Denver, CO: Hit the Inclusive Hiking Scene at Genesee Park

Oneika Raymond travels to the Mile High City and hits the trail at Denver’s Genesee Mountain Park to learn more about how we can make the outdoors a more welcoming place for all.

She’ll lace up her hiking boots to join Denverite Beth Bradley for a short trek along the Genesee Summit Trail, a short drive from downtown Denver. Beth is a plus-sized hiker whose relationship with her body and her hometown were transformed forever when she went for her first hike. We’ll hear how Beth didn’t always feel included in Denver’s vibrant outdoor scene, but how claiming time on the trail for herself helped her tap into the community and motivated her to want to share the benefits of nature with more people.

Using the Denver Sheraton Downtown as basecamp, Beth shared her recommendations for best day hikes along with other outdoor adventures to consider like kayaking the rapids at Confluence Park or cycling the Cherry Creek Regional Trail, but at over 8,000 feet elevation and with views of 14,000 foot Mount Evans, Genesee Park was the perfect place to spend a breezy afternoon.

Since Beth was born and raised in Denver, she gave Oneika lots of insider insights about her city, including why it’s worth standing in line at Little Man Ice Cream for a post-hike treat and why any food slathered with green chiles is quintessentially Colorado.

About the Journey is a podcast produced by Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, AT WILL MEDIA, MNTRA, and Oneika Raymond. Listen and follow the show here.

To read full episode transcripts from About the Journey and see photos of each featured destination, head to About the Journey on Marriott Bonvoy Traveler. Starting this season, you can watch full videos of each episode on the Marriott Bonvoy YouTube channel.