low Cut Connie is scheduled to play Saturday and Próxima Parada is set for Sunday.

A $60 ticket will get you into a 12-4 p.m. session where brewery staff members will pour your beer and chat up their suds.

“This isn’t just a venue change for us, it’s an evolution,” said Ann Obenchain, vice president of marketing and communications of the Brewers Association. “We’ve listened to our attendees, and we’re creating an outdoor festival that invites people to explore, discover, and celebrate craft beer in a completely new way – one that’s all about gathering your friends, finding your spot on the lawn, and enjoying great beer and good times together.”

Care to learn more about the beer, breweries, bands and food options? Visit greatamericanbeerfestival.com. Remember, Levitt Pavilion’s parking options are limited so plan to use a rideshare or public transportation. ■

Photos courtesy of the Brewers Association

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YOUR PASSPORT TO ADVENTURE. Don Quixote I Oct. 2-11, 2026

Presented in memor y of Frank & Roselyn Hopkins

The Nutcracker I Nov. 28-Dec. 27, 2026 Presented by P N C Bank

Romeo and Juliet I Jan. 29-Feb. 7, 2027 The Wizard of Oz I Mar. 5-14, 2027 MasterWorks I Apr. 9-18, 2027 Sponsored by De nver Balle t Guild

Tickets start at $40.

Chlo e Kinzler by Rachel Neville

Fall 2026

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DESTINATION

The NoCo Trail AN EMERGING ADVENTURE THROUGH COLORADO’S NORTHERN MOUNTAINS

By Malena Larsen Photos By Kevin Silvernale

I

n 2023, I spent a month hiking the Colorado Trail from Denver to Durango. During the nearly 500-mile journey, I traveled from the Front Range, through the Sawatch Range, to the San Juan Mountains. It was a rewarding way to see so much of the diverse topography that the state has to offer. However, the Colorado Trail leaves the northern mountains unseen. Luckily, the same year I completed my thru-hike, someone was sketching a solution to the missing scenery.

Kevin Silvernale was on an airplane, looking down on the Rocky Mountains, when he decided he was going to create the Northern Colorado Trail, also known as the NoCo Trail.

“Not as many people experience Northern Colorado and it has some really cool gems,” explained Silvernale. “I wanted the trail to feel like you could just walk out your backdoor and launch into the experience.”

Silvernale, who was given the trail name Sunshine because of his positive and friendly attitude, is no stranger to thru-hiking. Before creating the NoCo Trail, he completed some of the country’s most famous long-distance hikes including the Pacific Crest Trail, the Appalachian Trail, the Colorado Trail, and much of the Continental Divide Trail.

He plotted the route by stitching together existing trails, forest service roads, and highways relying on a mix of maps, GAIA GPS, personal knowledge, and “a little bit of guess work” to create a cohesive, thru-hikable route.

The NoCo Trail shares some stretches with the Continental Divide Trail, but its mileage and time commitment are more in line with the Colorado Trail. At roughly 300 miles, most hikers can complete it in three to five weeks. It links mountain towns like Walden, Steamboat Springs and Oak Creek.

“I wanted to make this trail something accessible. Something people could hike without committing months,” Silvernale said.

The trail is about 40 percent road walking and 60 percent trail hiking in its current state, he estimated. He first hiked it in August 2024, which was his trial run for the trail he’d been mapping.

“I spent 19 days on the trail, figuring out where I could camp, learning what worked, and what didn’t,” he said.

The NoCo Trail begins about 20 minutes north of Estes Park in Drake, ends in Glenwood Springs, and is broken into four segments.

SEGMENT ONE: DUNRAVEN TRAILHEAD TO WALDEN (90.7 MILES) From the Dunraven Trailhead, the trail travels through Rocky Mountain National Park, climbing over Stormy Peaks Pass and skirting the Comanche Peak Wilderness before descending into the Cache la Poudre River valley. It then crosses State Highway 14, winds through the Rawah Wilderness and along the exposed Medicine Bow Trail, and finishes in Walden.

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SEGMENT TWO: WALDEN TO HIGHWAY 40, ACCESS TO STEAMBOAT SPRINGS (65.1 MILES) Leaving Walden, the trail follows roads to the North Lone Pine Trailhead, then winds through trails in the Mt. Zirkel Wilderness.

Hikers can summit Mt. Zirkel (12,100-feet) for panoramic views before joining the Continental Divide Trail and continuing on roads to Highway 40, where hikers can gain access to Steamboat Springs.

SEGMENT THREE: HIGHWAY 40 TO YAMPA (56.9 MILES) From Highway 40, the trail follows forest roads to the Routt Divide Trail, then connects to the Silver Creek Trail and Sarvis Creek Wilderness. It continues along dirt roads and the Morrison Divide Trail before finishing with a short stretch on Highway 31 into the town of Yampa.

SEGMENT FOUR: YAMPA TO GLENWOOD SPRINGS (91.7 MILES) The final segment leaves Yampa, following county and forest roads into the Flat Top Wilderness near Sheriff Reservoir. Hikers cross the Devil’s Causeway, navigate the rim of Wall Lake and the White River, continue past Bison and Heart Lakes, and finish along the Transfer Trail just above Glenwood Springs.

For Silvernale, one of his favorite moments of the trail is in the fourth segment.

“I didn’t pick the easy route, I picked the cool route,” he said, referring to the Devil’s Causeway. The narrow ridge features a 500-foot drop on either side and looks out over the Flat Tops Wilderness.

For hikers wanting a less daring route, there are ways to bypass Devil’s Causeway. In fact, hikers can customize their journey with several alternate routes and bypasses throughout all segments that can be found on the NoCo Trail website.

Since Silvernale launched the website in early 2025, roughly 10 to 20 hikers have completed the full trail, with more completing individual segments. While the trail isn’t formally recognized, public land agencies like the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management are aware of it.

“The support from land agencies and the hiking community has been incredible,” Silvernale said. “I’m excited to see where it goes next.”

Silvernale’s hope for the future is that the trail will receive a formal designation. It is important to note that the NoCo Trail and the Colorado Trail are completely separate entities.

“Seeing people out there on the trail, following the route I mapped, is really rewarding,” Silvernale shared. “It makes all the planning worth it and every hiker that finishes it reminds me why I started.”

For hikers like me who prefer a bite-sized thru-hike compared to months-long journeys like the Pacific Crest Trail or the Continental Divide Trail, the NoCo Trail is a challenging-yetdigestible option. Here’s to a year of new adventures, uncharted territory, and unforgettable mountain memories. ■

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Beer & 14er Road Trip

Brews that live up to their geographical matches Story and photo by David Young

TENMILE RANGE

W

Outer Range Brewing Co.’s In The Steep (Frisco) + Quandary Peak (14,265 feet) Quandary Peak is one of Colorado’s most famous fourteeners for beginner hikers who are just getting into these peaks. It pairs well with the Outer Range Brewing Co. in Frisco, which is all about high alpine adventures, and why the In The Steep Hazy IPA is a great pairing for this peak.

SAWATCH RANGE

Elevation Beer Co.’s 8 Second Kolsch (Poncha Springs) + Mount Yale (14,197 feet) Mount Yale is one of Colorado’s classic fourteeners, and a great introduction to high-altitude hiking. It rises to 14,197 feet in the Sawatch Range’s Collegiate Peaks, north of Poncha Springs, where Elevation Beer Co. is headquartered. Enjoy a refreshing Kolsch posthike to recharge.

hat’s better than summiting a fourteener? Perhaps cracking open a nice, refreshing Colorado craft beer on top of the mountain to enhance the view.

Craft beer pairs with most outdoor adventures, but few achievements are as challenging as climbing a 14,000-foot peak. We’ve assembled a six-pack of craft beers that pair nicely with some of the state’s most popular fourteeners.

Eddyline Brewing’s Crank Yanker IPA (Buena Vista) + Mount Elbert (14,438 feet) Mount Elbert is Colorado’s highest fourteener, and a mustclimb for anyone looking to conquer the second tallest peak in the contiguous 48 states. The climb is a class two, which means that there are no technical aspects. We recommend pairing with an Eddyline Brewing Crank Yanker IPA.

FRONT RANGE Oskar Blues Brewery’s Mama’s Little Yella Pils (Lyons) + Longs Peak (14,259 feet) Longs Peak, located in Rocky Mountain National Park, is the only fourteener in a Colorado national park. The massive mountain looms large in northern Colorado and involves some technical Class 3 climbing to get to the large, flat summit. Once you make it, crack open a Mama’s Little Yella Pils.

COLLEGIATE PEAKS WILDERNESS

SANGRE DE CRISTO RANGE Three Barrel Brewing Co.’s Hop Trash IPA (Del Norte) + Crestone Needle (14,196 feet) Crestone Needle is buried in the Sangre de Cristo Range southeast of Crestone in Saguache County. A solid class 3 to 4 climb, make sure you are prepared for this peak. Try the Hop Trash IPA from Three Barrel Brewing Company when you reach the top.

SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS SKA Brewing Co.’s Lime Lager (Durango) + Mount Sneffels (14,153 feet) Mount Sneffels has the honor of being the tallest peak in this range at 14,153 feet at the summit. This fourteener is a remote, challenging peak in the Uncompahgre National Forest. After you summit, crack open a Lime Lager with Salt from SKA Brewing. ■

Scan to read an expanded version of this story.

Fall 2026

ThirstColorado.com 23

EVENTS

DON’T MISS OUT ON THESE EXCITING HAPPENINGS HAPPENING NOW THROUGH SEPTEMBER 7 COLORADO STATE FAIR – Live music, agricultural competitions, carnival rides and rodeo events, other entertainment State Fairgrounds, Pueblo THROUGH SEPTEMBER 20 “TOPDOG/UNDERDOG” - Acclaimed play about brothers who share a cramped apartment and a complicated history Curious Theatre Company, Denver

SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 4 AN EVENING WITH THE COLORADO SYMPHONY CELLO ENSEMBLE - Classical masterpieces and contemporary compositions Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver SEPTEMBER 4-6 CAVEMAN MUSIC FESTIVAL – 25 bands, plus fishing, camping and hiking. The lineup includes Red Shahan and the Moonhowlers Monument Lake Resort, Weston SEPTEMBER 5 OKTOBERFEST – European-style craft beer festival with chicken dances and kids’ activities River Run Village, Keystone SEPTEMBER 5 SOUTH FORK “ALDER ASS” PACK BURRO RACE - With live music, silent auction and duck races Brown Memorial Park, South Fork SEPTEMBER 5 DEFYING GRAVITY: THE BEST OF BROADWAY - Including songs from “Wicked,” “Grease,” “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Chicago,” and more Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver SEPTEMBER 5-6 FALL FEST - Colorado Art Weekend brings 100 artists in a variety of media 10 Buffalo St., Dillon SEPTEMBER 5-7 GATHERING AT THE GREAT DIVIDE ART FESTIVAL – National artists with original works in 13 categories Colorado Mountain College, Breckenridge SEPTEMBER 6-7 GREGORY ALAN ISAKOV WITH THE COLORADO SYMPHONY - Revered Denver singer-songwriter performs with the orchestra Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison

