Aspen, Colorado
Looking for the best hiking in Aspen? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Aspen. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.
Top Hiking Spots in and near Aspen
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Leadville, Colorado
Backcountry Ski at Fremont Pass
5.0Starting at 11,319 feet of elevation, you can choose which direction to head into the backcountry. Park at the pull-off area at the bend in the road. From here, you can head into the woods to the right (there are usually tracks from other skiers to follow) or follow Trail Rd. to reach some peaks ...Read more -
Buena Vista, Colorado
Summit Mt. Yale
5.08.48 mi / 4232 ft gainThis amazing adventure starts at 9,900 feet and goes up 4,300 feet over the course of an 8.5-mile round trip. You will want to start at the Denny Creek Trailhead. If you are coming from Buena Vista or staying at the Collegiate Peaks Campground you will pass Denny Gulch and then Denny Creek. The ...Read more -
Buena Vista, Colorado
Hike Mt. Harvard
14 mi / 4600 ft gainStart your hike at the North Cottonwood Creek Trailhead. The trail begins at the end of the parking lot. You'll cross a bridge and meander along the creek, eventually reaching another bridge crossing at about 1.5 miles.After this bridge, you'll reach a trail junction. Be sure to go right (towards...Read more -
Leadville, Colorado
Decalibron Loop (CLOSED)
4.87.5 mi / 3000 ft gainNOTE: As of March 2023, access to parts of this loop that are on private property (including Mt. Democrat & Mt. Lincoln) are closed to the public indefinitely. (Source) Start your hike at the Kite Lake trailhead, where you can find overnight camping for a small fee, or park a bit down the ro...Read more -
Leadville, Colorado
Mt. Democrat (CLOSED)
4.84 mi / 2150 ft gainNOTE: As of March 2023, access to parts of this loop that are on private property (including Mt. Democrat & Mt. Lincoln) are closed to the public indefinitely. (Source) To begin this wonderful hike, drive from the town of Alma, Colorado and head up Buckskin Street for about 6 miles. I would ...Read more -
Leadville, Colorado
Mounts Democrat, Lincoln, Cameron and Bross (CLOSED)
4.08 mi / 3500 ft gainNOTE: As of March 2023, access to parts of this loop that are on private property (including Mt. Democrat & Mt. Lincoln) are closed to the public indefinitely. (Source) Find your way to the Kite Lake trailhead near Alma, Colorado. The road up to the trailhead is suitable for most vehicles, i...Read more -
Leadville, Colorado
Camp at Kite Lake
5.0Kite Lake is a beautiful little lake that is surrounded plenty of fourteeners. Just outside of Alma, Colorado, Kite lake can be accessed from Buckskin Street. Buckskin is a simple left turn after the only bar in Alma, or a right turn before the only bar in Alma... Do note, this road is not drivab...Read more -
Buena Vista, Colorado
Backpack the Buffalo Peaks Wilderness Loop
5.011.7 mi / 2000 ft gainStarting at the Rich Creek Campground this wonderful moderate hike forms a loop by connecting the Rich Creek Trail and the Tumble Creek trail. in the Buffalo Peaks wilderness. Flanked by the Collegiate Peaks, in Spring and Summer the area is awash with rushing creeks, lush wet lowlands & deep...Read more -
Frisco, Colorado
Mayflower Gulch Grand Traverse
4.76.03 mi / 1585 ft gainGetting to the Mayflower Gulch is pretty easy. In the summer months, if you have a high clearance 4WD vehicle, you can drive up to the Boston Mine. This will take 2-miles each way off your hike. If you're looking to stretch your legs, start your hike at the Mayflower Gulch Trailhead off of High...Read more -
Frisco, Colorado
Boston Mine via Mayflower Gulch Trail
4.83.2 mi / 630 ft gainTo begin, park in the large parking lot. In the winter months, it is usually plowed except right after a large storm. The parking lot can be reached via highway 91, approximately 6 miles south of Copper Mountain and will be on the east (left if coming from the north) side of the road. Begin up th...Read more -
Vail, Colorado
Sunset Hike on the West Vail Trail
3.02 mi / 300 ft gainStarting in Lionshead, Vail, CO take the Gondola 19 up to the top of the mountain and head west straight out past Chair 26 and towards the Vail Mountain Wedding deck. Past the deck there will be a trail that you can follow out onto the edge of the mountain called the W Vail Trail. This trail will...Read more -
Vail, Colorado
Hike the Upper Piney River Trail
4.05.6 mi / 350 ft gainBeginning at an elevation of 9,397 feet, this hike provides an easy 2.8 mile (one way) trip through the gorgeous meadows against the distant aspens and alpines. Wildflowers and wildlife are abundant, which make this trip a fantastic education and play experience for kids.Coordinates for the trail...Read more -
Shrine Pass, Colorado
Shrine Ridge Trail
5.04.2 mi / 743 ft gainShrine Ridge is one of the most incredible wildflower spots in the state of Colorado. Not only is the area incredibly beautiful with carpets of flowers covering verdant mountainsides, it's only a 1.5-hour drive from Denver. The ridge summit is a short 2-mile hike from the parking area at Shrine P...Read more -
Breckenridge, Colorado
Quandary Peak via Blue Lakes
4.88 mi / 2516 ft gainQuandary Peak via Blue Lakes is an out-and-back trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Blue River, Colorado.Read more -
Summit County, Colorado
Hike to Crystal Peak
5.08.6 mi / 2482 ft gainOnce you turn off of Colorado hwy 9 onto dirt, your GPS will lead you to a gravel lot. At the end of that lot there's a pretty steep gravel road that heads NNW (GPS coords: 39°25'43.01"N 106° 4'11.30"W | Map Link if you want to plug that into your GPS for parking). From this lot you'll walk up t...Read more -
Frisco, Colorado
Backpack the Colorado Trail: Copper Mountain to Hagerman Pass
39 miThe Colorado Trail (CT) runs for 483 miles from Denver to Durango, crossing through eight mountain ranges and passing through six wilderness areas. There are great resources on completing a thru-hike of the CT; this post is about Segments 8-9 of the CT from Copper Mountain to Tennessee Pass.These...Read more