Best Hikes Near Denver, Colorado
Denver sits at 5,280 feet on the eastern edge of the Rockies, with serious mountains 30 minutes away in any westward direction.
Emerald Lake Trail
A stunning alpine lake hike that passes Nymph Lake and Dream Lake before reaching the spectacular Emerald Lake. Perfect introduction to Rocky Mountain National Park's high country.
St. Mary's Glacier
A short but steep hike to Colorado's most accessible glacier. The trail leads to St. Mary's Lake and continues to the permanent snowfield above.
Royal Arch Trail
A popular Boulder hike from the Chautauqua Park trailhead leading to a natural sandstone arch with stunning views of the city and Flatirons. The upper half involves stair-steps and short Class 2 scrambling, so older kids handle it well; younger kids may find it tough.
Chasm Lake
A challenging hike to a pristine alpine lake beneath the dramatic east face of Longs Peak. The lake sits in a spectacular cirque surrounded by towering granite walls.
Flatirons Vista Trail
A gentle trail through grasslands and scrub oak with outstanding views of the iconic Flatirons rock formations and Boulder valley below.
Grays and Torreys Peaks
A challenging double-peak 14er adventure offering two summits in one day. The trail features alpine terrain with stunning Continental Divide views.
Indian Peaks Wilderness Loop
Classic Indian Peaks hike from Brainard Lake Recreation Area to Lake Isabelle, a stunning alpine lake set beneath the Continental Divide. Wildflowers explode in July, the lake water levels drop dramatically by late August, and aspens turn in late September.
Eldorado Canyon Trail
A dramatic canyon hike through golden sandstone walls with South Boulder Creek flowing below. Popular for rock climbing access and scenic beauty.
Mount Bierstadt
One of Colorado's most accessible 14ers with a well-defined trail through beautiful alpine terrain. Popular choice for first-time peak baggers.
Chicago Lakes
A long but gentle hike to two pristine alpine lakes beneath Mount Blue Sky, the peak renamed from Mount Evans in 2023. The trail follows an old mining road through beautiful subalpine forest.
Devil's Head Lookout
A historic fire lookout tower hike through ponderosa pine forest with 360-degree views from the restored 1919 fire tower at the summit.
Bear Lake Trail
An accessible paved loop around one of Rocky Mountain National Park's most popular lakes with stunning mountain reflections and wildlife viewing.
Lily Lake Trail
A flat, accessible boardwalk loop around a scenic lake with views of Longs Peak and the Continental Divide. Perfect for all abilities.
Sprague Lake Trail
A wheelchair-accessible trail to a pristine alpine lake with stunning reflections of the Continental Divide peaks and Hallett Peak.
Columbine Lake Trail
A challenging wilderness hike to a remote alpine lake beneath dramatic peaks with pristine wilderness settings and stunning mountain views.
Roxborough State Park Fountain Valley Trail
A scenic loop through dramatic red rock formations and native grasslands with views of the distinctive hogback ridges and Front Range foothills.
Castlewood Canyon Dam Ruins Trail
An easy walk to historic dam ruins through a scenic sandstone canyon with Cherry Creek flowing through diverse riparian and prairie ecosystems.
Fern Lake Trail
A longer alternative to the crowded Bear Lake corridor. The trail follows the Big Thompson River through Moraine Park, passes The Pool and Fern Falls, and climbs to subalpine Fern Lake. Quieter than Emerald Lake even in peak season.
Cub Lake Trail
An easy hike through Moraine Park's meadows and aspen groves to Cub Lake, a small lily-pad-covered lake surrounded by pines. Wildflowers in July, fall colors mid-September, and one of the most beginner-friendly RMNP trails outside the Bear Lake area.
Bierstadt Lake Trail
Short but steep switchbacks climb to Bierstadt Lake, a quiet forested lake with classic reflection views of Longs Peak and the Continental Divide. The lake is busier in winter for snowshoers than in summer.
Mills Lake Trail
Starts at Glacier Gorge Trailhead and climbs past Alberta Falls into the dramatic Glacier Gorge to Mills Lake, with direct views up to the Keyboard of the Winds and Longs Peak. The trailhead is also the start for Loch Vale and Sky Pond on longer days.
Mount Sanitas Trail
The most popular Boulder trail. Steep climb up Mount Sanitas with city views the whole way, then a faster descent on the East Ridge Trail. Reliably crowded mornings and evenings.
