Our Favorite Hiking Trails

Denver

North Denver to Boulder

Chautauqua Meadow, Mesa-Enchanted Mesa Trail- (2 miles, Casual
Half the trail follows a fire road with great views of Boulder and the Flatirons and continues on a single track trail through Ponderosa Pine/Douglas Fir forest with a gradual incline. At two miles, this partially shaded trail is an easy hike for a hot summer day! This is a great trail to check out Boulder or check out new equipment.

Take Baseline Road west adn turn left onto 12th Street. Go approximately .2 miles to the parking lot next to a covered picnic area. If parking is full at the top of the hill, there are additional parking lots on the way up on the right.

Chautauqua Park, Bluebell-Baird Trail- (1.5 miles, Casual
This easy 1.5 mile trail starts in the lovely wildflower prairie near the Ranger Cottage and continues through some forested area. This is a great hike if you're trying out new equipment or just want a casual hike in the beauty of the Flatirons!

From Boulder take Broadway Ave. (from Golden this is Highway 93) to Baseline Road and go west. Turn left just past 9th Street at the Chautauqua Park sign. The Ranger Cottage is at the end of the first parking lot located on the right.

Flagstaff Mountain, Tenderfoot Loop- (2 miles, Casual
This 2 mile trail takes you on an old fire road and then onto a traditional single track trail. The hike starts out down hill, and finishes up hill with spectacular views of Sugarloaf Mountain as well as the Indian Peaks.

From Boulder take South Foothills Highway/South Broadway Avenue (from Golden this is Highway 93) to Baseline Road and go west. Take Baseline Road past the Chautauqua turn off and continue for 3.5 miles to the Realization Point parking lot.

Marshal Mesa, Community Ditch Trail- (2.4 miles, Moderate
This is a 2.4 mile low elevation loop hike with great views of the Flatirons. There are ascents and descents, but none very strenuous. The trail is mostly exposed and well maintained.

From Boulder take South Foothills Highway/South Broadway Ave. (from Golden this is Highway 93) to Marshall Drive and turn east. (This turn is opposite the Eldorado Springs turn off.) Immediately turn right into the trail head.

Mesa Trail South, Homestead Trail- (2.5 miles, Moderate
This 2.5 mile hike goes on the Homestead and Towhee trails at the south end of the Mesa Trail system. This trail goes through prairie grass land and into the foothills. Wear plenty of sunscreen!

From Boulder take South Foothills Highway/South Broadway Avenue (from Golden this is Highway 93) to Eldorado Springs Drive and turn west. Take Eldorado Springs Drive for 1.7 miles, and the trail head is on the right.

Mount Sanitas, Mount Sanitas Trail- (3.3 miles, Moderate
This trail heads up along the ridge to the top of Mount Sanitas. Continue down the steep East Ridge Trail to connect with the Sanitas Valley Trail. This 3.3 mile loop starts off tough, but the views and scenery make it a spectacular hike!

From Boulder take the South Foothills Highway/South Broadway Avenue (from Golden this is Highway 93) to Mapleton Avenue and turn west. The trail head is .5 mile past 4th St. Parking is limited.

Settlers Park/Red Rocks, Red Rocks Trail- (1.3 miles, Casual
This area has wide gravel trails, and makes for an excellent opportunity to enjoy the spectacular and unique scenery. This 1.3 mile loop offers just enough elevation gain to enjoy.

From Boulder take South Foothills Highway/South Broadway Avenue (from Golden this is Highway 93) to Mapleton Avenue and turn west. The trail head is .5 mile past 4th Street (and is shared by the Mount Sanitas trail). Parking is limited.

South Mesa Park, Mesa Trail- (1.4 miles, Casual
This park has abundant wildlife and varied terrain. This 1.4 mile hike goes along the gently sloping Mesa Trail to a cutoff point where you can turn around. This hike is lovely on a hot summer day!