Photo courtesy of Durango Cowboy Gathering

SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 3 DURANGO COWBOY GATHERING - A celebration of the American West through music, poetry, storytelling, horse events. Pictured: An Old West-style standoff on the streets of downtown Durango. durangocowboygathering.org SEPTEMBER 11-12 OKTOBERWEST - Craft beer, music and games at a traditional German-style beer festival Steamboat Square, Steamboat Springs

SEPTEMBER 12 JAMMIN’ LAMB FEST - Lamb dinner, plus Colorado beer, live music by Caitlyn Taussig Rio Blanco County Fairgrounds, Meeker

SEPTEMBER 11-12 FRISCO FALL FEST AND ART SHOW - Two-day Arts at Altitude show and sale; one-day fall fest with German beer, food and music Frisco Historic Park

SEPTEMBER 12 PALMER LAKE WINE FESTIVAL - Fundraiser for Tri-Lakes Cares with more than 20 wineries Palmer Lake Recreation Area, Palmer Lake

SEPTEMBER 11-13 SCOTSFEST - Scottish festival with highland games, bagpipes and cultural showcases Estes Park Fairgrounds SEPTEMBER 11-13 BRECKENRIDGE BLUEGRASS + BEER FESTIVAL - Pairing dinner, grand tasting, Sunday brunch and live music Main Street Station, Breckenridge SEPTEMBER 11-13 BEETHOVEN SYMPHONY NO. 9 - Colorado Symphony concert with Peter Oundjian Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver

SEPTEMBER 8-27 “THE OUTSIDERS” - Classic coming-of- age story set in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1967 turned into a Tony-winning musical Buell Theatre, Denver

SEPTEMBER 11-20 VAIL OKTOBERFEST – German-style festival with food, music, and beer, plus the annual beef cook-off and lawn game competitions Vail Village, Vail

SEPTEMBER 10 - OCTOBER 4 SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET - Stephen Sondheim’s bloody musical set in Victorian London ENT Center for the Arts, Colorado Springs

SEPTEMBER 11 - OCTOBER 4 “DESTINY OF DESIRE: A TELENOVELA PLAY WITH MUSIC” - Karen Zacarías’ hit show that “takes you on an emotional rollercoaster” Wolf Theatre, Denver

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SEPTEMBER 12 PAWTOBERFEST - Beer and spirits festival raising money for the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region Printers Park, Colorado Springs SEPTEMBER 12 COLORADO WINE WALK - Wine tasting event with food, vendors and live entertainment Dairy Block, Denver SEPTEMBER 12 COLORADO EPILEPSY WALK - Annual fundraising walk for the Epilepsy Foundation Olympic Center, Colorado Springs SEPTEMBER 12-13 PARK HILL FALL ARTS FESTIVAL – Art, live performances and interactive activities near the Denver Zoo Park Hill Masonic Lodge, Denver SEPTEMBER 13 MILE HIGH FREEDOM BANDS: AUTUMN SKIES & PUMPKIN PIES - Fall-themed jazz concert with “warmth, laughter, and rhythm” Chambers Grant Saloon, Denver

EVENTS SEPTEMBER 16 - OCTOBER 4 “HOLD ON TO YOUR BUTTS” - Two actors and a foley artist perform a live, shot-for-shot parody of “Jurassic Park” Garner Galleria Theatre, Denver SEPTEMBER 17 LET FREEDOM SWING GOLF TOURNAMENT - Fundraising event for Colorado Veterans Project and veterans’ organizations The Ridge at Castle Pines North, Castle Pines SEPTEMBER 18 LAWRENCE WITH THE COLORADO SYMPHONY - Orchestra accompanies Grammy-nominated soul-pop band with highenergy grooves, horns and dynamic vocals Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver SEPTEMBER 18-19 SNOWMASS WINE FESTIVAL - Local cuisine, live music and wine Various locations, Snowmass Village SEPTEMBER 18-19 ROCKY MOUNTAIN WINE FEST - Wine sampling and live music benefiting The National Sports Center for the Disabled The Village at Winter Park SEPTEMBER 18-20 TRINIDAD ART FESTIVAL AND GET LIT LITERARY FESTIVAL - Art show, open mic nights, writing workshops and other events The Commons, Trinidad SEPTEMBER 18-20 PUEBLO CHILE AND FRIJOLES FESTIVAL Harvest celebration with roasted chiles, live music and vendors Downtown Pueblo

SEPTEMBER 19 COLORADO EPILEPSY WALK - Annual fundraising walk for the Epilepsy Foundation Fossil Creek Park, Fort Collins

SEPTEMBER 19-20 COMMUNITY ROOTS ART FESTIVAL Colorado-based art festival that uplifts local black, indigenous and brown creatives Vision Quest Brewery, Boulder

SEPTEMBER 19 DENVER WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S – Inspiring fundraising event Denver City Park

SEPTEMBER 19-20 PIKES PEAK MARATHON & ASCENT - Oldest continually held U.S. marathon, with 7,800 feet of elevation change Memorial Park, Manitou Springs

SEPTEMBER 19 LAKE CITY UNCORKED WINE AND MUSIC FESTIVAL - Family-friendly fall festival Downtown Lake City

SEPTEMBER 19-20 SUGAR BEET DAYS - Festival with shopping, free entertainment and regional food celebrating Colorado’s agricultural heritage and one of the state’s most important crops Downtown Sterling

SEPTEMBER 19 THE BALD AND BEAUTIFUL TOUR - Comedy duo and drag stars Trixie Mattel and Katya Zamolodchikova perform Colorado Convention Center, Denver

SEPTEMBER 23 BOULDER PHIL AT PLANET BLUEGRASS - The Boulder Phil String Quartet will perform songs

by The Rolling Stones, Muse and other major rock acts Wildflower Pavilion, Lyons

SEPTEMBER 19 MINERS DAY - Commemoration of Frederick’s mining heritage, with parade, burro race, contests and live entertainment Centennial Park, Frederick

SEPTEMBER 24-27 TELLURIDE AUTUMN CLASSIC - Four days of fine art, rare automobiles and vintage motorcycles Mountain Village, Telluride

SEPTEMBER 19 “[IN]HUMAN” - Boulder Ballet’s season opener, with choreography by Jorma Elo, Ben Needham-Wood and Natasha Adorlee Chautauqua Auditorium, Boulder SEPTEMBER 19-20 ARTUMN FESTIVAL - Showcase for wide range of artists and crafters Elk Avenue, Downtown Crested Butte

SEPTEMBER 25-26 FRUITA FALL FESTIVAL - Large, free event with outhouse race, beard rally, parade, pet show and other classic events and activities Downtown Fruita

SEPTEMBER 18-20 COLORFEST BALLOON RALLY - Two mass hot air balloon launches, beer festival, 5K run/walk Pagosa Springs SEPTEMBER 18-20 TELLURIDE BLUES AND BREWS FESTIVAL Headliners include Jon Batiste, Taj Mahal, Keb’ Mo’ and the Marcus King Band Town Park, Telluride SEPTEMBER 18-27 DENVER OKTOBERFEST - Keg bowling, stein hoisting, live music and more in long-running German-style beer festival Larimer Street, Denver SEPTEMBER 18 - OCTOBER 24 ALMOST HEAVEN: SONGS OF JOHN DENVER A nostalgia-fueled revue combining the songs and stories of John Denver Town Hall Arts Center, Littleton SEPTEMBER 19 COLORADO MOUNTAIN WINEFEST Reimagined celebration of community, craft and Colorado wine Riverbend Park, Palisade SEPTEMBER 19 LATIN BEATS: SONIDOS DE LAS AMÉRICAS The Mexican Cultural Center and the Colorado Symphony present a free concert celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver

Live Life, Drink Beer & Rip Dude!

15120 E Hampden Ave. • Aurora, 80014

Zoiglbrau.com Info@zoiglbrau.com Fall 2026

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EVENTS SEPTEMBER 25-26 LA JUNTA TARANTULA FESTIVAL - Celebration of tarantula mating season, with a parade, expert talks, entertainment, art, a hairy leg contest and a screening of “Arachnophobia” La Junta SEPTEMBER 25-27 SMALLTOWN GATHERING - Yoga and music festival, with headliners The California Honeydrops, Fruition and Moontricks Riverside Park, Salida SEPTEMBER 25-27 RACHMANINOFF’S 3RD PIANO CONCERTO Colorado Symphony performance with Garrick Ohlsson and Rune Bergmann Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver SEPTEMBER 26 TOUGH MUDDER COLORADO - Physically challenging obstacle course competition Fort Carson, Colorado Springs SEPTEMBER 26 MOUNTAIN CHILE CHA CHA - 20th annual celebration of the Southwest green chile harvest, with a green chile cook-off and tasting, and other activities Yamaguchi Park, Pagosa Springs SEPTEMBER 26 HOMETOWN THROWDOWN FALL FESTIVAL Live music, local libations and family activities Little Beach Park Amphitheater, Minturn SEPTEMBER 26 BRAD UPTON - High-energy comedian, actor and writer returns to Colorado PACE Center, Parker SEPTEMBER 26-27 COLORADO HIGHLAND GAMES - Celtic sports, dancing, music, cars and food Denver Polo Club, Sedalia SEPTEMBER 26-NOVEMBER 1 FRIGHT FEST - Haunted houses, scare zones, live entertainment and theme park rides Elitch Gardens, Denver SEPTEMBER 27 ISIDORE STRING QUARTET & PIANIST JEREMY DENK - Friends of Chamber Music opens season with Banff competition winners and a MacArthur fellow Newman Center, Denver SEPTEMBER 30 CHALLENGER DEEP: STRATØS AND THE BOULDER PHILHARMONIC - Local composerperformer debuts compositions from his upcoming album eTown, Boulder SEPTEMBER 30 RAVI COLTRANE QUARTET - Saxophonist, bandleader and composer performs as part of a centennial celebration of his father, John Coltrane Newman Center, Denver SEPTEMBER 30 - OCTOBER 3 DURANGO COWBOY GATHERING - A celebration of the American West through music, poetry, storytelling and horse events Downtown Durango

26 ThirstColorado.com Fall 2026

Photo by Scott Peterson | Courtesy of Smalltown Gathering

SEPTEMBER 25-27 SMALLTOWN GATHERING - Yoga and music festival returns to Riverside Park in Salida. This year’s lineup includes The California Honeydrops, Fruition, Moontricks, Daniel Rodriguez, Lindsay Lou, Magoo and Yasmin Williams. smalltowngathering.com

OCTOBER OCTOBER 1 “THE RING” IN CONCERT - Horror film screening with the Colorado Symphony performing the original score live Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver OCTOBER 1-4 STEAMBOAT FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL - Chefs, vintners and guests gather around shared tables and fine bottles Various locations, Steamboat Springs OCTOBER 2-3 CIDER DAYS - Family event celebrating Lakewood’s agricultural past with cider pressing, performances and harvest treats Heritage Lakewood OCTOBER 2-4 CEDAREDGE APPLEFEST - Annual commemoration of harvest season and agriculture, with live music, art, golf tournament, antique vehicle shows and a run Downtown Cedaredge OCTOBER 2-11 “DON QUIXOTE” - The Colorado Ballet performs choreographer Marius Petipa’s adaptation of Cervantes’ beloved novel Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Denver OCTOBER 2 - NOVEMBER 1 “THE TEMPEST” - Shakespeare’s fantastical tale of shipwreck, monsters, romance and revenge Kilstrom Theatre, Denver OCTOBER 3 RUFUS WAINWRIGHT’S WANTED: JUDY GARLAND - Acclaimed songwriter performs

favorites from his long-running tribute show Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver OCTOBER 3 SOUTHWEST FRESH FEST - Showcase of fresh hop beers from area breweries, as well as live music, food trucks and farm tours Billy Goat Hop Farm, Montrose OCTOBER 3 DENVER PORCHFEST - At least 120 artists playing on more than 60 porches across the neighborhood for a free music festival Baker Neighborhood, Denver OCTOBER 3-4 ESTES PARK ELK FEST - Free celebration of the annual elk rut, with wildlife exhibits, educational presentations, entertainment and a marketplace Bond Park, Estes Park OCTOBER 3-4 THE ODDITIES & CURIOSITIES EXPO - Traveling showcase of taxidermy, preserved specimens, original artwork, horror/halloween inspired pieces, antiques, handcrafted oddities, etc.

