Arvada, Colorado

Looking for the best hiking in Arvada? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Arvada. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Hiking Spots in and near Arvada

  • Ward, Colorado

    Shoshoni Peak

    5.0
    10.61 mi / 2470 ft gain
    Hike one of the most scenic 12ers in Colorado's front range, Shoshoni Peak, with an elevation of 12,967 feet. You can easily combine a summit of Pawnee Peak for wonderful views of multiple alpine cirques. Enjoy wonderful views of the Long Lake Valley, Isabelle Glacier, and Pawnee Pass regions. Fo...
    Read more
  • Ward, Colorado

    Climb Apache Peak

    10 mi / 3280 ft gain
    Start at the Long Lake Trailhead ($10 parking fee) and head up the trail towards Isabell Lake. You'll pass both Long Lake and Isabelle lake, with spectacular views at both. At Lake Isabelle, be sure to continue straight on the trail, further up the valley, not the right turn up to Pawnee Pass.Con...
    Read more
  • Ward, Colorado

    Pawnee Pass and Pawnee Peak

    5.0
    9.95 mi / 2490 ft gain
    Start at the Long Lake trailhead in the Brainard Lake Recreation area (there's a fee to park, if you don't have a pass). Take the trail towards Lake Isabelle for a few miles, winding through forest and past Long Lake. Signage towards Lake Isabelle and Pawnee Pass is apparent. Just as you reach ...
    Read more
  • Ward, Colorado

    Lake Isabelle via Long Lake Trailhead

    4.5
    4.09 mi / 374 ft gain
    Start at the Pawnee Pass Trail No. 907 Trailhead. Long Lake is about 2 tenths of a mile and Lake Isabelle is 2 miles from the trailhead. Keep an eye out for moose grazing in the bushes or in the water near Long Lake. This is a 4 mile out and back hike with well marked trails. For an 8.75 mile hi...
    Read more
  • Ward, Colorado

    Isabelle Glacier

    5.0
    8.62 mi / 1578 ft gain
    Getting There The trailhead can be reached from Boulder by driving west through Boulder Canyon on Highway 42 to Nederland, then going north on the Peak-to-Peak Highway 72 to the town of Ward. From there, a National Forest Sign on the west side of the highway provides directions to the ranger stat...
    Read more
  • Lyons, Colorado

    Sleepy Lion Trail

    4.7 mi / 712 ft gain
    The trailhead is about eight tenths of a mile from the parking area. You pass some sport climbs, a man made waterfall, and some large boulders in the North St. Vrain Creek.The trailhead is clearly marked on the left. There is some elevation gain at the beginning but nothing difficult. Once the el...
    Read more
  • Evergreen, Colorado

    Summit Lake to Upper Chicago Lake via Chicago Lakes Trail

    5.0
    2.46 mi / 1247 ft gain
    Summit Lake to Upper Chicago Lake via Chicago Lakes Trail is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a lake located near Georgetown, Colorado.
    Read more
  • Evergreen, Colorado

    Mount Evans and Mount Spalding Loop

    4.3
    8.47 mi / 1706 ft gain
    Mount Evans is a simple, yet drop dead gorgeous 14er. That being said, no 14er is easy by any means. However as far as 14er's go, this is a cake walk. Coming in at a rating of class 2, there tends to be some scrambling but nothing a well balanced person can't handle. To begin this adventure, we ...
    Read more
  • Nederland, Colorado

    Hike Rollins Pass to Devils Thumb

    2.1 mi / 622 ft gain
    Corona Lake is an easy, short hike if you're pressed for time. It's scenic, secluded, and will put you in a great spot to hike to Devils Thumb the next day. There are two ways to reach Devils Thumb. This is considered the "easier" route because of the "lack of elevation gain." The sun and wind re...
    Read more
  • Pine, Colorado

    Little Scraggy Peak Loop

    5.0
    12.18 mi / 1621 ft gain
    Little Scraggy Peak Loop is a loop trail that takes you past scenic surroundings located near Buffalo Creek, Colorado.
    Read more
  • Evergreen, Colorado

    Watch the Sunset from Mt Evans Road

    5.0
    Leave Evergreen, CO and access the Mount Evans Road and Mount Evans Recreation Area from Squaw Pass, CO 103 at Echo Lake.Drive along the slopes of Mount Evans, a Colorado 14er standing at 14,264 ft. 5 switchbacks down from the summit, on a tight hairpin turn, is a small parking area near 13,900f...
    Read more
  • Lyons, Colorado

    Hike Meadow Mountain

    4.0
    7.7 mi / 2832 ft gain
    From the trailhead, follow the trail through the woods until you reach a meadow with a steep slope. Some portions of this slope reach an angle of 30 degrees and may feature slight avalanche danger in the winter. However, the trail is used enough that such conditions would make themselves known ...
    Read more
  • Franktown, Colorado

    Hike the Creek Bottom Trail

    5.0
    4.1 mi
    The West Side of Castlewood Canyon is the more "rugged" side of the park, it has a dirt road, gravel parking lots, and only vault toilets. Luckily, this also means this is a less popular side of the park, making for less crowded trails and easier parking!  Park at the first trailhead, for the Hom...
    Read more
  • Franktown, Colorado

    Hike the Rim Rock Trail

    4.98 mi
    The West Side of Castlewood Canyon is the more "rugged" side of the park, it has a dirt road, gravel parking lots, and only vault toilets. Luckily, this also means this is a less popular side of the park, making for less crowded trails and easier parking!  Park at the first trailhead, for the Hom...
    Read more
  • Franktown, Colorado

    Hike the Rim Rock / Creek Bottom Trail Loop

    5.0
    4.54 mi
    The West Side of Castlewood Canyon is the more "rugged" side of the park, it has a dirt road, gravel parking lots, and only vault toilets. Luckily, this also means this is a less popular side of the park, making for less crowded trails and easier parking!  Park at the first trailhead, for the Hom...
    Read more
  • Lyons, Colorado

    Backpack to Red Deer Lake, CO

    4.0
    6.4 mi / 1900 ft gain
    This is an excellent place to take your family backpacking. It is a fairly easy trail and definitely a great one for kids. Take in the beautiful scenery while hiking through meadows, aspen and pine with incredible mountain views in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. 6.4 miles to Red Deer Lake with an e...
    Read more