From Boulder take South Foothills Highway/South Broadway Avenue (from Golden this is Highway 93) to Eldorado Springs Drive. Take Eldorado Springs Drive for 1.7 miles, and the trail head is on the right. If you're coming from the south, take Hwy 6 (6th Ave West) to the junction of Hwy 93 outside of Golden.

White Ranch Park- (4 miles, Challenging
This hike will be about 4 miles with a great view and varied terrain. The distance ranks it as challenging and there are some gradual inclines as well as nifty downhill areas.

Take Hwy 93 north out of Golden for one mile to Golden Gate Canyon Road. From here you are about 20 minutes from the trail head. Go west on Golden Gate Canyon Road for 4 miles and turn right onto Crawford Gulch Road. Take Crawford Gulch Road for 4 miles into White Ranch Park and go to the parking lot at the end of the road (not the first one at the park entrance).

White Ranch, Belcher Hill Trail- (2 miles, Moderate
This area has a variety of terrain and features. There will be tree coverage as well as open meadows. The Belcher Hill hike is 2 miles and will have some steep incline as well as nice flat places to catch your breath.

Take Hwy 93 north out of Golden for one mile to Golden Gate Canyon Road. From here you are about 20 minutes from the trail head. Go west on Golden Gate Canyon Road for 4 miles and turn right onto Crawford Gulch Road. Take Crawford Gulch Road for 4 miles into White Ranch Park and go to the parking lot at the end of the road (not the first one at the park entrance).

Foothills - West Denver

Alderfer/Three Sisters, Hidden Fawn Trail- (2.5 miles, Moderate
This beautiful park has spectacular views and many interesting trail-side curiosities, including the "Three Sisters" rock formation. The Hidden Fawn trail is flat and then merges with the Sisters trail for great views and shady trees.

Take I-70 west to the Evergreen Parkway exit (Hwy 74). Take Hwy 74 to downtown Evergreen, and turn right at the light heading south onto Hwy 73. Go .6 miles and turn right onto Buffalo Park Road. Follow Buffalo Park Road for just over a mile to the FIRST Alderfer/Three Sisters parking area.

Alderfer/Three Sisters, Ponderosa Loop- (3.2 miles,
This challenging 3.2 mile hike has beautiful views of the "Three Sisters" rock formation, and the trail is dappled with sunlight as you hike through the forest. It has some steep inclines as well as a few flat areas.

Take I-70 west to the Evergreen Parkway exit (Hwy 74). Take Hwy 74 to downtown Evergreen, and turn right at the light heading south onto Hwy 73. Go .6 miles and turn right onto Buffalo Park Road. Follow Buffalo Park Road for about 2 miles to the SECOND parking area near a big open field.

Apex Park, Apex Trail- (5 miles, Challenging
This hike is 5 miles and heads uphill gradually along a creek bed. This hike goes through the "enchanted forest" which marks the turn-around point. The trail is shaded and cool from the creek.

Take I-70 to the Morrison Road exit and turn right at the light at the end of the off ramp. Go about a mile and turn left into the Heritage Square parking lot. At the far end of the lot is the trail head (do NOT go to the lower trail head below Heritage Square).

Apex Park, Pick 'n Sledge Trail- (4.5 miles, Challenging
If you're ready for a tough hike, this is the one for you! This 4.5 mile loop will take you through Apex Park where you will get some spectacular city views as well as enjoy the cool forest breezes. This hike starts off as a gradual incline, then the incline gets more serious! Once you're at the top, it's all down on the return.

Take I-70 to the Morrison Road exit and turn right at the light at the end of the off ramp. Go about a mile and turn left into the Heritage Square parking lot. At the far end of the lot is the trail head (do NOT go to the lower trail head below Heritage Square).

Corwina Park- (2.8 miles, Moderate
This 2.8 mile hike has a slow incline in the beginning and then flattens out for a bit. At the top is a good incline ending at an amazing lookout! The view of Mount Evans and the town of Kittredge is spectacular! The trail heads back the same way, and there is a nice mix of sun and shade.

