Colorado offers thousands of miles of hiking trails: long, short, easy, tough, scenic, isolated, adventurous, family-friendly, even handicap accessible, and dog-friendly.Some are perfect for viewing the changing of the aspen trees in the fall, whereas others come to life every spring with colorful wildflowers. BISON PEAK Bison Peak is considered one of Colorado's best trails for the early summer months. Back away slowly and be sure to keep a safe distance. Each alpine wonder offers a serene escape laced with captivating mountain beauty. Pack a lunch or snack to enjoy at Emerald Lake before your return journey. Keep in mind wag bags are required here. Success! Maroon Bells in the fall. Be sure to park in the designated overnight parking lot. On crowded weekends or in the summer from June through October, you will need to take a shuttle from town. As one of the topmost scenic hikes in Colorado, Hanging Lake is on everyones to-do list. The trail starts mellow and quickly builds up to steep elevation gains. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Box 118, Bend, TX 76824. The trail is broken into 28 segments, most of which can be done in a day or as an overnight. The hike to Loch Lake is quite stunning, and a must-visit for any moderate hiker. Starting from the main parking area, take Bluebell Road, a wide, hard-packed trail that climbs between a neighborhood on the east and a wide meadow on the west. : Georgetown, CO, in the Roosevelt National Forest, 55 miles west of Denver, The hike to Grays, and then onto Torreys gains a total of 3,479 feet in a little over four miles, following a section of the. With miles of trails, the park is a great jumping-off point for a short hike, a long outing or even just a picnic at the park with the Flatirons as your backdrop. The climb is steady and at times has a few steep sections but, for the most part, the singletrack is well used and not very rocky. Chautauqua Park is one of the highlights of the area, located at the base of Boulders iconic Flatirons. Wildflowers decorate the lush green landscape surrounding the alpine lakes. 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). Most hikers will start hiking around 3am in the summer. 35% percent of land in Colorado is public land or a whopping 23 million acres. The trail becomes rockier as you climb. These sandstone tower formations are scattered around the park. Photo Credit: scgerding (iStock). The weather is very unpredictable in Colorado. The trail climbs gradually for the first 2 miles, heading south around Kelso Mountain before turning west, where you will spot the two 14ers and the saddle connecting them. Photo Credit: Cheri Alguire (iStock). Yankee Boy Basin 476 Hiking Trails Geologic Formations By PatrickDelhougne . In just under a mile, this trail gains an astonishing 905 feet in elevation. Like other 14er hikes, it is very important to start early and end early. Around 2 miles in, the climbing begins in earnest, and the trail changes to a rock-filled talus slope. A small, packable rain jacket can be great to throw in your pack. The trail to the lake isnt particularly difficult, but it is long. There are a number of routes for reaching the 14,421-foot summit. Come spring, the trail explodes in color. Photo Credit: Breanna Sneeringer, OutThere Colorado. Moose are often spotted grazing with their young along the grassy meadows. Arrive at the TH before 7 am. While this loop will take you away from the hustle of nearby Colorado Springs, dont expect to be alone, as this popular trail can get quite crowded, especially in the evenings and on the weekends during the summer. I was disappointed to not see FERN LAKE and other hikes in RMNP on the list. Nothing from Ouray or Cheyenne Caon? Nestled outside of the beautiful mountain town of Breckenridge, the sparkling alpine waters combined with granite views and colorful blooms offers up the perfect summer escape. accounts, the history behind an article. Hikes near towns such as Breckenridge, Vail, and Aspen will be included in this area. Quandary Peak is one of the most hiked 14ers in Colorado. Towards the summit there may be a few rocky sections, be on the lookout for loose rocks. Herman Gulch is one of the most accessible high alpine hiking trails in Colorado. Beautiful waterfalls seep into the brightly colored lake. This is a great resource released by the Colorado Department of Natural Resources and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Colorado Maroon Bells - Crater Lake Reflection Vertical. The High Dune gives a spectacular view of this one-in-a-kind national park. For an easy and beautiful Colorado hike that is as short and sweet as it is iconic, look no further than the Garden of the Gods and its Perkins Central Garden Trail! Photo Credit: Breanna Sneeringer, OutThere Colorado. The trail follows along the North Fork of the Crystal River until climbing over Frigid Air Pass. This trail is dog-friendly, but dogs are not allowed past this point. However, keep in mind that many trailheads become inaccessible in the winter. If you can make it to the upper TH, youll knock off about 1,000 feet of gain and 3-ish miles of hiking round trip. In fact, this trail is so lovely that is popular among hikers, birders, and cross-country skiers alike. Get outside this season with the best hiking trails in Colorado. Snowshoes are recommended in the early season. Photo Credit: Savannah Hodge. Located minutes from downtown Colorado Springs, Bear Creek Canyon Regional Park is tucked away in the rolling and forested foothills of Pikes Peak. ! Related: The Locals Guide to Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park. Chautauqua Park is one of the highlights of the area, located at the base of Boulders iconic Flatirons. 