Colorado Convention Center, Denver OCTOBER 4 SAN JUAN OKTOBERFEST - Inaugural Austrianstyle festival following the Ridgway 1K Rally Through the Alley, with contests, pretzel toss and a chicken dance-off Hartwell Park, Ridgway OCTOBER 4 SARA BAREILLES - Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, actress and Broadway star performs Colorado Convention Center, Denver

EVENTS OCTOBER 4 HARVEST PARTY - Urban winery’s 23rd annual celebration of the grape harvest, with live music, gourmet food, grape stomping and wine releases Balistreri Vineyards, Denver OCTOBER 6 FRONT RANGE CHAMBER PLAYERS’ BIRTHDAY FAVORITES - With selections by Debussy, Boulanger and Frank McNeal Performing Arts Center, Fort Collins OCTOBER 9 PALLAVI MAHIDHARA - Indian American classical pianist Pallavi Mahidara performs Lakewood Cultural Center OCTOBER 9-11 BERNSTEIN & RAVEL - Colorado Symphony performance with Vadim Gluzman and Andrew Litton Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver OCTOBER 10 FRONT RANGE CHAMBER PLAYERS’ BIRTHDAY FAVORITES - With selections by Debussy, Boulanger and Frank Montview Blvd. Presbyterian, Denver OCTOBER 9-11 BIG B’S CIDER FESTIVAL - Live music and activities to celebrate harvest season Big B’s Delicious Orchards, Hotchkiss OCTOBER 9-11 FANCY SPIDER MUSIC FEST - Three days of music, art, comedy and wellness, including Cheap Perfume and Rattlesnake Milk Downtown Trinidad OCTOBER 10 HALLOWINE FESTIVAL - Samples of wine from 15-20 Colorado wineries, plus live music Thompson River Ranch, Johnstown OCTOBER 10 CHOCTOBERFEST - Chocolate and cheese festival spotlighting local vendors Arapahoe County Fairgrounds, Aurora OCTOBER 10-11 GREAT AMERICAN BEER FESTIVAL - One of the world’s largest beer events, reimagined in a new outdoor venue Levitt Pavilion, Denver OCTOBER 11 GABRIELA MONTERO - Friends of Chamber Music hosts a program inspired by the music of Spain, including works by Liszt, Albéniz, Granados, Larrocha, and Scarlatti Newman Center, Denver OCTOBER 11 COLORADO BACH ENSEMBLE - Free performance of Bach’s earliest known chorale cantata, BWV 4, which was composed for Easter Sunday in the year 1707 Wellshire Presbyterian Church, Denver OCTOBER 13 JEFF GOLDBLUM & THE MILDRED SNITZER ORCHESTRA: THE NIGHT BLOOMS WORLD TOUR - Colorado Symphony performance with quirky Hollywood A-lister Jeff Goldblum Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver Fall 2026

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EVENTS OCTOBER 15 MOTUS THEATER WITH BOULDER PHIL Music and storytelling featuring three Motus monologists, a string quartet, violinist Anthony Salvo, and special guest community readers Broomfield Auditorium OCTOBER 15 STAND-UP FOR HOPE - an evening of comedy and poetry to support Art from Ashes youth empowerment programs, with Ren Q. Dawe.

Three Leaches Theater, Lakewood OCTOBER 16-17 JOE HISAISHI WITH THE COLORADO SYMPHONY - Joe Hisaishi will conduct a new concerto for orchestra that was cocommissioned by the Colorado Symphony Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver OCTOBER 16-18 ROCKY MOUNTAIN WOMEN’S FILM FESTIVAL - Screenings, engaging post-film conversations and filmmaker forums Various locations, Colorado Springs OCTOBER 16-18 TELLURIDE HORROR SHOW - Colorado’s first and largest horror film festival, including many U.S. premieres Various locations, Telluride OCTOBER 16-18 “TOMMY” - All-new production of The Who’s groundbreaking rock opera Buell Theatre, Denver OCTOBER 17 SPOOKTACULAR - family-friendly Halloween festival with trick-or-treat trail, games and prizes Philip S. Miller Park, Castle Rock OCTOBER 17 PAUL TAYLOR DANCE COMPANY - Leading dance organization returns with beloved works and new pieces Newman Center, Denver OCTOBER 17 MILE HIGH FREEDOM BANDS: WITCH, PLEASE! - Symphonic band and spooky troupe “conjures a world of magic, mischief, and theatrical chaos where anything can happen” Historic Grant Avenue, Denver OCTOBER 20 - NOVEMBER 7 “BEAUTY AND THE BEAST” - Beloved musical more than 25 years, with spectacular new sets and costumes Buell Theatre, Denver

Photo by Amanda Tipton | Courtesy of Wonderbound

OCT. 15 TO 25 THE WITCHING HOUR - Wonderbound’s new contemporary dance production for the Halloween season. The Clay Rose Band will accompany the show (pictured: “The Sandman” in May 2026 with Clay Rose and the Gasoline Lollipops). wonderbound.com OCTOBER 23-25 THE FIREBIRD WITH CLEO PARKER ROBINSON DANCE - Colorado Symphony performance, also including John Williams Horn Concerto Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver OCTOBER 24 EMMA CRAWFORD COFFIN RACES AND FESTIVAL - The nation’s original coffin races commemorate Emma Crawford, whose coffin went racing down the mountainside in 1929 Manitou Springs OCTOBER 24 SHINING BALL - Stephen King inspired event with costume contests and live DJ Stanley Hotel, Estes Park OCTOBER 24 QUARTETO NUEVO - Concert merging Western classical, Eastern European folk, Latin and jazz Lakewood Cultural Center

NOVEMBER NOVEMBER 1 DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS CELEBRATION Colorado Symphony performance featuring a narrated story, vocal performances and a costume contest Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver NOVEMBER 6-8 MOZART REQUIEM - Colorado Symphony performance with Gemma New & the Colorado Symphony Chorus Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver NOVEMBER 6-8 DENVER CHRISTMAS SHOW - Shopping, visits with Santa, cocoa with Mrs. Claus, caroling, candy and a visit from a Hallmark Holiday movie star National Western Center, Denver

OCTOBER 24-25 DANCERS’ CHOICE - Boulder Ballet dancers and artists create, produce and lead an original performance program Gordon Gamm Theater, Boulder

NOVEMBER 7 ROCKY MOUNTAIN CRAFT SPIRITS FESTIVAL Mixing the spirit of a Prohibition-era speakeasy with rugged Wild West charm to serve samples of spirits, beer and alcohol-free beverages Estes Park Events Complex, Estes Park

OCTOBER 23 THE DENVER BRASS - Season opening concert with fan favorites and classic rock covers Parsons Theatre, Northglenn

OCTOBER 27 TERRY FATOR - “America’s Got Talent” winner blends ventriloquism, comedy and more than 200 celebrity impressions PACE Center, Parker

NOVEMBER 7 STELLA HEATH & THE BILLIE HOLIDAY PROJECT - Concert transporting audiences to the golden era of jazz Lakewood Cultural Center

OCTOBER 23-24 BOULDER PHILHARMONIC: SIBELIUS SYMPHONY NO. 2 - Vivian Fung’s lively Pizzicato; followed by Liebermann’s Flute Concerto performed by Christina Jennings First United Methodist Church, Boulder

OCTOBER 29-31 “THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS” One of Tim Burton’s most celebrated films on-screen with the Colorado Symphony performing the score live Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver

NOVEMBER 7 JOHN SCOFIELD’S “ELECTROSPECTIVE” - Jazz musician takes a fresh look at his classic compositions with Adam Deitch, Larry Goldings and Oteil Burbridge Newman Center, Denver

OCTOBER 21 BOULDER PHIL AT PLANET BLUEGRASS String quartet will perform country songs by John Denver, Bill Monroe and more Wildflower Pavilion, Lyons

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EVENTS Golden aspens, crisp mountain air, and unforgettable adventures make fall the perfect time to visit Minturn. Nestled along the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway, enjoy scenic drives, hiking, mountain biking, and a historic downtown with local shops and restaurants. Don’t miss Hometown Throwdown September 26th, and Minturn’s monthly First Friday events. Visit www.minturn.org for event details and local updates.

