Tips for Getting Outside Daily (even in cold weather)

It’s a proven fact that getting outside on the regular has immense benefits for mental and physical health alike. Even knowing all of these facts, it can still be one of the most difficult events to break the barrier of the doorway and step outside. On top of the day-to-day difficulty, the cold weather adds an entirely new obstacle to overcome.

We can be tough on ourselves and often think that it only counts if we go outside and hike a five-mile trail, bike for at least an hour, or do an overnight trip with friends. The biggest mistake we make here is not being kind enough to ourselves in the midst of everything going on every day. Here are some tips for getting outside daily to help everyone work on boosting their mental and physical health, even if it’s only for a short period of time. 

The Benefits of Getting Outside

Studies upon studies have looked into how the outdoors is beneficial for the mental wellbeing of humans. Programs like the Children and Nature Network work to bring these benefits into public knowledge, but here is a shortlist of the benefits these programs are trying to make common knowledge. 

  • Improved relational skills
  • Reduced stress, anger, and aggression
  • Increase in Vitamin D
  • Promotes resilience
  • Increased self-esteem
  • Decreased depression

If you’re in the same boat as a lot of us, seasonal affective disorder is a real issue that needs managing when the winter hits. SAD, rightfully named, results in increased levels of depression as the days get shorter and the cold keeps us bundled up inside. 

All of the mental health benefits of the outdoors work towards relieving the symptoms of SAD and can even target the root causes by exposing your brain to the natural elements and helping it produce the chemicals needed to keep yourself strong through the winter. 

In addition to the interactions of nature and mental health, we see these tips for getting outside daily as a way to connect yourself to the world around you and engage in more environmentally responsible behaviors. In the long run, getting outside helps preserve our world to continue enjoying it. 

8 Ways to Get Outside Daily

Enjoying nature all winter can be made easy when you find the activities you love to do. Here are eight ways that can easily help you find your way outside every day. Remember that only 20 minutes of outdoor time a day can start to bring about all of these benefits that we’ve been discussing. A combination of these activities, or a single one, can easily reach your goal of 20 minutes. 

Walk your dog

Whether you have a dog or not, a walk outside is an easy way to take time to yourself and decompress or prepare for the coming day. Starting your day with a walk can help to clear your mind and allow you to go into the day with a positive mindset that can shift your entire mood all day long. 

Grab some tea or coffee to go

Hot drinks in the cold weather are a savior to us all. Hot drinks can act as hand warmers and can heat us up while we drink. Using a hot coffee or tea as an excuse to get outside also allows you to stay warm if it’s a chillier day. Take a walk or find a bench, but be sure to drink that coffee outside. 

Plan lunch at the park

Meeting others for a lunch date is common as we often have the time to take a quick break from work. Plan to meet a friend at the park where you can each take turns bringing lunch every other week. It’s a great way to catch up with friends and utilize the outdoor spaces that most cities offer. 

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Ride to work

Riding a bike to work is one of the best ways to help you reach your physical fitness goals and boost your mental health. The Netherlands is considered to be the cycling nation of the world. Over 27% of all trips are made by bike. The obesity rate is one of the lowest in the world. Some studies show that swapping out only 12% of short car trips with a bike ride can increase lifespan by 14 months. 

Take your break outside

Throughout the day, everyone needs to be taking mental breaks. Everyone knows what it feels like to be burnt out at the end of a long work day. These short breaks are the perfect opportunity to step outside and get some fresh air. Even if you stand there, the fresh air also has impressive health benefits. 

Find local hikes

If you’re looking for more adventurous ways to get outside, local hikes should be on the menu. Getting outside in cold weather can be made easy when you know what to expect and how to prepare. This time outside can be a quick in and out trail, but you can also extend the trip to last for miles. 

Do normal tasks outdoors

Try bringing your normal everyday tasks into the outdoors. Put a nice bench on the porch or in the yard or find a cafe with outdoor seating and start reading the newspaper there. Any work done without the quiet of an office space can also be moved outside. 

Plant a garden

Gardens are incredible for helping people get outside because it gives them a reason and purpose to go out. Tending to a garden takes immense love and devotion, meaning time. If you start a garden, it can be a reason to get out and spend long chunks of time in your yard working for something that you can enjoy later on. 

