Welcome
I really started The Outdoor Gems to share outdoor experiences through photography and storytelling to inspire more people to get outside. If more people got outdoors; took a walk, hike, went snowboarding, sat around a campfire, and surfed in the ocean, I think the world would be a better place.
-Jeremiah
Greatest Places to Go
Aspen Colorado, Hiking the American Lake Trail in the Fall
Fall is a special time in Colorado and Aspen is one of the best places to go to see the colors. I seem to catch this trail either too early or too late each time I’ve gone, but none the less, it is a favorite of mine just outside of Aspen that has plenty of awesome color each year. What I like most is how close it is to the town and how it makes for a great day hike. I happened to hike it during the snow which allowed me to have the trail to myself for the most of the way..
Telluride, Colorado, The Ultimate Guide for a summer vacation
Best Mountain Towns, The complete Adventure Guide to Salida Colorado
Somewhat of a sleeper mountain town, Salida is a place where one would find just about every outdoor Colorado adventure there is to offer. Not far from Buena Vista, Salida also feels like a surf town, but with a 1960’s feel to it. I first discovered Salida after hearing that they had river surfing. I ventured over from Breckenridge and realized how unique and adventurous the town and surrounding mountains felt, so I knew I had to explore the area more.
Colorado 14ers, Everything you need to know about Hiking Mt Elbert
Not gonna lie the first time I heard about people waking up at 4am to hike mountains greater than 14,000 feet (4267 meters), I thought they were crazy and
Best Ski Resorts in Colorado, A complete guide to Breckenridge Ski Resort
Interested in taking a ski or snowboard trip out west? Honestly there are so many amazing resorts, but one of my favorites is Breckenridge in Colorado. The mountain is located right in the town and has a lot of different options for people with different ability levels. You’ll find a number of beginner/intermediate runs as well as steeper more technical terrain at this resort. Which, in my opinion, is what makes Breck so unique. Although people like to hate
Breckenridge Colorado Hiking, a complete guide to Black Powder Pass Off Boreas Pass Road
One of the best things about Colorado in the spring, summer, and fall is the hiking. What seems like endless amounts of trails through out the state, there’s always a
Top Summer Mountain Towns in Colorado, A trip to Crested Butte
Without a doubt one of the best places to be in the summer time are the mountains, especially in Colorado. Throughout the state you will find historic mountain towns filled lots of outdoor recreation, cooler summer temps, and of course landscape views that don’t seem real at first site. After hearing great things about Crested Butte and seeing photos, I decided to plan a summer trip and discover what summer and the wildflower hype were really like in Crested Butte
Best Wildflower Hikes in Crested Butte Colorado, Hiking the Snodgrass Trail
Known to be one of the most populated areas for Wildflowers, Crested Butte in Colorado offers some of the best hiking trails minutes from town. One of these trails is Snodgrass. Other then hikers, you’ll also find mountain bikers, trail runners, and even horseback riding. If you want to see wildflowers, well this hike is one of the best hikes for it in the summer time. I decided to hike it in the afternoon to catch the sunset at the end, and if you time it on the right night, the mountain views at sunset mixed with wildflowers are incredible
Crested Butte Colorado, Five Summer Hikes that are Worth It
Summer time in the mountains is one of the best experiences if you’re looking for adventure. Colorado summers are hard to beat, especially in mountain towns. Cooler temps, amazing views, and plenty of hiking trails. I spent some time in Crested Butte this summer and it is one of the coolest places I’ve been to in Colorado since living here for over a decade. There’s a number of hikes close to town and I think that’s what I liked the most about trekking around.
Summer boarding, The ultimate guide to Hiking the 4th of July bowl on Peak 10 in Breckenridge
Normally when someone thinks of summer, winter activities are the last thing that come to mind. If you do think of snowboarding, Mt Hood in Oregon or Coppers summer park in Colorado are probably what come to mind. However for the back country enthusiast looking to do something different, the fourth of July bowl on Peak 10 in Breckenridge Colorado is a way
Best Colorado Hikes, Making your way to Lost Lake near Buena Vista
Chaffee county Colorado, one of the most unique areas of the state with mountains, alpine desert terrain, river activities, and of course plenty of hiking trails. Small towns Salida and Buena Vista in the area both offer tons of outdoor recreation. A favorite hike just outside of..
