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    Hessie Trailhead

    4.8 (21 reviews)
    Open 5:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Hessie Trailhead Photos

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    4WD trail through the creek!
    Chuck M.

    This is a great little 4WD trail to take for an early morning or late afternoon run. The trail runs along the former of Township of Hessie, one of Colorado's high altitude and short-lived, mining towns. The site is now a large meadow with some great views of the surrounding peaks and glacier basins. For most of the trail you are driving up a small stream which gets a little deep at one point, probably 10-15 inches. There a few large rocks that are usually submerged in early spring with the snow melt. The trail is only about a half mile long but challenging and fun. I made up and back on the trail with a stock Jeep Grand Cherokee

    Jessica T.

    Loved this hike to lost lake! I went as a solo female hiker and I felt safe and the trail was easy to follow I got directions to the trail head from All Trails and I had no problems!

    Mercedes W.

    Moderate hike. Absolutely gorgeous end at a beautiful lake. Parking is PACKED. Do yourself a favor, park at Nederland High and take the shuttle. When I got there on a Sunday around 12 I took the last parking spot at the SCHOOL. The driver said there's usually a line for the shuttle at the school. I've recommended this to all of my friends and it's been a go to hike for me. Pretty easy... might take a couple of breaks on the way up but nothing to strenuous for someone who is acclimated. I recommend bringing lunch or a hammock to relax by the lake. It's beautiful.

    Alexandra F.

    Busy and popular, so go on a weekday or very early to get a good parking spot and on the trail without the crowd. If you come here, it really doesn't matter which trail you go on, all will be popular with travelers and all will be beautiful. This is a lakes galore trailhead, so if you are looking for a shiny cool dip at the end of a 3-7mile hike, Hessie is a good place to start. There is a map at the beginning of the trailhead to help you pick your course, but we didn't seems to find our desired hike and ended up on a different one. I liked how we went through forest, inclines, meadows and waterfalls... Intermediate to advance hikes, this is a good place to go if you have 3 hours or 3 days. * Star one for this thing called fresh air ** Out of breath star two is for giving me a challenge to get that heart rate up *** Time to eat star three is for giving me a reason to say I am hungry so I can eat my sandwich **** Ooh ahh star four is for pretty waterfalls that make that waterfall sound

    Rosemarie B.

    I LOVE this trailhead because there are so many options for beautiful destinations with varying levels of difficulty and mileage. For guests visiting from sea level, I take them on what I thought was the shortest trail to Lost Lake. The altitude may get to some, but it's worth it if you can hike through! Bring water and if you want to camp, there are even campsites that you can rent out!

    Jean Y.

    It's a gorgeous snowshoeing trail! About 1hr drive from Golden where we live. It's helpful to have 4x4 in the snowy days. Parking yesterday (Sunday) was very limited, didn't see any parking lot so everyone was parking on the one side of the road. We got there about 11:30 am, about 20+cars there. We started snowshoeing from the trail head. It was snowing and windy, Definitely looked like a winter wonderland here! About 3-4 ft of snow on the ground when we were up higher in the trail. The snow, the trees, the trail were so beautiful! The air is so fresh but get thinner when we went up higher. We had to stop few times to slow down the heartbeat, catch the breath and hydrated ourselves. ESP. The last last mile of the snowshoeing up to the Lost Lake. We went slow and enjoyed the nature, took us 2.5 hours up to the Lake which was totally turned into a flat iceland covered by snow. We took a little break here and snowshoeing back, much easier this time, only 1.5 hour. We passed 3 bridges. Imaged in the summer must be very nice views with water flowing under the bridges and in the Lake! We will be back to enjoy that! Lots of people snowshoeing and cross country skiing here too. We only wished the trail can mark the sign better. We were little confused about where should we go and how far. Thank goodness for the cellphones' help. We had a wonderful time here yesterday!

    Pic of map @ trailhead
    Sammy L.

