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  • Idaho Springs, Colorado

    Top Spots in and near Idaho Springs

    • Idaho Springs, Colorado

      Squaw Mountain Fire Lookout

      4.0
      3.92 mi / 791 ft gain
      Come 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...
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    • Idaho Springs, Colorado

      Hike Chief Mountain, CO

      4.5
      4 mi / 1100 ft gain
      Sitting 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...
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    • Evergreen, Colorado

      Private and Tranquil Retreat at Beaver Brook Watershed

      4.0
      Note: 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...
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    • Golden, Colorado

      Hike the Elk Range Trail

      2.5
      This 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...
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    • Evergreen, Colorado

      Hike the Resthouse/Lincoln Lake Trail

      4.5
      While the Mt. Evans Wilderness never has a shortage of visitors, thanks to its proximity to Denver, it is possible to find a more private hike if you know where to look. Lincoln Lake Trail, accessible from Echo Lake year-round, is not as glamorous as its sister trail, Chicago Lakes, but is a wond...
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    • Idaho Springs, Colorado

      Explore Echo Lake Park

      4.0
      1.2 mi / 88 ft gain
      Located at the base of Mt. Evans Road, Echo Lake sits next to Squaw Pass Road, providing a great jumping-off point for numerous adventures. The park serves as a trailhead for hiking or snowshoeing into the Mount Evans Wilderness, offers picnic areas, and includes a nearby campground with 17 site...
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    • Idaho Springs, Colorado

      Hike to Idaho Springs Reservoir

      3.9 mi / 800 ft gain
      This is a great hiking area an hour outside of Denver, Colorado. It's still easily accessible in the winter and most of the time it can be hiked without snowshoes. Starting at the Echo Lake parking lot, hike around the right side of the lake until you reach a fork in the trail. Follow the path on...
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    • Idaho Springs, Colorado

      Lower and Upper Chicago Lake

      4.5
      9.22 mi / 2270 ft gain
      From the parking lot, stay to the right of Echo Lake and you will run into the Chicago Lakes Trailhead. Follow the switchbacks down and across Chicago Creek. After crossing the creek, follow the sign indicating that the trail follows the dirt road and hang a left; from here, you'll reach the Idah...
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    • Golden, Colorado

      Hike the Blue Grouse Trail Loop

      3.0
      6 mi / 400 ft gain
      Start 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...
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    • Golden, Colorado

      Hike Beaver Trail in Golden Gate Canyon State Park

      2.3 mi / 1046 ft gain
      This 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...
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    • Evergreen, Colorado

      Photograph Ancient Bristlecone Pines on Mt. Goliath

      5.0
      On the way to the summit of Mt. Evans sits a small 160 acre preserve of some of the world's oldest living trees. The Mount Goliath Natural Area protects a rare site of Bristlecone Pines that make excellent photographic subjects.Immediately after parking you're surrounded by a miniature forest ful...
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    • Idaho Springs, Colorado

      Hike to Hell's Hole

      4.5
      The name is uninviting, but Hell’s Hole is a scenic, shallow basin in the Mount Evans Wilderness near Idaho Springs. Starting elevation is about 9500 feet. Right after the trailhead, you pass through a few camping sites in the Chicago Creek Picnic Area. About five minutes into the hike is the per...
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    • Idaho Springs, Colorado

      Explore 'The Hidden Gems' of Loch Lomond

      5.0
      4.6 mi / 950 ft gain
      Getting 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 ...
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    • Idaho Springs, Colorado

      Hike to Loch Lomond

      5.0
      4.6 mi / 948 ft gain
      When 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...
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    • Idaho Springs, Colorado

      Hiking James Peak (13,294')

      8.3 mi / 3000 ft gain
      James 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...
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    • Idaho Springs, Colorado

      Hike St. Mary's Glacier

      4.3
      2 mi / 467 ft gain
      Just 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 ...
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    Camping and Lodging in Idaho Springs

    Denver West / Central City KOA Holiday
    Central City, Colorado

    Denver West / Central City KOA Holiday

    Cold Springs
    Black Hawk, Colorado

    Cold Springs

    Pickle Gulch
    Black Hawk, Colorado

    Pickle Gulch

    Echo Lake
    Evergreen, Colorado

    Echo Lake

    West Chicago Creek
    Idaho Springs, Colorado

    West Chicago Creek

    Kelly Dahl
    Rollinsville, Colorado

    Kelly Dahl

    Guides, Insights and Stories from Idaho Springs

    A First-Timer's Experience Visiting the Colorado Rockies

    A First-Timer's Experience Visiting the Colorado Rockies

    Andrew Todd

    The Ultimate Winter Getaway to Winter Park, Colorado

    The Ultimate Winter Getaway to Winter Park, Colorado

    Chelsea Brinkley

    An Unexpected Trail to Myself at Herman Gulch, CO

    An Unexpected Trail to Myself at Herman Gulch, CO

    Kalli Hawkins

    For A Time Like This - Backyard Wildlife Photography

    For A Time Like This - Backyard Wildlife Photography

    Brynn Schmidt

    From Here to Anywhere: Rent an Adventure Van from Boulder's A-Lodge

    From Here to Anywhere: Rent an Adventure Van from Boulder's A-Lodge

    The Outbound Collective

    Fall is the Right Time to Visit Boulder

    Fall is the Right Time to Visit Boulder

    The Outbound Collective