Jessica LaRusso

Glenwood Springs’ Hanging Lake is one of the state’s most beloved hikes, and for good reason: The pool is a stunning sight straight out of a fantasy novel. Waterfalls cascade over mossy travertine deposits into a dazzling turquoise tarn. Black swifts (a rare, bucket-list sight for birders) dart in the mist behind the falls, while rainbow trout shimmer in the gin-clear waters below.

Perhaps your pool vibe is a floppy hat, a chic canvas tote with your latest beach read tucked inside, and an oversize towel to dry your toes after you eventually decide to dip them in. Maybe you’re the parent who shows up with floaties, squirt guns, and diving sticks. Or are you cap, goggles, and Speedo guy? In any case, nothing says summer like slipping on a bathing suit and hitting a swim spot.

“You’re out of your freaking mind,” was Hunter Powell’s response to his girlfriend’s suggestion that he try bobsledding. After competing for years in decathlon professionally (and, before that, for Colorado State University), the Fort Collins native was ready to move on from his dream of going to the Olympics. Instead, he followed the advice of his now-fiancée, Kaysha Love—the reigning 2025 Monobob World Champion—and went to a bobsled combine. He was named to the national team in late 2024.