What's iconic about this Centennial State is the fact that it has numerous and stunning alpine…read morelakes. That's why we Coloradans feel lucky to have close access to these crystal clear lakes only a short drive away from our homes. Well, after living in the state for 28 years, I belatedly had a chance to climb up to see the beauty of Mohawk Lakes just several days ago. Due to the unprecedentedly low snowfall the past season (2025/2026), the lower Mohawk Lake's water level was quite low. This was by no means a disappointing view in any way; it still was emitting the beauty of a clear lake image that calmed us the hikers. We got tempted to sit right by the lakeside and start reading a great book although we didn't have one (lol). Two beautiful waterfalls treated us on the way to the top which we, of course, took advantage of by walking around them and snapping photos. Watching the rushing waters invigorated our spirits. Upper Mohawk Lake was the absolute treat to state the least. This lake deserves far better expression than "beautiful" or "stunning" as those words were quite ordinary for it. "Splendid" might be a bit better to use to describe its incredible depth of the character and the charm. Well, you will have to see it for yourself; mere words or even well-taken photos don't justify how gorgeous it is. Late August was a bit too late for the colorful wild flowers and yet it wasn't completely devoid of them as we saw some dark pink and white on the way. The trail gets a bit confusing during the 4.5 miles walk. You might feel a bit lost due to the lack of signs (we did too) especially when we got closer to the lakes (so I would say the last 0.75 miles or a mile) but we kind of followed other hikers to stay on the road. Don't worry; you'll get there! The Canada Jays or Gray/Grey Jays, fluffy mostly white with some black, were quite friendly! They flew over to us where we almost got to pet them! When they come close to you, stick your index finger. They might come and lightly and playfully bite it but it won't hurt. They are absolutely adorable and made our hike so memorable.

The lakes were beautiful and the falls were also very beautiful. The hike was challenging but…read moredoable and not too hard. Good shade in a lot of places but lots of mosquitoes as well you need bug spray for sure! Really crowded but less crowded than a fourteener.

Wonderful trail wow! We saw so many mountain goats! The views of the lake were incredible. Would…read moretotally come back!

Take the 850 road which is unpaved to the 1st parking lot with a lake to the south side. Here you…read morecan see the waterfalls in the distance. You will have to cross the river which has no bridge. Either take off your shoes or skillfully traverse the river by rock hopping across. If you have poles you stand a better chance of not falling off the stepping stones. After the falls you can drive all the way up to the dam and park there. Mountain goats do walk about there to lick the dust off cars or lick the roads there for salt which was left over from the salting of the roads during winter. If you are lucky you will be able to see them up close. Apparently they are there frequently. The views are spectacular in this glacial valley.

I had a random Monday off and finally made my way to Guanella Pass after being in my bucket list…read morefor so long. When you first exit Georgetown, there are so many signs to guide you to Guanella Pass (also unlike a lot of places, this is free with free parking as well). This is a drive so be kind and share the road. This is also a paved road so driving was quite easy. There are lots of curved spots to park your car if there's a view you are interested in. Drive at your own pace. Take your time and drive slowly because the views are amazing, especially in Autumn. There are lots of lakes so if you see a sign for picnic area, make a stop. Drive up to the top of the summit. It's chilly but the views are wonderful. My little fur baby had a blast.

Gorgeous. Guanella…read morePass is certainly a fan favorite, especially for those seeking the fall colors a short drive from Denver. Plus it's a paved pass so that's a plus. Along the route are a ton of pull outs and scenic stops which are well occupied and used. There are also some campsites for those wishing to stay longer and check out some of the hiking trails. Absolutely a must see if you're scouting out the fall colors or looking to climb Mount Bierstadt.

Great trail that allows you to connect to a series of trails and dry slopes in the summer months…read more You can start near the Village or off Mill Creek Circle and connect over. Alternately, begin at the base of Lionshead. It is seven to eight miles roundtrip on the traditional route. I do not remember seeing any berries, ever. So, don't expect a beary berry snack along the way.

What a beautiful fall trail! Starting from the Lionshead side, this path steeply ascends Vail…read moreMountain till you get up to Eagles Nest, over two thousand vertical feet above, and seven miles round trip. I've skied here a ton and biked once but never tried the hiking trails. And they are pretty awesome! Scenic and rugged, with beautiful large aspen groves and deep spruce woods. Many overlooks and clearing with the ski paths help open up the views! It's not well marked but if you keep going uphill, you'll be ok. Fantastic colors right now(10-7-23). Get out there while you still can!

I'm quite addicted to hiking and Quandary is still in my memories and I'm determine to do all the…read moreCO 14'er as result. Go out there and create your own adventure!