    Parking: VERY limited parking unless you own a lifted/4wd vehicle but on a Tuesday morning at 8am my friend and I grabbed one of the last spots alongside the road. Parking to Hessie Trailhead: Flat, easy walk down a dirt road. Hessie Trailhead toWoodland Lake: Such a beautiful, moderate/easy difficult trail alongside a swift moving creek. Lots of wildflowers, butterflies, and waterfalls. We were warned by a USFS volunteer that there was a female moose in the area with calves but *not warned about the state of the Woodland lake trail*. About 3+ miles in, the trail turned into a mess that alternated between fast moving water and knee deep snow. We kept loosing the trail, backtracking to where we last knew it was then lost it again and again (there are NO blazings or cairns-it being wilderness and all). With soaked feet we kept trying until we counted 5 hikers just as confused as we were. We decided to cut our hike short & headed back down. Too bad, really tried to find the trail but just couldn't! While we saw lots of signs of moose activity (hoof marks in the mud and snow; scat), we did not come across any wildlife bigger than a chipmunk. Lost Lake: We did this short trail on our way back. Easy hike up to a small lake which was very busy for a Tuesday. Lots of children and families seemed to be enjoying the campsites around the tiny lake. Overall, well worth muddy feet. Our round trip wander took us 6 hours including a lunch break.

    Jennifer P.

    Let me preface this by saying that I am not a hiker. This was my first experience, but it was SO fun. And exhausting. But mostly fun. Most of the hike was next to a spring with rushing water and waterfalls. We were able to go off trail and follow a small path in the forest right next to the water. It was so clean we drank out of the spring. There were parts that were difficult, but not too bad for a newbie. Definitely manageable. And the best part was getting to the top and seeing Lost Lake. So beautiful and totally worth the climb.

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    13 years ago

    A great place for casual to more intense hikes. As mentioned, it can get very busy, so start early!

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    Ask the Community - Hessie Trailhead

    Review Highlights - Hessie Trailhead

    For guests visiting from sea level, I take them on what I thought was the shortest trail to Lost Lake.

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    Liquid Descent

    Liquid Descent

    4.9(635 reviews)
    13.6 mi
    Certified professionals
    Family-owned & operated

    I've rafted with Liquid Descent multiple times, and every single trip has been a 5-star experience!…read moreThe guides are not only experts at keeping you safe, but they also make sure you have an unforgettable time on the river. This year, I went early season on Clear Creek and loved it so much I came back late season for Gore Canyon- an adrenaline-packed, fun adventure! The day started with a swim test to make sure everyone was prepared before tackling Class V rapids. (Honestly, if you're not a strong swimmer, this trip isn't for you, they do test your swimming in the rapids and throughout the trip over half of the people across our 5 rafts ended up in the water at some point! Additionally this would be quite the dive into the deep end if you've never rafted before!) The trip was an incredible mix of thrills, skill, and crazy beautiful scenery you would not have guessed was there when you drive into Kremmling. Midway through, we stopped for snacks, and when we wrapped up, the crew served a delicious lunch and cold beers (NA options were there too!) such a nice touch after a big day! What sets Liquid Descent apart is the crew. Every guide I've had has been dedicated to making the trip special. I've talked to them and many of them have said they specifically choose to work here because of the company's extra training and the sense of community. I even met the owner yesterday at Gore Canyon, and you can tell the company's passion for customer experience comes directly from the top. Specifically the last 2 guides I've had, Jordan and Malia have been awesome! Yes, most rafting companies use the same put-in/take-out points and similar gear but the experience is what makes the difference. With Liquid Descent, the guides make sure it's the best it can be and their love for their job ensures you're going to have a great time. I've rafted with other companies in locations where liquid descent isnt and know: the right guide changes everything. If you're looking for an unforgettable rafting trip in Colorado, Liquid Descent is the company to go with!

    I can't say enough good things about our experience with Liquid Descent. My daughter and I signed…read moreup for the beginner rafting trip... and while she was excited... I was terrified. I was so nervous walking in, but from the moment we arrived, every single staff member made us feel welcomed, safe, and supported. Our guide, Koa, was the perfect balance of fun, kind, and incredibly skilled. He guided us through the rapids with such confidence and ease while also making sure everyone felt safe and included. He checked in on us several times throughout and made sure we were having fun, asked us if we wanted to "spice it up" a bit or keep it mellow and just really let us know this was "our" trip and he's cater to what we wanted. I quickly found myself letting go of fear and enjoying the moment... something I didn't expect would happen. Koa's energy was contagious, and his calm, respectful nature made us feel like we were in the best hands possible. At one point on the river, another rafting company had a mishap and we had to pull over and wait for them to recover and get their riders back into the raft safely. Koa explained what had happened with total grace - no judgment, no gossip - just a calm and respectful explanation. He also spoke so kindly of his own coworkers and even the owner of Liquid Descent. You could tell he genuinely cares about the rafting community and takes pride in his work and LOVES his Liquid Descent family! Every employee we encountered was friendly, encouraging, and helpful - from getting us fitted with helmets and life jackets to cheering us on as we headed out. As someone who started out nervous, that kind of supportive vibe made a huge difference. They encouraged me, and they helped me push past my comfort zone in the best way possible. What a GREAT memory! We will remember this day not only for the thrill of the rapids, but for the kindness and heart of the people who guided us through it! If you are considering rafting in Colorado, go with Liquid Descent. I'm so glad we did!

