- Hike Distance: 1/4 Mile
- Denver Drive Time: 1hr 40 min
- Difficulty: Easy (but consider altitude)
- Duration: 15-20 min
- Activities: picnics, hiking, viewing wildlife
- Fee Required: See Fee Schedule Link
- Directions: Click for Google Map
- Trail Type: Out & Back
- Seasons: Open early summer through Fall, Check Sites for Closure: #1 – #2
- Beauty: Lakes, Mountain Peak Views, High Country Tundra, Wildlife: Mountain Goats, Bighorn Sheep, Marmots, & Pika.
What it lacks in challenge Mt. Evans makes up in breathtaking panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains and opportunities to view wildlife up close. It isn’t much of a hike, because you can summit this 14,265 foot peak in just a few minutes. Yet your trip to Mount Evans can include several stops at high mountains lakes, to view wildflowers, and to take in the expansive scenery (See our itinerary below). This is one of the best attractions near Denver for visiting friends and family, especially if you don’t have the luxury or equipment to take them into the Colorado backcountry. The views are stunning and Read More
- Hike Distance: .7 (RT) (see trail options below)
- Denver Drive Time: 50min
- Difficulty: Easy to Medium
- Duration: 30min+
- Activities: Rock Climbing, Hiking, Picnic Areas, Birdwatching, Wildlife Viewing
- Dogs: Allowed on Leash in Most Areas
- Directions: Click for Google Map
- Trail Type: Out & Back & Loop Options
- Seasons: All Season
- Beauty: Cherry Creek, Waterfall, Interesting Geology, Canyon Views, Ruins
- Fee Required: Visit Colorado State Parks Site
The Homestead Trail in Castlewood Canyonis the first trail you will encounter as you enter the west side of the park. Park at the first lot and you’ll immediately see the ruins of the old Lucas Homestead, an unusual concrete structure built in the late 1800′s.
The trail is less than a mile round trip, but it links up with several other trails which form 2 loops. Read More
- Hike Distance: .2, 3, or 5.4 Mile
- Denver Drive Time: 35
- Difficulty: Easy
- Duration: 20 Min to 2.5 Hrs
- Activities: Picnic Areas, Shelter House with Fireplace, Bison viewing area, Hiking
- Dogs: Allowed on Leash
- Directions: Click for Google Map
- Trail Type: Out & Back
- Seasons: All Season
- Beauty: Front Range Views, Rock Formations, Bison.
We are featuring Daniel’s Park ,not for it’s trails, but because it has one of the best views of the Front Range near Denver. From the park, you can see Pikes Peak in the South, Mt. Evans in the West, and Longs Peak in the North. The trails are not handicap accessible, but the shelter house is (after a bit of a bump trail), and is a perfect place to watch the sun set. Read More
- Hike Distance: .14 mile (.26 RT)
- Denver Drive Time: 50 min
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Duration: 30 Min Round Trip
- Activities: Rock Climbing, Hiking, Picnic Areas, Nearby Waterfall
- Dogs: Allowed on This Trail
- Directions: Click for Google Map
- Trail Type: Out & Back
- Seasons: All Season
- Beauty: Cliffs, Caves, Mature Ponderosa Pines
- Fee Required: Visit Colorado State Parks Site
Looking for caves close to Denver? They may not be extensive, but they are still fun to explore. There are actually two caves along the top of the trail. One is a kind of large crack in the rock that leads to a larger chamber. I wish I could describe it better, but my 2 1/2 year old, when I asked if she wanted to go inside, was concerned that the “bears might be awake.” There are more caves hidden in Castlewood Canyon waiting to be found, but that is for another post.
Tips:
- Access the cave trail by hiking across the dirt road from the parking lot. The google map is very specific and should be helpful in finding the correct lot.
