Best Spring Hikes in Colorado
Most of Colorado's high country is still under snow well into June. These lower-elevation trails dry out first — perfect for shaking off winter and chasing snowmelt waterfalls.
17 trails in our directory.
Hanging Lake Trail
Colorado's most photographed lake features turquoise waters and a spectacular waterfall. Reservations required year-round due to its popularity and fragile ecosystem.
Manitou Incline
An extreme workout on the old railway bed with railroad ties creating natural steps. Reservations required for this bucket-list Colorado challenge.
Garden of the Gods Trading Post Trail
A gentle paved loop through iconic red rock formations with views of Pikes Peak. Perfect for families and photographers seeking Colorado's most famous geological landmarks.
Royal Arch Trail
A popular Boulder hike leading to a natural sandstone arch with stunning views of the city and Flatirons. The trail passes through Chautauqua Park's meadows.
Great Sand Dunes National Park Nature Trail
An interpretive loop trail through wetlands and grasslands with views of North America's tallest sand dunes and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains backdrop.
Flatirons Vista Trail
A gentle trail through grasslands and scrub oak with outstanding views of the iconic Flatirons rock formations and Boulder valley below.
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.
Black Canyon Rim Trail
A dramatic rim walk along one of Colorado's most spectacular canyons with sheer 2000-foot drops and ancient dark rock formations.
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.
Pawnee Buttes Trail
A unique prairie hike to distinctive sandstone buttes on Colorado's eastern plains with expansive grassland views and diverse prairie wildlife.
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.
Pueblo Mountain Park Trail
A diverse mountain park trail through ponderosa pine forests and open meadows with views of the Sangre de Cristo Range and Arkansas River valley.
Acorn Creek Trail
A quiet trail offering solitude and wildlife viewing through aspen groves, sagebrush meadows, and spruce-fir forests. Reaches the Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness with spectacular Gore Range views. One of the first trails to clear of snow in spring.