My first 14er!! And apparently it's a common gateway hike. Information on the website is clear that…read moreparking can be reserved two weeks in advance, which is what my friend and I did. We stayed overnight at an Airbnb in Breck to make a weekend trip out of the adventure, leaving at 6am to make it to the top of Quandary by early afternoon. There was a volunteer standing at the base of the ascent to warn everyone about clouds coming in. It did get chilly at the end of August and sprinkle quite heavily by the end of our hike. So glad my friend had hiking poles, because I wouldn't have survived without them. The views are beautiful at the top, and we even got to see adorable mountain goats!! Haven't decided whether or not I'll do another 14er, but at least I did one. Definitely consult friends or the internet for advice if this is your first. It's a struggle if you have weak knees like I do, but take your time and start early if you can. Then take a picture with the sign at the top so you can show off on social media afterwards, obviously.

I prefer Mt Blue Sky over Pikes Peak (Pikes Peak and Mt Blue Sky are the only 14ers in Colorado…read morethat you can drive to the top of). I think the views at the top are better. You can see a lot of other mountains from Mount Blue Sky and feel more in the wilderness. Fun fact, It is also the highest paved road in America! On our visit we got to see mountain goats. This was my first time seeing mountain goats in the wild. We did the quick walk up to the top of the mountain which was really cool and stopped over at summit lake. Make sure to reserve your timed entry! I actually do not mind that they do this because I feel like it would be hazardous if too many people were on the road up to Mt Blue Sky. There are no guard rails, cliffs off the side of the road, potholes, and the roads can be narrow in areas so not the ideal road to be busy. Very much a bucket list activity, though I definitely want to come back again vs just checking it off my list.

Although I've lived in Colorado for nearly 40 years, I'd never visited Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway…read more when it was still called Mount Evans because I'd heard the road was very steep. When I saw news reports about the name change, I realized the scenery was indeed stunning, and the road was entirely flat asphalt. Although most of the route runs along the edge of a cliff, if you drive slowly and pull over a bit when there's no oncoming traffic, it probably isn't as heart-stopping as the legends suggest. I was just planning to go when, unexpectedly, the scenic byway closed for two years. So as soon as it reopened--while there was still snow on the summit and road conditions were good--I hurried over. Driving from the city on I-25, then taking Highway 6 and connecting to I-70, it took about 40 minutes to reach the small town of Idaho Springs at the base of the mountain. On a Sunday afternoon, the town wasn't too crowded. While there are restrooms further up the mountain, they aren't as clean or convenient as the ones at the town's visitor center, so many tourists take care of business here before heading up. The visitor center also houses a paid museum where you can learn more about the history of this mining town. Across the street from the visitor center stands a statue honoring American pilots from World War II, modeled after the famous comic book hero Steve Canyon. This is also the last place before entering the mountains where you'll have a stable cell phone signal; once you're in the mountains, the signal disappears. The 14-mile drive from Idaho Springs to Echo Lake--located at an elevation of 10,600 feet just before the scenic byway entrance--follows a lush forest road that's a pleasure to drive. Since fishing is free in Colorado this weekend, there are quite a few anglers at Echo Lake. With its rippling turquoise waters and the lush, layered mountains in the background, the scenery is truly breathtaking and refreshing. There is an outdoor picnic area next to Echo Lake, and if you find the sun too strong or the weather unfavorable, you can take a break in the picnic area inside the stone building nearby. Less than a minute's drive from Echo Lake, a right turn leads to the Scenic Byway ticket booth. The attendant will tell you about the wildlife you might see on the mountain that day and remind everyone to just watch them--do not feed or touch them. The drive from the entrance to the Mount Goliath Natural Area at 11,540 feet is about 3 miles. Although the road follows the cliffside, towering pine and evergreen trees line both sides. Except for the final stretch, the valley is only faintly visible for most of the journey, making it a relatively easy drive. Looking out from the rest area, you'll see endless, layered mountain vistas. There's a trail through the tundra nearby that leads to the summit of Mount Goliath. After passing the Mount Goliath rest area, it's 6.2 miles to Summit Lake at an elevation of 12,830 feet. The entire route consists of tundra and mountain roads with no guardrails on one side--just a sheer cliff. Since the road winds around the mountain, the route runs half on the inner side and half on the outer side of the mountain, and it's very winding. It's fine when you're on the inner side, but when you're on the outer side, the cliff is right there. Fortunately, everyone drives slowly, but it's still quite nerve-wracking. Just before reaching Summit Lake, there's a patch of snow that hasn't melted yet by the roadside. Set against the western ridge of the summit, it looks as if you're on a glacier--it's a whole new world. Not far from there is Summit Lake, a high-altitude glacial lake. A short walk from the parking lot leads to the lakeshore. The surface of Summit Lake is as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the snow-capped ridges with such clarity that they appear to be exact replicas on the water--truly a scene of icy mountains mirrored in the water, ethereal and crystal-clear. The 5.3-mile stretch from Summit Lake to the summit at 14,264 feet is steeper and more rugged than the previous section. Many visitors turn back at Summit Lake, and I, too, didn't have the confidence or fortitude to drive another 10-plus miles of mountain road round-trip. So, after taking in the scenic beauty of Summit Lake, I headed back as well. Although it's only about 9 miles from the ticket booth to Summit Lake, the speed limit is no more than 20 miles per hour, so the round trip takes roughly an hour. Adding in the time spent at the scenic area, the total trip takes a little over two hours.