Take C-470 to the Morrison Road exit. Go through Morrison and then continue straight onto Hwy 74. Go 7.1 miles and you will see a Corwina park sign on the right but KEEP GOING another .7 miles to the trail head on the left. It looks like you are entering a driveway. If you get to the town of Kittredge you have gone about a 1/2 mile too far.

Elk Meadow Open Space, Painter's Pause Trail- (4 miles, Challenging
This hike is almost 4 miles and will have some exposure and some beautiful forest hiking. Although the trail is not steep, the distance ranks it as challenging. The views are lovely, hence the name Painter's Pause.

Take I-70 west to the Evergreen Parkway exit (Hwy 74). Take Hwy 74 for several miles to the intersection with Lewis Ridge Road and turn right. Go less than a mile to the Elk Meadow parking lot.

Elk Meadow Open Space, Sleepy S Loop- (2.5 miles, Moderate
This beautiful hike is 2.5 miles and has some moderate ascents and descents - a great work out. This hike is in Evergreen and is at a higher elevation so the temps will be cooler and the weather a bit more unpredictable.

Take I-70 west to the Evergreen Parkway exit (Hwy 74). Take Hwy 74 for several miles to the intersection with Stagecoach Blvd and turn right. Go 1 mile to the Elk Meadow parking lot.

Flying J Ranch Park, Trail- (3.1 miles, Moderate
This 3.1 mile hike is shaded and mostly flat. The area is extremely peaceful and quiet. This hike is at a higher elevation so the temps will be a bit cooler.

Take C-470 to Hampden/Hwy 285 South. Go South/West on 285 for about 15 miles almost to Conifer. Before Conifer you will see the exit for Staples and a Bradley/Sinclair gas station. Exit the highway on the right and again veer right at the first light. You are now on CR 273 and you will go through two more stoplights for a total of 1.5 miles from where you exited the highway. At the sign for Flying J Ranch Park, turn left and continue about a half mile to the parking area and restrooms.

Green Mountain- (1.5 Miles - 3 Miles, Easy - Moderate
Have you ever noticed those rolling hills to the east of C-470 before you get to the I-70 interchange? Those hills are called Green Mountain, and they almost never have snow on them if the sun is out! The trails on Green Mountain are open and exposed making them perfect for soaking up the sun on a chilly fall day. These trails are often used by mountain bikers but you see many hikers on them as the temperatures cool off. To get the the Green Mountain trail head, go west on Colfax and just past C-470 you will see South Rooney Road. Follow this for a mile or so as it passes under I-70. The trail head is on the left and an overpass takes you to the trails on Green Mountain. Look for stroller walking and hiking in this excellent cold weather area!

Lair O' the Bear Open Space, Bruin Bluff Loop- (2 miles, Moderate
The views are lovely on this 2 mile loop, and you will find a variety of terrain as the trail goes through woods and then back out into the sunshine. The sound of a rushing creek along the trail makes this hike just heavenly! There is a gradual incline ending with a descent back to the start point.

Take C-470 to the Morrison Road exit. Go through Morrison and then continue straight onto Hwy 74. Go 4.7 miles, and the park is on the left.

Lookout Mountain Nature Center, Meadow Loop Trail- (1.5 miles, Casual
This is a 1.5 mile hike that includes forests as well as a beautiful meadow. The start of this hike is at a high elevation, but there is not much elevation gain on the trail. And the quiet beauty is unsurpassed! Since this is a higher elevation hike, the temperatures will definitely be cooler than they are in Denver!

Take I-70 to the Lookout Mountain exit and follow the signs to the Lookout Mountain Nature Center. Plan about 10 minutes of winding road from the I-70 exit to the top of Lookout Mountain.