NOVEMBER 7 JOHN MCEUEN & THE CIRCLE BAND PRESENT “WILL THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN” - Founding Nitty Gritty Dirt Band member celebrates the band’s groundbreaking 1972 album PACE Center, Parker NOVEMBER 7-15 VERDI’S “MACBETH” - Opera Colorado performs Verdi’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragic masterpiece Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Denver NOVEMBER 7 - APRIL 4 “WHAT A GLORIOUS FEELING!” - Backstage play that goes behind the scenes at the studio where Gene Kelly created “Singin’ in the Rain” Garner Galleria Theatre, Denver NOVEMBER 10 FRONT RANGE CHAMBER PLAYERS - Bassoon extravaganza, followed by Carl Maria von Weber’s Op. 63 for flute, cello and piano McNeal Performing Arts Center, Fort Collins

NOVEMBER 15 ORPHEUS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA & PIANIST ISATA KANNEH-MASON - Friends of Chamber Music hosts acclaimed orchestra and awardwinning British pianist for a world premiere Newman Center, Denver

NOVEMBER 21 MILE HIGH FREEDOM BANDS: VIBRANT - String orchestra “captures that fleeting, breathtaking moment when color deepens and everything feels alive with possibility” Chambers Grant Saloon, Denver

NOVEMBER 19 - DECEMBER 13 “PRIVATE LIVES” - Production of Noël Coward’s acclaimed play that reminds audiences it is “better to have loved and fought than never to have loved at all” ENT Center for the Arts, Colorado Springs

NOVEMBER 21-22 THE DENVER BRASS: “ORGAN PIPES & HORNS OF PLENTY” - Concert with organist Joseph Galema featuring classical masterworks and music celebrating the Thanksgiving season Bethany Lutheran Church, Cherry Hills Village

NOVEMBER 19 LINDSAY LOU PRESENTS BLUEGRASS WOMEN - Concert mixing bluegrass and new music Newman Center, Denver

NOVEMBER 25 AN EVENING WITH PETER BILLINGSLEY - A screening of the beloved holiday classic “A Christmas Story” is followed by an audience Q&A with the actor who portrayed Ralphie PACE Center, Parker

NOVEMBER 20-22 ELGAR CELLO CONCERTO & DVORÁK SYMPHONY NO. 7 - Colorado Symphony concert with conductor Peter Oundjian Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver NOVEMBER 20 - DECEMBER 23 DENVER CHRISTKINDL MARKET - Authentic German-style holiday market with live entertainment and local and European craft and food vendors Auraria Campus, Denver NOVEMBER 20 - DECEMBER 27 “BIG: THE MUSICAL” - High-energy show based on the Tom Hanks body-switching movie Town Hall Arts Center, Littleton

NOVEMBER 25 TO DECEMBER 27 “A CHRISTMAS CAROL” - The annual holiday tradition that traces money-hoarding curmudgeon Ebenezer Scrooge’s journey Wolf Theatre, Denver NOVEMBER 27 CATCH THE GLOW PARADE - Enchanting parade showcasing handcrafted floats, marching bands and specialty vehicles Estes Park Events Complex NOVEMBER 27-29 “THE NUTCRACKER” - Boulder Philharmonic and Boulder Ballet bring back the beloved holiday tradition with Tchaikovsky’s score

NOVEMBER 12 ORCHESTRAL WORKS OF FRANK ZAPPA AND MORE - Colorado Symphony performance with Frank Zappa’s orchestral works and music by emerging composers influenced by his legacy Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver NOVEMBER 13-14 ANDREW MCMAHON WITH THE COLORADO SYMPHONY - Singer-songwriter and pianist Andrew McMahon brings a blend of pop, rock, and heartfelt storytelling Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver NOVEMBER 14 “THE CARPENTERS SONGBOOK: A LIVE CELEBRATION” - A celebration of the Carpenters’ music in an all-new production Buell Theatre, Denver NOVEMBER 14 FRONT RANGE CHAMBER PLAYERS - Bassoon extravaganza, followed by Carl Maria von Weber’s Op. 63 for flute, cello and piano Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church, Denver NOVEMBER 14 VETERANS DAY RUN - Memorial 5K & 10K fun run, plus the 10K Rippetoe Ruck in honor of CPT Russell Brian Rippetoe City Park, Denver NOVEMBER 14 - DECEMBER 13 “ONE OF THE GOOD ONES” - Acclaimed play about the complications that arise when a woman falls in love and is ready to introduce her boyfriend to her family Curious Theatre Company, Denver Fall 2026

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EVENTS Macky Auditorium, Boulder NOVEMBER 27-29 “WAITRESS” - Hit Broadway musical with original music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles, a book by screenwriter Jessie Nelson, and original choreography by Lorin Latarro Buell Theatre, Denver NOVEMBER 27-29 “HOME ALONE” IN CONCERT - Classic comedy film screening, with John Williams’ score performed live by the Colorado Symphony Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver NOVEMBER 28 - DECEMBER 20 IRVING BERLIN’S “WHITE CHRISTMAS” Heartwarming musical that brings together romance, comedy and timeless songs The Schoolhouse, Parker NOVEMBER 28 - DECEMBER 27 “The Nutcracker” - The Colorado Ballet performs the Christmas classic with live music from the Colorado Ballet Orchestra Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Denver Photo by Marie-Andrée Lemire | Courtesy of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts

NOVEMBER 27-29 “WAITRESS” - Hit Broadway musical with original music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles, a book by screenwriter Jessie Nelson, and original choreography by Lorin Latarro comes to the Buell Theatre for a brief engagement. denvercenter.org

Power. Prophecy. Murder.

DECEMBER DECEMBER 1-6 “JERSEY BOYS” - Tony Award-winning Broadway sensation that goes inside the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons Buell Theatre, Denver DECEMBER 2 CELTIC WOMAN: SILVER BELLS CHRISTMAS TOUR - Featuring music from the all-female ensemble’s favorite yuletide songs Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver DECEMBER 5-7 HOLIDAY FESTIVAL - Student ensembles, standout soloists and world-class faculty perform a festive program of classics and a few surprises Macky Auditorium, Boulder DECEMBER 12 THE NEW FOUR SEASONS: VIVALDI RECOMPOSED - Led from the stage by violinist Alex Gonzalez, the show includes selections from Vivaldi’s original First United Methodist Church, Boulder

November 7, 10, 13 & 15 Free drink with code THIRST!

operacolorado.org 30 ThirstColorado.com Fall 2026

DECEMBER 12-13 FIREFLY HANDMADE HOLIDAY MARKET Colorado-owned and operated artist and design community with a variety of seasonal crafts and gifts Denver Design District DECEMBER 13 MILE HIGH FREEDOM BANDS: WALKIN’ IN A SEQUINED WONDERLAND - Swing band “brings dazzling energy and playful charm to a season already full of magic” Chambers Grant Saloon, Denver DECEMBER 17-19 BRECKENRIDGE ULLR FEST - 62nd celebration of Ullr, the Norse god of snow, in hopes of a powder-filled ski season, with a Main Street parade and the longest Shotski “unofficial” World Record breaking attempt Main Street, Breckenridge

ARTIST PROFILE

Grace Monge

SHOWCASING MEXICAN CULTURE, SPIRITUALITY, HUMANISM AND NATURE THROUGH COLORFUL WORKS

Story by Tiffany Thompson Photos by Ethan McQueen

A

rtist Grace Monge’s jewelry gently jingles as she walks through her downtown Denver apartment. Evidence of a creative and restless mind is everywhere.

Inspiration can spring up from anywhere and is sometimes unexpected, she says, describing a recent occasion when she was watching TV with her husband. “I often get my canvases from thrift stores and garage sales and paint over them, because getting them fresh can get pretty expensive,” Monge explains. “Anyway, I had gotten this giant canvas on one of my trips and I was thinking about what I wanted to do with it.

And my husband asks what I’m thinking about, and I say ‘cows.’ So I painted cows. It came out really nice, and it sold right away at First Friday (Art Walk in Denver’s Art District on Santa Fe).”

Her apartment indeed serves as proof of a mind that never stops working. The walls, shelves and parts of the floor feature works that showcase her range of artistry. This includes oil paintings that incorporate found objects to the welded brass statue of a woman, with her back situated in front of a mirror that illustrates the full detail of the piece.

Her studio is a small, converted bedroom in the back of the apartment. However, the size of the space does nothing to hinder the explosion of creativity seen when stepping inside. There are canvases in different stages of completion and various art supplies in different holders and carriers. A detail-oriented person is working her way through the chaotic bombardment of ideas running through her head. But it is a good, functional chaos.

As she tells stories of her life and travels, it becomes clear that all of this comes from a lifetime of vivid experiences. Born and raised in Mexico City, she spent a lot of time in her early childhood traveling the country with her parents. As a youngster, she recalls being drawn to the creative, making figures out of plasticine at age 3, experimenting with oil paint when she was six, and completing her first formal canvas when she was 17. Along the way, she was experiencing various Mexican cultures, which in turn fed into her career as an artist.

“Since I was little, I was able to appreciate the music, the food, the different types of things people do,” Monge says. “It’s really a very diverse culture, very vibrant and rich. I remember traveling Fall 2026

ThirstColorado.com 31

with my parents to Oaxaca, and seeing Muxes.” Muxes are a thirdgender culture in Oaxaca. “They have a spiritual element to them.

I remember seeing them and it made me realize the differences that different places can have. I think it made me not judgmental,” Monge says.

Monge’s early exposure to the variety the world has to offer is reflected in her work. What she wants to create and what she plans to do is ever changing, and inspiration can come from something she may just stumble upon. She talks of times where she will find something like a scrap of leather on the side of a road, pick it up, and incorporate it into a piece. “As artists, we just see what other people don’t. I wouldn’t say we are more gifted than the rest of the world; other people have other gifts, but we can see the possibilities,” she adds.

Later, Monge’s thirst for experience and art led her to the Centro Linguistico Italiano Dante Alighieri, an institute in Rome dedicated to teaching foreigners Italian language and history, including art history. “I lived there for a year, studying Italian and art, and it made me realize, art has been in our lives forever. It’s everywhere,” she says. “And since then, I find a little bit of inspiration everywhere I go. I’ve been to New Mexico, other parts of the U.S., Europe, all over Mexico, Turkey. I get a little bit of influence everywhere I go.”

32 ThirstColorado.com Fall 2026

Seeing the world is not the only aspect that feeds into Monge’s artistic process. Her expressions of her own femininity and spirituality also are important parts of her work, and a reflection of her inner sense of self.

“Growing up we were all girls – my sisters and I – and we were very pampered,” Monge remembers. “I have a picture of us taking first communion, and you wear the little hats and little things. We were brought up very girly, and so I’m very feminine. I like that about me.”

Femininity is a strong feature in Monge’s work. Many of the paintings around her apartment show portraits of women

from different angles, showing the duality of strength and vulnerability.

“I feel my spirituality is something that comes through in my work as well,” she says. “I was raised Catholic, I still am. I know that people have done horrible things in the name of religion, but I believe that is their own thing with God. I have my own relationship with him,” Monge says, as she holds up a circular piece made with found objects, the center of which features an image of the Virgin Mary.

Though she continues to travel and find inspiration everywhere she goes, her residence for much of the year remains in Colorado. Like all other places she’s been, she finds things here that strongly influence her work. “It’s the nature here, but it’s specific,” she points out. “It’s the aspen trees. They have beautiful bark, the way it breaks and it’s black and white. But they’re not just black and white, they have beautiful colors as well when the leaves come in. They have all kinds of beautiful colors that we artists can use. It makes us aware so we can make others aware.”

Her work has been featured in galleries across Colorado, including a Dias de los Muertos show at the Armory in Brighton, Grace Gallery on Sante Fe Drive, the CHAC gallery, as well as the Art Contained del Sol in Denver. To reach Monge for commissions and inquiries, send a direct message to her Instagram @gracemonge007 or send an email to info.viplanguage@gmail.com (yes, she knows it’s an odd email). ■

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At First Glance NEW RODEO DUNES GOLF COURSE BLENDS SPORT WITH THE SPIRIT OF EASTERN COLORADO 34 ThirstColorado.com Fall 2026

DESTINATION

By David Young

I

t’s an exceptionally hot Colorado day in early June as I turn off of Interstate 76 in search of Colorado’s newest and perhaps most lauded golf course, Rodeo Dunes. Having driven for nearly two hours from northern Colorado to the eastern plains, there are few indications of anything impressive out here, aside from wide open skies, much less a golf course.

