Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

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

Top Hiking Spots in and near Rocky Mountain National Park

  • Nederland, Colorado

    Hike Rollins Pass to Devils Thumb

    2.1 mi / 622 ft gain
    Corona Lake is an easy, short hike if you're pressed for time. It's scenic, secluded, and will put you in a great spot to hike to Devils Thumb the next day. There are two ways to reach Devils Thumb. This is considered the "easier" route because of the "lack of elevation gain." The sun and wind re...
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  • Fort Collins, Colorado

    Horsetooth Rock

    4.5
    4.78 mi / 1421 ft gain
    The Horsetooth Mountain Park Open Space is located just 4 miles from Fort Collins. The 2,886 acre park offers 29 miles of hiking, biking, and horse back riding trails. Having taken both the multi use trail and the hiking only trail, I recommend the hiking only. This trail offers you the views an...
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  • Fort Collins, Colorado

    Horsetooth Falls

    4.3
    2.17 mi / 541 ft gain
    Horsetooth Mountain Park is an outdoor trail haven just minutes from downtown Ft. Collins. The 2711 acre area has 29 miles of trails of varying length and difficulty for all levels of adventurers to explore. Horsetooth Falls is one of the shortest (yet stunning) trails in the area. This hike is...
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  • Fort Collins, Colorado

    Horsetooth Falls and Horsetooth Rock Trail

    5.0
    5.97 mi / 1677 ft gain
    Horsetooth Falls and Horsetooth Rock Trail is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a waterfall located near Fort Collins, Colorado.
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  • Boulder, Colorado

    Wonderland Lake Trail

    5.0
    1.85 mi / 98 ft gain
    Wonderland Lake Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a lake located near Boulder, Colorado.
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  • Boulder, Colorado

    Eagle Sage Loop

    4.3
    3.77 mi / 164 ft gain
    This is a great trail if you are in the Boulder area and want something fairly easy or quick. This 3.75 loop can be hiked in about an hour and a half since it is fairly flat. The elevation gain is minimal. You start out at the Eagle Trailhead located west of the Boulder Reservoir. Start out at t...
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  • Longmont, Colorado

    McIntosh Lake Loop

    4.5
    3.6 mi / 72 ft gain
    McIntosh Lake is in northwest Longmont. The 3.6-mile loop extends all the way around the lake, with the first half being on a paved cement trail with neighborhood playgrounds, basketball, volleyball, and a seasonally open restroom. The trail turns to dirt on the western half of the loop, and here...
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  • Boulder, Colorado

    Mount Sanitas + Sunshine Canyon loop

    5.03 mi / 1257 ft gain
    This loop takes you up Sunshine Canyon, a milder and less crowded grade when compared to the popular Sanitas ridge. You'll head up the canyon for a bit before reaching the terminus of the canyon trail -- where you'll cross the road to pick up on the Lions Lair connector. Continue following this u...
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  • Boulder, Colorado

    Mount Sanitas Peak Trail

    2.57 mi / 1296 ft gain
    Explore the natural wonders of Boulder, Colorado, with the Mount Sanitas Peak Trail hike. This trail offers stunning vistas of the Rocky Mountain wilderness and Colorado's Front Range. This hike is just over 2.5 miles with about 1300 feet of elevation gain.  Parking and Access: Start your hik...
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  • Boulder, Colorado

    Sunshine Lion's Lair Loop

    5.0
    5.05 mi / 1257 ft gain
    This is a mix of trails that will bring you on an easy loop to the peak of Mt Sanitas, but will keep you away from the usual crowds of the more well-known paths up. The hike is a clear path that brings you 5+ miles from around 5,500 ft in elevation to 6,800.  You'll start at the Centennial Trail...
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  • Boulder, Colorado

    Red Rocks and Anemone Trail Loop

    1.26 mi / 459 ft gain
    Red Rocks and Anemone Trail Loop is a loop trail that provides a good opportunity to view wildlife located near Boulder, Colorado.
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  • Boulder, Colorado

    Mount Sanitas Loop & Settlers Park

    4.4
    3.83 mi / 1371 ft gain
    First off, these are two different hikes but both stem from the same parking lot and Settlers Park is a mere 5 minutes away from where you park so why not kill two birds with one stone? One of the more popular hikes in Boulder, Mount Sanitas is a 3 mile hike that quickly scales nearly 1,350 feet...
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  • Nederland, Colorado

    Explore the Historic Railroad Route up Rollins Pass

    5.0
    Rollin's Pass Road is a dirt road that follows an old railroad route from the historic town of Tolland, over the Continental Divide, and into Fraser. The road no longer allows you to drive over the summit, due to a partial tunnel collapse, but the road still takes you to within a short hike of th...
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  • Nederland, Colorado

    3 Crater Lakes via South Boulder Creek

    5.0
    6.92 mi / 1804 ft gain
    After turning on to Co. 16 (Tolland Rd.) from 119 at Rollinsville, drive about 8 miles down the dirt road along South Boulder Creek. The road will dead end at Moffat Tunnel where you'll find ample parking in a gravel lot with restrooms. You'll begin your hike along sweeping meadows until you ent...
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  • Nederland, Colorado

    Upper Forest Lakes Trail

    7.86 mi / 1778 ft gain
    Upper Forest Lakes Trail is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a river located near Rollinsville, Colorado.
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  • Nederland, Colorado

    Heart and Rogers Pass Lakes

    4.8
    8.62 mi / 2113 ft gain
    The hike begins at the East Portal Trailhead outside Rollinsville. Start hiking along the South Boulder trail to the right (north) of the very obvious Moffat Rail tunnel. The trail begins with moderate grades past the Forest Lakes cutoff just 1.25 miles from the trailhead. Continue hiking straigh...
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