- Hike Distance: .6 & .8 Mile Loops
- Denver Drive Time: 30 Min
- Difficulty: Easy
- Duration: 30 Min
- Activities: Picnic Area, Hiking, Nature Center, Picnic Area, Birdwatching
- Dogs: Not Allowed
- Directions: Click for Google Map
- Trail Type: Loop
- Seasons: Hours Vary
- Beauty: Front Range Views, Ponderosa Pine, Wildlife: Abert’s Squirrels, and Deer.
- Trail Map Link: Click Here
Lookout Mountain Nature Center has 2 short loop hikes. If you have young children, this is a perfect trip. The trails at Lookout Mountain are short loops: 1- The Meadow Loop (.8 mile) & 2 – Forest Loop Trail (.6 mile). If you are looking for a longer hike on Lookout Mountain, Read More
- Hike Distance: 100 yards
- Denver Drive Time: 50min
- Difficulty: Easy
- Duration: 10min
- Activities: Short Trail
- Dogs: Allowed on Leash
- Directions: Click for Google Map
- Trail Type: Out & Back
- Seasons: Closed from Nov. 1 to May 1
- Beauty: Waterfall, Boulder Creek, Cliff.
Boulder Falls is only about 70 feet high, but it’s really breathtaking. The combination of the tight canyon, giant ponderosa pines, and the pouring waterfall makes it a great place to take visiting friends and family. Read More
- Hike Distance: 0.6 mile
- Denver Drive Time: 2hrs
- Difficulty:Easy
- Duration: 30min
- Activities: Picnicking, Snowshoeing, Hiking Trails
- Dogs: Prohibited in the Park
- Directions: Click for Google Map
- Trail Type: Loop
- Seasons: Spring thru Fall
- Beauty: Sub-Alpine Lake, Mountain Views, Wildlife: Abert’s Squirrel, Elk, Bear
- Trail Maps: Click Here
- Temperature at Bear Lake Click Here
- Fee: Park Pass Required
Bear lake is the epicenter of Rocky Mountain National Park. This means that you can access a ton of trails from here, but it also means a lot of traffic. So, we always recommend getting there early, on weekdays, and on the off-season – if you can. The Bear Lake Trail is a short 0.6 mile loop around a beautiful lake with views of the Rocky Mountains. The hike is considered handicap accessible, however Read More
- Hike Distance: .32 mile (.64 RT)
- Denver Drive Time: 50 min
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Duration: 30-40 Round Trip
- Activities: Rock Climbing, Hiking, Picnic Areas, Nearby Waterfall
- Dogs: Allowed on Leash
- Directions: Click for Google Map
- Trail Type: Out & Back
- Seasons: All Season
- Beauty: Cliffs, Cave, Mature Ponderosa Pines
- Fee Required: Visit Colorado State Parks Site
These two trails can be combined to get a full hike along the cliff band that runs along the western edge of Castlewood Canyon State Park. A cave can be found near the middle of the trail. Read More
- Hike Distance: .17+ miles (see trail options below)
- Denver Drive Time: 50min
- Difficulty: Easy to Medium
- Duration: 20min
- Activities: Rock Climbing, Hiking, Picnic Areas, Birdwatching, Wildlife Viewing
- Dogs: Allowed on Leash in Most Areas
- Directions: Click for Google Map
- Trail Type: Out & Back & Loop
- Seasons: All Season
- Beauty: Cherry Creek, Waterfall, Interesting Geology, Canyon Views, Ruins
- Fee Required: Visit Colorado State Parks Site
This may be the most accessible waterfall near Denver. If you hit the right parking lot, the hike takes only abut 10 minutes. But is a hike really a hike if it only takes 10 minutes? So, grab a park brochure and find the Northernmost trailhead for the Creek Bottom Trail (Homestead Trailhead). This will add close to 1 mile to your hike. Then you can loop back via the Cherry Creek Trail for a total of about 2 miles.
Tips:
- The West Side entrance can be hard to find. Read More
Agreat Colorado park to take visiting family and friends. It’s an hour from Denver and has very short trail, but it’s a great place to introduce others to the beauty of the Rocky Mountains and to take in a high Colorado lake. The trail along the lake connects to several trails: Read More