I pass an old motel that looks straight out of the 1960s as the road turns to dirt washboards. Pausing to check my directions, it doesn’t seem like the entrance to one of the most anticipated new projects in the country, but then I look up and see a Lexus GX driving toward me, and I know I’m in the right place.

The long, bumpy, dusty journey to Rodeo Dunes is appropriate for this experience considering it’s located on a working ranch that hosts an annual rodeo event, hence the name. As I make my way to the temporary clubhouse, there are signposts marking the way with a cowboy on a bucking horse.

I start to get glimpses of rolling green fairways between the dusty brown sand dunes as the course unfurls in this desolate part of Weld County known as Roggen. It’s this view that first attracted developers and siblings Michael and Chris Keiser to this desolate landscape.

“The moment I set foot on this land, I knew this was the place,” says Michael Keiser. “The dunes are perfect – tall and rolling, with unlimited possibilities for great golf holes. I also knew that Bill and Ben had to work here. Luckily, it didn’t take much to convince them.”

WHERE GOLF MEETS COLORADO’S LEGACY Rodeo Dunes is one of the most anticipated new public destinations in the United States. Developed by the Keisers, owners of the famed Sand Valley course in Wisconsin, the resort is designed around a spectacular expanse of natural sand dunes on Colorado’s Eastern Plains.

The first of several courses planned at the site was designed

by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, who are among the country’s top designers. They have created numerous modern classics, including Sand Hills Golf Club in Nebraska, considered one of the top modern courses by many golfers.

Rodeo Dunes, which is currently open to early investors known as founders, sits atop 4,000 acres of sand dunes formed over hundreds of years of harsh winds and Colorado sunshine. The Kaisers describe the landscape as more akin to links golf in Ireland or Scotland than to the traditional destinations in the U.S. Indeed, stepping onto Rodeo Dunes feels a bit like stepping back in time. Aside from some power lines and farm buildings dotting the horizon, it has an isolated, windswept feel. The large rolling fairways are carved seamlessly into the landscape, and walking the fairways at times feels like you are walking into the earth, surrounded by sand dunes and towering bunkers.

Because carts aren’t allowed, the immersive landscape is part of the experience. There are caddies available, which is helpful for

insight on where to aim and how to play the expansive course.

There are no trees to provide shade or block the wind, which are elements of the challenge.

The first course is scheduled to open to the public early next year. Rather than moving large amounts of earth, they routed holes through the natural terrain, allowing the dunes to dictate strategy.

Rodeo Dunes measures just under 7,000 yards from the back tees, and it rewards creativity and strategy more than massive drives. Wide open fairways encourage aggressive play, while dunes, massive pot bunkers, and natural contours demand focus and concentration.

I could have played this course a half dozen times and never hit the same shot twice, and still had looks at birdies and pars. Often, we stood on the tee box, just marveling at the vastness, with no clue where the next green was. Our caddie would provide aimpoints you will only find at Rodeo Dunes, such as a cow’s skull, a radio tower, or a mound on the horizon.

The second Rodeo Dunes layout, currently under construction, marks the solo debut design of Coore and Crenshaw associate Jimmy Craig. Rodeo Dunes could house as many as six courses envisioned for the property, along with a large putting area. Though still in its infancy, it shows potential to become a destination for those seeking a pure dunes experience.

THE NEW AMERICAN GOLF FRONTIER: COLORADO Rodeo Dunes has a bit of the “if we build it, they will come” mentality.

“These dunes are so good,” Keiser says. “You could not ask for a better site. The land requires minimal shaping. We know what kind of work Bill and Ben do, and their routing is as great as you would expect from them. Rodeo Dunes gives every player the chance to experience the timeless joys of links golf.”

Bandon Dunes in Oregon has beaches and the ocean, whereas Roggen has cattle and cactus

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YEE-HAW! RODEO DUNES OPENS • What: Colorado’s newest destination resort, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, set on more than 4,000 acres of towering sand dunes.

• When: Founder Preview Season is underway now.

Public play begins early in 2027.

• Where: Roggen, about 35-40 minutes northeast of Denver International Airport.

• Tee Times: Public tee times for the 2027 season are expected to be available through rodeodunes.com.

• Cost: Planned public green fee is $350 for 18 holes when it opens for public play. The course is walking-only; caddies will be available for an additional fee.

as its backdrop. Rodeo Dunes is just 45 minutes from Denver International Airport, making it more accessible than many destinations, yet it still has a rugged, remote feel.

The Colorado golf landscape is growing, and Rodeo Dunes bets on Colorado’s rise as a national destination, especially with newer destination-style projects that push beyond the traditional resort model. While the site is currently a dirt parking lot and trailer clubhouse, the Master Plan includes a clubhouse, lodge, and privately owned residences. There are plans for a 7.5-acre putting course dubbed “the Rockies,” which would be the world’s largest putting green.

Rodeo Dunes shares much of the same DNA as well-known attractions like Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Sand Hills Golf Club, Sand Valley Golf Resort, and Colorado’s own Ballyneal Golf Club.

With the addition of Rodeo Dunes to iconic courses like Castle Pines, Colorado is redefining golf in the American West. The Centennial State is attracting national attention, and what sets its scene apart from more established destinations is its emergence as one of the country’s most compelling destinations, especially for people seeking architecture, scenery and unusual experiences.

Colorado also offers a remarkably diverse portfolio, including mountain courses, historic clubs, resorts and prairie links – all within one state. The state benefits from a long summer season, over 300 days of sunshine annually, and easy access through Denver International Airport, making destination trips practical.

For those interested in checking out the new course, Rodeo Dunes is releasing 2027 tee times to insiders mid to late 2026. The only way to secure tee times is through the Rodeo Dunes website, rodeodunes.com ■ Photos courtesy of Volo Media Works

36 ThirstColorado.com Fall 2026

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DESTINATION

A Weekend in Minturn EXPLORING A HISTORIC MOUNTAIN TOWN THROUGH WHISKEY, TACOS AND TRAILS Photos and Story by Malena Larsen

W

hen my husband and I drove through Minturn, the sun shone a spotlight on people walking along the sidewalk and enjoying drinks on patios. Mountains lined with trees framed the hustle and bustle of the small burg.

Minturn is one of Eagle County’s oldest towns. It was established in 1887 with the arrival of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad and incorporated in 1904. Residents worked at nearby mines that produced gold, silver, lead and zinc. With the eventual loss of rail service and closure of the mines, Minturn has reinvented itself as a quirky, après-ski destination that also offers easy access to outdoor activities like camping, hiking and fishing, along with local shops, food and drink.

We were on a mission to find a dispersed campsite for the night. We continued along Highway 24 and took a right onto Forest Road 707.

DISPERSED CAMPING IN THE WHITE RIVER NATIONAL FOREST Forest Road 707 (also known as Tigiwon Road) offers a handful of established dispersed sites along the river or tucked into aspen groves within the White River National Forest. We found a site large enough for us and our two friends near the Cross Creek Trailhead, just five miles from Minturn.

STAYING NEAR MINTURN For those looking for more established options, Halfmoon Campground sits further up Forest Road 707, while Hornsilver Campground is about 10 miles south of Minturn in Red Cliff, and Camp Hale Memorial Campground is roughly 15 miles south near Leadville. For anyone wanting a more comfortable stay in town, options include Eagle River Inn or Hotel Minturn.

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INTO THE HOLY CROSS WILDERNESS

A SLOW AFTERNOON

Because of our proximity to the Cross Creek Trailhead, it would have felt like a crime not to take the five-mile out-and-back hike to Surprise Lake. From the trailhead, the route entered the Holy Cross Wilderness – a protected area designated in 1980 – and climbed steadily through the forest with incredible views of Mount of the Holy Cross. Eventually, it opened up to a small alpine lake, which lived up to its name. We were surprised by a moose standing in the water.

After photos, a trout caught in the creek, and finishing our hike, we had worked up an appetite and were ready for an afternoon in town.

From the Wee Dram, we wandered through a small cluster of shops including thrift store Holy Toledo, a boutique called Alpine Kind, and Minturn Anglers. Eventually, we made our way down to the Eagle River and played euchre (shout out to any Midwest-toColorado transplants) at a picnic table. Every so often, kayakers paddled by.

To cap off our time in town and before heading back to camp, we continued our euchre competition at the Minturn Saloon.

LUNCH & LIBATIONS Rocky Mountain Taco, started by three Vail Valley locals, was our first stop. We ordered chips and guac along with three tacos: Hippy Crack, carnitas, and alambre. After lunch, we walked a couple of blocks to The Wee Dram, a small Scottish-style pub. Inside, a handful of seats for maybe 10 people were tucked among dark wood, dim lighting, and a stained-glass window.

According to its website, it may be “the smallest whisky tasting room in the United States, and quite possibly the coziest,” which they say is the result of “two ski bums starting a family, taking up fishing, and deciding to start their own Colorado whisky distillery way up in the mountains.”

40 ThirstColorado.com Fall 2026

A SALOON WITH A STORY The saloon was built in 1901, making it one of the oldest buildings in Minturn. It was constructed as part of the town’s rebuilding efforts after a fire swept through downtown in 1892.

Over the years, the building has served as a restaurant, bar, gambling hall, pool hall, and even a boxing venue. During Minturn’s railroad era, gamblers reportedly gathered in a private back room while local children delivered messages from wives waiting for them at home.

The saloon later became a gathering place for workers building Vail in the 1960s and eventually earned a reputation as one of the valley’s classic après-ski destinations.

As we walked in, the history unfolded with old photos, signed jerseys, and ski memorabilia covering the walls. Outside, the patio had a more casual vibe with beer signs and mountain views.

Once the brews were gone, it was time to head back to camp.

We had gone from an alpine lake in the Holy Cross Wilderness to a historic saloon in the heart of town. We drove back to Forest Road 707 as the sun gave its final spotlight of the day to historic Minturn. ■

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ADVENTURE

Dispersed Camping

TAKE THE (FOREST) ROAD LESS TRAVELED TO ESCAPE THE CROWDS AND CAMP FOR FREE

Story and photos by Malena Larsen

C

amping in Colorado can sometimes feel like shopping on Black Friday or a trip to Disneyland. The tightly squeezed campgrounds that you only get after fighting for a spot on recreation.gov six months in advance can take away from the serenity and peace that camping is supposed to bring.

While it’s true that not all official campgrounds are packed to the brim and require months of planning, there are more dependable ways to skip the dog-eat-dog process and the fees.

And that way is dispersed camping.

