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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

  • Idaho Springs, Colorado

    Hiking James Peak (13,294')

    8.3 mi / 3000 ft gain
    James Peak is one of 76 13,000'+ peaks in Colorado's front range. On your way up to the peak you will pass St. Mary's Glacier. It is not an actual glacier yet a permeant snow field that is popular among skiers and snowboarders year round. St. Mary's Glaicer is a very popular destination (though m...
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  • Snowmass, Colorado

    Capitol Lake via Capitol Ditch

    5.0
    12.28 mi / 2575 ft gain
    The route to Capitol Lake is fairly straightforward, but not without its minor hardships. The route begins at the end of Capitol Creek Road, 9 miles from the small "town" of Snowmass (NOT Snowmass Village - that's the high-class ski resort). The last few miles of this road provide the first min...
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  • Ouray, Colorado

    Backpack to Dragon's Back via Horsethief Trail

    5.0
    16 mi / 3520 ft gain
    The Uncompahgre Wilderness stretches out through the mountains and forests of southwestern Colorado, with worn trails lingering beside abandoned 19th-century mines and crossing old alpine sheep pastures. Dragon's Back is the unofficial name for Point 12,968', a small but beautiful summit at the b...
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  • Nederland, Colorado

    Hike the Arapaho Traverse

    8.3 mi / 3500 ft gain
    Begin at the Fourth of July Trailhead.  Day parking is free and overnight parking is $5.  Fourth of July is a popular trailhead and to ensure parking, you should arrive early in the morning (6am-ish... cause, I mean, you gotta 7 hour day in front of you). Follow the Fourth of July trail from the ...
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  • 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...
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  • Durango, Colorado

    Backpack to Island Lake

    5.0
    8 mi / 3000 ft gain
    From the Ice Lakes basin Trailhead, this 8 mile round trip trail with 3000 feet of elevation gain will bring you to the Ice Lakes Basin with an abundance of beautiful lakes, especially Island Lake and Ice Lake. We camped on a little shelf above Island Lake, but you can camp anywhere you find a ni...
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  • Somerset, Colorado

    Camp at Lost Lake Slough

    5.0
    Lost Lake Slough offers camping, hiking, photography, kayaking, and more in a remote and beautiful part of Colorado. At an elevation of over 9,600 ft., the lake typically opens in mid-June after the snow is melted, and closes in October after the first significant snowfall. The campground is on...
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  • Montrose, Colorado

    Hike to Tomichi Point and Gunnison Point Overlooks

    5.0
    2 mi
    To access the South Rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, take US 50 and CO 347 to the south entrance, 15 miles east of Montrose. There is no bridge between the north and south rims of the canyon - make sure you enter from the Montrose side.After passing through the entrance stat...
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  • Pagosa Springs, Colorado

    Visit Treasure Falls

    4.8
    0.4 mi / 200 ft gain
    Treasure Falls is reached via short .4 mile walk from the parking lot on highway 160 about 15 miles outside Pagosa Springs (which is home to the worlds deepest hot springs). There is a paved path and dirt trail that both end up at the falls and if you are inclined, make into a loop. There is a br...
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  • Telluride, Colorado

    Hike to Bear Creek Falls in Telluride

    5.0
    5 mi / 1000 ft gain
    The trail begins at the south end of Pine Street in Telluride, and proceeds 2.5 miles up the Bear Creek Canyon trail with an elevation gain of about 1,000'.Be sure to stay to the left at the divide with the Wasatch Trail.At the waterfall there is a small use trail that contours up to the right an...
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  • Allenspark, Colorado

    Hike to Verna, Spirit, Fourth, and Fifth Lakes

    19 mi / 2460 ft gain
    This summer backpacking trip provides plenty of opportunities for exploration and endless moments to take in awe-inspiring scenery. On our visit, after setting up camp at the Lake Verna backcountry site, I quickly made my way to the next lake (Spirit Lake) to photograph the sunset. The symmetry a...
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  • Frisco, Colorado

    Snowshoe the Mayflower Gulch

    4.7
    4 mi / 1000 ft gain
    To begin, park in the large parking lot (it is usually plowed all winter except right after a large storm). The parking lot can be reached via highway 91, approximately 6 miles south of Copper Mountain and will be on the east (left if coming from the north) side of the road. Begin up the obvious ...
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  • Parshall, Colorado

    Butler Gulch

    4.5
    5.26 mi / 2008 ft gain
    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 ...
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  • Estes Park, Colorado

    Winter Hike Flattop Mountain

    4.8
    8.6 mi / 2850 ft gain
    To catch the sunrise, begin at the Bear Lake trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park. From the trailhead, veer right around bear lake and continue along the Odessa Lake/Flattop Mountain trail. This will begin to ascend on your right.After approximately 1 mile, the Flattop Mountain Trail will sp...
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  • 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...
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  • Golden, Colorado

    Hike Beaver Brook Trail at Windy Saddle Park

    5.0
    5 mi / 500 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...
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