Colorado

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

Top Hiking Spots in and near Colorado

  • Boulder, Colorado

    Hike South Boulder Peak

    4.5
    6.7 mi / 2900 ft gain
    Starting at the Mesa trailhead, continue a half a mile through a relatively even grade before arriving at the North Fork Shanahan trailhead, which will take you another half a mile on much steeper grade up to Fern Canyon where you will start a much harder portion of the hike; here, you'll head st...
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  • Aspen, Colorado

    Explore the Maroon Bells & Snowmass Wilderness

    5.0
    The beautiful and iconic Maroon Bells-Snowmass wilderness is home to some of the most amazing scenery and adventures to be had in all of Colorado. It is world-famous for the Maroon Bells, two challenging 14ers just outside of Aspen, Colorado. The third 14er, Pyramid Peak is also considered a clas...
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  • Boulder, Colorado

    Tenderfoot Trail Loop

    4.3
    2.3 mi / 456.26 ft gain
    From Chautauqua Park in Boulder, follow Baseline Road west (if you are driving up the mountain, you are golden). Drive 3.4 miles up Flagstaff Road and look for the sign for Realization Point on your right. It’s a little tricky to see from the road, so keep an eye on your odometer. The trail star...
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  • Lake City, Colorado

    Uncompahgre Peak (14,309')

    5.0
    7.3 mi / 2881 ft gain
    At 14,309 feet, the summit of Uncompahgre Peak is the highest point in the entire San Juan range, but getting to it requires only good hiking skills, good physical shape, and a four-wheel-drive, high-clearance vehicle to get to the trailhead. From Lake City, head west along the Alpine Loop about...
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  • Estes Park, Colorado

    Black Lake Trail

    5.0
    9.17 mi / 1444 ft gain
    The Black lake hike begins at the very popular Glacier Gorge trailhead along Bear Lake road in Rocky Mountain National Park. During the summer and weekends, the park shuttle may be the best parking option as the lot is often full by 7am and can be difficult to find a spot throughout the day. Fr...
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  • Idaho Springs, Colorado

    Bierstadt, Evans, and The Sawtooth Loop

    4.5
    9.76 mi / 3438 ft gain
    Starting 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 ...
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  • Boulder, Colorado

    Sugarloaf

    4.5
    1.35 mi / 486 ft gain
    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...
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  • Telluride, Colorado

    Blue Lakes Trail

    5.0
    8.81 mi / 2635 ft gain
    Your adventure begins at the Blue Lakes Trailhead, elevation 9400’, in Uncompahgre National Forest. Take CO-62 from Ridgway toward Telluride, turn left onto Ouray County Road 7, and follow it into the national forest to the end of the road. Just past the trailhead, the trail splits; be sure to ...
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  • Estes Park, Colorado

    Peacock Pool

    7.9 mi / 2438 ft gain
    The peacock pool is a cool little tarn below the outlet to Chasm Lake. Please note that this adventure is best done in the winter/spring when snow is present to prevent erosion in the sensitive area. That is how the description will be written, assuming winter conditions. The approach is the sa...
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  • Boulder, Colorado

    Royal Arch Trail

    4.4
    3.32 mi / 1220 ft gain
    Royal Arch Trail climbs up Boulder's famous Chautauqua Park to an archway formed by sandstone rocks that tower over thirty feet high. Start at the Chautauqua Trail Station by the Ranger Station, and continue up Bluebell Road for 0.7 miles. You will then arrive at a more forested area, where you ...
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  • Leadville, Colorado

    Savage Lakes Trail

    5.0
    3.97 mi / 1299 ft gain
    The majority of this hike traverses through the beautiful forest that is part of the Holy Cross Wilderness. No significant views are to be had until you've climbed 1,300 ft over 2. miles and reach lower Savage Lake. The trail is easy enough to follow with no junctions along the way, and is adjace...
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  • Boulder, Colorado

    Hike Bear Peak

    4.8
    7 mi / 2810 ft gain
    The best advice I can give you? Wake up early to start this hike.Even though the Bear Peak hike will only take you about 4-5 hours round trip, it will still be advantageous to get off the mountain before afternoon and evening storms might pass through. This is a steep 7-mile out and back trail.St...
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  • Telluride, Colorado

    Bridal Veil Falls

    5.0
    1.81 mi / 1027 ft gain
    Park at the Pandora Mill just east of Telluride and lace up your footwear of choice. At 1.2 miles to the base of the falls with 850 feet of gain, this can make for a great thigh burning hike or run. The trail is a gravel road that eventually passes a gate to further trails up the Bridal Veil Ba...
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  • Estes Park, Colorado

    Cub Lake

    5.0
    5.27 mi / 771 ft gain
    Rocky Mountain National Park showcases 355 miles of hiking trails, 6 campgrounds, and hundreds of backcountry camp sites.  Cub Lake is an excellent trail for viewing wildlife. There are small ponds that you will pass on this trail that are great locations for spotting elk, mule deer, and moose. ...
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  • Allenspark, Colorado

    Backpack to Lake Verna

    5.0
    13.5 mi / 1969 ft gain
    Want to get away it from it all and enjoy some high alpine lakes? The East Inlet Trail is just outside Grand Lake, on the westside of Rocky Mountain National Park, 2.35 miles east of Highway 34 on West Portal Road. From the trailhead, one can access 8 different campsites. The campsites are as ...
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  • Nederland, Colorado

    Heart and Rogers Pass Lakes

    4.8
    8.62 mi / 2113 ft gain
    The hike begins at the East Portal Trailhead outside Rollinsville. Start hiking along the South Boulder trail to the right (north) of the very obvious Moffat Rail tunnel. The trail begins with moderate grades past the Forest Lakes cutoff just 1.25 miles from the trailhead. Continue hiking straigh...
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