Theres a good reason for it: Hanging Lake LOOKS like a place where fairies and gnomes would live. The trail starts mellow and quickly builds up to steep elevation gains. Tucked away in Rocky Mountain National Park, the hike to Alberta Falls is an easy, out and back trail that will take you to some stunning falls in the park with incredible views. Hike in the morning on a weekday for some solitude. : Snowmass Village, CO, in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, 11 miles southwest of Aspen, : An immersive multiday experience in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, This 27-mile loop is most commonly backpacked as a three- or four-night trip. A natural wonder of Rocky Mountain National Park, the 9.4-mile out-and-back trek to Chasm Lake features granite summits, a rushing waterfall, and alpine meadows. The summer can also bring snow and hail when you are least expecting it, be sure to be packed for all weather conditions! Her mission is to get you out on your greatest adventure. This is another great 14er hike to do in the I-70 area. Between the general region of the San Juans and the southern front range. Dog poop bags to carry out dog poop. The park is easily accessed off of County Road 93 and has several large parking areas with ample room. Pacific Tarn in the Tenmile Range. One of the best hikes in Colorado is the iconic Mirror Lake. No dogs. 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. Distance: 5.1 milesElevation gain: 885 feetDifficulty: ModerateRed Tape and Local Tips: dog-friendly. The 9.1-mile out-and-back trail, which is rated as hard, rewards hikers with incredible views. , a short loop off the main paved path that leads to the base of the Sleeping Giant rock formation. Mayflower Lake and Mohawk Lakes Trail. This is probably the most popular 14er hike in the Denver region. You will need to watch your footing on the slope of Grays as you climb to the summit at 14,270 feet. DEVIL'S HEAD LOOKOUT 7. GREAT Trail's,been on some of them. Rapid weather changes can be expected on this high altitude trek. In the summer, wildflowers are abundant. The hike then loops back north along the Red Rocks Trail to return to the trailhead. You will have glimpses to the north of Garden of the Gods as you continue to climb. From the trailhead, the hike starts with an easy stroll on the Village Walk Trail, a flat, wide and easygoing path. Dont forget to bring your camera! Season: Summer. REI and the REI Co-op logo are trademarks of Recreational Equipment, Inc. Distance: 1.5 milesElevation gain: 406 feetDifficulty: EasyRed Tape and Local Tips: no dogs allowed. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison is a rather unknown gem of the state. Theres plenty of parking but if you cant find a spot in the lot, you can pay to park along any of the neighborhood roads. The easily accessible trails at Bear Creek are some of the most popular in the area, for both locals and visitors. Leave it better than how you found. Benefits include great gear offers, special pricing on events and an annual Co-op Member Rewardfor life. Check out 306 wheelchair-friendly trails with helpful accessibility guidance. Quandary Peak is one of the most hiked 14ers in Colorado. Take in the history of the ruins while enjoying the scenery of the mountains and the city of Denver in the distance. The Royal Arch is a spectacular rock formation that forms an arch. Bursting with beauty, the trail features rushing alpine waters, wildflower meadows, and a variety of wildlife including bear, elk, moose, deer, and marmots. 3. Colorado Maroon Bells - Crater Lake Reflection Vertical. Crestone Peak and the Crestone Needle, two of Colorados most famous 14ers (peaks above 14,000 feet high), create a beautifully dramatic backdrop. 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. Explore the most popular trails in my list 101 most beautiful hikes in colorado with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. Others also have parking fees. After this, you will enjoy a long, mostly mellow descent back to the trailhead. The altitude combined with lots of elevation gain makes for a tough hike. Popular hiking trails include the Garden of the Gods Loop, Rocks and Vistas Garden of the Gods, Susan G. Bretag and Palmer Loop, and Siamese Twins Loop. It is very crowded, but also a very well maintained park. The trick? Hikers may opt for the trail or service road (shorter) to reach the lakes. Cross-referencing that app with All-Trails, or the Outbound App can prove for some awesome adventures. Colorado is the headquarters of hiking in the US, so it's not surprising that it has some of the most beautiful hikes in the country. Evans as well. On crowded weekends or in the summer from June through October, you will need to take a shuttle from town. Sniktau is one of the best sunset hikes in Colorado. Its rugged and long and is only hike on this list that requires a helmet. The intense heat of the summer makes the high-altitude areas prime for late afternoon thunderstorms. Follow the signs to Rogers Pass Lake (pictured), a destination youll encounter just before reaching Heart Lake. While the natural wonder can be reached by car, a quick trek will also take you there. One can encounter snow on Colorado hiking trails all year round. ROYAL ARCH TRAIL 1. As one of the best hikes in Colorado, its worth the effort to be the tallest thing around! Its one of the easiest hikes near Denver and has plenty of stellar scenery to boot. Check and double-check the weather. Photo Credit: James Walton. One can hike all year round in Colorado. Distance: 3.7 milesElevation gain: 416 feetDifficulty: easyRed Tape and Local Tips: Beat the crowds and go early. Expect this hike to take 10-15 hours. For this reason, it's best to always keep pets leashed. This is by far one of the best hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. On a clear summer day, you will likely join a line of hikers on the way to the summits. 19. Windom Peak via Needle Creek Trail is a 17.8 mile moderately trafficked trail that gains roughly 5,879 feet in elevation and is only recommended for very experienced adventurers. 