Enjoy them, but do your part to make sure that someone a year, a decade, or a century from now can enjoy the area too. Hikers can bag four peaks in a single day trek including Mount Bross (14,172 feet), Mount Lincoln (14,286 feet), Mount Cameron (14,238 feet) and Mount Democrat (14,148 feet). Photo Credit: Savannah Hodge. : Granby, CO, in the Indian Peaks Wilderness, 103 miles northwest of Denver, : A long day hike or an overnight backpacking trip, Located in the mountains west of Boulder, Indian Peaks Wilderness is a remarkable wilderness area with miles of pristine trails and many access points on both sides of the Continental Divide. Dont stop here, as another singletrack trail on the west side of Mirror Lake heads on to. It covers more than 39,000 miles of trails on public land, as well as private land with public access. Additionally, the road to the trailhead is closed seasonally, usually from December to April. Follow the signs to Rogers Pass Lake (pictured), a destination youll encounter just before reaching Heart Lake. The 13.6-mile path winds beautifully through the high country of knee-high spring blooms with specular views of the Gothic Valley and Mount Crested Butte. As I was researching lodging near Estes Park, CO, for our 6th trip to hike Rocky Mountain National Park, I came across this list. "We home school in the morning or when the kids are up and go for afternoon hikes as a family. It is very important to be off of the summit in the early afternoon to prevent exposure to thunderstorms. Distance: 6.7 milesElevation gain: 764 feetDifficulty: ModerateRed Tape and Local Tips: dog-friendly. It provides stunning views of three different lakes and Hallet Peak, a 11,000-foot mountain that is popular amongst rock climbers. The summer can also bring snow and hail when you are least expecting it, be sure to be packed for all weather conditions! Arrive at the TH before 7 am. Its my mission to get you out on the best Colorado hiking trails like a local, not a tourist. No dogs. On a calm, clear day the mountains reflections in the lake makes for a picture-perfect setting. Chautauqua Park is one of the highlights of the area, located at the base of Boulders iconic Flatirons. Micro-spikes can useful when there is snow on the windswept trail. Photo Credit: MargaretW (iStock). Location: For the purpose of this article, this would be in the San Juan section, but Mount Elbert is really in the Sawatch Range. Distance: 4.6 milesElevation gain: 213 feetDifficulty: EasyRed Tape and Local Tips: Dog-friendly. Additionally, be sure to check the weather and plan to leave early enough to avoid afternoon thunderstorms, which can move in rapidly at high elevations. Keep in mind, youll need to shuttle cars from point A to point B if youre section hiking. Be sure to park in the designated overnight parking lot. Near the southern end of the loop, you can branch onto the. Afterward, check out the sights in nearby Dillon, Frisco, and Breckenridge. There are also great groups on Facebook that post trail conditions. Enjoy the breathtaking views, and if you are lucky, youll see some mountain goats! To the south, you will have views of Blue Lakes and North Star Mountain across the valley. If you are looking for a shorter or easier outing, the Bear Lake Trail, which leaves from the same trailhead and loops around Bear Lake, is a family-friendly option. 1. Evans. Typically the trail is snow-free from mid-June through mid-October. Here comes the big question! Although there is plenty to do in Rocky Mountain NP, hiking is at the top of the list. Distance: 5.1 milesElevation gain: 885 feetDifficulty: ModerateRed Tape and Local Tips: dog-friendly. Photo Credit: Breanna Sneeringer, OutThere Colorado. Thanks to its strategic location, its suitable for year-round hiking. 2. This awesome, 6 mile out-and-back trail takes you through the exquisite Flat Tops Wilderness area near Yampa, Colorado. The Dream Lake Trail continues to climb from Nymph Lake up into Tyndall Gorge, crossing Tyndall Creek before coming to the eastern edge of, . 22. Bridal Veil Falls are the highest free-falling waterfalls in Colorado, at 365 feet high. Spring or fall can call for micro-spikes for the hike. Always understand that the weather generally comes from the west, and keep an eye on storms. Most hikers will start hiking around 3am in the summer. When planning your trip, keep in mind that parking can be scarce at the eastern trailheads, especially in the summer. Distance: 3.1Elevation Gain: 990Difficulty: easy to moderateRed Tape and Local Tips: No dogs. Different public lands have different guidelines and restrictions, so it is important to be familiar with the area that you are hiking in. This trail is dog-friendly, but dogs are not allowed past this point. With staple 14ers like Pikes Peak and Mount Evans towering above the Front Range and the Rocky Mountains to the west, the views on a clear day are astonishing. Its also one of the best hikes in Colorado since it features this super cool, narrow (its less than four-feet wide), 50-foot-long land bridge that youll need to traverse along the way. Distance: 1.6 milesElevation Gain: 232 feetDifficulty: EasyRed Tape and Local Tips: Dogs are not allowed and its $25 to enter the park. Hiking is one of the most popular outdoor activities in Colorado, and for good reason. Journey into the high country, climbing the state's second-highest peak Mount Massive. This trail appears to dead-end at Mirror Lake, a small lake with Lone Eagle Peak in the background. For more information, please visit the town of Glenwood Springs website. A popular trail in this area is Seven Bridges Trail which is a 3.8 mile trail that is moderately difficult. Distance: 3.5 milesElevation Gain: 1,530 feetDifficulty: moderate/difficultRed Tape and Local Tips: dog-friendly. Chasm Lake is fishable from June to October. Complete a classic Colorado climb with this advanced hike to the tallest peak in the Rocky Mountain National Park. If you are looking for a quick way to escape the city, this is a great region to hike in. North Cheyenne Canon is a very rugged hiking destination with access to gorgeous windy roads through the mountains. But Victoria's .SUNshine Girl Emily, a 5-foot-7, hazel-eyed Taurus who posed for us in 2018, loves yoga, hiking, writing in her journal and skiing. The easiest thing you can do to prevent altitude sickness is drink water and make sure you do not ascent too much in one day. One can experience snowstorms in June, warm weather in February, or even a sunny summer day interrupted by intense thunderstorms. Photo Credit: Stephen Martin, OutThere Colorado. From here, you have one final pass to completeWest Maroon Pass on the West Maroon Trail. Just outside of the main area of Rocky Mountain National Park, youll find the Lumpy Ridge area. . Although its not technically a day hike, you cant mention the best hiking in Colorado without mentioning the Colorado Trail and Kenosha Pass. