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.

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.

At over 11,500 feet, the air at Hoosier Pass is crisp and invigorating. Surrounding peaks create a…read moredramatic backdrop. Easily accessible, yet wild and remote. Driving, hiking, or stopping for photos, Hoosier Pass offers a memorable glimpse into Colorado's rugged alpine beauty.

I was nervous to drive on this from Breckenridge to Colorado Springs because it started snowing in…read moreBreck that morning. We arrived at the pass in 10-15 minutes and fortunately it was clear and sunny so no threat of ice. The views are amazing from the lookout.

This was a fun trail to do with the family! Got some good steps in, elevation and elevation gain,…read moreand a history lesson. We enjoyed this was fairly close to where we stayed in Breckenridge as well. The trail follows the B&B trail, so you park at that trailhead. There's a sign on the road once you get onto the I paved gravel road (French Gulch - technically turns into a county road it looks like?). There were mountain bikers and hikers. No electric vehicles, so that made it nice and safe. The first couple of directional markers don't specifically say "Reiling Dredge." Follow B&B left from the parking lot, though. You'll finally see a marker that notes Reiling Dredge and you're almost there! Read more here - https://www.bookbreck.com/best-easy-hikes/. Take water, and if you aren't used to elevation, give yourself some time to acclimate. We live higher than sea level, but this was more than double our "normal" altitude. My husband and I kept wondering why we needed to catch our breath as often as we did, and the two year old wanted to be carried more than walking (which is NOT typical for him). HAVE FUN!!! {We visited in early October, and the weather was beautiful!}

This was my Sawatch range finisher and it was a grueling, but rewarding hike. I clocked about 12…read moremiles round trip with over 5K of elevation. The downhill was the hardest! Definitely tough on the joints. Much of the hike was in the dark to begin, so it felt like it took forever to get back since nothing looked familiar. It's a beautiful mountain with no technical skills required despite the elevation and length. I thought the scramble was great fun-harder class 2 but still easy with little exposure. Going through half moon pass is beautiful and offers stunning views of the mountain, but I definitely had an "oh sh*t" moment when I saw how far away it was. I brought my friend with me who did this as her first 14er which is pretty bad ass! I think if you choose this as your first, you could easily do all of the class 1 and 2s without a problem. There is one river crossing and so many pretty flowers when I went. A great challenging hike with beautiful scenery! I'd recommend camping at half moon campground the night before so it's easy to get an early start.

Obviously you can't summit now. It's covered in snow! This is a favorite among Colorado Fourteeners…read morethough. Just had to review. Expect at least 12 miles roundtrip from the closest trailhead. If you start closer to Minturn, it could be a 20. Truly enjoyable with lots of variation and a tight drop off bend as you approach the pinnacle. It has the visuals of where a sherpa would live with their goat. Truly awesome.

Iowa Hill trail is more than just a hiking trail. It has a historical story behinds it. Back in the…read more1870's gold was discovered in this part of the mountain. Along the hiking trails, abandoned mining equipments and rails can be seem. A restored broading house used by the miners near the summit can be seem. A guided tour of the broading house can be arranged. The trail itself requires lots of uphill hiking. Lots of trees and many good views along the trail. Parking is very limited, maybe fours vehicles the most.

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 marked looped trail and the views at the top are stunning. Trail is well marked with blue…read morediamonds on trees. It is fairly rocky so just watch your step. Slow elevation rise. I would say dogs and kids would do well on it.

Pika Trail is on the outskirts of Fairplay and Alma. Roughly a 20 minute drive from either town…read more It's a small, but mighty loop clocking in just over a mile. I hiked here the morning of Memorial Day. My advice for anyone hiking around this time of year in the mountains is to download a map in advance. Even for a super short trail, it's incredibly easy to steer off course when it's still snow packed. I nearly made a wrong turn at the very beginning! Once you get to the top, you get amazing panoramic views of the mountains. It's a wide open space at the top, and I think you're able to connect to the Pennsylvania Mountain trail if desired. I will say the trail was marked impeccably well with blue markers sitting high on the trees. It's very easy to get off track during this woodsy hike. When you arrive at the trailhead you'll find only a handful of parking spots. 1.2 mile loop 259 ft. elevation gain 35 minutes to complete (in summer, longer if snow packed) Contrary to the name, I didn't see many pikas. Assuming they'll be more present during the summer months. Nice little trail for all ages and difficulty levels. Great views!