Denver is one of America’s most popular urban destinations right away, and one of its biggest assets is easy access to natural attractions like hiking trails. There are a lot of hikes you’ll do in a two-hour drive from the city of Mile High. And these cater to all or any variety of outside enthusiasts, from families with babies trying to find a straight loop to plenty of brave guys hoping to challenge themselves on steep, rocky alpine terrain.
Many of the hikes near Mile-High City listed here are located within parks, either urban, like Chautauqua Park in downtown Boulder, or national and legendary, like Rocky Mountain Park, about ninety minutes northwest of Mile-High City.
There are numerous hiking trails throughout the parks, ranging in difficulty. We have also listed many complete hiking trails that we would love for you to visit. So whether or not you want to climb to the top of a 14er, like Pikes Peak outside of Colorado Springs, on a truly epic day hike, or just take a stroll through a creek, we’ve got a trail for you. you are on our list of the Top Hiking Destinations Near Denver.
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Red Rocks Park
Most people understand Red Rocks from their paintings outside the concert hall. Red Rocks Amphitheater is surrounded by the towering red rock formations from which it takes its name and is legendary for its acoustics. However, you don’t need to purchase a concert to experience this place. You’ll also walk the trail system around the amphitheater for free.
Just twenty-five minutes west of the Mile-High City, near the town of Morrison, there is a variety of Red Rocks Park hikes to check out, depending on your fitness level and whether or not you’re traveling with kids. The Trading Post trail in Red Rocks is short, nice, and easy, covering a 1.4-mile loop. however, it is completely beautiful, because it takes you past the red rock formations.
For one, a very intense effort on the six-mile Red Rocks trail. Also, it forms a loop and offers nice views. Please note that if there is not a concert, you will also visit the amphitheater. simply climbing the steps from the stage to the top is often a kind of physical exertion and therefore the views are wonderful.
Chautauqua Park
Literally within the city of Boulder, Chautauqua Park is just a 45-minute drive from the Mile-High City and is home to dozens of different hiking trails, from easy brisk hikes to physically intense hikes with legion elevation changes. The park boasts views of Boulder’s characteristic softened iron rock formations from many different angles.
The trails here range in length from [*fr1] one mile to a demanding 5.5-mile round trip hike that takes you to the top of Green Mountain and back. The hike is well worth it because of the views from the top of the mountain show Boulder and the surrounding suburbs in all their glory.
For a less intense hike, try the Enchanted Mesa Loop trail, which also offers beautiful mountain views and takes you through an expanse of various terrain, including a pine forest.
Once you’ve figured it out, this park’s location within the Boulder city limits makes it easy to grab a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants here later. See Dushanbe Teahouse do something truly unique: the iconic teahouse was shipped piece by piece from the sister city of Boulder in Tajikistan. The food is also wonderful.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Packed with hiking trails, Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the state’s most popular attractions. It’s about a 90-minute drive from the Mile-High City to the park entrance of Estes Park (Estes Park is also a nice town, with restaurants and lodging and, in the fall, a legion of elk).
An accessible space for hiking is the Wild Basin trail network, which offers a variety of hikes for all fitness levels. To cut it short, you’ll do the half-mile hike to Copeland Falls, though most continue on to Calyspso Cascades for a three.6-mile round-trip hike. Wild Basin’s trail network also includes a strenuous 12-mile round-trip hike to stunning sub-alpine Bluebird Lake.
Storms Pass & Estes Cone Trails
Right on the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park (but outside park boundaries) is the 7.5-mile round-trip Storm Pass Trail to the Estes Cone Trail, which takes you to the Japanese strip of the epic Estes Cone inside the park. The cone sounds like a reasonable fissure, but it results from natural erosion.
The strenuous hike begins at Lily Lake. there is a requested donation from the rules system of $20 in a box near the rootage. Once you’ve started hiking, you can cross the watershed and have beautiful views of Longs Peak, Mount Meeker, and thus the Twin Sisters, among other elevated highlights.
until you come to the Estes Cone Trail sign, continue on Storms Pass Trail. The last part of this hike needs a lot of bouldering to get to the top so this is not a hike for beginners or anyone not in great shape. however, if you’re looking for a challenge in one of Colorado’s most stunning natural settings, this is a must do.
Barr Trail
If you want to climb one of Colorado’s Fourteen (the name locals give to the fifty-three peaks over 14,000 feet scattered throughout the state), you’ll hike the Barr Trail to Pikes Highest Peak. While this mountain west of Colorado Springs and about seventy-five miles from Colorado’s capital isn’t the 14th easiest to climb, it is one of the most impressive: Katharine Batesa journey up Pikes Peak that gave him the idea to create America the Beautiful.
Barr’s trail is a 24-mile round trip, but you can just walk one trail and take a ride in a car (there’s a trail to the top) or the historic cogwheel train that also chugs up and down the this mountain of images. To walk, you have to line up around 3am. to avoid thunderstorms in the late afternoon that can be deadly.
The trail covers 7,800 feet of elevation, and you really have to acclimate to the altitude before attempting it. this is not for the casual bum, if you don’t have marvelous strength, you will be seriously furious. except for the people who believe it, reading from the top is really enjoyable.