Most Accessible Trails in Colorado Springs

Whenever travel is on the menu, there’s a lot that goes into finding the right thing to do for your adventure. For some, that includes finding the best wheelchair accessible trails. If you’re looking for a spot with accessibility in surplus, Colorado Springs is worth taking a look at. 

The town is well-known for its stunningly beautiful trails and majestic landscapes that become the backdrop of day-to-day life. There are plenty of activities to do in the winter for anyone interested in the outdoors or city life. One of the best parts of these trails and activities is that several of them that are ADA accessible, as well as easier trails that often appeal to families with small children. 

We’ll take a look into the best ADA accessible attraction in Colorado Springs but won’t stop there. This list has a wide array of options that will allow for a longer visit and different styles of activities. 

Cottonwood Creek Trail

The Cottonwood Creek Trail is an excellent choice for anyone looking to explore the city with a wheelchair. The trail runs for 6.3 miles along the northern end of Colorado Springs. The best part? The trail is mostly paved, with only a few areas of dirt or gravel path. The section between Rangewood Drive and Union Boulevard is gravel, but the rest is paved. 

There are plenty of recreation areas along the trail, such as large playgrounds, grassy fields, and seasonal bathrooms. You get a mix of residential feeling along the walk, with some expansive views running alongside the creek with mountains as your backdrop. 

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

While it isn’t directly in Colorado Springs, anyone in the area shouldn’t miss this destination. Just around 40 minutes from the city, you’ll find the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. This historical monument is filled with over 1700 different species of fossils. You’ll even run into petrified Sequoia trees, bigger than you can imagine. 

This place is wonderful for wheelchair and family-friendly accessibility. It’s an incredible opportunity to fill your trip with education as well as an easy cruise on a paved trail. 

Garden of the Gods Park

Garden of the Gods is one of the largest attractions that brings thousands to the region each year. It’s completely understandable why. The park is filled with red rock structures that tower over an incredible landscape and create a unique environment only minutes outside downtown Colorado Springs. 

The park has an intricate trail system, which is handicap accessible. A few trails stand out as some of the best options for a day hike that accommodates everyone in the family. Before heading out, be sure to read up on how to pack for a day hike to have the best possible experience without forgetting all the essentials. 

Perkins Central Garden Trail

This short 1.1-mile loop is located within Garden of the Gods Park and is the perfect opportunity to see a lot of distinct features of the park. It’s often listed as the best trail for wheelchairs out of all the 15 miles of trails that you can find in the park. The loop is primarily level and completely paved. 

Along the route, you’ll see Kissing Camels, South Gateway Rock, Three Graces, and Sentinel Spires. These are well-known and sought-after attractions, all easily reached in the short mile-long loop.

If you’re hoping to find even more accessible trails in the park, check out some other guided hikes in Colorado Springs to get the most out of each hike as well. 

Olympic Training Center

Athletes come from across the country to use the magnificent facilities in Colorado Springs. This center offers year-round guided tours of the entire Olympic and Paralympic Training Center, where you can see the entire center in only an hour. It’s a perfect fit for a quick trip on a day when the weather may not be perfect for getting outside. 

The grounds of the training center are highly ADA accessible, especially as many of the athletes coming to train here are in wheelchairs themselves. The facility was designed for ease of use and accessibility, so it is well worth checking out whenever you’re in town. 

Pikes Peak Greenway Trail

Running 15 miles throughout Colorado Springs is the Pikes Peak Greenway Trail. This is the connector for other long regional trails in the north and south and provides access to parks and other trails scattered throughout the city. 

The trail is a mix of different surfaces. There are sections that are paved and some that are dirt and stone, but it’s still a highly accessible trail. People ride road bikes along the entire path and never have an issue. Since it’s in the middle of the city, it’s mainly a flat trip. 

Follow this trail to America the Beautiful Park, a famous 30-acre area with breathtaking views. There are plenty of other ways to utilize the Pikes Peak Greenway, and we encourage you to explore the trail system for yourself. 

Colorado Jeep Tours

Finally, if you want something completely different and still accessible for many, Colorado Jeep Tours are a great choice. You’ll get to see a wide variety of terrains within the area, all from the comfort of an off-road Jeep. 

