Who We Are

Welcome to Colorado Hikes and Hops! We are Tanya and Melody, two Colorado moms who love the great outdoors. We are thrilled to share our adventuring on hiking trails, favorite brews and spots, and gear recommendations with you. 

Melody grew up in Africa, tackling mountain climbing in East Africa—including Mt. Kilimanjaro—before she turned 18. Colorado Springs has been home for 29 years, and she knows this city, its trails, and this state intimately. She has hiked many of Colorado's 14ers, run the Pikes Peak Ascent and a few marathons, and explored its national forests and all four national parks—Rocky Mountain a favorite for annual winter hikes. From trails to local hangouts, she knows the area and loves sharing it. She's still out on her beloved Colorado trails and transitioning back to trail running some days—still hiking alongside the kids she once carried on her back, now grown. She has also led treks and trips around the world, combining her love of travel with connecting across cultures. A certified 200-hour Yoga Alliance teacher, you might even spot her flowing on the trails.

Tanya grew up in Missouri where her love for the outdoors grew with family camping and Young Life experiences. In their second year of marriage, she and her husband backpacked across Europe, then promptly moved to Germany for six years. Their family grew as they led groups of teenagers to ski the Alps, hop trains and jump cliffs off the coast of Italy, and build school playgrounds in the Czech Republic, all while pointing them to Jesus. Fast forward to 2016, after a decade back in Kansas City and many Colorado backpacking adventures with YL teens, Tanya’s fam moved to Colorado Springs and met Melody’s fam via their two oldest. Thanks Caroline and Jackson!

We, Tanya and Melody, became fast friends as moms of tweens and teens with a shared passion for hiking in Colorado, topped off with a cold one. We adventure with our husbands and kids every chance we get.

Colorado Hikes and Hops is about finding a new trail, a good brew to pair with it, and the gear and stories that go with the journey. We look forward to sharing what we've learned.

So grab your hiking gear, go solo or find a hiking buddy, and join us for a hike and a brew.