Idaho Springs, Colorado

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

Top Hiking Spots in and near Idaho Springs

  • Golden, Colorado

    Morrison Slide Trail

    4.2
    5.12 mi / 922 ft gain
    Start at the trailhead located at 1103 County Hwy. 93 and enjoy a little warm up time by the creek that winds past wild plum, chokecherry, and willow trees. Matthews-Winters Park is filled with red rock formations that make for amazing scenery. It also has the remnants of a historic cemetery. The...
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  • Boulder, Colorado

    Walker Ranch Loop

    4.7
    7.65 mi / 1601 ft gain
    When it comes to hiking trails in Boulder, the standard response usually consists of either Chautauqua Park or Mt. Sanitas, and while both offer excellent hiking options, they are both usually jam packed on the weekends. If you’re looking to stay close to the city, but want a little more seclusio...
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  • Golden, Colorado

    Village Walk, Red Rocks & Cherry Gulch Trail

    4.3
    6.31 mi / 1364.17 ft gain
    The Village Walk, Red Rocks & Cherry Gulch Trail threads through one of Colorado's most geologically and historically layered open spaces—Matthews/Winters Park, a 2,461-acre Jefferson County preserve bordered by I-70 to the north and Red Rocks Park to the south. Here, ancient sandstone format...
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  • Morrison, Colorado

    Red Rocks Trading Post Trail

    5.0
    1.54 mi / 344 ft gain
    Red Rocks Trading Post Trail offers one of Colorado's most accessible paths to outdoor wellness, winding through the iconic red sandstone formations that have drawn visitors to Morrison for generations. This easy loop trail delivers an outsized reward-to-effort ratio, making it an ideal introdu...
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  • Morrison, Colorado

    Red Rocks & Dakota Ridge Loop Trail

    4.0
    6.89 mi / 1188 ft gain
    While this is a 6 mile hike, it is relatively easy to add mileage to it and tailor it to fit your needs. Instead of simply doing the Red Rocks Trail/Morrison Slide loop, you can head all the way to the Village Walk trail in Matthews-Winters. You can also park along Red Rocks Trail Road and elimin...
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  • Morrison, Colorado

    Dinosaur Ridge

    4.3
    2.86 mi / 463 ft gain
    The hiking trail starts at the parking lot located across from the Dinosaur Ridge Discovery center (which you should totally go check out!). Once you park you will follow the gated and paved Alameda Parkway towards the ridge. Along the way there will be several sites on the left until you reach t...
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  • Boulder, Colorado

    Rattlesnake Gulch Trail

    3.49 mi / 1093 ft gain
    Rattlesnake Gulch Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a river located near Eldorado Springs, Colorado.
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  • Boulder, Colorado

    Hike the Rattlesnake Gulch Trail

    4.4
    5.3 mi / 1304 ft gain
    Rattlesnake 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 ...
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  • Dillon, Colorado

    Grays Peak via the South Ridge

    9.9 mi / 3970 ft gain
    Grays is easily one of the most popular 14ers in Colorado due to its moderate difficulty and proximity to Denver. Grays Peak is an awesome 14er but the crowds take away from the hike. And while the views on top of Grays are amazing, the barren landscape of the hike to get there isn't the most ama...
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  • Boulder, Colorado

    Hike the Eldorado Canyon Trail

    4.7
    6.3 mi / 1875 ft gain
    Eldorado Canyon Trail makes for a great day hike, with great views and a steady, challenging uphill – bring lots of water!For something shorter, try Streamside Trail (1 mile roundtrip), Fowler Trail (1.4 miles), or Rattlesnake Gulch (2.8 miles). Streamside, appropriately, leads you alongside a cr...
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  • Conifer, Colorado

    Davis Ponds Trail

    4.0
    2.31 mi / 295 ft gain
    Davis Ponds Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a lake located near Conifer, Colorado.
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  • Silver Plume, Colorado

    Herman Gulch Trail

    5.0
    6.27 mi / 1696 ft gain
    The Herman Gulch Trail, located near Silver Plume, Colorado, is a popular 6.3-mile out-and-back hike that leads to a stunning alpine lake, offering hikers breathtaking views of wildflower-filled meadows and towering peaks of the Continental Divide.  Trail Overview • Elevation: The trailhe...
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  • Conifer, Colorado

    Elk Falls Loop

    3.5
    12.76 mi / 1893 ft gain
    Begin on Staunton Ranch Trail for 3.3 miles. Switch to Bugling Elk Trail for the next 1.1 miles, then to Lion's Back Trail for the last mile to the overlook. From here, you can create the loop by backtracking to the Chimney Rock Trail, which then connects with the Elk Falls Trail. To head back to...
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  • Nederland, Colorado

    Caribou Lake via 4th of July Trailhead

    4.0
    9.01 mi / 2474 ft gain
    This is one of the most beautiful hikes I have ever done in Colorado. It is a great trip for photographers, fisherman or anyone who enjoys mountain views, forests filled with wildlife and peaceful meadows. Distances: Arapaho Pass: 3.2 miles, Caribou Lake: 4.2 miles, Caribou Pass: 6.4 miles, M...
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  • Nederland, Colorado

    Arapaho Pass and Lake Dorothy

    4.3
    7.02 mi / 1923 ft gain
    Begin by parking at the 4th of July trailhead. This can be reached by conituing past the Eldora ski area and up a rough but passable (for all vehicles) gravel road to the trailhead. The trail is easy to find, and will continue to rise for the next 1.15 miles. At just over a mile there is a fork ...
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  • Nederland, Colorado

    Upper Diamond Lake via Fourth of July Trailhead

    4.8
    8.12 mi / 2037 ft gain
    The trail begins at the 4th of July trailhead, which is located near the Eldora ski area and can be crowded during the summer and weekends. The road is rough in places but passable by any car when dry. From the parking area begin hiking the Arapaho pass trail, which will gently gain elevation thr...
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