3. Fall would be the best time to make this hike. After completing the Palmer Trail, you will turn briefly onto. Distance: 6.0 milesElevation gain: 1,637 feetDifficulty: ModerateRed Tape and Local Tips: Dog-friendly and best used between June and September. Photo Credit: James Harris Photography, While exploring American Basin, add Sloan Lake to your bucket list. Distance: 8.7 milesElevation Gain: 1,860 feetDifficulty: moderate/difficultRed Tape and Local Tips: dog-friendly. Colorado is known for its abundant sunny weather, mountain views and nearly year-round hiking opportunities. For this reason, it's best to always keep pets leashed. The next section will now include some of the best hiking in Colorado. Heading towards Rollinsville, youll find the one's the most beautiful wildflower-laced treks in the state. There are several large waterfalls along the way including the trails namesake, Cascade Falls, a particularly scenic multitiered waterfall that you will get an up-close look at as the trail switchbacks from the base of the falls to the top. The 14,259 ft Longs Peak is one of the most climbed 14ers in Colorado thanks to its convenient location. Best enjoyed in the summer and fall, hiking in the Sawatch should be on everyones to-do list. The trail reaches its peak elevation around 7,800 feet at 2.5 miles with noteworthy views to the south. Check out the famous Gem Lake for stunning views of strange rock pinnacles and mountain vistas. 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. Carry a wag bag and pack your poop out or stay below the trees! As the slope increases, you will climb toward the ponderosa pines and wooded slopes of the Boulder foothills. Near the southern end of the loop, you can branch onto the Sleeping Giant Trail, a short loop off the main paved path that leads to the base of the Sleeping Giant rock formation. Be sure to admire the sunflowers in the summer. For an easy, mellow hike, head to the Interlaken Trail. While you wont fully escape the traffic noise of the nearby highways, the park is still a pleasant and convenient getaway due to its proximity to Golden and the western suburbs of Denver. Most popular in summer and for fall colors in late September. One of the best hikes in Colorado is the iconic Mirror Lake. There is also a shuttle service in the summer and fall seasons. This guide includes: Get oriented with this map of Colorado Hikes. 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. Lone Eagle Peak in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. As the trailhead is located around 11,000 feet in elevation, the tree coverage is pretty sparse right from the beginning. Whether you plan to summit one or all four peaks, always plan toLeave No Trace. You will have glimpses to the north of Garden of the Gods as you continue to climb. Hopefully by 2023 the park will have permission to start . From Grays, continue down the north ridge across the saddle between the two peaks to climb Torreys. Share with Us. Hiking weather in Colorado is incredibly variable and can change at any time. Spring or fall can call for micro-spikes for the hike. It also depends on the snow year. , which follows the north shore of Dream Lake and continues to climb for another half mile. Once you catch your first glimpse, it's not hard to see why this is a highly trafficked hike. The unbelievably turquoise waters and surrounding mountains make it an incredibly beautiful adventure. You won't be disappointed with this hike; especially if you love the wildflowers. Acclimatize properly. Showcasing breathtaking natural scenery, the mill is arguably one of the most photographed structures in all of the state. Photo Credit: John Fowler OutThere Colorado. Check and double-check the weather. Photo Credit: John Fielder. The trail varies in terrain, going from forested canyons to eye-opening alpine vistas. Earn a $100 REI gift card after your first purchase outside of REI within 60 days from account opening. Bridal Veil Falls are the highest free-falling waterfalls in Colorado, at 365 feet high. If you like rocks, this place fits the bill. Here is an article about getting altitude sickness in Colorado. This is a heavily trafficked area, so be sure to get there early. Be sure to remember to bring $5 for the parking fee at this location. This will prevent injuries while hiking on rocky ground. Altitude sickness is important to be aware of when hiking at higher elevations. These favorite hikes boast a wide range of terrain, distance and difficulty to kickstart your Colorado adventure. Hike in the morning on a weekday for some solitude. For the purpose of this article, we will divide the state into different regions and look at some of the best hikes in different parts of the state. This is a must-do in the San Juans if you are up for a challenging hike. The next mile is the most strenuous, and where you will gain most of the loops 1,200 feet of elevation. Photo Credit: Matt Vincent. Million dollar highway loop. This trek features wildflowers, waterfalls, lakes, and a historic building. This is my favorite place to take out-of-town visitors on a scenic jaunt. There are plenty of options to expand or shrink your route. Leave it better than how you found. There is a chain link rope to help with the steepest section. Location: Northern front range. 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