<p>You won’t top Colorado School of Mines. I hike and bike, and there is no better place than the Front Range in Colorado. If you prefer a large university, Penn State and Virginia Tech both have great cycling (mountain and road) and hiking at their doorstep and excellent engineering schools. Another great small engineering school is Rose-Hulman (Ind.), although I’m less certain about the outdoor options. A great mid-size option is Lehigh University (Pa.), which has the added benefit of being close to the Delaware River with all that entails.</p>