One year after protests prompted by the murder of George Floyd rocked downtown, Denver police are acknowledging that their response inflamed tensions.

What's new: "We found it's a motivator for some people just seeing officers out there," deputy division chief Joe Montoya tells Alayna.

• The takeaway is leading to a strategy shift centered on "practicing patience and trying to minimize our show of force" for future protests, he adds.
• The agency is also attempting to work more closely with organizers to build rapport and reach agreement on how police can keep events safe, such as directing traffic.

Why it matters: The police department's plans to apply the lessons learned over the past year come amid what activists say will be another "hot" summer of civil unrest.

The big picture: The sweeping changes include tracking the use of less lethal munitions like pepper balls and tear gas, and requiring that all officers use body cameras during protests.

• The overhaul comes in response to an independent report that determined that the police's handling of protests last summer was rife with excessive force, poor communication and inadequate record-keeping.

What to watch: Four lawsuits against the city over the police's response to the protests are pending in federal court, Denver city attorney Kristin Bronson tells Axios.

• The city also has received notice of another 66 related claims, all of which are still under investigation.

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This year, it feels like a huge "no vacancy" sign hangs on the Colorado mountains.

What's happening: Now more than ever, public land managers are taking steps to limit the human impact on the environment, particularly in the spots most easily accessed from Denver.

• Popular hiking destinations, including Brainard Lake and Mount Evans, now need advanced reservations.
• Dispersed camping locations in the national forests are starting to require reservations. Other areas are being converted to day-use only, and large swaths remain closed due to forest fires.
• The Bureau of Land Management is limiting camping in some areas to particular sites.

The big picture: The pandemic lockdowns led to a crush of outdoor adventurers in 2020 — a 200% spike in some areas of Colorado, forest officials say. And it's expected to continue this year.

• But the broader trends driving increasing closures are the population boom in Colorado and the stagnant amount of land for outdoor recreation.

The bottom line: "It's not that there are no places to visit," Donna Nemeth, a spokesperson with the U.S. Forest Service's Rocky Mountain Region, tells John. "It's that until it's safe to open some of the more popular spots, we're requesting people try a new area."

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The success of any Colorado adventure is often related to whether you planned well for the weather.

Why it matters: Weather can vary considerably across the state — and change quickly — particularly the mountains, where the elevation plays a factor and snow or lightning can have serious consequences.

What to know: Meteorologists at OpenSummit, a leading adventure weather forecasting app, are working to make predictions better — and easier to access.

Boulder-based founder Joel Gratz said his team is unveiling a new modeling system this summer. It'll pull together more data and adjust forecasts for elevation at all locations — not just certain popular points on the map.

• The new system is expected to debut next winter for the companion app, OpenSnow.

What he's saying: "What trying to do is ... effectively create a system that you feel like you have a meteorologist whispering in your ear," he tells John.

Memorial Day weekend travel is expected to rebound with a 60% increase from the 2020 historic lows, and Colorado is a bright dot on the map.

By the numbers: AAA predicts 692,000 Coloradans will travel from Thursday through Monday, 93% of them by road.

• The travel agency ranks Denver as the nation's fourth-most-popular road trip destination this weekend.

Between the lines: The surge is driven by pent-up demand from the pandemic lockdowns, experts say, and domestic travel remains king.

Yes, but: Gas prices in Colorado hit six-year highs at $3.10 a gallon for unleaded ahead of the holiday.

• The price of gas is 14 cents more than a month ago and $1.15 higher than this point in 2020, AAA reported.
• The highest-ever average is $4.09 from July 2008.

• Starting next April, the Denver metro is getting a new area code — 983 — which is expected to provide fresh phone numbers for about 25 years. (Colorado Sun)
• For two years, Colorado wildlife officials believed a gray wolf in Colorado to be male. It turns out she's female, and she's found a male partner. (Denver Post)
• Denver OK'd a $100,000 settlement with a female firefighter whose former lieutenant was found guilty of planting a hidden camera in her bedroom and recording her undressing. (CBS4)
• A 33-year-old Denver sheriff's deputy died from COVID-19 complications. His Facebook profile included multiple posts showing he was opposed to the vaccine. (Denver Post)
• Glendale will get a $150 million entertainment district with a movie theater, hotel and outdoor venues at Cherry and Virginia after it won approval from the City Council. (CBS 4)
• Two views of a student involved in the STEM School Highlands Ranch shooting in 2019 became apparent in the opening arguments of the trial opened Thursday. (Colorado Sun)

🥾 Hike: The popular Manitou Incline is now back in action, but reservations are required.

🚲 Bike: A new mountain bike trail in Black Hawk, called Hard Money, is a thrill. And part of the Palisade Plunge trail on the Western Slope opens to the public Saturday.

🚞 Ride: After being closed for four years, the Pikes Peak Cog Railway is back in operation for the three-hour trip to the top.

🌊 Swim: Water World is back, and more splashing about is possible at the Elitch Gardens water park. Both reopen Saturday.

🚗 Drive: Independence Pass, the scenic skyway between Aspen and Twin Lakes, is now open to motorists. And Trail Ridge Road through Rocky Mountain National Park is expected to completely reopen as soon as today.

🎨 Admire: The "Each/Other" exhibit at the Denver Art Museum includes a joint work from two Indigenous artists and 26 previous works, a unique collaboration.