Three Sisters Trail at Alderfer
Easy loop through Alderfer/Three Sisters Park in Evergreen with three rock-formation summits. Family-friendly with multiple short loop options.
Mesa Trail
The classic Boulder Open Space trail running along the base of the Flatirons. Can be done as a point-to-point with shuttle or sections out-and-back. Multiple side trails branch up to Bear Peak, Green Mountain, and Royal Arch.
Bear Peak Trail
Steep Boulder summit climb via Fern Canyon or West Ridge. Summit views span the entire Boulder Valley and out to the plains. Local conditioning hike for Front Range mountaineers.
South Boulder Peak Trail
Boulder's highest summit at 8,549 feet. The Shadow Canyon route is the most direct but steep on loose talus. Often combined with Bear Peak for a two-summit day.
Green Mountain Trail (Boulder)
Steep summit hike from Gregory Canyon Trailhead to the top of Green Mountain. Multiple route options (Saddle Rock, Gregory Canyon, EM Greenman). Summit views over the Flatirons and Indian Peaks.
Picture Rock Trail
Connector trail between Heil Valley Ranch and Lyons. Open meadows, rolling terrain, mountain bike popular. Can be done as a point-to-point or shorter out-and-back.
Carpenter Peak Trail
Steep climb to the highest summit in Roxborough State Park. Sandstone red rock formations on the lower half, then a forested climb to a 7,205-foot summit with views back to Denver.
Lost Lake Trail
From the Hessie Trailhead, climb through aspen and pine to Lost Lake, a small alpine lake. No pass or permit is needed, but Hessie parking is tiny and fills before dawn in summer; Boulder County runs a free shuttle from Nederland on summer Fridays, weekends, and holidays, no reservation needed.
Mount Morrison Trail
Steep summit hike from Red Rocks Park to the top of Mount Morrison. Short but unrelenting climb, with views over Red Rocks Amphitheater and Denver. Brutal training hike for fitness.
Arapaho Pass Trail
Steep climb from the Fourth of July Trailhead to Arapaho Pass on the Continental Divide. Wildflowers in July, lingering snow into August, and big views down to Lake Granby on the west side. Connects to Caribou Lake and Diamond Lake for longer days.
Mount Falcon Park Castle Trail
A loop hike through Denver Mountain Parks land with views of Red Rocks, the Front Range, and the Denver skyline. The ruins of John Brisben Walker's stone castle anchor the upper section.
North Table Mountain Loop
A flat-topped mesa hike with sweeping Front Range views, raptor sightings in spring, and one of the best Denver-area sunset viewpoints. Wide gravel roads make it stroller and bike friendly.
Hiking in Denver: what to know
Most of the best Denver-area hiking is technically in the foothills and 14er corridor west of the city, not Denver proper. Within an hour's drive you can be at Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park, at the summit of Grays or Torreys, or on a quiet open-space trail at Mount Falcon or North Table Mountain. Plan around that geography rather than fighting it.
Parking is the limiting factor on most weekends. The popular trailheads (Grays and Torreys at Stevens Gulch, Bierstadt at Guanella Pass, the I-70 corridor lots) fill by 7 AM in summer, and Quandary Peak requires a paid parking reservation from mid-June to mid-September. Denver Mountain Parks like Lookout Mountain and Genesee, and Jefferson County's Mount Falcon, are reliable backup options when the 14er trailheads are full.
For after-work hikes, the closer-in options work: North Table Mountain in Golden, Mount Falcon Park outside Morrison, Roxborough State Park south of the city. Each has decent parking and trails open into the evening year-round; Roxborough closes at 8 PM in summer and earlier in winter.
If you're visiting Denver and want to hike a 14er, the friendliest first attempts are Mount Bierstadt (Guanella Pass), Quandary Peak (Breckenridge), or Grays Peak. All three are non-technical and reachable in a day from downtown, but plan to sleep at altitude the night before if you're coming from sea level. Read our altitude sickness guide before you go.
Weather is the biggest day-to-day decision factor. Summer afternoons bring reliable thunderstorms above treeline; be off summits by noon. Winter trails in the foothills (Mount Falcon, North Table, Apex Park) typically stay snow-free with microspikes, making Denver a surprisingly year-round hiking city.