- Hike Distance: 1.4 miles
- Denver Drive Time: 30
- Difficulty: Medium
- Duration: 1hr
- Activities: Picnic Area, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking, Hiking Trails
- Dogs: Allowed on Leash
- Directions: Click for Google Map
- Trail Type: Loop
- Seasons: Summer & Fall
- Beauty: Grassland, Front Range Views, Bluff Overlooks, Wildlife: Prairie Dogs, Rabbits, Red Fox.
- Hike Distance: 1.6 Miles
- Denver Drive Time: 30min
- Difficulty: Easy
- Duration: 45min
- Activities: Picnic Areas, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking, Adjacent Dog Park
- Dogs: Allowed on Leash
- Directions: Click for Google Map
- Trail Type: Loop
- Seasons: All Year
- Beauty: Grassland, Front Range Views, Cherry Creek, Wildlife: Pronghorn Antelope, Rattlesnakes, Prairie Dogs, & Deer, Rabbits, Scrub Jays, & Spotted Towhees
- Hike Distance: 1.7 miles
- Denver Drive Time: 30
- Difficulty: Easy
- Duration: 1hr+
- Activities: Hiking Trails, Wildlife Viewing, Seasonal Fishing
- Dogs: Prohibited in the Refuge
- Directions: Click for Google Map
- Trail Type: Loop
- Seasons: All Season
- Beauty: Grassland, Front Range Views, Lakes Wildlife: wild Bison, Deer, Coyotes, Bald Eagles and Burrowing Owls.
- Closed Mondays
An arsenal turned into a Wildlife Refuge. What a great idea! The refuge boasts over 8000 acres and over 300 species of wildlife. It also hosts three lakes and Denver lake hikes.
How to Hike the Loop: Check in and begin your hike at the visitors center. Follow the Lake Mary Trail along the northwest of the lake until it merges with the the Prairie Trail. Follow the Prairie Trail to the south until it merges with the Ladora Trail which will take you back to the visitors center and along the shore of Lake Ladora. Read More
This hike near Fort Collins, Colorado ends with a beautiful panoramic view of Lory State Park. You’ll pass through meadows, forest, then end your hike with a scramble to the top of Arthur’s Rock. Dogs are allowed on a leash, just be sure to bring plenty of water as there are not many places to access drinking water.
- Hike Distance: 1.7 Miles (3.4 RT)
- Denver Drive Time: 1hr 30 min
- Difficulty: Medium
- Duration: 1hr 15min
- Activities: Hiker Only Trail, but Park offers Picnic Areas, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking, Canoeing, & Kayaking
- Directions: Click for Google Map
- Trail Type: Out & Back
- Seasons: Spring to Fall
- Beauty: Views of Horsetooth Lake, Views of the Front Range, Forests, and Meadows, Wildlife:
- Hike Distance: 1.7 Miles
- Denver Drive Time: 30min
- Difficulty: Easy
- Duration: 1hr 15min
- Activities: Hiking, Birdwatching, Mountain Biking, Fly Fishing, Picnics
- Directions: Click for Google Map
- Trail Type: Out & Back
- Seasons: All Season
- Beauty: Bear Creek, Meadows, Wildlife: Beaver, American Dippers aka Water Ouzel
Fantastic for families because this hike has lot of shade, a mostly level path,the sounds and sights of water, and a few great areas for picnics in this Colorado park. On top of all of that, it’s one of the most accessible Denver trails just out of town in the foothills. You can also fish Bear Creek in Lair ‘O the Bear. Read More
- Hike Distance: 1.4 Miles
- Denver Drive Time: 45min
- Difficulty: Easy
- Duration: 1hr
- Activities: Hiking, Birdwatching, Visitors’ Center
- Directions: Click for Google Map
- Trail Type: Loop
- Seasons: All Year
- Beauty: Red Rock Formations, Meadows, Wildlife: Mule Deer, Eagles, Foxes, Birds.
Abirdwatcher’s paradise. Roxborough State Park is Denver’s twin sister of Garden of the God’s in Colorado Springs. The park has cataloged over 140 species of birds that have been viewed in the park. On our first hike in the park, we encountered several Western Tanager’s among the scrub oak. Read More
- Hike Distance: 1/4 Mile to 4 Miles
- Denver Drive Time: 50 min
- Difficulty: Easy to Medium
- Duration: 1/2hr to 2.5hrs
- Activities: Rock Climbing, Hiking, Picnic Areas, Visitors Center
- Directions: Click for Google Map
- Trail Type: Out & Back & Loop
- Seasons: All Season
- Beauty: Meadows, Creek, Waterfall, Interesting Geology, Canyon Views, Ruins
- Fee Required: Visit Colorado State Parks Site
Not just a canyon, this Colorado State Park features ruins, a waterfall, and unusual geological formations. The park is riddled with 15 trails, ranging from 1/4 mile to 4 miles, so you have a lot of options. The Canyon View Nature Trail (1.2 miles) is a great example of a handicap accessible trail in Colorado. Read More
- Hike Distance: 4 Trails: .5 mile to 3.5 miles (one way)
- Denver Drive Time: 45 min
- Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
- Duration: 1-2.5 hrs
- Activities: Picnic Areas, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing
- Directions: Click for Google Map
- Trail Type: Out & Back
- Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall
- Beauty: Canyon, Waterfalls and Cascades, Cliff Swallows, Cliff-Top Views, Geologic Features
- Video: Click For Video
Eldorado Canyon is an oasis just about 45 minutes from Denver. Kids will love hiking over rocks along the streamside trail, peering into caves, and gazing up at the climbers on the towering canyon walls. The park features one of the best Read More
- Hike Distance: 18 Trails: .2 to 2.3 Miles
- Denver Drive Time: 45 min
- Difficulty: Easy (but consider altitude)
- Duration: 15min -1.5hrs
- Directions: Click for Google Map
- Trail Type: Loops, Out & Back
- Seasons: All
- Beauty: Rock Formations, Vistas, Meadows, Ponderosa Pine, Views of the Continental Divide, Stellar Jays and Coopers Hawks.
- Hike Distance: .5 mile to 3 miles
- Denver Drive Time: 30 min
- Difficulty: Easy
- Duration: 1 -2 hrs
- Activities: Hiking, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking
- Directions: Click for Google Map
- Trail Type: Out & Back and Loop
- Seasons: All year
- Beauty: Red Rock Formations, Meadows, Elk, Deer, Birdwatching, Great Sunsets
- Video: Click For Video
Red Rock towers along the eastern wall of South Valley Park and the foothills begin to the west. Almost 1000 acres of meadow and rock offer Read More
