Sand Canyon Mesa is one of the closest hiking trails to Colorado Springs. Season: All year round. A quick look at what to pack for your Colorado hike. Check out 306 wheelchair-friendly trails with helpful accessibility guidance. These hiking trails in Colorado each offer something a little different and help you build your skills as a mountain hiker. At 14,440 feet of elevation, this is the highest point in all of Colorado. Our great state is home to arguably some of the most spectacular and diverse hikes in the country,. There are 54 peaks over 14,000 feet in Colorado, and all of them have challenging hiking options! The Garden of the Gods Inner Loop starts on the Perkins Central Garden Trail, a paved lollipop loop that is wheelchair- and stroller-accessible. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Difficulty: Easy. You'll need reservations to explore the iconic alpine wonder. It is very important to be off of the summit in the early afternoon to prevent exposure to thunderstorms. Every peak bagger should add the 14,259-foot summit of Longs Peak to their bucket list. Local Tip: If you love peak bagging check out Grays and Torreys Peak, two famous Colorado 14ers nearby. The beautiful scenery passes by a few small lakes and ponds before the final push to Ptarmigan Lake. Its rugged and long and is only hike on this list that requires a helmet. The 15 Best Hikes in Colorado - PureWow Something Went Wrong. They are among the most photographed mountains in the country. You may spot deer and coyotes in the area as well. Photo Credit: ablokhin (iStock). Be sure to park in the designated overnight parking lot. No matter what you're looking for, you can find a diverse range of the best hiking trails in Colorado to suit your needs. At 13,420 feet, Pacific Tarn is the highest alpine lake in the United States, and you can have it all to yourself. Another unique feature is Dinosaur Ridge, a National Natural Landmark with preserved dinosaur tracks, to the east. home by Destinee Scott ATTN: The 12 Best President's Day Mattress Sales Have Already Begun (with Savings of Up to $880) home by Brianna Lapolla Photo Credit: Breanna Sneeringer, OutThere Colorado. BISON PEAK 2. Photo Credit: Steven Bratman. This famous park near downtown Colorado Springs is a must-see. This is hike is incredibly difficult and should only be attempted by very experienced hikers. Distance: 7.8 milesElevation Gain: 1,637 feetDifficulty: ModerateRed Tape and Local Tips: Dogs are not allowed and its $25 to enter the park. Photo Credit: Breanna Sneeringer, OutThere Colorado. Come spring, the trail explodes in color. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. Evans as well. The views are particularly stunning in the spring with the stark contrast between the red rocks and the green hillsides. After this, you will enjoy a long, mostly mellow descent back to the trailhead. Mayflower Lake and Mohawk Lakes Trail. Be sure to remember to bring $5 for the parking fee at this location. This stunning hike brings one to one of the few remaining glaciers in Colorado. Location: I-70 corridor, a little under 3-hour drive from Denver. Photo Credit: James Harris Photography, While exploring American Basin, add Sloan Lake to your bucket list. 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. The first mile of the trail climbs, at times steeply, through sparse forests that become progressively thinner as you climb. I love to escape to the red sandstone canyons outside of Fruita, Colorado every winter. There is a chain link rope to help with the steepest section. Distance: 2.5 milesElevation Gain: 885 feetDifficulty: moderateRed Tape and Local Tips: dog-friendly. Being that is an overview of the best hiking in Colorado, this article could go on for days. Yankee Boy Basin 476 Hiking Trails Geologic Formations By PatrickDelhougne . Distance: 2.6 milesElevation gain: 1,141 feetDifficulty: Easy to ModerateRed Tape and Local Tips: Dog-friendly. This trail is dirt and has some stairs to help with erosion, so if you prefer to stick to the paved path, you can bypass this trail and stay on the Perkins Central Garden Trail. Evans. You can also access one of the best hikes in Colorado from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead and then set off from there. Located near Glenwood Springs (one of Colorados best mountain towns), getting to the Hanging Lake Trailhead is a breeze. Follow the signs to Rogers Pass Lake (pictured), a destination youll encounter just before reaching Heart Lake. You will need to check-in at the South Rim visitors center to get a permit. Photo Credit: John Fielder. Enjoy the breathtaking views, and if you are lucky, youll see some mountain goats! This gentle trail meanders its way along a deep sandstone canyon where you can admire monolithic sandstone towers whose beauty rivals that of nearby Moab. Distance: 4.6 milesElevation gain: 213 feetDifficulty: EasyRed Tape and Local Tips: Dog-friendly. Storms come in quickly and the weather changes on a dime here. Although only a mile apart, this traverse will take some time. 10. 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. 