Denver’s attract lies in its proximity to breathtaking pure landscapes. With the excessive plains giving approach to the majestic Rocky Mountains, the world is a gateway to a community of trails so in depth that it might probably take a lifetime to discover.
Fortuitously, you don’t have to enterprise removed from town to find a wealth of beautiful mountaineering choices. Inside simply an hour’s drive, you’ll be able to entry trails stretching from Boulder to Colorado Springs and past. On this information, we’ll spotlight seven distinctive hikes that by no means fail to supply a top quality out of doors expertise.
1. Backyard of the Gods
Positioned simply exterior Colorado Springs, Backyard of the Gods is a shocking getaway for hikers of all skills. In a bit of over an hour’s drive from Denver, you’ll be able to immerse your self among the many vertically thrust sandstone, limestone, and conglomerate rock formations which have made the park a favourite for Colorado hikers. Two million guests discover its 1,300 acres and 21 miles of trails yearly.
Backyard of the Gods caters to everybody. Hikers searching for one thing straightforward can strive the paved Perkins Central Backyard Path, a 1.1-mile loop that visits the very best rock formations within the park. For those who’re looking for an extended hike, the 6-mile Outer Loop Path offers added distance and elevation change.
And the cherry on high: The park is totally free! Discover the rock formations within the afternoon shadow of the 14,115-foot Pikes Peak with out spending a penny.
- Size: 1-6 miles
- Issue: Straightforward to average
- Restrooms: Sure
- Parking: On-site, free
- Canine friendliness: Canines allowed on leash
- Hours: 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Nov. 1 to April 30); 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Could 1 to Oct. 31)
2. Mount Sanitas
A go to to Boulder just isn’t full with out summiting Mount Sanitas. The 6,800-foot peak on the west aspect of town is probably the preferred path for locals.
Attending to the highest of Sanitas requires 1,300 toes of elevation acquire and not less than 3.2 miles of mountaineering, relying on whether or not you resolve to do an out-and-back or take one among a number of loop choices on the return journey. From the summit, you’ll take pleasure in 360-degree views of all the metropolis and Entrance Vary.
- Size: 3.2+ miles
- Issue: Tough
- Restrooms: Sure
- Parking: Free at trailhead, potential to stroll from city
- Canine friendliness: Canines allowed on leash
- Hours: Accessible 24 hours
3. Royal Arch
Along with Sanitas, the opposite must-visit hike in Boulder is the 3.3-mile climb to Royal Arch in Chautauqua Park. The path has a number of uphill and downhill sections, climbing 1,400 toes up into the long-lasting Flatirons south of town. The reward on the high is a big sandstone arch, together with sweeping views that stretch from Boulder to Denver on clear days.
Given its recognition among the many Boulder mountaineering neighborhood, the path can get busy on weekends and holidays, so make sure to get an early begin to keep away from the congestion.
- Size: 3.3 miles
- Issue: Tough
- Restrooms: Sure, on the Chautauqua Ranger Cottage
- Parking: Paid parking on weekends and summer season holidays, $2.50 per hour; free throughout weekdays, and out of doors of summer season season; free parking can be out there in surrounding neighborhoods
- Canine friendliness: Canines allowed on leash
- Hours: 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
4. North Desk Mountain
If you’re in Denver and brief on time for a hike, North Desk Mountain in Golden is an ideal option to get your out of doors repair. The two,000-acre park sits on a 60-million-year-old lava circulate that rises a number of hundred toes above the encircling plains. When you ascend the a number of hundred toes to the mesa, the paths are comparatively flat, and there are a number of loop choices to select from among the many 15 miles of path.
North Desk Mountain is open for mountaineering year-round, nevertheless it’s particularly lovely within the spring and early summer season when wildflowers are in bloom. The Tilting Mesa to Mesa Prime loop is a well-liked path within the park, climbing 500+ toes over 3.2 miles on the west aspect of the mesa.
- Size: 2-8 miles
- Issue: Average
- Restrooms: Sure, at West Trailhead, Golden Cliffs Trailhead, and East Entry
- Parking: Free at trailheads
- Canine friendliness: Canines allowed on leash
- Hours: One hour earlier than dawn to at least one hour after sundown
5. Lair o’ the Bear
Simply over half-hour west of Denver, Lair o’ the Bear Park is the proper spot for a household outing. The broad, flat trails that border Bear Creek and ample picnic areas make it a perfect hike for teenagers to tag alongside. The 1.5-mile Bruin Bluff Path is a simple introduction to the park, whereas those that need a problem can climb over 1,000 toes to Panorama Level.
In your approach out of the park, don’t neglect to make a pit cease at Purple Rocks Amphitheater for a fast stroll across the trails of the long-lasting venue.
- Size: 1-6 miles
- Issue: Straightforward to average
- Restrooms: Sure, at Lair o’ the Bear Park trailhead
- Parking: Free at trailhead
- Canine friendliness: Canines allowed on leash
- Hours: One hour earlier than dawn to at least one hour after sundown
6. Chief Mountain
For a simple but immersive expertise of the sweetness that the Rocky Mountains present, Chief Mountain is only a fast 1-hour drive from Denver. The path is brief however steep, climbing practically 1,000 toes over 1.4 miles to the height.
You’ll journey via dense alpine forests, exit the tree line to expertise a Rocky Mountain tundra ecosystem, and attain the summit at 11,713 toes. The views from Chief Mountain are expansive, with one among Colorado’s iconic 14ers, Mt Evans, seen to the west.
Chief Mountain may be hiked throughout all seasons, however be certain you’re correctly geared up with traction for those who go to through the snowy months.
- Size: 2.8 miles
- Issue: Average
- Restrooms: None
- Parking: Free; pullout on Freeway 103
- Canine friendliness: Canines allowed on leash
- Hours: Dawn to sundown
7. Satan’s Head
The hike to Satan’s Head offers traditional panoramic views of the Entrance Vary and a glimpse into Colorado’s historical past. The lookout tower atop the granite outcropping is the final of seven such towers that have been as soon as operated on the Entrance Vary. The Satan’s Head tower, which was inbuilt 1919 and rebuilt in 1951, is the final in operation and has been added to the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations.
Perched at over 9,700 toes atop the Rampart Vary, the hike as much as the tower ascends practically 900 toes over 1.4 miles. The path winds via towering aspen groves and fascinating rock formations earlier than it reaches the ultimate 143 steps that result in the highest.
- Size: 2.8 miles
- Issue: Average
- Restrooms: Sure, on the trailhead
- Parking: Free at trailhead
- Canine friendliness: Canines allowed on leash
- Hours: One hour earlier than dawn to at least one hour after sundown
This put up is sponsored by Fjällräven.
