Empire, Colorado
Looking for the best hiking in Empire? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Empire. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.
Top Hiking Spots in and near Empire
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Golden, Colorado
Mount Galbraith Loop via Cedar Gulch
5.04.51 mi / 1395.01 ft gainStarting at roughly 6,000 ft. this hike will take you to the Mount Galbraith Loop Trail that circles the summit of the Mountain which peaks at 7,247 ft. Getting there is very simple, from State Highway 93, take Golden Gate Canyon Road west approximately 1.5 miles to the parking area and trailhe...Read more -
Silverthorne, Colorado
South Willow Falls
4.66.17 mi / 1138 ft gainStart at the Willowbrook Trailhead. You’ll hit a “Y” in the trail pretty quickly - go left and you’ll soon be at the first log bridge. There are quite a few water crossings on the trail, but they are easy to maneuver. After hiking in the Willow Creek Open Space for a bit, you’ll enter Eagle’s Ne...Read more -
Silverthorne, Colorado
Old Dillon Reservoir
4.51.58 mi / 144 ft gainToday, Lake Dillon is one of the biggest attractions in the Dillon Valley, attracting boaters, anglers, and campers. However, the large reservoir we know today was not the first one in the area. The Old Dillon Reservoir was built in the 1930s to supply water to the original town of Dillon, which...Read more -
Golden, Colorado
Lookout Mountain Trail
4.32.87 mi / 466 ft gainJust outside of Golden, CO is Lookout Mountain. If you’ve ever driven westbound on i70 from Denver to the mountains, you’ve undoubtedly seen this mountain to your right with antennas on the top. On the north side of Lookout Mountain lies Windy Saddle Park, about a 30 minute drive from Denver. Thi...Read more -
Golden, Colorado
Chimney Gulch Trail
4.04.82 mi / 1247 ft gainJust outside of Golden, CO is Lookout Mountain. If you’ve ever driven westbound on i70 from Denver to the mountains, you’ve undoubtedly seen this mountain to your right with antennas on the top. On the north side of Lookout Mountain lies Windy Saddle Park, about a 30 minute drive from Denver. Thi...Read more -
Golden, Colorado
Beaver Brook Trail via Windy Saddle Park
4.813.97 mi / 4275.59 ft gainJust outside of Golden, CO is Lookout Mountain. If you’ve ever driven westbound on i70 from Denver to the mountains, you’ve undoubtedly seen this mountain to your right with antennas on the top. On the north side of Lookout Mountain lies Windy Saddle Park, about a 30 minute drive from Denver. Thi...Read more -
Ward, Colorado
Snowshoe Mount Audubon
13.9 mi / 2715 ft gainWant 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...Read more -
Ward, Colorado
Snowshoe Long Lake
8 mi / 200 ft gainA 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...Read more -
Ward, Colorado
Explore Red Rock Lake, CO
3.0If 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...Read more -
Golden, Colorado
Lookout Mountain via Buffalo Bill Trail
4.01.94 mi / 488.19 ft gainLookout Mountain sits just above Golden and provides one of the best easy-access viewpoints near Denver. The mountain provides numerous vantage spots along the road up, with the best at a rock outcropping just below Buffalo Bill's Gravesite & Museum (with easy parking). If you're hoping to ...Read more -
Boulder, Colorado
Rattlesnake Gulch Trail
3.49 mi / 1093 ft gainRattlesnake Gulch Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a river located near Eldorado Springs, Colorado.Read more -
Boulder, Colorado
Hike the Rattlesnake Gulch Trail
4.45.3 mi / 1304 ft gainRattlesnake Gulch Trail is located in Eldorado Canyon State Park. It is a short 20 minute drive from Boulder and is one of three hikes in the park. You will need to pay an entrance fee to get inside to the park which costs $8. The trail is approximately 2.8 miles one way and carries a consistent ...Read more -
Golden, Colorado
North Table Mountain Loop
4.57.49 mi / 1399.61 ft gainOnce you're parked, you can choose to ride this trail either counterclockwise or clockwise. My personal recommendation is CCW, which entails you head up the steep paved road on the east-southeast corner of the parking lot first. The climb is about 10 minutes of grunt work and then on to flat grou...Read more -
Golden, Colorado
North Table Mountain and Mesa Top Trail Loop
5.03.19 mi / 529.25 ft gainThe hike starts out from the North Table Mountain Park parking lot just east of Highway 93 on the North Table Loop Trail, with a half-mile fire road straight up the mountain. This fire road is by far the most strenuous part of the hike, and is essentially the sole elevation gain for the hike; onc...Read more -
Conifer, Colorado
Davis Ponds Trail
4.02.31 mi / 295 ft gainDavis Ponds Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a lake located near Conifer, Colorado.Read more -
Jefferson, Colorado
Colorado Trail: Kenosha Pass to FR 130
4.66.81 mi / 938 ft gainThe 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