This is a great hike not too far outside Denver. I found out about this trail thanks to my "60…read morehikes within 60 miles" book. An aside-- I found that book in Barnes and Noble and impulsively decided to buy it. It's been a fabulous purchase! Some of you CO natives are probably rolling your eyes at me, but I've found a ton of lesser known hikes (as well as some very common ones) thanks to this book-- the most recent of which being Hell's Hole. Hell's Hole trail leads into Mt. Evans Wilderness about 30 min into the hike. About 20 minutes prior to this, there's a little stand where you must self register for a wilderness permit. There is no fee for this, it's basically just a way for the park service to keep track of info. The trailhead is off CO-103 on a pretty obscure road, West Chicago Creek. It gets pretty sketchy towards the end (very narrow road winding up a steep mountain with no guardrails...as long as I live here I'll never understand CO's aversion to guardrails in places like this) but it's well worth it. There's a campground near the trail head as well. The hike itself is a great workout with shade in the beginning and gorgeous views towards the end. Horses and dogs are welcome on the trail; mountain bikes are not permitted. The book I have estimated the total hike time to be 4.5 hours but I was pleasantly surprised to discover it only took me 3 hours, including a 30 min break at the turn around point and a couple photo/water opps. Obviously the hike time will vary for everyone; I guess the important thing to know is that it's 9 miles round trip. Though the hike is relatively long, it's not incredibly difficult. There are definitely some fairly steep portions, but a lot of it is at a relatively gentle incline. It seems like a fairly lightly used trail-- in the whole 3 hours I ran into about 3 other couples. It was really nice to enjoy the solitude, but also somewhat reassuring to know there were people somewhat nearby-- if you're hiking alone, like I was, it's always good to be aware! The trail ends in an open field with a creek nearby. It's around the treeline and you can see a couple fourteeners towering over you in this beautiful post-glacier valley. Definitely an ideal picnic spot! This trail is out-and-back, so once you've had enough of the scenery, it's time to pack it in and do it all over again!

Absolutely beautiful. Fairly populated trail so I wouldn't feel anxious going here alone. Road up…read morethe the trail head may be a bit difficult to find, just google it, the road is a little sketchy but I made it up in my little Toyota Camry just fine.

Five star rating for having a clean restroom at the TH. Yes, an auto flushing toilet, uriners, sink…read moreand the Excelrator hand dryer. Baby changing station, too. Vail, you are living up to the expectations. ** no parking at the TH (trail head). only drop off. see below ** How to get to the TH. Park at the Vail transportation center. See my Google photos. Just east of Village Center Dr. and Frontage Road. Go thru the gated parking. Come back to the west side of the transportation center and look for a "hiker" bus. There will be several other buses that look similar. May need to wait until the bus makes the loop. This is the only way to get to the TH. Hiker bus staffed by very friendly drivers will make a few stops before the TH drop off. On your return trip, will need to take the same shuttle back to the parking lot but will be marked as "East Vail" To find the TH, walk up to the north side (away from the main road), following the paved road for about 2000 feet while admiring beautiful homes. When you see the 5 min drop zone parking and the welcome sign, you are ready! Lots of elevation gain, walking thru the aspen forest and over a few creeks. About 2 miles to the fall, and another 2 miles to the lake. Enjoy! During the aspen season, there is not much water at the creek. If you want to see the columbine, need to be here around May.

Amazing hike just minutes away from Whistler village! Had a blast with beautiful waterfall views at…read morethe end! It's more of a challenging hike being at altitude and there are a couple of steep inclines but it is relatively easy to navigate and the scenery is beautiful! Park at Vail Village and take the free bus to the trail. It's about 4 or so miles round trip and it was not too busy when we visited! Go early before the sun gets too intense in summer and it's a great experience!