Colorado is an outdoor wonderland. From being home to one of America’s prettiest highways to offering the best national park for outdoor adventures, the entire state is a dream come true for intrepid explorers of all kinds. Brainard Lake Recreation Area is further proof of Colorado’s beauty, sitting in a valley carved by glaciers and surrounded by thick subalpine forest. Here, you can snap Instagram-worthy photos with your eyes closed as the impressive Rocky Mountains encircle the lake – they’re especially photogenic in the winter with their snowcapped peaks.