Central City, Colorado
Top Spots in and near Central City
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Golden, Colorado
Hike the Blue Grouse Trail Loop
3.06 mi / 400 ft gainStart the hike at the Blue Grouse Trailhead located next to Kriley Pond. Travel along Blue Grouse Trail for 0.7 miles until you reach a fork in the trail at Mule Trail where you will take a right. Along the Mule Trail you will travel up a series of switch backs before the trail levels out and you...Read more -
Golden, Colorado
Hike Beaver Trail in Golden Gate Canyon State Park
2.3 mi / 1046 ft gainThis trail starts off at Slough Pond, a great fishing pond or picnic spot. The trail starts out tree-covered. After a few tenths of a mile you have the choice to go clockwise or counter-clockwise. If you go counter-clockwise you have about 3/4 of a mile of steep uphill hiking to do (the Park rate...Read more -
Idaho Springs, Colorado
Hike St. Mary's Glacier
4.32 mi / 467 ft gainJust West of Idaho Springs on I-70 take the St. Mary's Alice Exit. Take a right and stay on the main road and follow the signs for about 8 miles (watch on the right side of the road for a surprise pink pig). There are two parking lots for the trailhead. The larger one is South of the trail and a ...Read more -
Idaho Springs, Colorado
Hiking James Peak (13,294')
8.3 mi / 3000 ft gainJames Peak is one of 76 13,000'+ peaks in Colorado's front range. On your way up to the peak you will pass St. Mary's Glacier. It is not an actual glacier yet a permeant snow field that is popular among skiers and snowboarders year round. St. Mary's Glaicer is a very popular destination (though m...Read more -
Idaho Springs, Colorado
Explore 'The Hidden Gems' of Loch Lomond
5.04.6 mi / 950 ft gainGetting There From Denver, go W on I-70 and take exit 238 for Fall River Rd. Continue on this road before taking a left on Alice Rd. Continue on Alice Rd. until you see the right hand turn for Steuart Rd. This is where you park. Do not attempt this road in a AWD or 2WD you definitely need a good ...Read more -
Idaho Springs, Colorado
Hike to Loch Lomond
5.04.6 mi / 948 ft gainWhen you start the hike to Loch Lomond, you'll have a few options for parking. The further up the road you go the trickier it's going to be to get back out. I parked at the bottom of the road and hiked my way up. The first mile or two is mostly elevation gain and to be quite honest I thought I wa...Read more -
Golden, Colorado
Summit Windy Peak via the Burro Trail
4.06.35 mi / 1825 ft gainThe Burro Trail starts at the Bridge Creek Trailhead Parking Lot and leads off to the left. While this trail is incredibly well marked it wouldn't hurt to grab a map at the visitors center before you start! From the parking lot you'll travel along the trail for 0.7 miles until you reach your firs...Read more -
Golden, Colorado
Hike to Forgotten Valley
4.33.6 mi / 852 ft gainThere are over 35 miles of hiking trails in the park. The twelve trails in Golden Gate Canyon State Park are named after an animal and marked with the animal’s footprint.For a 2.6 round trip hike, start at the Burro Trailhead in Golden Gate Canyon State Park. You’ll immediately cross over a lit...Read more -
Golden, Colorado
Hike the Elk Range Trail
2.5This is an incredible and beautiful hike that is just off of Route 6 but feels a million miles away. Drive up Douglas Mountain Road for the west park access (and I do mean UP - it's a quick elevation gain), and you'll run right into the Centennial Cone Park entrance. There is a bathroom and a dec...Read more -
Idaho Springs, Colorado
Snowshoe to Squaw Mountain Fire Lookout
4.04.75 mi / 1200 ft gainCome check out the Squaw Mountain Fire Lookout, a historic spot located in the Mount Evans Wilderness Area of Colorado, and one of the highest lookout towers in the country, at an elevation of 11,486 ft. Just a short drive from the Front Range corridor, you can hike/backpack in to this lookout ar...Read more -
Idaho Springs, Colorado
Hike Chief Mountain, CO
4.54 mi / 1100 ft gainSitting at 11,709’, Chief Mountain is not one of Colorado’s highest peaks, but the views from this mountain are spectacular nonetheless and rival the views of any 14er I’ve climbed. This mountain sits along Squaw Pass Road so you get the luxury of a high trailhead for this peak.To get there, foll...Read more -
Idaho Springs, Colorado
Chinns Lake Trail
4.02.7 mi / 741 ft gainChinns Lake Trail is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a lake located near Idaho Springs, Colorado.Read more -
Golden, Colorado
Hike Racoon Trail to Panorama Point
4.03.3 mi / 750 ft gainSummer is a magical time of year in the Rocky Mountains. One great way to experience this stunning beauty is through hiking Raccoon Trail to Panorama Point at Golden Gate State Park. Raccoon Trail is 3.3 mile moderately difficult hike which can be completed in under an hour, although it will like...Read more -
Golden, Colorado
Hike the Mountain Lion Trail
6.7 mi / 1230 ft gainThere are three parking lots with direct access to the Mountain Lion Trail. The main one is off of Crawford Gulch Road, but any of them are good starting points! This loop has pretty similar elevation gain and loss profiles no matter which way you go, so you can go any direction. This adventure ...Read more -
Idaho Springs, Colorado
Camp and Fish at Loch Lomond
5.0The trail to Loch Lomond is very rocky. I suggest a high clearance 4x4 vehicle (I did see a small SUV and a Subaru..Not sure how they did it!!!). There are a few campsites at the lake and several along the way. I set up camp by the lake but had to move because the wind was so intense. I recommend...Read more -
Evergreen, Colorado
Private and Tranquil Retreat at Beaver Brook Watershed
4.0Note: This is NOT the Beaver Brook Trail in Genesee Park/Lookout Mountain! If you enjoy the scenery and ambiance of Evergreen, but Evergreen Lake has become too crowded for your tastes, Beaver Brook Watershed (owned by the City of Golden) is an excellent alternative. It’s a small, secluded area a...Read more
Camping and Lodging in Central City
Central City, Colorado
Denver West / Central City KOA Holiday
Located a mile above legendary Central City, this KOA provides sweeping views of the town and surrounding Rocky Mountains. Pitch a tent a...
Black Hawk, Colorado
Cold Springs
Overview
Cold Springs Campground is located on the Arapaho Roosevelt National Forest, north of Blackhawk on the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway...
Black Hawk, Colorado
Pickle Gulch
Overview
Pickle Gulch is a group picnic and camping facility located just off the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway/Highway 119. Visitors enjoy t...
Rollinsville, Colorado
Kelly Dahl
Overview
Kelly Dahl Campground is located adjacent to the Peak-to-Peak Scenic Byway, near the historic mining towns of Nederland, Rollins...
Evergreen, Colorado
Echo Lake
Overview
Echo Lake Campground is located on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in central Colorado near its namesake lake at the ...
Idaho Springs, Colorado
West Chicago Creek
Overview
West Chicago Creek Campground sits along its namesake creek at the base of Mount Evans and is located off Highway 103 on the Ara...