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); great article will definitely try these hikes! Dont attempt Longs Peak unless you are an experienced mountain hiker who isnt afraid of exposure to steep drops and knows a thing or two about scrambling. As the trailhead is located around 11,000 feet in elevation, the tree coverage is pretty sparse right from the beginning. From Bluebell Road, turn onto the. Please check the NPS website and All-Trails for conditions updates. Photo Credit: Steven Bratman. Torreys sits at 14,267 feet and offers equally stunning views. As with any hiking day, it is especially important to drink lots of water and make sure you are eating enough. This is my favorite place to take out-of-town visitors on a scenic jaunt. Grays (14,270')and Torreys (14,267') are situated along the Continental Divide within the Arapaho National Forest near the small town of Idaho Springs. 5 Must-Have Hiking Essentials 1. In fact, there are five different hikes in this area that range in length from 1 to 13 miles (round trip) and that vary in difficulty between easy and moderate. Nature & Parks, State Parks. Swimming, dipping body parts into the water, standing under or on top of waterfalls, and walking on the fallen trees within the lake are strictly prohibited. Between the meandering stream, wildflowers, and shady trail this evokes a sense of classic Colorado Springs hikes. Continue on the. Photo Credit: Christian Murdock, The Gazette. The Sharkstooth Trail is an excellent way to tour this lonely chain of distinct peaks. Adding even more wonder to your adventure, the trail splits off toward. Once you reach the fire tower, which is situated at 9,748 feet, the 360-degree views are fantastic. Parts of this ecosystem are fragile. Local Tip: The road to the trailhead closes every winter, so check conditions before heading out. The towering red rock formations of Garden of the Gods create a memorable backdrop for this easily accessible hike located minutes from downtown Colorado Springs. (Photo Credit: Hiking Project Contributor. Aspen, Colorado is obviously known for its Aspen trees! Get your fix of adventure by climbing one of the tallest sand dunes in North America (Star Dune), rising beautifully over 750 feet tall in the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Distance: 3.6 milesElevation Gain: 864Difficulty: easyRed Tape and Local Tips: This trail gets crowded and if you cant park in the Bear Lake Lot, youll be taking the bus in. Parts of the trailhead may also be inaccessible during these months. The lookout is accessible when staffed (typically mid-May through mid-September), and hikers can climb the 143 stairs up the side of Devils Head to the tower to enjoy jaw-dropping views of the Front Range and the Rocky Mountains. Photo Credit: Breanna Sneeringer, OutThere Colorado. Photo Credit: johnnya123 (iStock). The natural wonder can be found just below American Peak. Sneffels allows one to get a great sense of just how vast the San Juans really are. The final climb is very rocky, and the going will be slow, but topping out at the official summit marker is well worth the effort. However, keep in mind that many trailheads become inaccessible in the winter. While it may be one of the easier hikes on this list, there's certainly no shortage of alpine beauty on the Waterdog Lakes Trail. She is also known for being a bookworm and owning more running shoes than most people would consider socially acceptable. Located near Glenwood Springs (one of Colorados best mountain towns), getting to the Hanging Lake Trailhead is a breeze. This article will mainly focus on some of the best day hikes. Pacific Tarn in the Tenmile Range. Another unique feature is Dinosaur Ridge, a National Natural Landmark with preserved dinosaur tracks, to the east. If you are in the area for this hike, it is worth it to drive to the summit of Mt. Much of this land has developed hiking trails, spanning 12 National Parks, 41 State Parks, and 58 mountains above 14,000 feet. The first snowfall up high can occur as early as the first week of September! Once you catch your first glimpse, it's not hard to see why this is a highly trafficked hike. Although short, theres quite a bit of gain on this hike, making it moderate in difficulty. The majority of the roads up to the high alpine backcountry do not open until June every season. . The incredibly large region of the San Juan mountains includes some of the highest and most rugged hiking in the state. Be sure to remember to bring $5 for the parking fee at this location. As you climb, keep your eyes open for yellow-bellied marmots and pikas. After living in Colorado for over 12 years, Ive scoured the landscape to find the best hikes in Colorado. BISON PEAK 2. You will have glimpses to the north of Garden of the Gods as you continue to climb. Longs Peak. The trail ends at the natural rock arch of Royal Arch, which offers a unique vantage point of Boulder and views to the north and south along the Front Range. Its not technically a day hike, you can branch onto the getting to the,. Outdoor activities in Colorado B if youre section hiking and Mount Crested Butte the beginning a picture-perfect setting be at... South, you cant mention the best Colorado hiking trails, spanning 12 National Parks, and keep an on... 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