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    Liquid Descent
    Liquid Descent
    Liquid Descent

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    Adventure West River Tube and EBike Rentals - Battery lasts for up to 40 miles.

    Adventure West River Tube and EBike Rentals

    4.8(93 reviews)
    23.9 mi

    Take a cool ride down the river! Adventure West River Tube is your destination to make the day fun!…read more The single or double tubes have handles to hold on for your rapid ride! The beautiful river that looks like a leisurely ride actually has 7 rapids! They also provide life jackets and a helmet if you choose to wear use them. The river entry point is a 20 min walk with the tube. I chose to pay a few extra dollars and have a van take us to the entry point and skip the walk. You can go down the river multiple times as your price is for the day. It is a couple dollars cheaper on weekdays. Tubing is something everyone should try at least once. The ride down the river in Golden Colorado is exciting and scenic!

    I have come to Denver two summers in a row now and plan for it again next year and this is on the…read more"must do" list, not because it is some crazy adventure but because it is fun, and easy, and the people are great! It's super easy: book ahead, you get a tube rental and two rides to the "top" with the price. It's cold, even when it's 97 degrees out! But you get used to it. All ages can do this. If you're nervous, you can get a life jacket and a helmet, but we haven't felt the need to do that. It's NOT a lazy river but it's also not a cat 5 white water experience. It's just fun. And then a plug for the Golden Mills Social Hall afterwards for drinks and food!

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    Adventure West River Tube and EBike Rentals - Wheee! Ebiking is fun for all.

    Wheee! Ebiking is fun for all.

    Adventure West River Tube and EBike Rentals - Cruising on the trail....

    Cruising on the trail....

    Adventure West River Tube and EBike Rentals - E-bike rental

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    E-bike rental

    AVA Rafting & Zipline - Mom zip lining at 69 years young !! And loving every minute of it !!

    AVA Rafting & Zipline

    4.7(61 reviews)
    39.6 mi

    Obviously everyone's trip experience is going to be in different. But ours was fantastic. We are a…read morefamily of 4, a 10yo Bo with lots of energy and a 12 yo girl with not so much. It's definitely a large operation. Check in for us involved a 100 people or so. But they've got it down. Don't plan to bring much/anything with you honestly. You can choose wet suits, dry jackets etc... It was 75 degrees in July here so our family split between wet suits and dry jackets. The latter was the better choice. You take a 30 minute school bus ride and some quick safety instructions (thanks Erico!) And then get assigned to your boat. Ours included 8 of us and a guide. Honestly that was too much but okay. Our guide was Tristan who was fantastic. Funny and engaging with fun facts along the way. But more importantly you could tell he was taking safety seriously. We did the browns canyon ride and it was a good mix of slightly challenging for the kids and fun for the adults. All in all it was a great way to spend half a day!

    Phil and Tim. Phil and Tim are amazing. Tim is an energetic…read moreleader and guide, and Phil is so patient and reassuring that they make the perfect team. This was my first time zip-lining and my first time visiting Colorado! They made such a memorable experience for me. Be in Phil and Tim's group and your zip-lining experience will be elevated by a million. (No pun intended.) The route was beautiful, the weather was perfect, and the instructions were clear throughout. 100% will do again with them one day if I can. Thank you guys. And Bucket. I love Bucket.

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    AVA Rafting & Zipline - Niece zip lining !!

    Niece zip lining !!

    AVA Rafting & Zipline - Nephew zip lining

    Nephew zip lining

    AVA Rafting & Zipline

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    Hessie Trailhead - hiking - Updated June 2026

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