Dillon, Colorado

This is the way to see fall colors if you're into empty trails and endorphins. Grind up the trail starting from South Elbert Trailhead. You'll turn right onto the Colorado Trail at .3 miles and stay here for as long as you like, or 7.3 miles to the Mount Elbert Trailhead. Turn around and go back ...

Follow Colorado Highway 24 South from Leadville for 14 miles, then turn right onto Colorado 82 towards Aspen. Turn left onto County Road 25, then follow the road for 1 mile to a small parking area for the Colorado Trail. You have arrived!This trail starts near 9,200 feet of elevation and while yo...

If you are looking for great reflections, color and mountain peaks for your photos, this lake is a great place to start. The Brainard Lake Recreational Area has so much to do, but this is a stop not to miss.It seems that everyone drives on by this little gem to get to Brainard Lake and the hiking...

This area is located on the other side of Independence Pass from Aspen, which is only accessible during the summer, or can be reached year-round via Leadville, which is about 20 miles away along Highway 24. From Twin Lakes Village drive approximately 1.5 miles east on Highway 82 and take the exit...

Want to start snowshoeing peaks?! Of course you do! If you don't already have snowshoes, you can rent a pair at your local REI (the one in Boulder, CO is closest to this hike). Check the snow conditions and if there is a fair amount of snow, I would recommend renting the larger of the two kinds o...

The Brainard Lake Recreation Area is a winter adventurers playground with numerous snowshoe and cross country ski options to be explored. This area is popular as it offers dramatic mountain peaks, a trail for everyone (no motorized vehicles off of pavement), and close proximity to the Denver and ...

A long but extremely scenic hike tucked in Colorado's Indian Peaks wilderness. The entire Long Lake trail says 2.3 mile but due to winter conditions and snow pack you can really only make it the east edge of the lake. Exit Long lake loop back on to Brainard Lake Road (currently under construction...

Depending where you choose to access the Hardscrabble area from, this can be a fairly easy day hike or an overnight camping trip. If looking for a shorter day hike, access the Hardscrabble area by way of Hardscrabble Mountain Rd. From the town of Eagle, head South on Sylvan Lake Rd. In 5 miles, t...

Twin Lakes are two bodies of water that are connected by a short run of water with a dam at the eastern end. There are a few different places to put in your boat including boat ramps by the access point on the east end of the lake. There is also a boat ramp and a place to seasonally rent boats by...

From Boulder, the pullout that is best to park at for the Avalon crag is 8.4 miles up the canyon. You will walk down the side of the road past the talus field, where if the river is too high to wade you can use the tyrolean traverse. Otherwise, you can wade or hop across rocks according to the da...

Some of my best nights in Colorado were spent in Stillwater Pass. There are numerous campsites with remade fire pits. I found this site when the Timber Creek Campground in Rocky Mountain National Park was full and I did not want to head back to Denver. There is a photo of a white plastic horse a...

Heading west from Boulder, take CO 119/Boulder Canyon Drive into Boulder Canyon. Once you're in the canyon, there are many areas that all have great climbing. For the more traditional climber, there are areas such as Castle Rock (39.9787, -105.4551) and the Happy Hour Crag (40.0033, -105.3939). P...

For this adventure, you'll be completing the Sawmill to Maverick loop. It is a short, but gentle trail that will take you through open meadows, to pine forests, and great views of Denver and Golden. Starting from the west parking area, cross the road and hit the Sawmill Trail. This trail starts ...

While the narrow trail is often popular, it's only 100 yards to see this 70-ft tall waterfall, set against a beautiful canyon backdrop. Keep in mind there's no climbing allowed on or around the falls. It is also a good idea to check if the trail is closed for maintenance, ahead of time.

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...

To get there from downtown Boulder, head west on CO 119 and almost 4.5 miles after you have left Boulder, turn right onto Sugarloaf Road. 4 miles after the turn from CO 119, turn right onto Sugarloaf Mountain road (located at the top of the road). If the road starts descending, you've gone too fa...