Park County, Colorado

The West Side of Castlewood Canyon is the more "rugged" side of the park, it has a dirt road, gravel parking lots, and only vault toilets. Luckily, this also means this is a less popular side of the park, making for less crowded trails and easier parking!  Park at the first trailhead, for the Hom...

The West Side of Castlewood Canyon is the more "rugged" side of the park, it has a dirt road, gravel parking lots, and only vault toilets. Luckily, this also means this is a less popular side of the park, making for less crowded trails and easier parking!  Park at the first trailhead, for the Hom...

The West Side of Castlewood Canyon is the more "rugged" side of the park, it has a dirt road, gravel parking lots, and only vault toilets. Luckily, this also means this is a less popular side of the park, making for less crowded trails and easier parking!  Park at the first trailhead, for the Hom...

Begin hiking up a trail into the forest which eventually opens up into several beautiful spots that look down into the canyon below.

This trail starts out of Limekiln Trailhead in Cheyenne Mountain State Park. This is a large, obvious trailhead with bathrooms and water. From the trailhead follow the Talon trails on flatter terrain for the first 3 or so miles until it starts to steepen and turns to Dixon trail. These first few ...

Just outside of Golden, CO is Lookout Mountain. If you’ve ever driven westbound on i70 from Denver to the mountains, you’ve undoubtedly seen this mountain to your right with antennas on the top. On the north side of Lookout Mountain lies Windy Saddle Park, about a 30 minute drive from Denver. Thi...

Just outside of Golden, CO is Lookout Mountain. If you’ve ever driven westbound on i70 from Denver to the mountains, you’ve undoubtedly seen this mountain to your right with antennas on the top. On the north side of Lookout Mountain lies Windy Saddle Park, about a 30 minute drive from Denver. Thi...

Just outside of Golden, CO is Lookout Mountain. If you’ve ever driven westbound on i70 from Denver to the mountains, you’ve undoubtedly seen this mountain to your right with antennas on the top. On the north side of Lookout Mountain lies Windy Saddle Park, about a 30 minute drive from Denver. Thi...

This loop trail is 2.7 miles long but has several options for overlooks that add 0.8 miles to the trip. This is an easy hike with minimal elevation gain and is a great option for the whole family. Every time I've done this hike I've seen numerous deer which only adds to the hike! 

The Inner Canyon Trail begins at the Canyon Point Parking Lot. There are a few trails that leave from this lot, so make sure you're following signs for "K."  Right away, you'll descend down a few dozen stairs into the canyon itself. You'll quickly cross a bridge and be on your way. This trail is...

This loop is a combination of two different trails - the Lake Gulch Trail (L) and the Inner Canyon Trail (K). Both of these trails leave from the Canyon Point Parking Lot, inside the east entrance to the park.  I personally like the Inner Canyon Trail a lot more, so I like to start off from the ...

This 3.8 mile out and back trail is a very easy hike but can have moderate to high foot traffic depending on the season and time of day. I recommend doing this hike early in the morning to not only beat the heat, but to beat the other hikers. What I love about this hike is the chance to see the t...

This is a well maintained, easy trail best hiked in spring and fall. Conditions make this trail great for families. The park is also popular for bird watching and rock climbing.

The Northwest Ridge is the most easily accessible and popular route, and for good reasons. The trailhead is on the side of Hwy 82, otherwise known as Independence Pass, about 14.5 miles from the Hwy 24 junction, or about 10 miles from Twin Lakes to the east. The trailhead is hard to miss, and you...

Its sister trail, Butler Gulch, is an all-time favorite hike (both summer and winter), and since they share a trailhead, I knew Jones Pass would be special as well.Jones Pass is not the type of trail I normally take, since it is actually a 4x4 road that is used for Jeeping in the summer and snowm...

Butler Gulch is a pristinely beautiful day hike in the heart of the Arapaho National Forest near Idaho Springs, Colorado. Easily accessible from Denver, Butler Gulch is full of jaw-dropping views in all seasons, and anyone in good health can enjoy this gem. The hike is five miles long and rated ...