Matthews/Winters Park, Red Rocks Trail- (4.1 miles, Challenging
This is a sunny hike with excellent views of the Dakota Ridge and Red Rocks Amphitheatre. This hike starts out easy and then climbs to the top of a beautiful bluff for great views for a total of 4.1 miles.

Take I-70 to the Morrison Road exit and turn left onto Hwy 26. Go a very short distance to the Matthews-Winters Park entrance on the right.

Matthews/Winters Park, Village Walk Trail- (1 mile, Casual
This is a lovely and very easy hike, so if you are trying to get back into shape and want to see what you can do, this hike is perfect! At 1 mile, this hike will take about 40 minutes. There are a lot of great hiking opportunities in the area and maps are available... or do the loop twice!

Take I-70 to the Morrison Road exit and turn left onto Hwy 26. Go a short distance to the Matthews/Winter Park entrance on the right.

Maxwell Falls- (4.5 miles, Challenging
This 4.5 mile hike begins with a moderate ascent through the forest - great Aspen tree viewing! The rest of the hike to the falls is pretty flat and downhill until the trail heads back up one last good leg burner. From there it's all downhill and mostly shady back to the parking.

Take I-70 west to the Evergreen Parkway ext it (Hwy 74). Take Hwy 74 to downtown Evergreen and turn right at the light onto South Hwy 73. Take Hwy 73 about 1 mile to Brook Forest Road and turn right. Go 3.6 miles and the parking lot will be on the left. Make sure you watch the odometer because it's easy to miss!

Meyer Ranch, Sunny Aspen Trail- (2.6 miles, Moderate
This gorgeous trail has aspen groves, open grass land, and wooded forest. The Sunny Aspen Trail is about 2.6 miles, plus there is a challenging one mile spur to the top of an old ski run making this hike more challenging.

Take the Hampden/Hwy 285 exit off C-470 and go south on Hwy 285. Drive 12 miles and just before the town of Aspen Park exit to the right onto South Turkey Creek Road. (This is the SECOND sign for South Turkey Creek Road - don't take the first turnoff - and don't take North Turkey Creek Road!) Enter the Meyer Ranch parking lot immediately off the highway.

Mount Falcon Park, Turkey Trot Trail- (3 miles, Challenging
This trail, at 3 miles, has pretty views and abundant wildlife. The first half of the hike is very steep and pretty exposed to sun, and it is restricted to hikers only. Once at the top, the second half of the loop is all downhill. Test your endurance - you'll be glad you did!

Take C-470 to the Morrison Road exit and go west. Just after the town of Morrison turn left at the last light and go south on Hwy 8. Go about 1.5 miles and turn right onto Forest Avenue. Take another right onto Vine and follow signs into Mount Falcon Park.

Mount Falcon, Castle Trail- (2 miles, Casual
This is a high-elevation, 2 mile hike and the views are spectacular! The terrain is pretty flat and not too strenuous.

Take C-470 to Hampden/Hwy 285 South. Take the Indian Hills turn-off, and follow Parmalee Gulch Road for 2.6 miles. Turn onto Picitus Road and follow signs for several winding miles to the west access for Mount Falcon - this is the second parking area you will come to. From C-470 and Hampden to the trail head is about 20 minutes.

Mount Falcon, Parmalee Gulch Trail- (3 miles, Moderate
This trail is about 3 miles and all the hard parts are in the shade! It has a steep down hill at the beginning and continues with only moderate inclines.

Take C-470 to Hampden/Hwy 285 South. Take the Indian Hills turn-off, and follow Parmalee Gulch Road for 2.6 miles. Turn onto Picitus Road and follow signs for several winding miles to the west access for Mount Falcon - this is the second parking area you will come to. From C-470 and Hampden to the trail head is about 20 minutes.

Mount Galbraith Park, Cedar Gulch Trail- (3.6 miles, Challenging
This is a steep hike, and is 3.6 miles long with the loop at the top of the climb. The views are great and the terrain is open and rocky. This park is for hikers only so no wrestling with mountain bikers!

