The Royal Arch is a spectacular rock formation that forms an arch. No one wants to see poop bags on the trail even if you are planning to pick it up later. This famous park near downtown Colorado Springs is a must-see. Its also only 3.2 miles long and takes you past some gorgeous alpine lakes. Difficulty - Easy Distance - 2.3 miles Elevation gain - 2,000 feet Duration - 1 to 2 hours 5: Garden of the Gods Dreamstime/Lisa Mckown If you can, try to time your visit between late May and early June since this is when the waterfall is at its best. From here, you briefly connect to the. Featuring stunning views of the iconic Twin Lakes, this must-do Colorado hiking trail is perfect for newbie hikers and families alike. takes you up and over Buckskin Pass with amazing views in all directions before descending to the scenic, Enjoy the easier hiking at lower elevations while you can, as the, quickly has you climbing back to 12,000 feet over Trail Rider Pass. Typically the trail is snow-free from mid-June through mid-October. From here, you have one final pass to completeWest Maroon Pass on the. Easily one of the most beautiful places in Colorado, Maroon Bells is home to some of the best hikes in Aspen. Best enjoyed in the summer and fall, hiking in the Sawatch should be on everyones to-do list. So, try and visit on a quiet weekday morning to avoid the crowds and take in the Fountain and Lyons rock formations that surround you. Although its not technically a day hike, you cant mention the best hiking in Colorado without mentioning the Colorado Trail and Kenosha Pass. The city has narrowed down a new nature center in this area. Distance: 1.9 milesElevation Gain: 49 feetDifficulty: EasyRed Tape and Local Tips: No dogs are allowed and youll need an advanced parking reservation or shuttle reservation when the road to the trailhead is open. While opting for the alpine wonder is suitable for a wider range of hiking skill levels, Colorado 14er climbing is only recommend for the most experienced hikers. Photo Credit: Breanna Sneeringer, OutThere Colorado. Permits are required for overnight stays inbackcountry areas of the Conundrum Hot Springs. PYRAMID PEAK 3. Ive done all the leg work for you, hiking each of these trails over the years to bring you the real stand-out scenery in the Centennial State. 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. Only about a 1-hour drive from downtown Denver. You then connect back to Perkins Central Garden Trail to return to the trailhead. Colorado is known for its snow-capped mountains and breathtaking landscapes. Photo Credit: Spencer McKee, OutThere Colorado. Pacific Tarn in the Tenmile Range. This guide includes: Get oriented with this map of Colorado Hikes. In the summer, youll find folks heading up St. Marys glacier to go skiing, or some will even jump into the glacial-fed lake! Hiking at Garden of the Gods is one of the top-rated things to do in Colorado. BISON PEAK 2. Check and double-check the weather. Keep in mind, youll need to shuttle cars from point A to point B if youre section hiking. If you are planning an overnight trip, you must, at the trailhead, and bear canisters are required. 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. Permits are required for an overnight. Due to the popularity of the hike, you must have a permit to hike the trail between May and October. 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. This loop is a mix of aerobically challenging climbing combined with pleasant views. 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. (Photo Credit: Hiking Project Contributor Chad DuBois). Some notable segments are: While its difficult to choose one, the prettiest hike in Colorado is probably the hike to Emerald Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. Prepare properly for scrambling a Colorado 14er and understand the risks you are getting into. 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. In Boulder, Colorado, the Chautauqua walking trails offer a variety of beautiful day hikes in Colorado. Not only is it one of the most famous hikes in the state, but its also moderately difficult and suitable for families who are trying to get used to the altitude. The first mile is a gentle climb, winding through red rock formations and scrub oak. Around 11,700 feet, the trees thin out entirely, and you can see the ridge that you will be climbing to the west. . Around 2 miles in, the climbing begins in earnest, and the trail changes to a rock-filled talus slope. 