WHAT IS DISPERSED CAMPING? Dispersed camping provides a free, secluded and primitive experience on public land without the amenities. Imagine: a flat area of dirt surrounded by aspen trees, a grass clearing just a short distance from a crisp alpine lake, or a gravel pull-off near a forest

42 ThirstColorado.com Fall 2026

road. If you’re willing to spend the night with no picnic table, fire ring, dumpster or the other perks that come with a campground, it may be time to add dispersed camping to your bucket list.

WHERE AND HOW TO GO The first step in your journey is understanding where you’re allowed to camp. You can’t just throw your tent or pop up your camper on the first flat spot of land you find. For the most part, national forests and Bureau of Land Management space are fair game. But what is that and where do you find it?

APPS Apps like The Dyrt, iOverlander, and OnX Offroad have reviews, photos, offline maps, and details on land access and cell service.

Each has their strengths, but to see which one works best for you, test out their free trial options.

OFFICIAL PUBLIC LAND RESOURCES Resources like the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management websites aren’t always the most user-friendly, but they’re often the most accurate, with maps that show exactly where you can camp and which roads you can legally access. You can also call or stop by a local ranger district office.

COMMUNITY TIPS & FORUMS Reddit (think threads like r/camping or r/coloradohikers) can be a great resource for dispersed camping spots. While some users can be resistant to sharing their favorite areas, others share ideas, updates and tips on where to go and when.

Local Facebook groups and outdoor forums can also help with current conditions, road access and seasonal closures.

WHAT TO BRING Because dispersed camping comes without amenities, you’ll need to be more self-sufficient than you would at a developed campground. Here’s what you need to bring to have a successful trip.

THE BASICS A tent or shelter is the foundation of any camping setup.

My husband and I use a rooftop tent, which gives us a lot of flexibility when choosing a site. We don’t have to worry as much about uneven or bumpy ground. If you’re sleeping in your car or a camper, consider bringing levelers just in case the spot isn’t perfectly flat.

From there, you’ll want a sleeping bag and some kind of pad for insulation and comfort. That could be a simple foam pad, an air mattress, or a more built-out sleeping platform. Depending on the time of year, we also bring plenty of blankets and pillows for extra warmth (and ultimate coziness). You’ll also want a headlamp, flashlight, or lantern, along with plenty of water; we typically bring a 5-gallon reusable jug for weekend trips.

COOKING & FOOD You’ll want a camp stove and fuel, a lighter or matches, and cookware and utensils. If you’re car camping and not backpacking, food can usually remain stored and bear proof in the locked car.

A cooler can also be helpful, depending on what you’re bringing and how long you plan to stay out (we usually fill ours with our favorite craft beer). Bring camp chairs and a table, too, since you won’t have a picnic table.

EXTRAS Bring a power bank, especially if you plan to use your phone.

Sometimes we download movies ahead of time to watch at night.

Bring your favorite form of entertainment, whether that’s books, card games or other games. Fairy lights or extra lanterns can add a little ambiance, and a mat or pad to leave your shoes can help keep your tent or camper clean. We also bring a portable propane fire ring because fire bans are common.

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND Dispersed camping comes with a little more freedom and a little more responsibility. We want to keep these places wild, accessible and beautiful for everyone, so it’s important to: • Leave no trace. Pack out everything you bring in, including trash, food scraps and toilet paper.

• Check fire restrictions. In Colorado, conditions can change quickly, especially in the summer.

• Camp away from water. Camp at least 100 to 200 feet away from water to protect the ecosystem and keep water sources clean.

• Feel confident in your spot. Pay attention to land boundaries and signage to avoid accidentally camping on private property.

It’s important to remember that patience is part of the adventure. Dispersed camping doesn’t always mean you can pull off the first road and call it a day. Sometimes it takes a bit of driving, scouting, and exploring to find the right spot. That’s part of the experience. Use it as a chance to enjoy the scenery and check out different areas. Trust me, patience pays off when you finally find that perfect secluded nook.

While these tips and tricks are a great springboard, a lot of dispersed camping involves trial and error. It’s important to figure out how and where you like to camp, how fancy you want your setup to be, and what you expect from the experience. Whether you’re nestled in the trees around Rollinsville, perched by a mountain lake near Leadville, or tucked along a forest road outside Salida, have fun, be safe and respect your surroundings. ■

NAVIGATION Remember to download maps ahead of time. If we know we’ll be without service, we bring our Garmin inReach.

HYGIENE & WASTE When you’re dispersed camping, you’re also your own bathroom and cleanup crew. Bring toilet paper, a trowel for digging a cathole, and hand sanitizer. When nature calls, dig your cathole at least 6 to 8 inches deep and at least 100 to 200 feet away from water, trails and campsites. After use, cover it back up and pack out used toilet paper in a sealable bag.

Body wipes are nice to have for an overall refresh. Trash bags are a must because whatever you bring in, you’ll need to pack out.

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COLORADO CRAFT ● – Serves Food

FlyteCo Tower ●

BRIGHTON

Great Divide Brewery and Roadhouse ●

Twisted Pine Brewing ● ●

● – Food Truck

River North Wash. St. Taproom ●

Big Choice Brewing

Green Mountain Beer Co ●

Upslope Brewing Co ● ●

Wanderment Brewing

Floodstage Ale Works ●

Landlocked Ales ●

Vision Quest Brewing Co ●

Something Brewery ●

Old 121 Brewhouse ●

Wild Provisions Beer Project

● – Live Music

BREWERIES

NORTHWEST DENVER

Westfax Brewing Co ●

ERIE

Alley Brews

BROOMFIELD

DENVER

Amalgam Brewing

4 Noses Brewing Co ●

LITTLETON AREA

Cellar West Artisan Ales ●

Bruz Beers ● ●

Rails End Beer Co ● ●

Breckenridge Brewery ●

Echo Brewing Co ●

BAKER/SOUTH BROADWAY

Cerebral Brewing

Wonderland Brewing Co ● ●

Coal Mine Ave. Brewing Co

Denver Beer Co ●

Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project

Monolith Brewing ●

Diebolt Brewing Co ● ●

Novel Strand Brewing Co ●

The Empourium Brewing Co

Platt Park Brewing Co ●

The Grateful Gnome ● ●

The Post Chicken and Beer ●

Hogshead Brewery ●

Public Offering Brewing ●

Prost Brewing Co. & Biergarten ●

Ratio Beerworks ●

CAPITOL HILL/E COLFAX/ PARK HILL 4 Noses Brewing Co ● Bruz Off Fax ● ● Cerebral Brewing ● ● Crazy Mountain Brewery Fiction Beer Co ● Knotted Root Brewing Co Long Table Brewhouse ● Pints Pub ● Renegade Brewing Co ●

The Elizabeth Brewing Co ● Great Divide Brewery & Roadhouse ● Iron Mule Brewery ● ●

Bierstadt Lagerhaus ●

Rockyard Brewing Co ●

Black Shirt Brewing Co ● ●

Wild Blue Yonder Brewing Co ●

BrewDog Denver ● Cohesion Brewing Co ● Great Divide RiNo Taproom ● ● Left Hand Brewing Co ● New Belgium - The Woods at the Source Our Mutual Friend

CENTENNIAL Bent Barley Brewing Co

Comet Brews ● Denver Beer Co ● Lariat Lodge Brewing ● Littleton Brewing ● ● Living the Dream Brewing Co ● Locavore Beer Works

LONE TREE Great Divide Brewery & Roadhouse ● Lone Tree Brewing Co ●

Denver Beer Co ●

New Belgium Brewing ●

Los Dos Potrillos Cerveceria ●

Left Hand Brewing Co ●

Two22 Brew ●

Satire Brewing Co ● ●

Longs Peak Pub & Taphouse ●

SomePlace Else Brewery

Oskar Blues Brewing ●

ENGLEWOOD AREA Breckenridge Brewery Ale & Games ●

Lone Tree Brewing ● ● Los Dos Potrillos Cerveceria ●

Brewability Lab ● ●

WESTMINSTER

Lady Justice Brewing

BJ’s ●

GOLDEN Barrels and Bottles Brewery ● Cannonball Creek Brewing Co ● Coda Brewing

Frolic Brewing Co ● Kokopelli Beer Co ● ● Westminster Brewing Co ● Windfall Brewing Co

Coors Brewing Co

WHEAT RIDGE

Black Sky Brewery ●

Golden City Brewery ●

Brewery Rickoli ●

Odell Brewing Co

Chain Reaction Brewing Co ●

DENVER SUBURBS

LODO / BALLPARK

ARVADA

Denver Beer Co ●

Denver Beer Co

Denver Chophouse & Brewery ●

LUKI Brewery

Full Frame Beer

New Image Brewing ●

Oskar Blues Grill & Brew ● ●

Odyssey Beerwerks ● ●

Großen Bart Brewery ● ● Knuckle Puck Brewing

FIVE POINTS

Woods Boss Brewing ● ●

Collision Brewing Co ●

Prost Brewing Co & Biergarten

SOUTHWEST DENVER

Spangalang Brewery ●

Bootstrap Brewing ● ●

Resolute Brewing Co

Downhill Brewing Co ●

Great Divide Brewhouse and Kitchen ●

Bearded Brewer Artisan Ales ●

NORTHGLENN/THORNTON

Joyride Brewing Co ●

Denver Chophouse & Brewery ●

Westbound and Down Brewing Co

Los Dos Potrillos Cerveceria ●

PARKER

7677 E Iliff Ave Denver

The Post Brewing Co ● ●

LONGMONT

Barquentine Brewing Co

Comrade Brewing ● comradebrewing.com 720.748.0700

Odd 13 Brewing Inc ● ●

300 Suns Brewing ●

River North Brewery

Vine Street Pub & Brewery ●

Liquid Mechanics ●

Zymos Brewing

EDGEWATER

Station 26 Brewing Co ● ●

LAFAYETTE Cellar West Artisan Ales ●

Los Dos Potrillos Cerveceria ●

Ratio Beerworks ●

Bull and Bush Brewery ● ●

Tivoli Taphouse ●

Alidade Brewing ●

Los Dos Potrillos Cerveceria ●

Reverence Brewing Co

DENVER INT’L AIRPORT

105 West Brewing Co ●

RINO

SOUTHEAST DENVER

Boulder Beer Tap House ●

CASTLE ROCK

Holidaily Brewing Co ● Holidailybrewing.com 303.278.BEER 801 Brickyard Cir., Golden

The Post Chicken and Beer Pumphouse Brewery ● Rock N Roll Brewery Shoes and Brews Wibby Brewing ●

