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Palmer Lake, Colorado

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

Top Hiking Spots in and near Palmer Lake

  • Aurora, Colorado

    Walk the Cherry Creek Dog Off-Leash Area

    4.5
    3 mi
    Cherry Creek Dog-Off Leash Area is an extended part of Cherry Creek State Park and encompasses 107 acres of fenced-in play area. Within the park there is a 3 mile loop trail that takes you through the trees and along the Cherry Creek. What makes this park so great is the several access points to ...
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  • Jefferson, Colorado

    Trek through Granite Pillars on Bison Peak

    12.4 mi / 4000 ft gain
    Bison peak sits 2 hours from Denver in the mountains of the Lost Creek Wilderness. To reach the 12,431 ft. summit you'll start in low density ponderosa forest at 8,750 ft on crushed granite trail. Early starts are recommended in the summer months as the trail's high albedo can make for an extreme...
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  • Calhan, Colorado

    Photograph Colorado's Paint Mines

    4.9
    0.25 mi
    About an hour from Colorado's busy Garden of the Gods is a multi-colored hoodoo valley called, The Paint Mines. Similar in appearance to Utah's popular Goblin Valley, The Paint Mines offer colorful hoodoo formations making your photography here even more awe inspiring.Getting to the park is easy,...
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  • Calhan, Colorado

    Hike the Paint Mines Interpretive Space Loop

    4.5
    4 mi / 200 ft gain
    The site is an easy drive from Colorado Springs on US Route 24. There are three parking areas: the west and south parking areas are trailheads, and there is additional parking on the west side for a scenic overlook. The overlook does not attach to any trails.Through several loops, there are up to...
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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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  • 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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  • Bailey, Colorado

    Payne Creek Trail via Brookside McCurdy Trailhead

    4.5
    17.98 mi / 3773 ft gain
    Day 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...
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  • Conifer, Colorado

    Upper Maxwell Falls Trail

    1.11 mi / 135 ft gain
    Upper Maxwell Falls Trail is an out-and-back trail, which is the shortest and most direct route to Maxwell Falls located near Conifer, Colorado. If you're looking for a little longer trail, check out this Maxwell Falls adventure for a roughly 4-mile loop hike. 
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  • Morrison, Colorado

    Hike Mount Falcon

    4.0
    3.7 mi
    Just a short drive from Denver up US-285 sits Mount Falcon Park, a 2,248 acre open space park managed by Jefferson County. With over 12 miles of hiking trails and stunning views of Denver and the Front Range, this park is perfect for getting in a quick adventure when you don’t feel like driving t...
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  • Evergreen, Colorado

    Maxwell Falls

    3.4
    3.95 mi / 928 ft gain
    Located just outside of Evergreen, this beginner hike is a great escape from the city for a few hours. There are three different options to hike to the falls: Maxwell Falls Lower Trail (4 miles), Upper Maxwell Falls Trail (1.1 miles), and Maxwell Falls Bluffs Cliffside Trail Loop (5 miles). On th...
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  • Evergreen, Colorado

    Pence Park's Independence Mountain Trail

    4.4
    2.09 mi / 869 ft gain
    Pence Park, part of the Denver Mountain Parks system, is nestled between the mountain communities of Indian Hills and Kittredge on Myers Gulch Road. It's one of those places I always drove right past without bothering to check it out. From the road, it looks the same as any other place in the foo...
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  • Morrison, Colorado

    Explore Red Rocks Park in Winter

    4.3
    Red Rocks is a bustling park in the summer when its famous amphitheater is filled with concerts. In winter though, the park dies down and becomes even more quiet when snow is falling. Grab your camera and head to the park during a winter storm to truly enjoy the beautiful red sandstone formations...
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  • Morrison, Colorado

    Hike the Red Rocks Trail

    4.0
    6 mi
    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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  • Lakewood, Colorado

    Hike to Radio Tower Overlook

    4 mi / 1312 ft gain
    I loved this trail when I lived in Lakewood. It has a decent elevation gain, close to the city, spectacular views, and you can pretty much hike it year round unless you just had a winter snow storm (though you could just hike in snow boots!). I take the John O Hayden Trail from the Utah Parking l...
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  • Lakewood, Colorado

    Green Mountain Trail Loop

    4.1
    6.37 mi / 1060 ft gain
    Green Mountain Trail is a 6.5-mile loop and has a challenging ascent to the park's highest point. Because the mountain is one of the first to rise out of the plains, you get unique views of where the mountains meet the prairie and fascinating geology. The summit, at 6,857' offers stunning views o...
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  • Morrison, Colorado

    Hike Dinosaur Ridge

    4.0
    2 mi / 50 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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