Colorado
It's hard to beat what the Rockies have to offer. A plethora of world-class skiing in the winter, and all the hiking, backpacking, camping, mountain biking, and rafting you could hope for in the summer. Looking for a challenge?Maybe try your hand at one of Colorado's 14,000 ft peaks (there's somewhere between 53 and 58, depending who you ask).
Top Spots in and near Colorado
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Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
Hike Nordenskiold Site No. 16 Trail
2 miThis two mile round-trip trail leaves from the information kiosk near Long House and Step House, and leads through and area severely burned by the 2000 Pony Fire. There's no shade on this trail, so if you are doing it during the hotter months, be sure to bring a lot of water and sun protection. ...Read more -
Bellvue, Colorado
Snowshoe Sawmill Creek Trail
7 mi / 1660 ft gainTo reach the Sawmill Creek Trailhead you have to park at the Blue Lake Trailhead parking lot located across from Long Draw Road (Rd 156) Turn-off. Once you park here you'll see a big sign for the Blue Lake Trail but you'll have to continue following the road up (Southwest) for about 100 yards unt...Read more -
Castle Pines, Colorado
Explore Daniel's Park
Daniel's Park is a small park in Douglas County that offers unparalleled views of the front range. There is a small walking trail that follows the road if you choose to go on foot, or you can stay in the car and drive the length of Daniel's Park Road. There is a bison herd that calls Daniels Park...Read more -
Meredith, Colorado
Ski Betty Bear to Skinner Hut
20.2 mi / 3650 ft gainBetty Bear and Skinner Huts reside deep in the Colorado backcountry surrounded by thick forests and snowy peaks. Both of these huts offer an opportunity for off-grid leisure and crowd-free skiing. The huts come stocked with padded mattresses, wood stoves & fuel, propane burners, all cookware ...Read more -
Red Cliff, Colorado
Ski to Fowler-Hilliard Hut
6.5 mi / 2500 ft gainFowler-Hilliard hut sits at 11,500 ft on a forested ridge of Resolution Mountain, with easy access to intermediate and expert backcountry skiing right out the door. This newer hut was built in 2010 after the original hut burned down from a lightning strike. The hut comes stocked with padded mattr...Read more -
Gypsum, Colorado
Camp at Dotsero Crater
COLORADO'S YOUNGEST VOLCANO The Dotsero crater is Colorado's youngest volcano, erupting a mere 4,200 years ago. While the crater may not be as dramatic as Mt. St Helens, Mt. Baker, or other volcanos in the U.S., it's quite an unusual terrain feature to come across in Colorado, and offers some gre...Read more -
Littleton, Colorado
Hike the Meadowlark Plymouth Trail
4.06 mi / 1197 ft gainFrom the parking lot, you can take the Meadowlark trail to the west or the Plymouth Creek Trail to the southeast. It does not matter which trail you take because it ends up becoming loop. For a more gradual slope up the hill, take the Meadowlark trail. After a little more than a mile, it intersec...Read more -
Pueblo, Colorado
Catch Sunset on the North Shore Pueblo Reservoir
1.0The sunset is great all around the park, but if you're looking for a bit of an adventure and one of my favorite unknown spots follow along below: Entering the North entrance of the park turn right onto the gravel road right before entering the park gates. Continue down the gravel road through the...Read more -
Wellington, Colorado
Hike the K-Lynn Cameron Trail in the Red Mountain Open Space
5.4 mi / 800 ft gainThe K-Lynn Trail is a 2.4 mile loop trail that goes west off of the Ruby Wash Trail on the western side of the Red Mountain Open Space. To get there, take the Bent Rock Trail from the Red Mountain Open Space parking lot where the Red Canyon / Antelope Valley road dead-ends.Once on the Bent Rock T...Read more -
Lyons, Colorado
Sleepy Lion Trail
4.7 mi / 712 ft gainThe trailhead is about eight tenths of a mile from the parking area. You pass some sport climbs, a man made waterfall, and some large boulders in the North St. Vrain Creek.The trailhead is clearly marked on the left. There is some elevation gain at the beginning but nothing difficult. Once the el...Read more -
Grand Lake, Colorado
Hike the Colorado River Trailhead Loop
5.013.6 mi / 1245 ft gainSince this hike is 13.6 miles (according to my watch the hike was more around 14 miles, but it's in that range), I'm going to break it down into four different parts. To Lulu CityTo Little Yellowstone / Thunder PassThe Grand Ditch Red Mountain Trail The first 0.5 miles and the last 0.5 miles a...Read more -
Cañon City, Colorado
Shelf Road
5.0Shelf Road, which was once a toll road from Cripple Creek to Canon City, is now a maintained dirt road that most high clearance two wheel drive cars can make. It will take over an hour to travel the 25 miles or so, and it can be completed going from north to south or the opposite. I will explai...Read more -
Grand Lake, Colorado
Photograph Moose in Rocky Mountain National Park
4.3Moose are the largest members of the deer family. They can stand over 6ft tall at their shoulders and weigh over 1500lbs. Males have antlers which can reach 6ft across and weigh up to 40lbs each. Amazingly these impressive creatures are strictly herbivores and will eat several dozen pounds of veg...Read more -
Dillon, Colorado
Grays Peak via the South Ridge
9.9 mi / 3970 ft gainGrays is easily one of the most popular 14ers in Colorado due to its moderate difficulty and proximity to Denver. Grays Peak is an awesome 14er but the crowds take away from the hike. And while the views on top of Grays are amazing, the barren landscape of the hike to get there isn't the most ama...Read more -
Buena Vista, Colorado
Summit Mount Huron
6 mi / 3500 ft gainThere are some dispersed campsites along side the 4x4 road that leads to the trailhead. Ideally you can sleep here to get an early start to your hike in the morning, to avoid the afternoon storms that frequent the mountains. The 4x4 is rough in spots, though my Subaru Outback did make the trek un...Read more -
Silverton, Colorado
Explore Hurricane Pass and Lake Como
Spending much of the trek above tree line, Hurricane Pass is situated at 12,730 feet above sea level and offers up views of Poughkeepsie Gulch (a more extreme off-road trail) and sapphire blue mountain lakes, such as Lake Como. One of the most beautiful roads in the lower 48 states, Hurricane Pas...Read more