LOUISVILLE 12Degree Brewing ● Crystal Springs Brewing Co Gravity Brewing ● ● ●

LYONS MainStage Brewing ● Oskar Blues Grill & Brew ●

Colorado Plus Brew Pub ●

NEDERLAND

Mestizo Brew Cantina ●

Busey Brews ● ●

New Image Brewing

Knotted Root Brewing Co

Paramount BeerWerks ●

SOUTH FRONT RANGE

Mad Macks Brewing

BOULDER COUNTY

Ascent Brewery - Peyton ●

Mountain Toad Brewing ●

Bambei Brewing - Superior ●

BierWerks Brewery - Woodland Park ● ●

New Terrain Brewing ● ●

Fritz Family Brewers - Niwot

Black Forest Brewing Co - Black Forest ● Black Forest Brewing Co East - Peyton ●

Sandlot Brewery

Resolute Brewing Tap & Cellar ●

GREENWOOD VILLAGE

Westbound & Down Brewing Co

SomePlace Else Brewery

Howlin Wind Brewing and Blending Rollinsville

Downhill Brewing Co

Wynkoop Brewing Co ●

Spice Trade Brewing at Yak & Yeti ●

MainStage Brewing - Gunbarrel ●

Spice Trade Brewing Co ●

Crafty Canary Brewery - Walsenburg Florence Brewing - Florence

BOULDER

Funky Town Brewing - Florissant ●

LOHI / AURARIA

AURORA

HIGHLANDS RANCH

Briar Common Brewery + Eatery ●

A Bit Twisted Brewpub ●

Asher Brewing Co

3 Freaks Brewery ●

Manitou Brewing - Manitou Springs ●

Degree Brewbup (at MSU) ●

Bent Barley Brewing Co

Avery Brewing ●

Living the Dream Brewing Co ●

Mountain Merman Brewing - La Veta ●

Little Machine Beer ●

BJ’s ●

BJ’s ●

Los Dos Potrillos Cerveceria ●

Paradox Beer Co - Divide ●

Odell Brewing Sloan’s Lake ●

Cerebral Brewing ● ●

Boulder Social ●

Prost Brewing Co & Biergarten

World’s End Brewing Co - Cañon City

Seedstock Brewery ● ●

Cheluna Brewing Co

Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery ●

Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery ●

Pattern Break Brewing ●

Strange Craft Beer Co ● ●

Launch Pad Brewery ●

Zuni St. Brewing Co ● ●

Mileau Fermentation

NORTHEAST DENVER Danico Brewing ●

Second Dawn Brewing Six Capital Brewing & BBQ ● ZoiglBrau ●

44 ThirstColorado.com Fall 2026

LAKEWOOD

The Post Chicken and Beer ●

6 and 40 Brewery

Southern Sun ● ●

BJ’s

TooSteppin’ Ginger Beer ● ●

COLORADO SPRINGS 105 West Brewing Co ● BJ’s ● Bristol Brewing ● Cerberus Brewing Co ●

LIBATIONS LISTINGS Cogstone Brewing Co ● ●

New Belgium Brewing Co ● ●

Colorado Mountain Brewery ●

Odell Brewing Co ● ●

Dueces Wild Brewery ●

Peculier Ales

Fossil Craft Beer Co ●

Pitchers Brewery ●

Goat Patch Brewing Co ●

Prost Brewing Co

Gunslinger Brewing ●

Purpose Brewing

JAKs Brewing Co ●

Rally King Brewing

Local Relic Artisan Ales ●

Ramskeller Brewery ●

Lost Friend Brewing ●

Salt Road Brewing

SOUTHWEST

FRASER

IDAHO SPRINGS AREA

Bottom Shelf Brewery - Bayfield ●

Camber Brewing Co ●

Cabin Creek Brewing - Georgetown ●

Chrysalis Barrel Aged Beer - Paonia ●

Fraser River Beer Co

Tommyknocker Brewery & Pub ●

Dolores River Brewery - Dolores ● ●

Vicious Cycle Brewing ●

Westbound & Down Brewing Co ●

Golden Block Brewery - Silverton ●

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS

SILVERTHORNE AREA

Mancos Brewing Co - Mancos ●

Mountain Tap Brewery ●

Angry James Brewing - Silverthorne

Ouray Brewery - Ouray ●

Storm Peak Brewing Co

Dillon Dam Brewery - Dillon ● ●

Three Barrel Brewing Co - Del Norte ●

HighSide Brewing - Frisco ● ●

WINTER PARK

Outer Range Brewing Co - Frisco ●

Stodgy Brewing Co ● ●

ALAMOSA

Nano 108 Brewing Co ●

Timnath Beerwerks Fort Collins

The Colorado Farm Brewery

OCC Brewing

Verboten Brewing Co ●

San Luis Valley Brewing ●

Oskar Blues Grill & Brew ● ●

Zwei Brewing Co ● ●

Spare Keg Brewers

GREELEY

CORTEZ

Crabtree Brewing ● ●

J. Fargo’s Dining & Microbrewery ●

Northern Colorado Brewhouse (at UNC)

Main Street Brewery & Restaurant ● ●

Tightknit Brewing Co ● ●

WildEdge Brewing Collective ● ●

WeldWerks Brewing Co ●

DURANGO

Wiley Roots Brewing Co ●

Anarchy Brewing

Yetters Brewing

Animas Brewing Co ●

Wackadoo Brewing

LOVELAND

Carver Brewing Co ●

Mountain Heart Brewing - Carbondale ●●

Westfax Springs

Berthoud Brewing Co

Durango Beer and Ice Company ● ●

Mountain Heart Taproom - Basalt ● ●

Whistle Pig Brewing Co ● ●

Big Thompson Brewery ● ●

Ska Brewing Co ● ●

Crooked Beech Brewing Co ●

Steamworks Brewing Co ●

Grimm Brothers Brewhouse ●

GUNNISON/CRESTED BUTTE

Broken Compass Brewing ●

Loveland Aleworks ●

The Eldo Brewpub & Venue ● ●

HighSide Brewing ●

Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery ●

High Alpine Brewing Co ●

Rock Coast Brewery ●

Irwin Brewing Co

Sky Bear Brewery and Pub ●

Mash Mechanix Brewing ●

Peaks N Pines Brewing Co ● Phantom Canyon ● ● Red Leg Brewing ● Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery ● South Park Brewing Co ● Storybook Brewing ● Urban Animal Beer Co Voodoo Brewing Co ●

PUEBLO Brues Alehouse Brewing Co ● ● Reservoir Brewing Co ● Shamrock Brewing ● Walter’s Brewery & Taproom ●

NORTH FRONT RANGE

Verboten Brewing Co

Big Trout Brewing ● ● bigtroutbrewing.com 970.363.7362

Pug Ryan’s Brewery - Dillon ● Steep Brewing & Coffee - Keystone ● Syndicate Brewing Co - Silverthorne

50 Vasquez Rd Winter Park

Upslope Brewing Co - Silverthorne

Hideaway Park Brewery

DISTRIBUTION ONLY

I-70 CORRIDOR

Andiamo Brewing Broken Hops Brewing

ASPEN AREA

Dive Bar Brewing Co

Aspen Brewing Co - Aspen ●

Dry Dock Brewing Co

Carbondale Beer Works - Aspen ●

Finkel & Garf Brewing Co Funkwerks Primitive Beer Sleeping Giant Brewing

BRECKENRIDGE

NON-ALCOHOLIC

Breckenridge Brewery & Pub ●

3 Kings Beverages Ceria Brewing

CENTRAL CITY AREA

Comma Brewery

Zuni West Brewing ●

Dostal Alley Saloon & Gambling Emporium - Central City ●

Fabric Drinks

MONTROSE

Very Nice Brewing Co - Gilpin County ●●

Grüvi Beer Roadie Beers

Bulzomi Brewing - Eaton

WELLINGTON

Colorado Boy Pizzeria & Brewery

Mirror Image Brewing Co - Frederick, Johnstown●

Deppen Brewing ●

Horsefly Brewing Co ● ●

EAGLE COUNTY

Old Colorado Brewing ● ●

Craftsman Brew Co- Edwards ●

Timnath Beerwerks - Timnath ●

Pomona Brewing Co

Soul Squared Brewing ●

Shelter Distilling & Brewing

Eagle River Brewing Co - Gypsum ● ●

DENVER/BOULDER

BERTHOUD

The Well ● ●

Silver Basin Brewing ●

Vail Brewing Co - Vail ● ●

Abbott & Wallace - Longmont ●

Berthoud Brewing Co

WINDSOR

EVERGREEN

City Star Brewing ●

PAGOSA SPRINGS

High Hops Brewery ● ●

The Break Room Brewing Co ● ●

Evergreen Brewery ● ●

ESTES PARK

Mash Lab Brewing ●

Riff Raff Brewing ● ●

Lariat Lodge Brewing ● ●

Avant Garde Aleworks

Mighty River Brewing ● ●

FRUITA

Estes Park Brewery ●

Peculier Ales ● ●

RIDGWAY Colorado Boy Brewery

Base Camp Provisions ●

Floating Lotus Brewery ●

Reckless Roadhouse Brewing ●

The Post Chicken and Beer ●

CENTRAL COLORADO

Rock Cut Brewing Co

Craft Mountain Brewing Co - Bailey

TELLURIDE

GLENWOOD SPRINGS AREA

Downslope Distilling - Centennial

Elevation Beer Co - Poncha Springs ●

Smuggler’s Union Brewpub ●

Brewzone - Rifle, Silt

Dry Land Distillers - Longmont ● ●

Herks Werks - Poncha Springs ●

Stronghouse Brew Pub

Carbondale Beer Works Garage

Gold Dirt Distillery - Rollinsville ●

HighSide Brewing - Fairplay ● ●

Telluride Brewing Co ●

Casey Brewing and Blending

Hogback Distillery - Boulder, Estes Park

Down Valley Brewing - New Castle

EASTERN PLAINS

Laws Whiskey House - Denver

Glenwood Canyon Brew Pub ●

Leopold Bros - Denver

Kukaro Brewing - Fort Morgan ●

GRAND JUNCTION AREA

Mad Rabbit Distillery - Westminster

Launch Pad Brewery - Bennett ●

Base Camp Beer Works

Mile High Spirits - Denver

Parts & Labor Brewing Co - Sterling ●

Gemini Beer Co

Molly Brown Spirits - Denver

Kannah Creek Brewing Co ●

moxYcello - Littleton

Mama Ree’s Pizza and Brewhouse ● ●

Rick Thomas Distillery - Black Hawk

Lumpy Ridge Brewing Co

FORT COLLINS Anheuser-Busch BJ’s ● Breckenridge Brewery

Two Mile Brewing Co - Leadville ●

DISTILLERIES Ballmer Peak Distillery - Lakewood ● Bear Creek Distillery - Denver ● The Block Distilling Co - Denver Boulder Spirits by Vapor Distillery Boulder Branch & Barrel Distilling - Centennial Deki Spirits - Lafayette Deviation Distilling - Denver

