Colorado

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

Top Photography Spots in and near Colorado

  • Larimer County, Colorado

    Nymph, Dream, Emerald, and Haiyaha Lakes

    5.0
    4.51 mi / 1125 ft gain
    From the Bear Lake Trailhead, the path to Nymph Lake is a moderate paved trail. At the lake there are several places to sit and take in the scenery. This is also where you'll find the most people. From here, continue up the trail towards Dream Lake. On the way, the trail forks. The left will take...
    Read more
  • Estes Park, Colorado

    Mt. Ida via Milner Pass

    5.0
    9.28 mi / 2444 ft gain
    The hike to Mt. Ida offers some of the most stunning views of Rocky Mountain National Park. How to get there: From the east, take Trail Ridge Road all the way to the west side of the park. You will pass Alpine Visitor Center and the road sharply turns south at Medicine Bow Curve. The trailhead...
    Read more
  • Golden, Colorado

    Lookout Mountain via Buffalo Bill Trail

    4.0
    1.94 mi / 488.19 ft gain
    Lookout Mountain sits just above Golden and provides one of the best easy-access viewpoints near Denver. The mountain provides numerous vantage spots along the road up, with the best at a rock outcropping just below Buffalo Bill's Gravesite & Museum (with easy parking). If you're hoping to ...
    Read more
  • Divide, Colorado

    Hike to Raspberry Mountain

    5.0
    5.2 mi / 900 ft gain
    Take US-24 west and turn left at traffic light in Divide. Drive south on US-67 for about 4 miles. Turn left to CR-62 right after you pass the entrance to Mueller State park on the right. Drive about a mile on the dirt road and you will see the new trailhead parking lot on the left side.Once you p...
    Read more
  • Pitkin County, Colorado

    Four Pass Loop in the Maroon Bells

    4.8
    25.99 mi / 7566 ft gain
    Updates will be posted here.  The Four Pass Loop begins at Maroon Lake, famous for its iconic view of the Maroon Bells (Maroon Peak and North Maroon Peak), deemed the “most-photographed spot in Colorado.” After taking in this majestic view, continue to walk down the Maroon Lake Scenic Trail unti...
    Read more
  • Boulder, Colorado

    Hike the Enchanted Mesa Trail

    4.0
    1.4 mi / 440 ft gain
    Start out on McClintock Trail for 0.7 miles (this particular stretch can get muddy), before switching over to Enchanted Mesa Trail. To add a scenic 0.4 miles to your hike, take the Quarry Loop by turning right at the stone cabin, then following the steps up to the quarry, where you can overlook t...
    Read more
  • Estes Park, Colorado

    Flattop Mountain Trail

    4.8
    8.44 mi / 2835 ft gain
    Watch the sunrise from above treeline with great views below and to the south. This is my favorite place to view the sunrise is from just above the emerald lake overlook. The Bear Lake area is very crowded, but an early morning ascent of Flattop Mountain will provide ample opportunities for solit...
    Read more
  • 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...
    Read more
  • San Miguel County, Colorado

    Mystic Falls

    4.2
    2.39 mi / 138 ft gain
    I've been visiting Telluride, CO for the last 20 years, and I'd never once heard of this place. Mystic Falls is not marked on any map I've ever seen. And even some locals seem to have never heard of it. So I feel like I lucked out on this last trip to Telluride when a friend found a blog post and...
    Read more
  • Golden, Colorado

    Chimney Gulch Trail

    4.0
    4.82 mi / 1247 ft gain
    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...
    Read more
  • Divide, Colorado

    Summit The Crags

    4.6
    7.9 mi / 1379 ft gain
    As you drive past Mueller state park (on the right), about 1/4 mile down the road you will see a small wooden sign for "The Crags" You will take a left there and follow the road about 1.5 miles, past the first stop, which is the Raspberry Mountain Trailhead, until you come to a fork in the road a...
    Read more
  • Boulder, Colorado

    Hike South Boulder Peak

    4.5
    6.7 mi / 2900 ft gain
    Starting at the Mesa trailhead, continue a half a mile through a relatively even grade before arriving at the North Fork Shanahan trailhead, which will take you another half a mile on much steeper grade up to Fern Canyon where you will start a much harder portion of the hike; here, you'll head st...
    Read more
  • Aspen, Colorado

    Explore the Maroon Bells & Snowmass Wilderness

    5.0
    The beautiful and iconic Maroon Bells-Snowmass wilderness is home to some of the most amazing scenery and adventures to be had in all of Colorado. It is world-famous for the Maroon Bells, two challenging 14ers just outside of Aspen, Colorado. The third 14er, Pyramid Peak is also considered a clas...
    Read more
  • Guffey, Colorado

    Paradise Cove

    4.0
    From Colorado Springs, follow RT 24 to the town of Florissant (34.5 miles). From Florissant, follow Teller County Road 1 south for about 9.2 miles, until a Y fork, and bear right, into County Road 11. Follow County Road 11 for 4.1 miles, until a T intersection, and make a right turn at the inters...
    Read more
  • Aspen, Colorado

    Devil's Punch Bowl

    4.7
    The Roaring Fork River has several little waterfalls that end up in a deep swimming hole called The Devil's Punch Bowl. This is a must-see if you are driving up to the Independence Pass. I have never seen such blue water before (outside of an amusement park).  While Driving from Aspen on CO82 to...
    Read more
  • Lake City, Colorado

    Uncompahgre Peak (14,309')

    5.0
    7.3 mi / 2881 ft gain
    At 14,309 feet, the summit of Uncompahgre Peak is the highest point in the entire San Juan range, but getting to it requires only good hiking skills, good physical shape, and a four-wheel-drive, high-clearance vehicle to get to the trailhead. From Lake City, head west along the Alpine Loop about...
    Read more