We had similar passions and goals, all of them pertaining to wilderness, conservation, and epic adventure. We left Minnesota with everything we owned in two vehicles and drove across the country. You can find her anywhere outside with beautiful sights alongside her German Shepherd companion, Jasper. This area is bursting with wildlflowers in the summer, and the sunrises here fill up the giant sky! Elevation gain: 501 feet. It was beautiful. While it may be good to get an early start, if you choose to begin the hike in the dark, be sure to bring a headlamp, as the first portion of the trail is rocky and steep and would be difficult to navigate in the dark. There is one thing to be aware of with this fun hike: it’s open to hikers every other day, and on those opposite days, open only to mountain bikers. Once you hit the talus, you are almost to the summit. The majority of the hike is through a watershed. Great post! Wear a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen, as the majority of the trail is directly in the sun. Since the New York Times called Instagram the next generation travel guide, the social media app has become a go-to source for scouting out tasty food and drinks when traveling. I call them “bang for your buck” hikes. Our home is now a tiny cottage in the middle of two National Forests. The more people who love the outdoors, the more of us who can band together fight against those that don’t, such as leaders of the country who see our protected natural parks as future oil money. Check out my itinerary below for a long weekend guide to the best hikes near Denver! 8.6K Shares. The trails are very well-marked. Try to take time to examine the areas around you for mountain goats- they tend to blend in, but if you spot one, chances are there are many. This means you may see moose, bear, cats, rodents and various hoofed friends. I’ve split them up into five regions. Distance:  14.5-mile out-and-back But I’m getting ahead of myself. I earn a living by sharing my passion and love for travel and the outdoors with folks who are conducting research to better inform their stewardship of these new places. I’ve slipped here more times than I can remember. Enjoy some coffee at the summit of Sniktau – a Stanley thermos will keep it hot without spilling in your pack – and stay quiet. And if you arrive early enough, the alpenglow will be blanketing your whole world in oranges, pinks, and reds. Anyone else ready to lace up their hiking boots (or trail runners, in our case) and hit the trails? There is a ton of hiking here that holds beautiful views of many mountains in Rocky Mountain National Park. Whether we’re looking for a Colorado weekend getaway filled with hot springs and skiing or just a quirky day trip, our trips always start and end in Denver (which, incidentally, is one of my favorite airports in the country). Brainard Lake Recreation Area (Indian Peaks Wilderness), August 4th Is Now ‘Great American Outdoors Day’: NPS Announces Free Park Holiday, 14 Himalayan Hikes You Have to Experience. Stanley is located across the street from where you’ll be parked. Keep hiking- there is going to be a little scramble. Required fields are marked *. Distance: 3.7-mile out-and-back 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); A visit to Brainard Lake Recreation Area can give you a taste of everything magical about being outdoors in Colorado. Elevation gain: 3,684 feet. The trail splits here and you are going to go right. This lasts a couple miles and then you’ll begin to climb ridges that hold spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. Six months ago, I moved to Denver with my husband. Remember that hill you now hate so much that you ascending from the parking area? I struggled a lot. If you want to summit one more mountain with ease once you reach Flora, keep going for one mile and you’ll be standing on Breckenridge Peak. Drive time: 1 hour and 20 minutes from Denver But if you want a slightly easier hike, ascend the Red Rocks Trail, then descend the Morrison Slide Trail. Be sure to look back now and then to take in the views- you are looking at some of the most beautiful mountains in the country. Calling Hermans Gulch a hike no one knows about is quite the stretch though – there are cars lined down the off ramp from I70 on that one in the summer. If you continue on Glacier Gorge Trail to the Loch Vail Trail, you can experience much, much more, including The Loch, Timberline Falls, Lake of Glass, and the lesser known Lake of Glass Falls, and finally Sky Pond. The lot does fill up, so it’s best to get your day started early if you want to snag a parking space, especially on the weekends. There is a $5 fee to park at the trail head so make sure to bring cash! The area I am talking about, where Audubon is, sits very close to the Continental Divide. Really, really steep. Because guess what? This hike is a very popular waterfall hike near Denver, so it’s advisable to get started early in the day if you want to enjoy the hike in relative peace. Once you reach the flat spot where the trail splits, hang a left. You should get a parking spot, plus you’ll beat the intense afternoon sun’s rays. Just make sure you take in the views and enjoy the shade before you head back down. Take care on the loose sand and rock. Difficulty: Moderate Below are our picks for the best day hikes from Denver, ranging from relatively easy strolls in the foothills to the highest 14er in the state (and second highest peak in the contiguous United States). First off, you can thank Taylor VanAllen for raising funds back in 2016 for trail maintenance and anchor placements for climbers in Eldorado Canyon State Park. I think that enjoying nature should be accessible to all, even people who aren’t ~in the know, even people who are new to hiking and to loving the outdoors. The trail is visible enough, but there are a couple sections where you’ll need to scramble. When you park, you’ll see a bathroom. All Colorado hikers should keep a keen eye on elevation and make sure to drink water and not push your body past its comfortable limits. The trail is a part of the Continental Divide Trail has many options for continuing on if you’d like to summit a mountain or two as a part of the whole shebang. 3 years ago we quit our jobs, put our stuff in storage, and took off on a (disastrous) year-long honeymoon. However, the trail is very popular for hikers and mountain bikers, so make sure your four-legged companion is on their best behavior. And the rolling terrain continues. Photographer Deirdre Denali Rosenberg recently followed her dreams to move with her new husband and their adorable dog to a cabin in the mountains in Colorado. Even though this is a guest post not written by me, I’m going to respond to this as a fellow wildlife lover and avid hiker. But we were struggling in every way. Pikas will be squeaking to you. 5 waterfall hikes near Denver to re-energize yourself. ), I settled on Sky Pond. Pretty creative naming, huh? If you would like to make this a much longer day of 13ers, instead of going back to your car after summitting, take the trail straight, to that right you went left at. Drive time: 30 minutes from Denver After moving a couple of times around Denver, we realized we didn’t want a city: we wanted mountains. Here’s DeDe’s guide to the 8 best day hikes near Denver, Colorado that nobody knows about! Location: William F. Hayden Green Mountain Park If all else fails, there is also limited street parking available. Venture to Red Rocks Mountain Park to hike among some of the loveliest red rock formations that Colorado has to offer. You’ll start this hike through meadows and wildflowers, traveling alongside a stream. I live near the Vail area & it’s so much fun living in the mountains. Elevation gain: 633 feet. Located just 60 minutes from Denver, this hike begins at the historical railroad station and museum in Silver Plume. You’ll need to be prepared to go up a ridge and continue climbing the switchbacks until you get to the other side. In fact, I did one of them on a Wednesday and there were 50 cars at the trailhead when I got back. You may unsubscribe at any time. Your email address will not be published. The top is unmarked. Looking for more incredible day hikes out west? Denver, the capital city of Colorado, is famous for its pristine mountain vistas and idyllic landscapes. It’s a super cute little town with a lot of charm. 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