Coopersmith’s Pub & Brewing ●

BUENA VISTA

DC Oakes Brewhouse & Eatery ●

Browns Canyon Brewing ●

Equinox Brewing ●

Eddyline Brewery ●

Gilded Goat Brewing Co ●

Strange Craft Beer Co

Hello Brewing Co

SALIDA

Horse & Dragon Brewing Co

NORTHWEST

Moonlight Pizza & Brewpub ●

Palisade Brewing Co ● ●

Rocker Spirits - Littleton ●

Intersect Brewing ● ●

Smoking River Brewing Co - Meeker

Salida Brewing Co

Konstruct Brewing ●

World’s End Brewpub - Grand Lake ●

Ramblebine Brewing Co ●

Soulcraft Brewing ●

The Rockslide Restaurant and Brewery ●

Spirit Hound Distillers - Denver, Lyons ● ● ●

Maxline Brewing ● ●

Yampa Valley Brewing - Craig

Tres Litros Beer Co ●

Mythmaker Brewing ●

Trail Life Brewing

State 38 Distilling - Golden Stranahan’s - Denver ●

WestCo Brewing

Fall 2026

ThirstColorado.com 45

● – Serves Food

Marble Distilling Co - Carbondale ● ●

Grande River Vineyards - Palisade ●

Latigo Winery - Black Forest

● – Food Truck

Minturn Whisky - Minturn

Graystone Winery - Clifton

Manitou Winery - Manitou Springs ●

● – Live Music

Montanya Distillers - Crested Butte

Hermosa Vineyards - Palisade

Pop’s Vineyard - Penrose ●

Peach Street Distillers - Palisade ●

Mafia Princess Winery - Grand Junction ●

Talnua Distillery - Arvada

Pullman Distillery - Frisco ●

Maison la Belle Vie Winery - Palisade ●

Turnbuckle Distilling - Westminster

Shelter Distilling - Montrose

The Ordinary Fellow- Palisade

Allis Ranch Winery - Sedalia

NORTHERN COLORADO

Stoneyard Distillery - Dotsero, Glenwood Springs

The Painted Vineyard - Palisade ●

Aspen Peak Winery & Bistro - Bailey ● ●

477 Distilling - Greeley, Loveland ● ●

Attimo Wine - Denver

Storm King Distilling - Montrose

Peachfork Vineyards - Palisade

Ancestors Distilling - Fort Collins

Restoration Vineyards - Palisade ● ●

Balistreri Vineyards - Denver ●

Stranahan’s Whiskey Lodge - Aspen ●

Elevation 5003 Distillery - Fort Collins

Sauvage Spectrum - Palisade ● ●

Bigsby’s Folly - Denver ●

Telluride Distilling Co - Telluride

Elkins Distilling Co - Estes Park

Blanchard Family Wines - Denver, Golden

Woody Creek Distillers - Basalt

Shiras Winery - Grand Junction ● Talon Winery - Palisade

Bonacquisti Wine Company - Denver ●

Feisty Spirits - Fort Collins

CENTRAL FRONT RANGE

Gnebriated Gnome Distillery - Fort Collins

DISTRIBUTION ONLY

TerraVin Cellars - Palisade

BookCliff Vineyards - Boulder ● ●

American Woman Spirit Co.

Two Rivers Winery - Grand Junction ●

Carboy Winery - Denver, Littleton ●

The Heart Distillery - Windsor ●

Arta Tequila

TWP Winery & Farmhouse - Clifton ●

Colorado Sake Co. - Denver ● ●

Mobb Mountain Distillers - Fort Collins

Coyote Gold Margaritas

Creekside Cellars - Evergreen ●

Mythology Distillery - Steamboat Springs ● ●

Deep Roots Distilling

Varaison Vineyards and Winery Palisade ● Whitewater Hill Vineyards - Grand Junction

InVINtions - Greenwood Village

WESTERN SLOPE

Ladrón Cellars - Englewood

5680' Vineyards - Paonia

Purgatory Cellars Winery - Parker

Alfred Eames Cellars - Paonia ●

Silver Vines Winery - Arvada, Boulder ● ●

Berkeley Estate Cellars - Olathe

Spero Winery - Denver

NOCO Distillery - Fort Collins Old Elk Distillery Overland Trail Distillery - Sterling Seed & Spirit Distilling - Fort Collins Spring 44 Distilling - Loveland Syntax Distillery - Greeley ●

Dirty Dill The Family Jones Farm and Spirit felene Vodka Grove Street Alchemy Hoot & Howl Spirits Ironton Distillery

SOUTHERN COLORADO

Kure’s Craft Beverage Co.

1874 Distilling - Del Norte ● ●

Larado Whiskey

3 Hundred Days of Shine - Monument ●

Locke & Co Distilling

Art of the Spirits - Colorado Springs

Mystic Mountain Distillery

Axe and the Oak - Colo. Springs ●

Old Elk Distillery

Black Bear Distillery - Green Mtn Falls

Peak Spirits

Blackhat Distillery - Colo. Springs

Red Rocks Spirits

Deerhammer Distilling - Buena Vista ●

Ridge River Whiskey

Distillery 291 - Colo. Springs

Tincup Whiskey

Dune Valley Distillery - Mosca ● ●

Tingala Spirits

Meridiem Spirits - Elizabeth

Uncle Tim’s Cocktails

Snitching Lady Distillery - Fairplay ●

Vanjak Vodka

NON-ALCOHOLIC ONLY

Wood’s High Mountain Distillery woodsdistillery.com 719.207.4315

3 Kings Kombucha

144 W 1st St Salida

Rubber Ducky Drink Co.

Cool as a Cucumber

3 Hundred Days of Shine - Keystone 10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirits - Vail ●

Black Bridge Winery - Paonia ●

Taboche Winery - Broomfield

Chill Switch Wines - Cedaredge

Vinnie Fera - Boulder

Cottonwood Cellars - Olathe

Water 2 Wine - Littleton ●

Fallen Mountain Wines - Hotchkiss

The Wine Barrel - Parker ●

Jack Rabbit Hill - Hotchkiss Lanoue DuBois Winery - Montrose Mesa Winds Farm & Winery - Hotchkiss ● Peony Lane Wine - Paonia Qutori Wines - Paonia ● Stone Cottage Cellars - Paonia ● Stoney Mesa Winery - Cedaredge ● The Storm Cellar Winery - Hotchkiss ● Williams Cellars - Cedaredge

FOUR CORNERS AREA Durango Winery - Durango ● ● Flying T Wine - Cortez Four Leaves Winery - Durango ● ●

410 Zerex St Fraser

Carboy Winery - Palisade ● Carlson Vineyards - Palisade Carlson Tasting Room - Grand Junction

Highlands Distillery - Grand Junction ●

Centennial Cellars - Palisade

Honey House Distillery - Durango

Colorado Cellars Winery - Palisade ●

Idlewild Spirits Distillery- Winter Park ●

Cliff Dweller Wine Co - Palisade

KJ Wood Distillers - Ouray ●

Colterris Winery - Palisade ●

46 ThirstColorado.com Fall 2026

SOUTHERN FRONT RANGE Brush Hollow Winery - Penrose Bugling Elk Vineyards - Penrose ● Carbone Winery - Mosca ● Carboy Winery - Colorado Springs Evergood Adventure Wines - Palmer Lake Fountain Creek Winery - Fountain ●

Stem Ciders - Denver ● ● Stem Ciders Acreage- Lafayette ● ● Talbott’s Cider Co - Palisade ● ● Vanishing West Ciders - Aurora Waldschänke Ciders - Denver ● Wild Cider - Firestone ●

MEADERIES Antelope Ridge Mead - Colorado Springs Brush Hollow Winery - Penrose Cloud City Modern Mead - Leadville Colorado Cellars Winery - Palisade ● Dragon Meadery - Aurora

Legends: A Meadery - Berthoud ●

Tamburi Wine - Fort Collins Ten Bears Winery - Laporte ●

Mad Marmot Meadery - Distribution Only

Winery 5280 - Loveland

Meadery of the Rockies - Palisade

PLAINS Claremont Inn & Winery - Stratton ●

Bluejays Winery

BookCliff Vineyards - Palisade ●

St. Vrain Cidery - Longmont ●

Laughing Leprechaun Meadery Distribution Only

Aquila Cellars

Winter Park Winery - Fraser

Snow Capped Cider - Cedaredge

Sweet Heart Winery - Loveland ●

Continental Divide Winery Breckenridge, Fairplay ●

The Blue Beryl Winery - Palisade

Old Mine Cidery - Erie ●

Kold Prairie Mead - Distribution Only

7Cellars

Steamboat Winery - Steamboat Springs

Haykin Family Cider - Aurora

Snowy Peaks Winery - Estes Park ● ●

Carboy Winery - Breckenridge ●

Mountain Spirit Winery - Salida

Happy Hollow Hard Cider - Cedaredge

The OBC Wine Project - Fort Collins ●

Buckel Family Wine - Gunnison

Avant Vineyards - Palisade

Fenceline Cider - Mancos ● ●

Hunters Moon Meadery - Severance

Wisetails

Durango Craft Spirits - Durango

EsoTerra Cider - Durango, Delores ● ●

Blendings Winery - Fort Collins

DISTRIBUTION ONLY

Clark & Co’s Distilling - Palisade ●

Colorado Cider Co - Distribution Only

Honnibrook Meadery - Castle Rock, Littleton ●

CENTRAL MOUNTAINS

GRAND JUNCTION AREA

Climb Hard Cider Co - Distribution Only

Bad Bitch Cellars - Ault

Tweedle Botanicals

Breckenridge Distillery - Breckenridge●●

Clear Fork Cider - Paonia

Drekar Meadery - Colorado Springs

Mummy Hill Winery - Holyoke

WINERIES

Brush Hollow Winery - Penrose

Alluvial Farm & Vineyards - Fort Collins

Sutcliffe Vineyards - Cortez ●

Summit Cultures

Big B’s Fruit Co - Hotchkiss ● ●

NORTHERN FRONT RANGE

Country Road Vines and Wines - Fort Morgan ● ●

Archetype Distillery - Gypsum, Vail

Fraser Valley Distilling ● fraservalleydistilling.com 970.363.7792

Kingman Estates Winery - Denver ●

Fox Fire Farms - Ignacio ●

Strongwater

WESTERN SLOPE

Deep Roots Winery & Bistro - Golden ●●

CIDERIES 13° Brix Cider Bistro - Palisade ●

Grüvi (non-alcoholic only) IndoVINO Wild Mountain Cellars

Meadkrieger - Loveland ● ● Miracle Stag Meadery - Distribution Only Queen Bee Brews - Denver Redstone Meadery - Boulder Slaymaker Cellars - Idaho Springs Yellow Car Country Wines - Cortez ●

PLAN YOUR ESCAPE

VISITIDAHOSPRINGSCO.COM

FROM TRAIL TO TAP IN MINUTES.

WHERE STORIES

COME ALIVE

Sep 11 – Oct 4, 2026

For the 2026/27 Theatre Company season, we invite you to experience stories that sweep you away and transport you to unexpected worlds. Stories that come alive right before your eyes.

OFFICIAL TICKETS

Oct 2 – Nov 1, 2026

ON SALE NOV 10

TICKETS & PACKAGES

ON SALE NOW!

denvercenter.org/theatrecompany SEASON SPONSOR

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT

Apr 2 – May 2, 2027

Apr 30 – May 30, 2027

AND SO MUCH MORE! Fall 2026

ThirstColorado.com 47