10 Hikes Near Denver Worth the Drive
Denver sits at the edge of the mountains. Within two hours, you can be on trails that range from flat river walks to above-treeline scrambles. Here are ten worth your time, ranked roughly by distance from the city.
1. Mount Falcon Park: Castle Trail
Distance: 3.6 miles round trip
Elevation gain: 800 feet
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Drive from Denver: 30 minutes
The closest good hike to Denver. The Castle Trail climbs through meadows and ponderosa pines to the ruins of John Brisben Walker's stone castle, which he started building in 1909 and never finished. Views of Red Rocks, the Denver skyline, and Mount Evans from the top.
Start from the west trailhead off Highway 8 for the shorter route. The east trailhead from Morrison adds distance but avoids the dirt road.
2. South Table Mountain
Distance: 4.4-mile loop
Elevation gain: 700 feet
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Drive from Denver: 20 minutes
A flat-topped mesa in Golden with 360-degree views. The trail climbs steeply up the side of the mesa, then flattens out on top. You can see the entire Front Range from Pikes Peak to Longs Peak. Below you, Coors Brewery. This is the most underrated hike near Denver.
Go early. No shade on top. Summer afternoons are brutal.
3. Rattlesnake Gulch Trail, Eldorado Canyon
Distance: 3.6 miles round trip
Elevation gain: 950 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Drive from Denver: 40 minutes
Eldorado Canyon State Park is one of the best climbing destinations in the country. You do not need to climb to enjoy it. The Rattlesnake Gulch Trail switchbacks up the south wall of the canyon to the ruins of the Crags Hotel, a resort that burned in 1912. Views of the canyon and the Continental Divide from the top.
Park entrance is $10 per vehicle. The parking lot fills by 9 AM on summer weekends. Get there early or go on a weekday.
4. Royal Arch Trail
Distance: 3.4 miles round trip
Elevation gain: 1,350 feet
Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
Drive from Denver: 45 minutes (Chautauqua Park, Boulder)
The signature hike in Boulder. A steep climb through forest and rock to a natural stone arch with views of the Flatirons and the plains below. The last section involves scrambling over boulders and rock steps. Not a trail for small children or anyone uncomfortable with exposure.
Start from Chautauqua Park. Parking is free with a reservation through the City of Boulder website. Without a reservation, you are not parking.
5. Saint Mary's Glacier
Distance: 1.5 miles round trip
Elevation gain: 600 feet
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Drive from Denver: 55 minutes
A short hike to one of the few remaining glaciers in Colorado. The trail climbs from the parking lot to Saint Mary's Lake, a high alpine lake at 10,800 feet with a permanent snowfield above it. People ski and sled on the snowfield in July.
The parking lot charges $5. The hike itself is short but starts at altitude. Take it easy if you are not acclimated.
6. Chicago Lakes Trail
Distance: 9 miles round trip
Elevation gain: 2,400 feet
Difficulty: Strenuous
Drive from Denver: 1 hour
Two alpine lakes below the east face of Mount Evans. The trail follows Chicago Creek through forest, past a lower lake, and up to the upper lake at 11,700 feet. The upper lake sits in a rocky cirque. Few people make it to the upper lake, which is the point.
Start early. The trail is exposed above treeline and afternoon thunderstorms are common from July through September. Be below treeline by noon.
7. Herman Lake
Distance: 6 miles round trip
Elevation gain: 1,700 feet
Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
Drive from Denver: 1 hour (Bakerville exit off I-70)
A high alpine lake at 12,000 feet that you can reach in about 2 hours of hiking. The trail crosses open meadows and enters a glacial valley. The lake sits below the Continental Divide. It is one of the most accessible high-altitude lake hikes near Denver.
The trailhead is right off I-70 at Bakerville. Easy to find. Hard to park on weekends. Arrive before 7 AM.
8. Grays and Torreys Peaks
Distance: 8.4 miles round trip
Elevation gain: 3,600 feet
Difficulty: Strenuous
Drive from Denver: 1 hour 15 minutes
Two fourteeners in one hike. Grays Peak at 14,270 feet and Torreys Peak at 14,267 feet are connected by a saddle that lets you bag both in a single trip. This is the most popular fourteener combo in Colorado and a good first fourteener if you are in decent shape and acclimated.
Start before sunrise. The parking lot at the trailhead on Stevens Gulch Road fills by 5 AM on summer weekends. The road is rough but passable in most cars if you drive carefully.
Lightning above treeline kills people every year. Be off the summit by noon. This is not a suggestion.
9. Bierstadt Lake
Distance: 2.8 miles round trip
Elevation gain: 600 feet
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Drive from Denver: 1 hour 45 minutes (Rocky Mountain National Park)
A short hike to a lake surrounded by old-growth spruce and fir with views of the Continental Divide reflected in the water. The trail starts from the Bierstadt Lake Trailhead off Bear Lake Road.
You need a timed entry reservation for Rocky Mountain National Park from late May through October. Book at recreation.gov. The park entrance fee is $35 per vehicle on top of the reservation.
10. Blue Lake via Monte Cristo Gulch
Distance: 6 miles round trip
Elevation gain: 1,500 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Drive from Denver: 1 hour 45 minutes (near Breckenridge)
A high alpine lake at 11,700 feet surrounded by peaks on three sides. The trail follows an old mining road up Monte Cristo Gulch past ruins of silver mines. In July, the wildflowers in the upper valley are dense and varied.
The trailhead is south of Breckenridge off Highway 9, then up a dirt road. Most cars can make it to the lower parking area. High clearance helps for the last half mile.
General Advice
Start early. Colorado afternoons bring lightning in summer. Plan to be off exposed terrain by noon.
Drink water. Altitude dehydrates you faster than you expect. Bring at least a liter more than you think you need.
Check conditions. Trails above 10,000 feet may have snow into late June. Alltrails reports from the last few days are more reliable than official sources.
Tell someone where you are going. Cell service disappears quickly outside the city. A written note with your trailhead and expected return time costs nothing and could save your life.