Broomfield, Colorado
Top Spots in and near Broomfield
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Estes Park, Colorado
Lumpy Ridge to Gem Lake
4.33.12 mi / 991 ft gainBegin by parking at the Lumpy Ridge trailhead, which is a couple miles outside of Estes Park on McGregor Avenue. At the trailhead, there are numerous signs indicating hiking trails, climbing routes, and other information about the area. After parking start hiking on the trail to the right of the ...Read more -
Idaho Springs, Colorado
Bierstadt, Evans, and The Sawtooth Loop
4.59.76 mi / 3438 ft gainStarting from the oddly poorly marked Guanella Pass Trailhead (Google maps directions to Guanella Campground and then drive about two miles past it to the south), the trail heads southeast toward Bierstadt, and much of your route to the first summit is visible from the parking lot. The trail to ...Read more -
Idaho Springs, Colorado
Watch the Sunrise at Guanella Pass
5.01 mi / 100 ft gainFrom Denver, take i70 to Georgetown and simply follow the signs through town to the top. This pass can also be accessed from the south via US Highway 285 at the town of Grant. Guanella Pass is closed in the winter, typically from about the last week in November through the last week of May. Watch...Read more -
Windsor, Colorado
Windsor Lake Loop Trail
4.02.28 mi / 36 ft gainWindsor Lake Loop Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a lake located near Windsor, Colorado.Read more -
Larimer County, Colorado
Nymph, Dream, Emerald, and Haiyaha Lakes
5.04.51 mi / 1125 ft gainFrom the Bear Lake Trailhead, the path to Nymph Lake is a moderate paved trail. At the lake there are several places to sit and take in the scenery. This is also where you'll find the most people. From here, continue up the trail towards Dream Lake. On the way, the trail forks. The left will take...Read more -
Larimer County, Colorado
Emerald Lake via Bear Lake Trailhead
4.93.15 mi / 692 ft gainAnyone who has been to Rocky Mountain National Park, or any national park for that matter, knows they get CROWDED. One of the best ways to beat the crowds are to arrive before the sun comes up (or stay after it goes down). That's how we opted to do Emerald Lake in RMNP. After spending the night ...Read more -
Larimer County, Colorado
Lake Helene and Two Rivers Lake
5.06.18 mi / 1230 ft gainBegin the hike by following the Bear Lake trail and after ~.45 miles take the trail to the right towards Odessa Lake and Flattop Mountain. Continue along the trail as it climbs above Bear Lake to the split with the Flattop Mountain trail at approximately 1 mile. The trail continues toward Odessa ...Read more -
Larimer County, Colorado
Lake Haiyaha
5.03.64 mi / 1033 ft gainBegin the hike at the Bear Lake trailhead, this will be the same for any season you chose to hike to the lake. From the Bear Lake trailhead follow the Dream Lake trail for ~1.05 miles to just before Dream Lake itself. The trail is very easy to follow up to this point in all seasons. In winter the...Read more -
Estes Park, Colorado
Bear Lake
4.60.67 mi / 77.87 ft gainBear Lake is a popular tourist destination in Rocky Mountain NP, but when the sun is low in the sky or the stars are out you'll find the big crowd are gone. The lake is beautiful at sunrise and sunset but especially photogenic in the fall or at winter's end. While it doesn't have the darkest nig...Read more -
Estes Park, Colorado
Flattop Mountain Trail
4.88.44 mi / 2835 ft gainWatch the sunrise from above treeline with great views below and to the south. This is my favorite place to view the sunrise is from just above the emerald lake overlook. The Bear Lake area is very crowded, but an early morning ascent of Flattop Mountain will provide ample opportunities for solit...Read more -
Estes Park, Colorado
Dream Lake
4.91.97 mi / 463 ft gainBegin at the Bear Lake Trailhead, located at the end of Bear Lake Road, 9 miles from the entrance on Highway 36. Follow the signs to Dream Lake, passing Nymph Lake about halfway through. At 1.1 miles you will reach Dream Lake. The views of 12,713-foot Hallett Peak and 12,324-foot Flattop Mountain...Read more -
Estes Park, Colorado
Bear Lake to Fern Lake Trailhead
5.09.02 mi / 1224 ft gainOn this Rocky Mountain hike you’ll explore 4 picturesque mountain lakes and a 60 foot waterfall. Completing this hike requires familiarizing yourself with Rocky Mountain National Park’s free shuttle system. Hikes along Bear Lake Road are some of the busiest in the park. Trailhead parking lots fi...Read more -
Estes Park, Colorado
Ptarmigan Lake via Bear Lake Trailhead
11.33 mi / 3839 ft gainThe hike to Ptarmigan Lake has plenty of elevation gain for mountain lovers and views for miles from the Continental Divide. If you want to reach this spot for sunrise you'll need a very early start in the morning, but that also means you won't have to use the shuttle system to Bear Lake. The las...Read more -
Estes Park, Colorado
Flattop, Hallett, Andrews Loop
5.010.9 mi / 3238 ft gainBear Lake to Flattop Mountain The trail starts at Bear Lake, where you get a view of Hallett Peak (12,713 ft) which will be the highpoint of your hike. After a short walk on the Bear Lake Trail, take the path to the right. After 1/2 a mile, take a trail left to the north. 1/2 a mile later, stay...Read more -
Estes Park, Colorado
Flattop Mountain and Hallett Peak
4.49.73 mi / 3173 ft gainHike up to two very tall Rocky Mountain National Park summits. Along the route, you'll see wildlife and abundant wildflowers as well as views of Keyhole Route and Longs Peak. Arrive at the Bear Lake Trailhead. Follow abundant signage toward Flattop Mountain. Once you arrive at the summit of Flat...Read more -
Estes Park, Colorado
Nymph Lake via Bear Lake Trailhead
4.81.13 mi / 276 ft gainWhile not as popular as Dream Lake, Nymph Lake is just as beautiful. The hike to Nymph Lake is an easy hike just over 1 mile. You start from the Bear Lake Trail head and can go further on to Dream Lake and Emerald Lake if you want to. Both Dream and Emerald Lakes are also stunning and very photog...Read more