Take Hwy 93 out of Golden for one mile to Golden Gate Canyon Road. Go west on Golden Gate Canyon Road for 1.5 miles and park is on the left.

Red Rocks Park, Amphitheatre Loop- (1.5 miles, Moderate
This terrific hike is perfect for moms getting acquainted with the techniques of hiking with a baby or anyone interested in testing out an easier Moderate hike. It's less than 1.5 miles with fairly gradual inclines - steeper at the end.

Take C-470 to the Morrison Road exit. Go through Morrison and turn right at the sign for Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

Reynolds Park, Elkhorn Interpretive Trail- (About 1.5 miles, Casual
Plan on a bit of a drive to this gorgeous park! The Elkhorn trail is about 1.5 miles and has an interpretive brochure that guides you through the interesting terrain and features of the park. Mostly flat, this area has a good mix of shade and sun. The altitude is higher and the weather will be cooler at this location.

Take C-470 to Hampden/Hwy 285 South. Take Hwy 285 for about 15 miles to the Foxton Road exit, just past Conifer. Turn left off the ramp and there is a jog in the road so follow the signs to Reynolds Park. Then go 5.5 miles on Foxton Road to the entrance to the park on your right.

Reynolds Park, Raven's Roost Trail- (2 miles, Moderate
This beautiful park is a bit of a drive, but worth it! There is a lot of wildlife in the area, and the terrain is diverse and beautiful. This 2 mile loop is wooded and cool with a pretty hefty incline at the start and down hill to finish.

Take C-470 to Hampden/Hwy 285 South. Take Hwy 285 for about 15 miles to the Foxton Road exit, just past Conifer. Turn left off the ramp and there is a jog in the road, so follow the signs to Reynolds Park. Then go 5.5 miles on Foxton Road to the entrance to the park on your right.

South Valley Park, Coyote Song Trail- (2 miles, Casual
Although it's close to the metro area, this area is quiet and wildlife abounds. This hike is about 2 miles and is mostly flat - great for first-time hikers and anyone interested in a gentle hike.

Take C-470 to the Ken Caryl Avenue exit and go west. Merge left at the light onto Valley Road and follow signs for about 2 miles to South Valley Park on the left.

South Denver to Castle Rock

Deer Creek Canyon Park, Meadow Lark Trail- (2.7 miles, Moderate
This hike is 2.7 miles and has a pretty steady climb followed by a descent back to the start. The scenery is spectacular in this area south of town, and the second half of the hike is restricted to hikers only.

Tkae C-470 to the Kipling exit and go south. Take Kipling for a short distance to Ute Avenue and turn right (west), then right again onto Deer Creek Canyon Road. Follow the winding road for a couple of miles and then turn left onto Grizzly Drive. Go less than a mile and the park is on the right.

Roxborough State Park, Fountain Valley Loop- (2.2 miles, Casual
This is a short hike at 2.2 miles, and winds through the Fountain and Lyons rock formations. There is a moderate elevation change, and the path is wide and smooth. This area is abundant with wildlife.

Take C-470 to the Santa Fe/Hwy 85 exit and go south on Santa Fe. Turn right onto Titan Road, and then left onto Roxborough Park Road. Follow signs to the visitors' center. $5 FEE ASSOCIATED.

South Valley Park, Grazing Elk Trail- (2.5 miles, Casual
The gorgeous rock outcroppings and beautiful vegetation make this hike a real treat. This hike is relatively flat, and about 2.5 miles long. This open space park is connected to the Deer Creek Canyon Park.

Take C-470 to the Kipling exit and go south. Take Kipling for a short distance to Ute Avenue and turn right (west), then right again onto Deer Creek Canyon Road. Turn left onto Grizzly Drive, and the park is on the right. You will be parking in the Deer Creek Canyon parking area.

Ski Towns

Rocky Mountain National Park