Accessibility includes American Sign Language videos on every tour and a three-point harness seat belt equipped in the front seat for anyone with mobility issues. Don’t worry about leaving your service dog behind, as they are more than welcome to join. 

How Can I Keep Snow Out of My Boots While Winter Hiking?

Warm and dry feet can make all the difference when winter hiking. Keeping the snow out of your boots is critical in achieving optimal levels of comfort and happiness on the trail. Walking through feet of snow and keeping your feet free of snow can seem like a difficult task, but fortunately, there have been many that have come before us and figured out the secrets to happiness. 

Keeping the snow out of your boots comes down to finding the right waterproof footwear, wearing the right accessories, such as gaiters, and layering your waterproof pants in a way that sheds snow away from the boot. The key is a combination of these different techniques rather than a simple answer. The result is guaranteed to make winter hiking a favorite rather than a dreaded activity, no matter the process. 

Wear Gaiters

Gaiters, commonly confused with alligators in common conversation, are designed to keep stuff out of your boots. This can be dirt, rain, and in our case today, snow. Gaiters are a simple design requiring only a low level of research before strapping them on and getting out on the trails. 

No matter what activity you’re doing in the outdoors, whether it be summer or winter, gaiters can be beneficial. They add a high layer of protection for various winter activities and should be considered an essential part of winter gear in general. 

Gaiter Type

While all gaiters will work to keep your boots clear of debris, certain gaiters are made for different activities. It’s important to get the right style of gaiter for what you are planning on doing simply to have the best experience possible. 

Colorado Springs has such a wide variety of terrain and climates throughout the year that you can potentially use these gaiters all year long. Not all hiking in Colorado Springs will require gaiters to be on your gear list, but they are a helpful addition, especially when you are attempting to walk through the snow. 

Hiking gaiters are made of lightweight and breathable fabrics that help to keep out most small-scale debris. This can be light rain, small rocks and pebbles, and dirt or grit. These are a good choice for summer trips that lean closer to the “dry” side of things. 

Mountaineering gaiters incorporate a much more heavyweight fabric that offers protection against snow and the cold. If keeping snow out of your boots is the number one priority, these are the gaiters for you. 

Trail running gaiters are much more lightweight and function mainly to keep small pebbles and dirt out while running on a trail. These may be beneficial for running on a packed trail in the winter but won’t do much for you if you are post-holing to your knees in deep powder. 

Gaiter Height

There are three central heights that you’ll find on the gaiter market–over the ankle, mid-calf, and knee-length. For winter hiking, knee-length gaiters are the best option, as you will likely find yourself trekking through deep snow with even deeper pockets that you don’t expect. These will keep most snow out of your boots but can lead to some sweaty calves amid summer. 

Gaiters will be your ultimate protection for keeping snow out of your boots. These are a great addition to a snowshoe setup where you will be floating on top of the snow but can sink in softer patches. As we mentioned before, snow protection is a combination of different tactics. 

Photo by Emma Dau on Unsplash

Waterproof Footwear 

Keeping the snow out of your boots when it’s in the frozen snow form is an easier task than keeping it out once it’s grabbed onto your boot and starts melting. This is where it’s important to have a pair of the best hiking boots. This is another primary key to keeping your feet dry during winter hiking. 

There are plenty of reasons to keep your feet dry while hiking, and in the winter, these reasons become even more important. 

Find a pair of waterproof boots that are durable enough to withstand the snow. There are several different styles of waterproof boots on the market, and we suggest doing a hefty amount of research into finding the right ones for you. 

Without waterproof boots, all of the snow that you shed away from the inside of your boots will find its way inside through the fabric of the boots. Not all, or really any, boots will keep the snow from getting inside around your ankle, but the right boot can stop the snowmelt from penetrating. 

Photo by Bonnie Kittle on Unsplash

Layer Waterproof Pants

Another small hack to keeping snow out is wearing waterproof pants and basing them correctly. If you’re already wearing gaiters and waterproof boots, this final level of protection will further ensure happy, dry, and warm feet during winter hiking. 

To keep everything as dry as possible, it’s essential to ensure that your pant leg isn’t dragging through the snow and absorbing that moisture when your body melts it. For that reason, tucking both pant legs into socks before throwing a waterproof layer on top is a great move. 

