Maroon Bells, outside Aspen

Hiking and sightseeing

Hiking and sightseeing are great for everyone, and a good activity for Friday, Saturday, or Sunday August 25, 26, or 27! And there are plenty of coffee shops and microbrew pubs for your post-activity relaxation time.

You don't have to be in terrific shape to hike in the beautiful mountains of Colorado. But even if you're just driving through Rocky Mountain National Park or one of the nearby State parks listed below, wear sturdy shoes and bring a light rain repellant jacket, a water bottle, a granola bar, and if you are going to be on the trails, hiking poles if you have them. If you're hiking to a peak, plan to get an early start to get off the peak before noon, when the storms might roll in. There are also some great drives listed below.

Here's how to choose what's right for you and your group:

Challenging but rewarding and short hikes:

• Chief Mountain past Evergreen (45 mins to trailhead; can do in 2 hrs BUT download the map bc there's no wifi up there & it's easy to miss the trailhead!)

• Beaver Brook Windy Saddle (15 mins to trailhead; 19th St. W becomes Lookout Mtn Road) 

Moderate, short, shady, and close hikes (20-30 mins away; can hike it in 2 hours or less):

• Lookout Mountain trail via Windy Saddle (19th St. W becomes Lookout Mtn Road) 

• Fowler Goshawk Ridge North, Eldorado Springs (no dogs) 

• Homestead and Mesa Trail, So Mesa Trailhd Eld Spr $5 park 

• White Ranch Park’s Rawhide Trail, West Trailhd 

• Genesee Beaver Brook, Chavez & Beaver Brook Loop 

Half day (4 hour) hikes w/shade: 

• Staunton State Park (45 mins to trailhead)

• Eldorado Canyon trail (timed entry on wkends; CO State Park)

• Continental Divide Overlook (timed entry on wkends; CO State Park)

• Apex to Enchanted Loop (trailhead off W. Colfax)

• Pick n Sledge to Grubsteak in Apex park

• Horseshoe to Frazier Meadow Golden Gate Canyon State Park

• Panorama Pt via Mule Deer and Raccoon trail Golden Gate Canyon State Park

• St Mary’s Glacier (have to pay $20 to park!)

• Royal Arch Chatauqua Park in Boulder

• Devils Head Tower in Sedalia

Easy hikes to scenic waterfalls

• Forsythe Canyon to waterfall and Gross Reservoir up Coal Creek; Forsythe Canyon to waterfall use the map! 

• Maxwell Falls near Evergreen

Sunny and close hikes:

• Mount Galbraith off Golden Gate Canyon Rd (2 hrs)

• Red Rocks and Morrison Slide Matthews Winters (2 hrs)

• Mayhem Gulch Juniper Loop  Centennial Cone Park

• South Rim in Roxborough

Destinations that require planning ahead:

• Lake Haiyaha in RMNP (2 hrs to trailhead)

• Hike from Aspen to Crested Butte (11 mis all day; stay overnight in CB) (4.5 hrs drive)

• Crested Butte wildflower trails (4.5 hrs drive)

• Paint Mines Interpretive Park (2 hrs drive; E of Co Sprgs)

• Island Lake & Ice Lake near Durango; 7 mi hike. Do counterclockwise: Island then Ice (6.5 hrs drive)

• Green Mountain Summit via North Vista in Crawford Black Canyon of the Gunnison 6.8 mi (4.5 hours drive) no dogs

• Crystal Mill near Marble (3.5 hrs drive)

Article on good hikes by U of Denver student Britta Winans

Day hikes near Denver site

Scenic drives

• Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park (need to make a reservation at the link)
• Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs (need to make a reservation at the link)
• Panorama Point in Golden Gate Canyon State Park, 30 mins from Golden

Alpine wildflower viewing (great for drives or short high altitude hiking):

• Silver Dollar Lake off Guanella Pass (1 hr from Golden to trailhead)

• Square Top Lakes near Mt. Bierstadt (Guanella Pass)

Looking for bragging rights?

• Easiest 14er: Mount Bierstadt: 7.2 mis long & nearly 3k elevation gain to 14,065' (4,287 m) (about 1 hour to trailhead)

 

Blue Columbine, Colorado's state flower.