10 Favorite Hikes in Colorado
I moved to Colorado the fall of 2021 and have loved living here. It is truly such a treat having the mountains in our backyard, although it can be a trek from Denver it is always worth the drive. After 3 years of living here I’ve compiled my list of my favorite hikes I’ve been on so far! I still don’t feel like I've even scratched the surface on the hikes I want to still complete.
Best time to Visit and Hike
The best time to start hiking in Colorado is late June through early September. I start hiking in the spring, but sometimes will need microspikes or other gear to be prepared for the unpredictable weather Colorado can have even in the summer months. I know friends that hike year round
What to Bring
Day pack
I use a 32 l osprey bag and love it for longer day hikes
Layers
Colorado is unpredictable and even in the heat of summer months I bring a rain jacket and make sure I have layers to protect myself whether it’s an extra pair of pants or ones that convert into shorts
Water
Use plenty of water and a filter as a backup! It can be a pain to carry multiple liters of water so having a source to fill up on the trail can be so useful
Downloaded map
I have the alltrails premium subscription that allows me to download offline maps which is especially helpful when solo and in a spot with no service which is often in the Colorado mountains
Google offline maps is super helpful as well when driving on roads with no service. Make sure to have your map downloaded before losing service and you should be good to go!
Extras
Bug spray
Sunscreen
First aid kit
Headlamp if you're starting or ending after dusk
Something for blisters
Hiking poles if you prefer
Where to stay
Mountain hostel in silverthorne called The Pad.
I’ve had friends who ski stay here for a night and have enjoyed their experience! If you’re solo or have a small group this is a great affordable option!
Air b n bs!
If we have a large group of friends for a weekend we typically invest in an air b n b
Longs Peak
This was my first 14er I completed in Colorado and probably still to this day one of the most challenging hikes I’ve been on. The trail is 13.2 miles and 4,934 ft of elevation gain. I didn’t prepare the best and brought way too much in my pack, but nonetheless I survived it! We started the hike at 2am and got to the keyhole portion of the hike right at sunrise. It was so stunning and one of the best moments of the hike to finally see the sun illuminating the peaks. The next section after the keyhole actually wrecked me and once I made it to the summit I was so dead. It was almost more difficult coming down than going up. We finished by about 1pm and made sure to be below the treeline by noon.
It was an amazing experience, but I do recommend starting with a more chill 14er first before attempting this one! I had been hiking a lot the whole summer which prepared me, but it was still a big challenge.
2. Sky Pond
This is my favorite trail in Rocky mountain national park. It is a decently difficult trail, but the reward of the lake at the end is stunning! It’s 8.6 miles and 1,774 ft of elevation gain. We camped outside of the park the night before and completed this in late September. The weather was chilly in the morning, but warmed up with the sun.
3. Blue Lakes Trail
Telluride is my favorite mountain town in Colorado. The trail is 8.6 miles with 2,506 ft of elevation gain. We hiked upper, lower, and middle blue lakes trail in early October. The fall leaves were insane in Telluride and on the hike. It was a little cold and windy, but we still took an alpine dip. The trail itself has views everywhere you look of the san juans. It made the difficulty more bearable because I was in awe the whole way.
4. Mccullough Gulch
I hiked this trail this summer with my sister. It became one of my favorite hikes I’ve done in Colorado. The wildflowers, views from every step we hiked, and 2 lake views made the mileage so worth it! It was a very moderate trail and I’d say pretty beginner friendly. The trail is 6.4 miles and 1,407 ft of elevation gain. You do need a permit for this hike which we ended up parking near the main gondola at breck and taking the shuttle there. Uou have to plan for the timing a bit more because it runs every half hour so be mindful of the schedule. You can reserve the hike at hikequandary.com
5. Saint Mary’s Glacier
This is one of the most classic hikes in Colorado and never disappoints. It is a short steep hike with another stunning lake view and glacier in the background. People will hike in with all sorts of things like paddle boards, floaties, and kayaks. Some people even bring skis and ski a short section of the glacier which doesn't look the most skiable, but props to the dedication to ski in the summer. The trail is 1.6 miles and 528 ft of elevation gain. The first portion is pretty steep, but it’s so short that it really isn’t too bad.
6. Hanging Lake
Hanging lake is right outside of Glenwood springs and also requires a $12 reservation per person to park and hike it. It is a 3.1 mile trail with 1,269 ft of elevation gain. It was steep in some sections, but overall a very light moderate trail. The end view is very unique and makes the most serene landscape and we went in the fall so the leaves made it extra dreamy!
7. Lake isabelle
I completed this hike this summer and am so glad I went even though it was a solo day! I had the best day with the hike itself, paddleboarding at the end, and encountering a moose! The trail is 6.6 miles and 672 ft of elevation gain. The trail was super easy and maintained very well. It took me a minute to find the trailhead from the parking lot so this would be a great opportunity to download the trail ahead of time! I lost service right before Ward and didn’t have any until I drove back down. The wildflowers were beautiful and the trail was stunning once again the whole way there. The lake and mountain backdrop made my jaw drop! I took a little dip and hung out at the top for an hour before heading back down and paddleboarding on the lake by the parking lot! As I drove out of the park I saw a moose crossing a small lake with lily pads! Dream come true!
8. Emerald Lake
This is the most classic hike in Rocky mountain national park and for good reason. The view for the length of the hike makes this one a no brainer. It does get extremely crowded especially in the summer even with the timed entry in effect. Go as early as possible to enjoy this 3.2 mile trail with 702 feet of elevation gain. If you’ve never been to RMNP I always recommend this trail and have done this hike 3 or 4 times now.
9. Maroon Bells
I got lucky and secured a permit in the fall to hike the maroon bells in early October and the whole trail was stunning with the aspens filled with dreamy yellow leaves. The scenic loop trail is only 1.8 miles and 160 feet of elevation gain so this trail is more of a nature walk. So many people backpack this trail and it can go on for miles and miles. I want to spend more time here and go on more backpacking trips.
10. Conundrum Hot Springs
I went on a friend's backpacking trip for her bday and this trail was a blast! They scored permits way in advance for a group of 15 of us to camp overnight and enjoy the hot springs. The trail was 16.9 miles and 2,788 feet of elevation gain. The wildflowers were vibrant and made the hike extra special. It was also so killer to have the hot springs at the end and we spent hours soaking and chatting. It made my first experience backpacking so surreal.
Next hikes on my list:
Ice lake
Chasm Lake
Chief Mountain