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: 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. It is very crowded, but also a very well maintained park. Season: Memorial Day through mid-October. Photo Credit: marekuliasz (iStock). Adding another Colorado 14er combo to the summer bucket list, the Grays and Torreys Trail is packed with both beauty and challenge. Photo Credit: johnnya123 (iStock). Some of the most beautiful hikes in Colorado include Mount Bierstadt, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Bison Peak, Star Dune at Great Sand Dunes National Park, Lion Lakes at Rocky Mountain National Park, San Luis Peak, Lost Man Lake, and Mount Elbert. Head up early to catch a perfect reflection of the stunning Lone Eagle Peak on Mirror Lake. This hike comes into condition during July and August. The trail heads deeper into Tyndall Gorge until reaching Emerald Lake, which is tucked under the rocky summits of Hallett and Flattop. Additional resources for planning a hiking trip to Colorado. Nestled beautifully in the San Juan Mountains, lies theIce Lake Basin. This hike provides a great introduction to hiking in Colorado and the Boulder Open Space trails. jmangum2. Located about one hour from Denver, this popular hike leads to an extraordinary destinationDevils Head Lookout. Afternoon thunderstorms are dangerous and kill hikers each year. Situated north of Red Rocks Park, Matthews/Winters Park offers a unique vantage point looking south toward Red Rocks. Local Tip: If youre into gentle rock climbs, then check out the Longs Peak Cable Route. However, if you plan on adventuring above the trees, start early in the morning to avoid afternoon thunderstorms. The trip takes about 2 hours and has chains to hold for the steep sections. Sneffels allows one to get a great sense of just how vast the San Juans really are. On the west side, you will spot the famous Kissing Camels, and to the east, White Rock. Photo Credit: Breanna Sneeringer, OutThere Colorado. Getting there is fairly easy with a relatively short hike that passes through twoother alpine lakes, including Nymph and Dream. Spanning 1.1 miles, the Perkins Central Garden . How many trails have you hiked? GREAT Trail's,been on some of them. Season: June, July, and August. Now more than 100 years old, this is the one remaining fire tower in service. These sandstone tower formations are scattered around the park. This is one of the best fall hikes in Colorado that doesnt get smashed with people. Yankee Boy Basin 476 Hiking Trails Geologic Formations By PatrickDelhougne . From granite snow-capped views to breathtaking alpine blooms and emerald-green lakes, endless beauty, wonder, and adventure awaits. ! The next mile is the most strenuous, and where you will gain most of the loops 1,200 feet of elevation. Much of this land has developed hiking trails, spanning 12 National Parks, 41 State Parks, and 58 mountains above 14,000 feet. Not all public lands are free to enter. Cotton can cause hypothermia, even in summer. (Stan Behal/Toronto Sun/Postmedia . An overflow of alpine beauty awaits on a serene trek into the San Juan Mountains on the American Basin Trail near Lake City. Dog-friendly. Photo Credit: John Fowler OutThere Colorado. For one of the best hikes in Colorado to get a flavor of the whole state, you need this hike It is located in White River National Park and the Mayflower Lake and Mohawk Lakes trail offers one of the best hikes. Although only a mile apart, this traverse will take some time. 35% percent of land in Colorado is public land or a whopping 23 million acres. Because the hiking is on the sand, there isnt much of an established trail. From here, follow the Buckskin Pass Trail back to the trailhead to complete the loop. Be sure to check road conditions. Location: I-70 corridor, not very far from Denver. Distance: 8.9 milesElevation gain: 2,286 feetDifficulty: Moderate to difficultRed Tape and Local Tips: This trail mostly follows a road and requires a high-clearance 4WD vehicle to reach the upper trailhead. If you are looking for the quintessential Indian Peaks hike, the out-and-back to Crater Lake from Monarch Lake offers a great mix of scenery and terrain, as well as a stunning destination. Everybody knows about them, but that doesnt mean that you shouldnt check them out. However, keep in mind that many trailheads become inaccessible in the winter. Be Proactive. A quick look at what to pack for your Colorado hike. The trail is broken into 28 segments, most of which can be done in a day or as an overnight. Longs Peak (Estes Park) Every peak bagger should add the 14,259-foot summit of Longs Peak to their bucket list. This trail appears to dead-end at Mirror Lake, a small lake with Lone Eagle Peak in the background. You have permission to edit this collection. From Grays, continue down the north ridge across the saddle between the two peaks to