Now that it’s a new year, it’s a great time to think about recommitting to your fitness resolutions. We’ve made a list of Colorado’s favorite activities and ordered them by how many calories they’ll help you burn per hour. Keep in mind that numbers are adjusted for someone weighing 155 pounds and exerting themselves at a moderate level. If you weigh more or less, you’ll likely burn more or less accordingly. Likewise, if you’re exercising with more or less intensity, you’ll burn more or fewer calories.

14. Bird Watching — 175 calories per hour

Birding - OutThere Colorado

13. Disc golf — 200 calories per hour

Disc Golf - OutThere Colorado

12. Golf — 317 calories per hour

Broadmoor East Golf Course - OutThere Colorado
Broadmoor East Golf Course. Photo courtesy of The Broadmoor.

11. Kayaking – 350 calories per hour

Kayaking Lake Dillon - OutThere Colorado
Lake Dillon, Dillon, Colorado.

10. Stand-Up Paddleboarding – 400 calories per hour

Paddleboarding Dillon Reservoir - OutThere Colorado
Dillon Reservoir.

9. Hiking – 420 calories per hour

Hiking 401 Trail Crested Butte - OutThere Colorado
401 Trail, Crested Butte.

8. Skiing – 422 calories per hour

Woodward at Copper Mountain Resort - OutThere Colorado
Woodward at Copper Mountain Resort.

7. Snowboarding – 440 calories per hour

Sarah Gibeau Rides The Schauffler Chute in Montezuma Bowl at Arapahoe Basin - OutThere Colorado
Sarah Gibeau of Colorado Springs rides the Schauffler chute in Montezuma Bowl at Arapahoe Basin. Photo Credit: Christian Murdock

6. Cross Country Skiing – 560 calories per hour

Classic Cross Country Skiing Technique - OutThere Colorado

5. Snowshoeing – 562 calories per hour

Gleneagle Womens Hiking Club Photo Credit Mark Reis - OutThere Colorado
Members of the Gleneagle Women’s Hiking Club set off on a snowshoe trek Monday, February 22, 2010 in the fresh snow in Fox Run Regional Park. Member Carol Nettles said the club has been around for 20 years and has more than 100 members. She said they try to get out twice a month. She said she didn’t know how far they’d be snowshoeing Monday but that it would probably be “until we get tired.” Photo Credit: Mark Reis.

4. Mountain Biking – 600 calories per hour

Evolution Bike Park Crested Butte - OutThere Colorado
Evolution Bike Park, Crested Butte, Colorado.

3. Cycling – 700 calories per hour

Cycling Vail Pass - OutThere Colorado.
Vail Pass, Vail, Colorado.

2. Running (10 minute mile) – 704 calories per hour

Running Garden of the Gods Colorado Springs - OutThere Colorado
Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs.

1. Rock climbing – 775 calories per hour

Climbing Officer's Gulch - OutThere Colorado
Officer’s Gulch near Frisco, Colorado.

Leave a Reply

What We Believe

We are driven by our deep respect for our environment, and our passionate commitment to sustainable tourism and conservation. We believe in the right for everyone - from all backgrounds and cultures - to enjoy our natural world, and we believe that we must all do so responsibly. Learn More