Boulder, Colorado
Nestled up against the Rocky Mountains, Boulder is an adventure-lover's paradise. You can find a myriad accessible hiking trails nearby in Chautauqua Park, or venture further afield into the Indian Peaks Wilderness for hiking and backpacking on the Continental Divide. Rocky Mountain National Park is just an hour away, with opportunities for hiking, climbing, fishing and more.
Top Spots in and near Boulder
-
Estes Park, Colorado
Hike The Mummy Kill (a.k.a. Mummy Mania)
14.31 mi / 5125 ft gainWanna kill some mummies!? Of course you do! Who doesn't? Mount Chapin: 12,454 feet; Mount Chiquita: 13,069 feet; Ypsilon Mountain: 13,514 feet; Fairchild Mountain: 13,502 feet; Hagues Peak: 13,560 feet; Mummy Mountain: 13,425 feet The Mummy Kill is the perfect all-day hike for those seasoned h...Read more -
Idaho Springs, Colorado
Explore Echo Lake Park
4.01.2 mi / 88 ft gainLocated at the base of Mt. Evans Road, Echo Lake sits next to Squaw Pass Road, providing a great jumping-off point for numerous adventures. The park serves as a trailhead for hiking or snowshoeing into the Mount Evans Wilderness, offers picnic areas, and includes a nearby campground with 17 site...Read more -
Idaho Springs, Colorado
Hike to Idaho Springs Reservoir
3.9 mi / 800 ft gainThis is a great hiking area an hour outside of Denver, Colorado. It's still easily accessible in the winter and most of the time it can be hiked without snowshoes. Starting at the Echo Lake parking lot, hike around the right side of the lake until you reach a fork in the trail. Follow the path on...Read more -
Allenspark, Colorado
Hike to Verna, Spirit, Fourth, and Fifth Lakes
17.93 mi / 2661 ft gainThis summer backpacking trip provides plenty of opportunities for exploration and endless moments to take in awe-inspiring scenery. On our visit, after setting up camp at the Lake Verna backcountry site, I quickly made my way to the next lake (Spirit Lake) to photograph the sunset. The symmetry a...Read more -
Allenspark, Colorado
Hike to Spirit Lake
15.06 mi / 2119 ft gainOne can reach spirit lake as a day hike, however it is most often visited as part of backpacking trip. Either way the route is the same and it starts at the East Inlet trail. To park you are supposed to pay or show your park/national lands pass. From the East Inlet trailhead you will soon pass Ad...Read more -
Allenspark, Colorado
Hike to Adams Falls
4.80.77 mi / 125 ft gainAdams Falls is one of the most popular hikes in the Grand Lake area, and one of the easiest. If you are just hiking to the falls, you will not need to bring much with you besides a camera, due to the distance. If you plan to venture past the falls, pack accordingly. Once you park in the trail...Read more -
Allenspark, Colorado
Hike to Lone Pine Lake (Grand Lake, CO)
5.010.44 mi / 1788 ft gainStarting at the East Inlet Trailhead, with an elevation of 8,391 feet, the trail is on a nice dirt path and you're immediately greeted with the sight of Adams Falls on your right, just 0.3 miles in. After continuing on after Adams Falls, the next 1.5 miles lead you out into the sunlight with brea...Read more -
Allenspark, Colorado
Backpack to Lake Verna
5.013.5 mi / 1969 ft gainWant to get away it from it all and enjoy some high alpine lakes? The East Inlet Trail is just outside Grand Lake, on the westside of Rocky Mountain National Park, 2.35 miles east of Highway 34 on West Portal Road. From the trailhead, one can access 8 different campsites. The campsites are as ...Read more -
40.407117,-105.626146
Hike to Lawn Lake, Rocky Mountain NP
12.9 mi / 2736 ft gainThis 4 to 8 hour day hike leads to Lawn Lake, located inside a large basin at tree line, and surrounded by Fairchild Mountain, Hagues Peak, and Mummy Mountain. Lawn Lake is among the largest subapline lakes in Rocky Mountain National Park. As you ascend into the sub-alpine zone, you will be gree...Read more -
Estes Park, Colorado
Hike the Ypsilon Lake Trail
5.08.38 mi / 2369 ft gainTo get to the trailhead, enter Rocky Mountain National Park on the 36. Keep right at the fork with the 34 and then you'll take your next left and the parking for the trailhead is the first parking area on your right. There is an outhouse at the trailhead too, so if you need to take a pit stop b...Read more -
Idaho Springs, Colorado
Lower and Upper Chicago Lake
4.59.22 mi / 2270 ft gainFrom the parking lot, stay to the right of Echo Lake and you will run into the Chicago Lakes Trailhead. Follow the switchbacks down and across Chicago Creek. After crossing the creek, follow the sign indicating that the trail follows the dirt road and hang a left; from here, you'll reach the Idah...Read more -
Winter Park, Colorado
Snowshoe Mount Flora
6.2 mi / 1738 ft gainMy friend Austin and I hiked up to Mt Flora last year on what was probably the coldest day ever. Ever? It was 9 degrees at the Berthoud Pass parking lot and we had 32mph winds nearly the whole way. We estimated the temp to be around -28ºF with the windchill... brrrr!DirectionsFrom the Berthoud Pa...Read more -
U.S. 40, Colorado
Parry Peak
11.82 mi / 4209 ft gainThe trek to Parry Peak crosses three other peaks (Colorado Mines Peak, Mt. Flora, and Mt. Eva) along the Rocky Mountains. Begin your hike around sunrise as inclement weather often rolls in during the late afternoon. The trail is extremely rocky and steep. From the Berthoud Pass parking lot, fol...Read more -
Berthoud Pass Parking Lot, Colorado
Mount Flora
5.06.29 mi / 1788 ft gainColorado’s Rocky Mountains offer hikes of all lengths, sizes and difficulties. Mt. Flora stands at a lofty 13,146 ft and is a great intro to climbing peaks in Colorado. Roundtrip, this hike is 6.3 miles and will take you (in the summer) through fields of alpine wildflowers as you climb into Color...Read more -
Berthoud Pass, Colorado
Ski or Snowboard Berthoud Pass Colorado
Berthoud Pass is 55 miles from Denver making it one of the closest places to get out and backcountry tour in the winter. At 11,370 Berthoud Pass crosses the continental divide. From the top of the pass you can do shuttle runs down the south side of the pass. Or, you can venture on the East or Wes...Read more -
Evergreen, Colorado
Photograph Ancient Bristlecone Pines on Mt. Goliath
5.0On the way to the summit of Mt. Evans sits a small 160 acre preserve of some of the world's oldest living trees. The Mount Goliath Natural Area protects a rare site of Bristlecone Pines that make excellent photographic subjects.Immediately after parking you're surrounded by a miniature forest ful...Read more