climb Torreys. You can hike the loop in either direction, but by hiking counterclockwise, youll tackle the two highest passes first. Start your hike at the East Portal Trailhead near the Moffat Tunnel. Distance: 5.1 milesElevation gain: 885 feetDifficulty: ModerateRed Tape and Local Tips: dog-friendly. that is degrading to another person. These favorite hikes boast a wide range of terrain, distance and difficulty to kickstart your Colorado adventure. Backdropped by beautiful peaks, the sandy "mountain" rises 699 feet off the ground. A cozy windbreaker for those gusty summits 5. Be sure to be off of the hike in the early afternoon before the thunderstorms, as the hike is nice and exposed. In the summer, wildflowers are abundant. Bridal Veil Falls are the highest free-falling waterfalls in Colorado, at 365 feet high. Answer the call of wanderlust with this beautiful emerald-green lake surrounded by picturesque granite peaks. Depends on road conditions and the seasons snowpack. For the best experience, try visiting any time between May and October. Snowshoes are recommended in the early season. The 14-mile route in Rocky Mountain National Park can be very dangerous, requiring class three climbing with the majority of the route exposed well above treeline. The first mile of the trail climbs, at times steeply, through sparse forests that become progressively thinner as you climb. The first snowfall up high can occur as early as the first week of September! Follow Leave No Trace and pick up after yourself (bonus points if you pick up others waste too!). Chautauqua Park is one of the highlights of the area, located at the base of Boulders iconic Flatirons. Longs Peak. You will need to watch your footing on the slope of Grays as you climb to the summit at 14,270 feet. Thats why they call it breckenwind! Its $25 to enter the park. 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. 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. Also, dont attempt the climb if there is a chance of a thunderstorma fairly common summer afternoon occurrence. The trail clocks in just a little over a mile to the top of Hanging Lake. The first mile is a gentle climb, winding through red rock formations and scrub oak. This section of the hike passes through a verdant high-alpine meadow where the wildflowers are plentiful in season. Photo Credit: Breanna Sneeringer, OutThere Colorado. Plan on resting more and drinking water often. The views of the Rocky Mountains all come together in this perfect blend of alpine lakes, meadows, and forests. This also has a high concentration of popular 14er hikes. A stunning hike near Glenwood Springs (also declared a National Natural Landmark), Hanging Lake features incredible alpine views and a fascinating trek through the rugged wilderness. The trail reaches its peak elevation around 7,800 feet at 2.5 miles with noteworthy views to the south. If hiking the loop counterclockwise, start on the, , which is best accessed from the Section 16 Trailhead on Gold Camp Road. Theres a $12 per-person permit required to hike. 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. For a mellow introduction to hiking in the park, hit up the 4 iconic alpine lakes including the famous Emerald Lake along this famous hiking trail. The hike then loops back north along the Red Rocks Trail to return to the trailhead. Being that is an overview of the best hiking in Colorado, this article could go on for days. Starting at the Kite Lake Trailhead, the7.6-mile trailgains 3,359 feet of elevation. As the slope increases, you will climb toward the ponderosa pines and wooded slopes of the Boulder foothills. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism If you are traveling in or under avalanche terrain, be sure to be educated on avalanche safety. 1. The views are particularly stunning in the spring with the stark contrast between the red rocks and the green hillsides. Check out 306 wheelchair-friendly trails with helpful accessibility guidance. Hopefully by 2023 the park will have permission to start . After passing by the Sleeping Giant, continue past the base of the Three Spires and Cathedral Spire. There was an error processing your request. Mount Falcon Castle Loop Trail is one of the most scenic hikes in Colorado. While shorts may be more comfortable for lower elevation hikes in the heat, It is advisable to wear long pants, regardless of the outside temperature. Although only a mile apart, this traverse will take some time. Torreys sits at 14,267 feet and offers equally stunning views. Blooms and emerald-green lakes, endless beauty, wonder, and 58 Mountains above 14,000 feet the,... 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