Hiking in Crested Butte, A Sunrise (or Sunset) Hike on the Lupine Trail
So you’ve planned a summer trip to Crested Butte in Colorado and you’re looking for a good hike to start the trip off. Well, the nice thing about Crested Butte is there are a few hikes right in town that are great for getting acclimated to the mountains while enjoying the outdoors. One of these hikes is the Lupine Trail. Late June through early July this trail will be covered with Wildflowers and in the fall you’ll get to see some fall colors as there are Aspen trees on part of this hike
Buena Vista Colorado, Hike to Ptarmigan Lake (Best times to visit, trail info, and what to expect)
Alright so you’re interested in checking out some good hiking trails in Colorado and are looking for a good hike to do for the day. The one thing about Colorado is there are a number of trails with Alpine Lakes. Well not too far from Downtown Buena Vista is Ptarmigan Lake, a doable day hike that isn’t too challenging and has a pretty cool alpine lake at the top that you can fish at, eat lunch, shoot photos, or just hang out at..
Taking a Ski or Snowboard trip to Vail Colorado, Everything you should know
Known as the largest ski resort in Colorado, and the 5th largest in North America, riding a mountain such as Vail will open your eyes to a whole new world of what winter can look like for skiing and snowboarding. Known for their back bowls, this magical place, that drives tourists and employees from all over the world each season to enjoy the outdoor playground that Vail has become. I first rode Vail after a surprise snow storm..
The Complete Ski Resort Guide to Aspen Snowmass in Colorado
Aspen Colorado, probably one of the most Iconic ski town names in the snow world. Not far from downtown Aspen is Snowmass, the largest of 4 Aspen resorts and the one that seemed to always be my favorite. I first took a vacation to this mountain years ago driving across the country on a bus for a college ski club trip. First time in Colorado snowboarding and I was speechless. The runs seemed to go on forever and the terrain was endless. Making the trek back here years later has been a trip, not much has changed other then new on mountain dining, and a new base area. Although Snowmass continues to make new upgrades it still has the home like feel to it..
Beginner Hikes in Colorado, Trekking the Monarch Pass Loop near Salida
Looking to explore one of many Colorado Mountain Passes? With Colorado having numerous amazing mountain passes to drive along in the summer and fall, Monarch Pass is one you should add to the list. The top of Monarch Pass is actually right where the ski resort is, Monarch Mountain. A smaller mountain with a local vibe. In the summer there is a scenic gondola and also a few hiking/biking trails. If you’re staying in Salida, this is an awesome place
Hidden Gem Hikes in Colorado, Hiking the Waterdog Lakes Trail near Salida
So you might be visiting Salida Colorado for a day or maybe you are looking for something new or different in Colorado for hiking. If you’re looking for day hikes in the Chaffee county area, Waterdog Lake up near Monarch Pass is a good simple hike with some nice views towards the top. It’s a shorter hike, but one of my favorites from the summer
Best Hiking Trails in Crested Butte, The Scenic Teocalli Ridge Loop
Crested Butte in the summer is one of the best places to explore different hiking trails. The area has everything from short scenic paths to ten mile plus day hikes with elevation gain that will take you to the top of some awesome overlook areas such as TeoCalli Ridge!. After getting a recommendation from a friend on this hike last minute, I decided to go for it. It wasn’t far from town, so I grabbed breakfast at a local bagel shop in town and then made my way towards the trailhead.
Colorado Mountain Towns near Denver, A day trip to Silver Plume
One thing that makes Colorado unique is the number of historic mountain towns through out the state. Some more popular than others such as Crested Butte, Telluride, and Breckenridge. However, there’s still a number of hidden gem towns with outdoor recreation and cool history. One being the very small town of Silver Plume.
Only dirt roads with one main street, this is one of the smallest towns I’ve been to in Colorado. However, there’s a really cool
Hiking the incredible Red Rocks and Morrison Slide Loop Trail near Golden Colorado
One of the coolest places to visit in Colorado is Red Rocks, just outside of the small town Morrison. If you’re able to catch a concert at the venue it is pretty special (highly recommend looking up shows in advance). Not far the venue are a number of hiking and biking trails that are a
Meet Jeremiah
Growing up, I loved being outside. I took a lot of cool trips with my family, whether it was camping, going to the beach, road trips, and national parks. Even though I didn’t fully appreciate those experiences at the time, as I got older I started getting more into the outdoors and traveling, reconnecting with my past. The feeling of traveling or going somewhere new always seems to give a sense of excitement or adventure.
Snowboarding and boardsports in general have been a passion of mine for over 20 years. I always loved the culture that came with it; from local retail shops to magazines and videos, to riding with friends as well as geeking out on the latest gear, it’s all part of the experience. After working in snowboard/outdoor gear shops for the past decade along with traveling to different outdoor places, I decided to put all of that experience in digital form to inspire and connect with other people.