20 Most Beautiful Hikes in Colorado. jmangum2. Teens and pre-teens are one of the most sought-after spending crowds, with retailers looking for ways to win their business. Photo Credit: scgerding (iStock). Your legs and lungs are sure to feel the climb as you navigate the increasingly rocky and technical terrain. While not a very challenging hike, this hike is on our list because of how unique it is. So it is no wonder why it attracts dedicated hikers to its peaks every year. Affectionately nicknamed 'America's Switzerland', this is a popular year-round hiking spot. 22. Access to the park is free, but finding parking can be a challenge, so consider arriving early or taking the free shuttle. Location: San Juans, near the town of Telluride. Fall would be the best time to make this hike. The trail is 18 miles out-and-back in length and climbs 2,719 feet in elevation as you weave through the lush landscapes of the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. One of the best hikes in Colorado is the iconic Mirror Lake. (Photos Credit: Hiking Project Contributor Nick Wilder). Please check the NPS website and All-Trails for conditions updates. 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. Even for someone that lives in Colorado, anyone can get altitude sickness when hiking up high, most commonly above 8,000 feet. Distance: 1.8 miles. Youll travel along an old railroad route in the heart of the southern foothills. Situated along the Continental Divide about an hour drive from Denver, this hike is very popular. From easygoing hikes in the many state and local parks within driving distance of major cities like Denver, Fort Collins, Boulder and Colorado Springs, to the hidden backcountry gems found in the remote wilderness and national forest areas, you have your pick of some of the best hiking in the Mountain West. Photo Credit: tonda (iStock). The Blue Lakes Trail is made up of trails leading to Lower Blue Lake, Upper Blue Lake, and the Blue Lakes Pass. Easily one of the most beautiful places in Colorado, Maroon Bells is home to some of the best hikes in Aspen. This is by far the most photographed spot in Colorado. From here, follow the Buckskin Pass Trail back to the trailhead to complete the loop. Wildflowers decorate the lush green landscape surrounding the alpine lakes. A hiking day backpack 2. Thanks to its strategic location, its suitable for year-round hiking. Colorado has some of the most incredible hiking in the country. These stunning sandstone monoliths inspire the imagination. 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. Difficulty - Easy Distance - 2.3 miles Elevation gain - 2,000 feet Duration - 1 to 2 hours 5: Garden of the Gods Dreamstime/Lisa Mckown Winding through spectacular wildflower meadows, scenic beauty awaits hikers and backpackers. A lighter snow season will allow for earlier season hiking. There are many different factors to consider while hiking in Colorado. This awesome, 6 mile out-and-back trail takes you through the exquisite Flat Tops Wilderness area near Yampa, Colorado. Garden of the Gods is a popular hiking destination located in Colorado Springs. GREAT Trail's,been on some of them. The trail becomes rockier as you climb. The Mount Evans wilderness area is a great place to make for a full day of hiking and driving up to some spectacular exposed views. , which follows the north shore of Dream Lake and continues to climb for another half mile. a good rule of thumb is to be below treeline by noon. Near the southern end of the loop, you can branch onto the. The trail to the lake isnt particularly difficult, but it is long. Located inside Rocky Mountain National Park outside of the town of Estes Park. Crestone Peak and the Crestone Needle, two of Colorados most famous 14ers (peaks above 14,000 feet high), create a beautifully dramatic backdrop. For some parts of the state, it is starting to get warmer, and the flowers are blooming. To get to lake and back, you're looking at an 8.2-mile trek that gains 2,752 feet in elevation. On a clear day you can see Longs Peak from Boulder and from some of the Denver suburbs. Hike to the top of Colorado with this tough hike. Photo Credit: twildlife (iStock). You will have glimpses to the north of Garden of the Gods as you continue to climb. This hike is mostly on the valley floor, passing multiple lakes on the way to the final pair of the Chicago lakes. Plan on resting more and drinking water often. Season: Best to hike in summer. (Mercury must be in retrograde.) The hike itself is quite moderate, it is steady uphill for most of the hike. If you are in the area for this hike, it is worth it to drive to the summit of Mt. The well-maintained trails and paved paths that wind through the park make this a family- and beginner-friendly destination. Arrive at the TH before 7 am. 3. Garden of the Gods is not only one of the most scenic places in Colorado, but the trails that trace through this landscape also make up some of the most beautiful hikes in Colorado too. Hikers will enjoy pleasant spring weather along the Front Range and stunning summers and autumns in the mountains. This also has a high concentration of popular 14er hikes. Theres a good reason for it: Hanging Lake LOOKS like a place where fairies and gnomes would live. Lake trailhead is a chain link rope to help with the stark contrast between the red sandstone canyons of... Weather changes on a dime here increasingly rocky and technical terrain autumns in the area for hike! 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