Make it a destination when in NoCo....the place is just a beautiful place, close to town, and…read morestands out as must not miss !! Great place for a short hike, or use their amenities to start your longer adventure.

Super easy hike with some decent views. I wanted more of a challenge, but still had a good time…read more There is a lot of traffic on these trails and a lot of kids were there...not an issue, but it was busier than a lot of the hikes I do. Parking is $10 though!

Nice local hike if you are in the longmont area…read more There are trash cans and a recycling can at the trailhead. However, there are no dog poop bags. if you are bringing your furry friend, be sure to pack some bags along with you. There are 3 different trails at the open space none of them overly long. The overlook trail is more rocky though not bad. There are also no trees. The loop trail has some trees but its not really shaded. The loop trail does have some lovely views. In september to at some point in January, the trail does close to hikers monday through weds. for "elk management" so be sure to check cotrex to see if trail is open or closed. Winter is really a great time to hike this area. The temps are cooler and the snow makes the trees and area look magical.

For an easy hike, this is the spot. The views are unbelievable…read more The terrain and surroundings change from barren rocky trails to meadows to forest lands. The prickly pears had just bloomed and we saw lots of birds and two different groups of mule deer. It's a great hike to take with kids. The elevation changes are gradual. You do share the trail with horseback riders and mountain bikers so be aware.

I loved this 4 mile round-trip hike. It was absolutely amazing and wonderful to enjoy my kids. We…read morespent an entire hour at the very top of the lake. I believe you can walk around the whole lake, but it got a little bit woody so we turned around halfway through and went back the same way we came in at the beginning you can make a left or right I suggest making a left as there's more openings that appears to look in the lake and play in the water and dirt. This is hands-down the best hike I've ever been on with multiple waterfall in a stream in many parts of the hike. My biggest focus is looking for streams and waterfalls.

The Hessie Trailhead leads to many great hikes. Hikes of all difficulty…read more Parking is a bitch and you now have to ( unless you get there at some ungodly hour) park at the high school and take a school bus to the trailhead. Fun Hike is Lost Lake ( snowshoeing or hiking in the summer). Magical place.

What a gem of a trail! The perfect balance of shade and sun meant nobody got too hot, and the water…read morestayed close the entire time. We loved discovering little slow-moving pockets and coves for the kids to splash around in!

This is a 3.4 mile hike with 450 feet of elevation gain in Boulder. The hike is rated as easy…read more Dogs are allowed but must be on a leash. There are no bikes or horses allowed. There is a small parking lot available along with a small amount of road side parking in specific areas. There are port-a-pottys available at trail head and also some trash cans. There are no dog poop bags so if you are bringing your furry friends be sure to bring some! The trail is lovely. There are a lot of water crossings. Where you will need to step on rocks. They are stable but if you are not comfortable walking on rocks this may not be for you. The trail is shaded with lots of forest and trees.

One of my favorite trails in Boulder located in Chautauqua park. It's a little over 3 miles with…read moresome elevation, but I think it's relatively easy. My friend who was visiting from sea level who doesn't hike much was able to do it with no problems. It's a beautiful hike through tree line, nice vertical and stone steps and a unique arch at the top! There are big rocks to sit on and enjoy the stunning vistas and observe sweet chipmunks running about.

The hiking conditions at Royal Arch turned out to be a lot more intense than I had expected - a…read moregood thing :-) Tip: While the hiking in intense, the views you experience while you hike aren't anything to write home about - quite disappointing. This is the kind of hiking trail that I'm not unhappy about having done once, but I really can't see myself coming back to repeat the experience.

This is a great trail in summer & winter. Minimum is 7 miles with 1800 ft elevation, slightly…read morelonger to explore around any of the lakes more than the shortest trail provides. It's easy to reach in all seasons: due to the train tunnel, the dirt road to the trailhead is kept well maintained and plowed. Definitely way way more crowded on summer weekends than in winter. Several little waterfalls and tons on wildflowers even in late August made it a rewarding trail along the way, not only payoffs at the lakes. The trail from the lower two lakes to the upper lake is much steeper, but worth the added effort. Just note that when you first reach what you think is the upper lake, it's actually the drainage (albeit also lovely, see my attached photo); you need to go just a bit further over the boulders & through some bushes to reach the final upper cirque.

James Peak Wilderness area is one of my favs close to Denver. That and Indian peaks wilderness…read more Crater lakes is a moderate hike to 5 fantastic lakes that you can hike, camp, backpack, fish at. Last time I was there I saw two amazing Moose...just gorgeous. Area gets insane on the weekends with tons of peoples and dogs. Last three times I have been there I have been in thunder and hails storms after 1 pm. So if you are planning to hike getting off the mountain before might be a good idea. You can also take the more strenuous Heart Lake trail which is also fantastic and if you really want to kick your ass go up to Rogers pass for beautiful vistas. Great parking.