Hey travel fam! Well, most of you know all of my international trips for the year officially got cancelled because of the pandemic. But on a happy note, having the summer at home has given me so much time to explore my wonderful home state of Colorado, especially through hiking! So I compiled a list of all my favorite hikes in the state for you all to enjoy! I organized this post into geographic area, so find the area that you want and dive in! And remember, if you love my blog, subscribe below for all the latest news and updates.
Rocky Mountain National Park:
RMNP is the most famous national park in Colorado, and there’s definitely a reason for that! The easiest place to access most of these trails is through the adorable town of Estes Park. If you can, I definitely recommend spending a weekend (or more) exploring the town and the national park!
*At the time of writing this, RMNP is on a reservations only, timed entry permit system. Click here for all the information you need about the timed entry and to get a permit.
Easy:
Sprague Lake: This one really isn’t a hike, but it’s a pretty walk around a lake with some beautiful peaks in the back. If you get lucky you may even see a moose wade into the water!
Another non-hike, but definitely Drive Trail Ridge Road when in RMNP! The road winds through every part of the park, and the tundra landscape at the highest points of the road is so unique! Definitely not to be missed.
Moderate:
Three Lakes: My favorite moderate hike is Nymph, Dream, and Emerald Lakes. Catch this trail from the Bear Lake trailhead. It’s a slightly inclining 4 mile round trip trail to the three lakes. All of them are gorgeous and would be the perfect spot for a picnic lunch! Pro tip on this one: start early. This is one of the most popular hikes in the park, so not only does the trail get busy, but the trailhead parking lot usually fills up by 8 in the morning.
Hard:
Sky Pond: This is my all time favorite hike in Colorado! It is an approximately 10 mile round trip trail that features three lakes and several waterfalls. Be warned, though! This one involves a scramble up a slippery waterfall and some serious elevation gain, but I know you can do it! The lakes at the top are well worth that climb. If you have specific questions about this one, shoot me an email below and I will give you more information!
Close to Denver:
For those of you wanting a hike closer to the Denver metro area, here’s a good start!
Easy:
For an easier hike, check out Roxborough State Park. Plenty of trails to choose from and barely any elevation gain on many of them! If you get lucky you may even see some bighorn sheep in the area.
Another easy ‘hike’ is Lair O’ the Bear. I barely call this a hike because it really is just a dirt walking path, but it is still pleasant for an afternoon stroll among the trees! The path winds next to a river and connects to the Bear Creek Trail to Panorama Point which is a more moderate hike to some great views!
Moderate:
Independence Mountain: This hike is right outside of Evergreen, CO. Approximately 1 mile each way but don’t let the shortness of this one fool ya! It’s one mile of a steady incline to the top with some minor rock scrambling, but you will be rewarded with a beautiful view.
Saint Mary’s Glacier: This is another short but pretty steep one, definitely with more rock scrambling involved especially if you want to explore all the areas around the glacier! Pro tip: for all you summertime ski enthusiasts, a few people will bring skis and ski down the right side of the glacier! No chair lift though, so have fun hauling all that stuff up.
Indian Peaks Wilderness: This area near Ward, CO (approximately 1 hour drive from Denver) has so many amazing hikes to explore. My personal favorite is the Blue Lakes Hike from the Mitchell Lake trailhead. If you are lucky, you will even see some moose along the trail, and you’ll be rewarded with beautiful lakes along the way.
Other Must Sees:
Maroon Bells: This is easily Colorado’s most photographed spot. The walk to the picture spot is super short and flat, but there are tons of trails to explore around the Snowmass area, so take any of them and you are in for beautiful views, tons of wildflowers in the summer, and maybe even a marmot or two!
*At the time of writing this, Maroon Bells requires reservations due to Covid-19. Click here for more information.
Bag a 14’er: When in CO you have to climb a 14’er: aka a mountain with a peak above 14,000 feet. These can be very challenging, so do your research before you go and start with an easier one (I recommend Mt. Sherman for newbies). OR if you are feeling bold, you can bag four peaks in one day with The Decalibron. The Decalibron will allow you to hit Mts. Lincoln, Democrat, Bross, and Cameron with an approximately 8 mile round trip loop.
Pro Tip: Do your research before you go! Start with a class 1 or 2 peak (aka little to no rock climbing involved), and only the most experienced climbers should opt for the Class 4 peaks. Ascend slow and drink plenty of water to avoid altitude sickness! Trust me it sucks.
*And for every peak you bag, make sure to order a peak sticker from All Peak. Super cute and affordable! The elevation of each peak is written on the stickers, and they make for the best collectible! Click here to check out their amazing collection.
If hiking isn’t your thing but you still want those views, you can even drive up a few peaks! Pikes Peak and Mount Evans are my absolute favorites! For those not as familiar with mountain driving, it can be intimidating but try and take a smaller car to fit on the narrow, winding inclines if you aren’t experienced.
Some Final Tips
Now that you know the hikes, here are a few tips to make the most of your day!
1. START EARLY! If you are hiking in the summertime, this is key. Not only will you beat a lot of the crowds, but you will also beat the afternoon thunderstorms that are common in the mountains in June and July. The storms roll in very quickly, so always be prepared and stay safe!
2. Never approach the wildlife. On many of these trails you may see deer, elk, moose, bears, or even mountain lions so be careful! As cute as they can be, they are still wild animals so just be cautious and use common sense. As a guide, keep about 2 bus lengths (25 yards) between you and elk or bison and at least 5 bus lengths (100 yards) between you and bears!
3. Use AllTrails. For those of you not familiar with this app, it comes in handy on these trails! Not only does it give you driving directions to the trailhead, but it often has tips about the trail and even has trail maps that can show you when you get off course. Many of these hikes will be in areas without cell service though, so I still recommend downloading trail maps before you go if you are anxious about getting lost!
4. Be prepared. Always pack plenty of water and snacks. When hiking at altitude, you always need more water than you think you do! Trust me on this one. And for the perfect hiking snack, click here to check out a new plant based protein bar company called Mezcla. And use the code ADVENTURE15 for 15% off your order!
Well there you have it! I hope all of you that visit my beautiful home state enjoy it and have a blast on these hikes! As always, contact me with any questions and subscribe to my page below!
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