Gaiters should be the final step in the process (other than putting on snowshoes if you’re wearing them). Waterproof pants will add an additional layer of protection underneath the gaiters and between your legs and the snow. They also help shed snow away from your body rather than soaking it in and channeling the snowmelt down into your feet.

How Early Should I Book My Summer Tours?

Snow is still falling around us, and multiple layers are required to step out the door, but yet, summer is still sneaking up quicker than we can imagine. Thoughts of booking summer outdoor tours in Colorado Springs may seem like dreams of a time unknown rather than something that needs to happen now. 

It’s an easy mistake to make. Putting off booking tours because it doesn’t seem likely that people will make their plans so far in advance is something that only needs to be experienced once to never do again.

Summer in Colorado is one of the most luxurious times and places anyone can find on the entire planet. Tourist season skyrockets, so booking tours needs to happen as soon as possible. 

When to Visit Colorado Springs

Every city has its attractions. Colorado Springs has many things to do, whether in the height of summer or the midst of a long winter. It all depends on the types of activities you like to do. 

The spring and fall offer cooler weather with fewer crowds, while the winter brings about some of the best snowsport terrain. The summer is different, though. Families have lived for the summer.

Remember getting out of school and knowing that you’re on summer break? Name another feeling that comes close to the exhilaration kids feel on the final school bell. It’s hard to match. 

For most, it’s safe to say that summer is a time for going out and being active. We’ve spent our winter hibernating, or at least skiing for a few hours and hustling back in to escape the cold. When the temperature starts to rise and the day gets long, there’s more reason to get out and stay out. 

Summer is the peak of the tourist season for Colorado Springs. People can find activities in every corner of the city and move out of the city limits to find more. Due to the huge level of demand, booking tours early on, maybe as soon as you finish reading this, is important to finding the best outdoor tours in Colorado Springs. 

Sunshine and more sunshine

When kids get out of school and families can take the time to vacation, everyone is out and about. It’s the summer, so people naturally want to find the sunshine and feel the warmth on their skin as they hike out and find gorgeous backdrops for family photos. 

Colorado averages 300 days of sunshine per year. Put that up against almost anywhere else in the United States, and you’ll be glad you’ve chosen Colorado. Temperatures hover between 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit, making it the ultimate climate for summer travel. 

The only part of the summers in the mountains that needs special attention is the near-daily mountain storm. Up high in the peaks, there’s a large possibility for afternoon storms that roll in and are gone before you can even process the fact that it just rained. With the right amount of planning, you can arrange your day to avoid the high peaks in the afternoon. 

What to do in the Summer in Colorado Springs

With the summer comes a plethora of options, especially for outdoor tours. Colorado Springs is surrounded by natural beauty. One of the best activities to explore the area is getting out and hiking in any local park. Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak will be more crowded in the summer, but they’re spectacular places to visit. 

Summer outdoor tours in Colorado Springs can take you to more isolated places. Local guides know the places to go that are still magnificent but don’t draw as much of a crowd. These guides are one of the few places to get information that can’t be found with a quick Google search. 

Book a tour ahead of time and lock a place in with mountain biking or guided zipline tours to expand upon what the typical family vacation may encompass. Trying something new is always a safe bet in the summer, and it can be reassuring to have a guided tour helping you explore that new activity. 

It’s safe to say that there’s something for everyone to do in the summertime in Colorado Springs. If you’re looking for something outdoorsy and adventurous, there are almost too many options to choose from. Those who feel more drawn to a foodie or city-based adventure will find that the town itself has a ton of local restaurants and shops that are full of energy throughout the summer months.

The summer is full of different festivals like the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, Manitou Springs Wine Festival, the Royal Gorge Whitewater Festival, Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo, and the El Paso County Fair. These events are perfect for planning your summer vacation around. Once you’re tired enough from hiking to the summit of Pikes Peak, you can sit back and watch cars do it instead. 

Photo by Ian Baldwin on Unsplash

When to Book Summer Tours

The best time to get a summer reservation with the best outdoor tours in Colorado Springs is now. Spots fill up quickly, and planning the perfect vacation requires a lot of time spent thinking ahead. 

Last-minute bookings with us are difficult to snag. Typically, bookings are completely filled up from Easter all the way until Thanksgiving. With Easter just around the corner, we wanted to remind you to book your tours today and start looking forward to soaking in that Colorado summer sun!