2 Colorado universities named among top 3 outdoor schools; here are the top 10 (Slideshow)

It's not first place, but hey, we'll take two out of the top three — especially when it comes to Colorado's outdoor sports and recreation.

Colorado State University and University of Colorado Boulder were both named among the three best outdoor schools in the country in Best College Reviews' new ranking.

"Many of our top schools use nature as a great segue into, and complement to, higher education," said Merrill Cook, lead editor for the ranking.

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• Click the image above to view a slideshow of the top 10 universities for outdoor sports & recreation in the country.

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"The presence of high quality outdoor experiences ... can often be one of the strongest correlates to student well-being, both physically and mentally," he added.

Best College Reviews is an online resource for students trying to decide where to attend college.

CSU and CU-Boulder were the only Colorado-based colleges to come in on the list, which categorized 35 higher education institutions based on several factors, including:

• School-endorsed outdoor clubs.
• Proximity to state and national parks.
• Weather data, such as average yearly days of sunshine.
• Substantial outdoor opportunities on campus or nearby.
• Number of courses requiring outdoor work.

The ranking notes CSU's close proximity to Horsetooth Reservoir and the Rocky Mountains, as well as its numerous outdoor student organizations, as some of the main reasons the school landed in the No. 2 spot.

"CSU has a beautiful and many-faceted campus, with 583 acres in central Fort Collins, as well as a 1,438-acre Foothills campus, a 1,575-acre agricultural campus, and 4,043 acres in research stations and Colorado State Forest Service stations," the ranking said.

Caitlin Hendee is digital producer and social engagement manager for the Denver Business Journal and contributes to the "17th & Lincoln" blog. Email: chendee@bizjournals.com. Phone: 303-803-9226.