Jefferson, Colorado
Looking for the best hiking in Jefferson? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Jefferson. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.
Top Hiking Spots in and near Jefferson
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Dillon, Colorado
Sunset Views from Morgan Peak
8.42 mi / 2900 ft gainHow you get to Morgan Peak and the other 13ers in the area depends on if you have a 4-wheel drive with good clearance or not. If so, drive the rough Santa Fe road from the small town of Montezuma (just outside Keystone). The road is also known as Forest Service 264 and is a left at the stop sign ...Read more -
Breckenridge, Colorado
Hike the East Ridge of Pacific Peak
5.08 mi / 3500 ft gainStart from the McCullough gulch trailhead. If possible it would be worth having 2 cars and leaving one at the main McCullough trailhead so you don't have to walk the road on your way down. Bushwack through trees and willows up the ridge directly to the north of the trailhead. You might be lucky a...Read more -
Breckenridge, Colorado
Hike McCullough Gulch to Upper Blue Reservoir
5.02.8 mi / 910 ft gainThe trail first takes you to Upper Blue Reservoir, about 1.4 miles in. Past this point, it can be somewhat tricky to find the trail, but for experienced hikers, the upper valley holds a number of lakes, a waterfall, and open tundra for exploring. Mountain goat sightings are also common in this ar...Read more -
Breckenridge, Colorado
Hike the Sawmill Trail to Fairy Forest
3.01.5 mi / 250 ft gainIf you brought the family to Breckenridge chances are you're probably not bringing the little ones on your next 14'er summit. Are you looking for an easy hike to let the kiddos experience some nature and run around a bit? Well then this short hike is perfect for you and the family. Plus, it's rig...Read more -
Bailey, Colorado
Payne Creek Trail via Brookside McCurdy Trailhead
4.517.98 mi / 3773 ft gainDay 1: Park at the Payne Creek/Brookside Trailhead (8,040 ft.) right outside Bailey. You'll go on the trail for about a mile before the trail parts to Craig Meadows or Craig Park. If you start this in the nighttime, it's best to camp before you part ways on the trail as it's a little more spaciou...Read more -
Idaho Springs, Colorado
Bierstadt, Evans, and The Sawtooth Loop
4.59.76 mi / 3438 ft gainStarting 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 ...Read more -
Idaho Springs, Colorado
Watch the Sunrise at Guanella Pass
5.01 mi / 100 ft gainFrom Denver, take i70 to Georgetown and simply follow the signs through town to the top. This pass can also be accessed from the south via US Highway 285 at the town of Grant. Guanella Pass is closed in the winter, typically from about the last week in November through the last week of May. Watch...Read more -
Dillon, Colorado
Mount Bierstadt
4.67.18 mi / 2697 ft gainIf you’re ready for your first 14er, Mount Bierstadt holds a reputation for a great “starter” 14er. Of course, experienced climbers will enjoy this (relatively speaking) easy mountain as well. Besides the joy of the hike itself, Bierstadt is a stunning wildflower hike in July and August. Thanks t...Read more -
Georgetown, Colorado
Hike to Square Top Lakes
4.3 mi / 1080 ft gainStarting from Guanella Pass, right across from the Bierstadt trailhead, Square Top Lakes is definitely a hidden gem. Most people here are attempting to do the 14er, but if you've already bagged that one (or are just looking for some high altitude hiking to get you ready for it), Square Top Lakes ...Read more -
Dillon, Colorado
Grays Peak via the South Ridge
9.9 mi / 3970 ft gainGrays 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...Read more -
Dillon, Colorado
Silver Dollar Lake Trail
5.03.93 mi / 945 ft gainGuanella Pass, which connects the charming and historic town of Georgetown in the north to the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Grant to the south, is a recreational outdoorsman’s dream. Volumes could be written on what this 22-mile scenic byway has to offer. Silver Dollar Lake Trail is just one tiny po...Read more -
Evergreen, Colorado
Watch the Sunset from Mt Evans Road
5.0Leave Evergreen, CO and access the Mount Evans Road and Mount Evans Recreation Area from Squaw Pass, CO 103 at Echo Lake.Drive along the slopes of Mount Evans, a Colorado 14er standing at 14,264 ft. 5 switchbacks down from the summit, on a tight hairpin turn, is a small parking area near 13,900f...Read more -
Idaho Springs, Colorado
Camp at Guanella Pass
4.5This is a beautiful campground that serves as a great basecamp for many different outdoor activities in the Front Range. Whether you are looking for a casual day fishing or trying to knock one of the nearby 14ers off of your bucket list, this is an excellent place to begin. There are also abandon...Read more -
Jefferson, Colorado
Backpack Lost Creek
4.05 miI included a trail map of where I camped. There are many sites all throughout this area. From the Lost Park Campground Parking lot follow the Lost Creek for 2.4 miles. At the 1 mile mark was the best place that we found to cross the creek (there are two logs that make a bridge across the creek). ...Read more -
Summit County, Colorado
Hike to Crystal Peak
5.08.6 mi / 2482 ft gainOnce you turn off of Colorado hwy 9 onto dirt, your GPS will lead you to a gravel lot. At the end of that lot there's a pretty steep gravel road that heads NNW (GPS coords: 39°25'43.01"N 106° 4'11.30"W | Map Link if you want to plug that into your GPS for parking). From this lot you'll walk up t...Read more -
Evergreen, Colorado
Mount Evans and Mount Spalding Loop
4.38.47 mi / 1706 ft gainMount Evans is a simple, yet drop dead gorgeous 14er. That being said, no 14er is easy by any means. However as far as 14er's go, this is a cake walk. Coming in at a rating of class 2, there tends to be some scrambling but nothing a well balanced person can't handle. To begin this adventure, we ...Read more