Central City, Colorado

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

Top Hiking Spots in and near Central City

  • Littleton, Colorado

    Golden Eagle Trail to Bill Couch Mountain

    5.0
    6.76 mi / 1509 ft gain
    Golden Eagle Trail to Bill Couch Mountain is an out-and-back trail that provides a good opportunity to view wildlife located near Indian Hills, Colorado.
    Read more
  • Littleton, Colorado

    Hike the Meadowlark Plymouth Trail

    4.0
    6 mi / 1197 ft gain
    From the parking lot, you can take the Meadowlark trail to the west or the Plymouth Creek Trail to the southeast. It does not matter which trail you take because it ends up becoming loop. For a more gradual slope up the hill, take the Meadowlark trail. After a little more than a mile, it intersec...
    Read more
  • Bailey, Colorado

    Payne Creek Trail via Brookside McCurdy Trailhead

    4.5
    17.98 mi / 3773 ft gain
    Day 1: Park at the Payne Creek/Brookside Trailhead (8,040 ft.) right outside Bailey. You'll go on the trail for about a mile before the trail parts to Craig Meadows or Craig Park. If you start this in the nighttime, it's best to camp before you part ways on the trail as it's a little more spaciou...
    Read more
  • Littleton, Colorado

    Hike or Bike Hildebrand Ranch

    4.0
    5.1 mi / 324 ft gain
    Hildebrand Ranch Park is often overshadowed by the other nearby Jeffco Parks, but for the few that it does attract the trails do not disappoint.   The Two Brands Trail starts at about 5600ft just off of Deer Creek Canyon Rd.  It is a relatively flat trail that tops out at about 5821ft making it a...
    Read more
  • Allenspark, Colorado

    Hike to Pear Lake

    5.0
    12.35 mi / 2638 ft gain
    Pear lake is a beautiful alpine lake in the southern Wild Basin region of Rocky Mountain National Park. Once used as a reservoir, Pear Lake has been restored to its natural state and lies in scenic basin below some of the most isolated mountains in the park. The trail to Pear Lake passes through ...
    Read more
  • Allenspark, Colorado

    Hike to Finch Lake

    3.0
    8.96 mi / 1926 ft gain
    There are several ways to reach finch lake but this will cover the route from the Finch Lake Trailhead in the wild basin area of Rocky Mountain National Park. You can also loop it with other trails in the area or begin at the Allenspark Trailhead, which is technically outside the park and a bit e...
    Read more
  • Allenspark, Colorado

    Ouzel Falls

    4.2
    5.22 mi / 1004 ft gain
    Located right outside of Rocky Mountain National Park, this hike is perfect for anyone looking to do a little exploring without the cost of a park fee. The drive through the Rocky Mountains to the trailhead is an added bonus. This hike is great because it has multiple attractions all along the wa...
    Read more
  • Allenspark, Colorado

    Bluebird Lake via Wild Basin Trailhead

    4.0
    12.23 mi / 2608 ft gain
    Starting at the Wild Basin trailhead on the south side of Rocky Mountain National Park, hike through a wet forest towards upper and lower Copeland Falls, located 0.45 miles from the trailhead. From here, continue on the main trail along the North Fork of the Saint Vrain River to Calypso Cascades,...
    Read more
  • Allenspark, Colorado

    Hike to Thunder Lake

    11.53 mi / 2188 ft gain
    Starting at the often-busy Wild Basin TH, the trail passes through dense forests as it follows the North Fork of the Saint Vrain River through the southernmost section of Rocky Mountain National Park. The trail passes alongside the small Copeland Falls before continuing west towards Calypso Casca...
    Read more
  • Allenspark, Colorado

    Ouzel & Ogallala Peaks

    17.18 mi / 4403 ft gain
    Begin at the Wild Basin Trailhead in southeastern Rocky Mountain National Park near the town of Allenspark. Plan to start before sunrise if attempting this trek as a day trip in order to avoid afternoon thunderstorms above the treeline. This trip can easily be made into a backpacking experience b...
    Read more
  • 1046 County Highway 115, Colorado

    Winter Hike to Calypso Cascades

    6.25 mi / 580 ft gain
    While most people go snowshoeing near the Bear Lake or Glacier Gorge area in RMNP, Wild Basin is a much less trafficked option. The entrance station isn't manned in the winter, so you'll get in for free, as well! You can put the Wild Basin Trailhead into your GPS, but you'll have to park at the w...
    Read more
  • Grand Lake, Colorado

    Doe Creek Trail

    7.13 mi / 1617 ft gain
    Doe Creek Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a lake located near Granby, Colorado.
    Read more
  • Allenspark, Colorado

    Sandbeach Lake Trail

    4.0
    8.56 mi / 2057 ft gain
    Sandbeach Lake is best known for (as you can probably guess) its wide sandy shore. At nearly 50 feet deep, it is one of Rocky Mountain National Parks deepest lakes. If you are looking to fish at the lake, make sure to bring barbless flies and lures. There are six official campsites (1.8 miles Hol...
    Read more
  • Jefferson, Colorado

    Colorado Trail: Kenosha Pass to FR 130

    4.6
    6.81 mi / 938 ft gain
    The Colorado Trail (http://www.coloradotrail.org) is 500 miles long and stretches from Denver to Durango. Perhaps the most-traveled portion of the Colorado Trail is at Kenosha Pass. Kenosha Pass is well-known for its thick, colorful stands of aspen in the fall. During peak leaf season (late Septe...
    Read more
  • Denver, Colorado

    City Park Perimeter Loop

    5.0
    3.85 mi / 171 ft gain
    City Park Perimeter Loop is a loop trail that takes you by a lake located near Denver, Colorado.
    Read more
  • Silverthorne, Colorado

    Ptarmigan Trail

    4.57 mi / 1201 ft gain
    Ptarmigan Trail, not to be confused with Ptarmigan Peak, is a 5 mile out-and-back, scenic trail that offers unparalleled vistas of Summit County, Dillon Reservoir and the surrounding mountains(including Quandary Peak, Red Mountain, and the ​Decalibron Loop). Located just outside of Silverthorne a...
    Read more