Where you can kayak and paddleboard for free in Denver this summer

Denver allows hand-launched boats (kayaks, canoes and paddleboards) in five lakes — and this year, it's free after the city ended the requirement for a permit, which previously cost $25.

Why it matters: It's even easier to paddle close to home.

Where you can put in:

• Sloan's Lake
• Rocky Mountain Lake
• Berkeley Lake
• Smith Lake in Washington Park
• Ferril Lake in City Park

The city also is extending a ban on motorized boats on Sloan's Lake into a second year, meaning you don't need to dodge wakeboarders and big waves.

• Yes, but: Sloan's Lake is so shallow it's prone to algae blooms and fish kills. So beware of the conditions.

My thought bubble: In the pandemic, I discovered a sunset paddle after work is a great escape, all without the travel to Cherry Creek or Chatfield reservoirs.