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.
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
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
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..
The Ultimate Buena Vista Colorado Guide (How to Spend 4 Days)
Looking for a warmer part of Colorado close to the mountains with around 300 days of sunshine every year? Buena Vista is one of the coolest towns I’ve been to in Colorado and after you read this post I hope it inspires you to visit this unique corner of the state.
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..
Favorite Trails near Salida Colorado, Hiking to the Tenderfoot Hill Tower and Loop
After discovering river surfing in Salida Colorado, I started to take trips to Chaffee County in the summer and this past summer I ended up spending some time in Salida, not just river surfing, but exploring a lot of the outdoor recreation this area has to offer. The actual town reminds me of something out of the 1960’s as it has an old fashion feel to it, with Brick Buildings, small shops, and even a revamped drug store that sells ice cream. It’s a more quiet town which is why I like to visit the area so much in the summer. If you love the outdoors especially river activities, Salida is one of the best if not the best places in the state for that kind of outdoor passion.
Right in town is an awesome trail that you can either loop it or just hike up to the watch tower and back down into town. I decided to hike the entire loop starting in the afternoon and was racing the clock towards the end as the sun
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
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
Three Secret Beaches near Sayulita Mexico
So you’ve made it to Sayulita in Mexico and you’re interested in checking out a few secret beaches. That’s what I liked about taking a surf trip to this area were the beaches within close proximity to town. These beaches are pretty secluded and you can visit them anytime of day (although nothing beats a good sunset at the beach). Bring a good book, blanket, some snacks, and enjoy some
Paint Mines Interpretive Park Colorado, A complete day trip guide
Looking for a mellow and unique day trip outside of Denver and close to Colorado Springs? The Paint Mines is a cool area with Geological Rock Formations from millions
3 Easy Spring Hikes near Breckenridge worth checking out
Spring in the mountains is probably one of the best times of the year if you’re a local living in a ski town. Winters are pretty long, days are short, and the workload can be pretty exhausting as most people work 2 jobs to make a living. So when spring rolls around and the snow starts to melt along with trails starting to thaw out, it’s nice to go for an evening hike.
Snowmass Colorado, Hike Spiral Point for Sunset during the fall
Aspennn, One of the best places to visit during the fall in Colorado. While a lot of people may be inclined to visit the Maroon Bells, there’s still a number of different hikes in the area if your unable to get a reservation for..
Leadville Colorado, How to spend a Four day weekend
Looking to check out a hidden Colorado area that has lots of cool outdoor recreation and history? Although places like Rocky Mountain National Park, Aspen, Crested Butte, and Telluride are amazing, it’s always nice to visit somewhere new that still has a lot of cool activities to offer. Less than two hours from Denver is a small Colorado mountain town with..
Hocking Hills Ohio, A three day Itinerary
Ohio, located in the midwest part of the United States is known mostly for sports, open fields, and of course not much elevation gain. However! there’s actually a number of cool outdoor places if you’re willing to seek them out. Hocking Hills state park is a southern Ohio Gem with a number of cool trails that will take you
Top 11 Best Things to do In Twin Lakes Colorado
It’s no secret that Colorado has some of the best camping and outdoor recreation, with numerous places to explore all over the state. A favorite that is a great spot to spend a day or weekend is Twin Lakes! In between Leadville and Aspen, the actual town is
Twin Lakes Colorado, A Complete Guide to the Interlaken Trail
Alright so you’re in Colorado and are looking for a cool historic hike to do. Well, the one unique thing about Colorado other then the amazing outdoor recreation is the historic background a lot of the small towns have. One of these
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.