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. Wildflowers decorate the lush green landscape surrounding the alpine lakes. Location: I-70 corridor, outside of the town of Aspen. That doesnt mean this is an easy undertaking, though, and hikers should come prepared with plenty of food, water and extra clothing as hiking any 14er in Colorado involves some degree of risk due to elevation, weather and exposure. Season: All year round. Distance: 7.5 milesElevation gain: 2,782 feetDifficulty: DifficultRed Tape and Local Tips: Dogs allowed on a leash. 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. Garden of the Gods is a popular hiking destination located in Colorado Springs. Photo credit: TRAILSOURCE.COM (flickr), If you're looking to spend a little more time in nature, take to the trails by exploring one of the largest wilderness areas in the state the Weminuche Wilderness. best hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park, The only 4-day Colorado Road Trip Itinerary Youll Ever Need. Its $25 to enter the park. 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. Difficulty: Easy. For an added bonus, time your hike to catch the sunrise or sunset. Photo Credit: MBPROJEKT_Maciej_Bledowski (iStock). If youre planning a visit to this remote destination, please follow the. Colorado has some of the most incredible hiking in the country. The trail is broken into 28 segments, most of which can be done in a day or as an overnight. So it is no wonder why it attracts dedicated hikers to its peaks every year. There are a number of routes for reaching the 14,421-foot summit. If you get an early start, you can park at the Maroon Lake parking area. Photo Credit: Erik Sommerfeld; American Institute of Architects. 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. Share with Us. Photo Credit: Melissa Woolf (iStock). 220 Reviews #1 of 4 things to do in Bend. The start of the trail is fairly well-packed singletrack. North Cheyenne Canon is a very rugged hiking destination with access to gorgeous windy roads through the mountains. Nature & Parks, State Parks. The first snowfall up high can occur as early as the first week of September! For more information please visit the RNMP website. Around 2 miles in, the climbing begins in earnest, and the trail changes to a rock-filled talus slope. Spencer McKee takes in sweeping alpine views on the Mount Massive trail. Photo Credit: Breanna Sneeringer, OutThere Colorado. Maroon Bells, near Aspen, are two of Colorado's most famous mountains and are well known for their views. 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. Not to mention, if you start before the sun rises, youll have these popular Colorado hikes to yourself. While the park is popular enough that you wont have the trails to yourself, there are miles of trails to explore so you can pick and choose your own route to either escape the crowds or follow the well-used paths to the popular viewpoints. Therefore, be prepared to do a bit of scrambling before savoring the incredible views all around you. Season: All year round, most popular in the summer. The Locals Guide to Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park. Snowshoes can be helpful after heavy snowfall. Backcountry campsites are available by permit if you need more time to enjoy the view! 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. The 8.7-mile out-and-back trail climbs steeply into the mountains starting from the base of the South Mineral Valley near Silverton. Compared to the rest of the country, cell service in Colorado is not that great. Chautauqua Park is one of the highlights of the area, located at the base of Boulders iconic Flatirons. 22. While clockwise is often the preferred starting point for bagging the 4-pack loop, some hikers opt for a counter clockwise start with the 14,172-foot summit of Mount Bross (pictured). Photo Credit: SumikoPhoto (iStock). Photo: Jeff Richards. Generally speaking, areas above 9,000 feet in springtime are definitely still covered in snow. Colorado has some of the most incredible hiking in the country. "We home school in the morning or when the kids are up and go for afternoon hikes as a family. If you are traveling in or under avalanche terrain, be sure to be educated on avalanche safety. The low mileage and incredibly dramatic scenery make for a great hike. Welcome to some of the mostbrilliantly cobalt blue lakes in Colorado. It includes Silverton, Ouray, Telluride and Rico. This is by far the most photographed spot in Colorado. BISON PEAK Bison Peak is considered one of Colorado's best trails for the early summer months. The standard route features a 14-mile class two climb up the eastern slopes. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); great article will definitely try these hikes! Regardless of the hike and weather conditions, you should always bring extra layers, extra food, and a first aid kit. Mount Falcon Castle Loop Trail is one of the most scenic hikes in Colorado. Hikers will enjoy pleasant spring weather along the Front Range and stunning summers and autumns in the mountains. With trails ranging from less than a mile (1.6 km) to as many as 12 miles (19 km), you can take either a point-to-point or a loop route to some of the most scenic hikes in Colorado. Location: San Juans, near the town of Telluride. The views of the Rocky Mountains all come together in this perfect blend of alpine lakes, meadows, and forests. It is not a bad idea to wear a climbing helmet for the 3rd class scramble, as there are lots of loose rocks. According to the National Park Service, Star Dune hikers should plan for a five-hour round trip. Its quintessentially Colorado and home to some of the most beautiful hiking trails in the state. Enjoy the scenery from the trail to avoid tramping this beloved environment. For more information about hiking in the Boulder area, check out our article on the best hikes in Boulder. 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