Staunton State Park
Just forty minutes from Colorado’s capital, Staunton State Park also boasts a great trail system for hiking and mountain biking. Staunton State Park is renowned for its climbing routes if you prefer to climb the rocks to stroll by them.
The park is also home to Elk Falls, which is the tallest waterfall near Colorado’s capital. To see it from higher up, you’ll have to attempt the difficult 10.8-mile loop trail to the Moose Falls Overlook. To get closer to the bottom of the falls, try the recently opened 12-mile loop trail.
Another option that is far less strenuous and great for families is the Davis Ponds Loop trail. As you get closer, kids will even learn to fish in the ponds you pass.
Lair of the Bear Park
Located about forty-five minutes southwest of Colorado’s capital in Thomas Jefferson County, Bear Park’s lair is accessed via a beautiful road into Bear Creek Canyon. Once in the park, you will find a network of hiking and mountain biking trails.
For families, we tend to love the easy 1.6-mile Bear Creek Trail that runs on the individual creek. The trail is generally shaded and level, and the creek may be visible for much of the hike. It also has some nice places to avoid a picnic lunch along the way.
The park is also home to a variety of bird species – look for them first, then work with your kids to identify them on the trails.
Summit Adventure Trail
In the Roosevelt National Forest, about sixty miles from Denver in Loveland, the Summit trek route is a moderately difficult hike up Sheep Mountain to its 8,450-foot summit.
The 9.1-mile round trip loop gets excruciatingly steep towards the highest point. Along the way, you’ll need beautiful views of the massive Thompson Canyon and thus the Japanese Plains. The trail is one element of the Round Mountain National Recreation trail system that has the Foothills Nature Trail, which is only one mile long and perfect for youngsters.
Brainard Lake Recreation Area
Spanning the Indian Peaks geographic area, on the verge of Boulder and just under sixty miles from Denver, Brainard Lake Recreation Area sits in the watershed and is home to multiple hiking trails.
For something difficult, consider the strenuous path (like a nine on a scale of one to 10) of the creative man. The 7.9-mile round-trip hike takes you up to thirteen,233 feet with an Associate in a Nursing elevation gain of two,789 feet. more than half the way up it’s higher than the line, and you’ll find a lot of switchbacks and a few rocks near the highest. However, after reaching the top, you will be treated to some absolutely beautiful views of the entire front.
Castle Rock Trail
Head south from Denver on I-25 for about a half hour to the town of Castle Rock. The city is named for the huge rock formation that resembles a castle on its edge. And you’ll walk a 1.4-mile loop trail of moderate difficulty to the bottom of the rock.
From here, you’ll need views of the entire city, even though the front range of the Rocky Mountains-Long’s Peak will be to the northwest and the mountain’s peak to the southwest.
Dogs on a leash are allowed. You can also take a second loop around the base of the rock. it’s wide and flat, and there’s still a stretch here.
Chimney Gulch Trail
Just west of Denver, near Golden, the Chimney Flume Trail in Windy Saddle Park is a five-mile circular trail (out and back, not a loop) that climbs the side of Lookout Mountain. It’s a strenuous hike that includes immeasurable switchbacks, still like creek crossings, as the trail opens thanks to the top of Lookout Mountain, and joins with Beaver Brook and Lookout Mountain Trails to try to make it.
The trail is easily accessible (it’s right off the highway) and is also nice for mountain rockers so you’ll see a lot of traffic. If you want solitude, this may not be the most effective selection. However, reading from the top is beautiful, with expansive views of mountains, like the Denver and Golden showed below.
Clear Creek Trail
Running through downtown Golden, the Clear Creek Trail is an easy 1.8-mile trip and a family favorite, particularly with youngsters. Initially formed and then turning to land, the creek follows.
There’s also plenty of shade along the way, and you can pass through a couple of parks that are good for a picnic lunch. When the walk is over, you can treat the microscopic or yourself to ice cream in downtown Golden. This is often not a walk for anyone trying to find strenuous exercise, however, if your child is just learning to walk it is good for them.
Chicago Lakes Hike
Covering 10.6 miles with an elevation gain of 2,777 feet, the Chicago Lakes Walk could be a good option for some strenuous exercise (not appropriate for children) in an extremely attractive geographic setting. At the bottom of Mount Evans, a 14,267-foot peak about fifty miles southwest of Denver, this round-trip hike takes you through the Colorado Highlands geographic area in an extremely natural glacier-cut depression.
The trail begins at Echo Lake Park in a very scenic valley with mountain views in the distance. The route is well-marked and follows Chicago Creek as it goes up into the mountains. End at Chicago’s alluring alpine lakes.
There are 2 square lakes: Lower Chicago Lake and Upper Chicago Lake. Although you will be able to turn in the lower lake, your price continues to the upper lake, because the scenery is beautiful. it may be surrounded by rugged mountain peaks. The mountain directly in front of you is Mt. Warren, while Rogers Peak is to the left.
The path is usually walked between the Gregorian calendar month and the Gregorian calendar month, betting on the fall, and dogs are allowed on a leash. Once the hike is over, head to the Echo Lake Lodge for a well-earned lunch. There are also backcountry camping sites at Echo Lake.
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