No matter which season it is, there is a Colorado trail to be hiked. In fact, there are so many trails that it can be difficult to choose and maybe you just keep returning to a dependable favorite.
“60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Denver and Boulder,” by Mindy Sink (Menasha Ridge Press, 2020)
When I was researching my guidebook, “60 Hikes Within 60 Miles of Denver and Boulder,” I relied on the expertise of people who had gone before me for suggestions. I have gathered some collective wisdom from my fellow hiking guidebook authors here, which is useful whether you’re thinking of taking up winter hiking in the snow or making plans for next spring and summer.
Safety first: No matter which season you’re hiking in, always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. In winter, a pair of strap-on spikes for your boots can be handy. In all seasons, bring water and sunscreen and use them liberally.
Ed Sealover, author of “Colorado Excursions of History, Hikes and Hops,” (History Press, 2016) lives in Denver and candidly admits that his bias for trails is based on driving distance from his home.
His winter recommendation is St. Mary’s Glacier, outside of Idaho Springs. “If you are going to be hiking in the cold and snow, you might as well trek to somewhere that sports snow nearly year-round – a glacier perched majestically on the backside of an alpine lake,” he said. “There’s a stillness in winter that you can’t often find when this mile-and-a-half round-trip trail is packed in the summertime, and you feel one with nature as you stare at a rising field of white in front of you.”
In spring, you might find yourself on the Western Slope, and Sealover likes the Devil’s Kitchen Trail in the Colorado National Monument in Grand Junction. “Though the hike is only a mile-and-a-half round-trip, it takes you into one of the most unique settings in Colorado,” he explained, describing a natural rock “room” surrounded by Wingate Sandstone. Also, aim for a cooler day because this trail is without shade.
Stay close to Denver in summer, Sealover recommends, by hiking at Mount Falcon Park in Jefferson County. “Mount Falcon is the place you want to take your out-of-town friends who want the quintessential Colorado experience that they can retell in stories back home,” he said. “Over four miles extending out and back from the west trailhead, hikers can see the ruins of a grand turn of the 20th century home; touch the cornerstone of the never-completed Summer White House; overlook Red Rocks Amphitheatre; and stroll up from a sunlight-soaked meadow into a forest in a way that represents a microcosm of the state’s trails at their best.”
When the fall colors start to peak, Ed Sealover feels it is worth braving the crowds in Golden Gate Canyon State Park where the steep Snowshoe Hare Trail gives hikers “moments of quiet reflection interspersed with garish oranges and yellows.” (Ed Sealover, Special to The Denver Post)
When the fall colors start to peak, Sealover feels it is worth braving the crowds in Golden Gate Canyon State Park, where the steep Snowshoe Hare Trail gives hikers “moments of quiet reflection interspersed with garish oranges and yellows.” Plus, it’s Instagram-worthy!
“Be sure to head clockwise beginning at the trailhead so that you can finish with a family portrait you won’t forget as a backdrop: Dude’s Fishing Pond, whose cool waters splashed over your head also offer the appropriate reward for your three miles of effort,” he said.
Joshua Berman is the author of “Moon Colorado Hiking: Best Hikes Plus Beer, Bites, and Campgrounds Nearby” (Moon Travel Guides, 2024), and also director of outdoor education at Shining Mountain Waldorf School in Boulder.
Like Sealover, Berman recommends the Idaho Springs area for a winter hike, but he likes the Chicago Lakes Trail to Idaho Springs Reservoir where snowshoes can be used. “Even a beginner can get some steps in here as the first section is relatively flat and good training for newbies,” he said. For those new to winter hiking, Berman suggests a snowshoe class available at REI.
Catch that Goldilocks moment at the Great Sand Dunes National Park’s High Dune Trail in spring, Berman offers. “Sand temperatures make the dunes cool enough to climb, but they can be prohibitively hot later in the summer,” he said. Plus, this is when Medano Creek will be flowing down the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and across the base of the dunes.
It’s time to gain elevation in summer, Berman said, and hikers can find relief from the heat on the Crag Crest Trail on the Grand Mesa. This is a 10-mile loop or you can turn around after you summit the ridge above treeline.
In fall, hikers should go for the classic backdrop of West Maroon Trail just outside of Aspen, Berman said. After buying a pass and taking a shuttle from Aspen Highlands, Berman said this memorable hike will have showstopper colors at this time of year.
In fall, it’s time for more urban wildlife viewing along the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt, where Katie Hearsum reports there are over 300 migratory bird species living in the protection of miles of native cottonwood trees whose leaves turn bright yellow at this time of year. (Katie Hearsum, Special to The Denver Post)
James Dziezynski, author of “Best Summit Hikes in Colorado” and “Climbing Colorado’s 13ers,” has recommendations for the more ambitious hikers. In winter, he recommends Mount Sniktau, a 13,240-foot peak just off Loveland Pass. “It’s not a long hike and the views are amazing,” he commented.
When spring comes, he suggests a double peak bagging with Bear Peak and South Boulder Peak. “If you haven’t done a lot of hiking in the winter, it’s a great refresher to get your mountain legs back,” he said.
It wasn’t easy for Dziezynski to pick just one favorite hike for the busy summer hiking season but, like Berman, he zeroed in on the Aspen area with Petroleum Lake and Petroleum Peak just off Independence Pass. Note that you’ll need a four-wheel drive to get to the trailhead.
For fall colors, he likes London Mountain, another thirteener, in the Mosquito Range outside of Leadville. “It’s a great cool weather hike that snags a summit as it passed through a bunch of mining ruins,” he said.
Katie Hearsum’s winter hike suggestion is Barr Lake State Park where bald eagles can be viewed. (Katie Hearsum, Special to The Denver Post)
For those who don’t have the time for a roundtrip drive to the mountains for a day of hiking, check out “Urban Hikes Denver – A Guide to the City’s Greatest Urban Hiking Adventures” by Katie Hearsum.
Hearsum’s winter hike suggestion is Barr Lake State Park, where bald eagles can be viewed. “While walking the park’s nine-mile Perimeter Trail loop one sunny afternoon in February, I observed several dozen of these majestic birds,” she recalled. “Don’t skip the on-site nature center at the trailhead.”
Her springtime suggestion is one of my personal favorites too: the Peaks-to-Plains Trail that stretches west of downtown Golden and is paved so you can avoid the springtime mud that is found on other trails. She points out that along the way, you might see wildlife, boaters, and even rock climbers on the towering canyon walls.
To cool off in summer, Hearsum likes Washington Park for a shady stroll when a trip into the foothills or mountains isn’t an option. You can choose your distance as you loop around lakes and manicured gardens.
In fall, it’s time for more urban wildlife viewing along the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt, where Hearsum reports there are over 300 migratory bird species living in the protection of miles of native cottonwood trees whose leaves turn bright yellow at this time of year.
Jamie Siebrase, a local mom of three and author of “Hiking with Kids Colorado: 52 Great Hikes for Families,” likes to hike in every season. “I think sometimes people forget that hiking can be a year-round activity in Colorado,” she said.
“Hiking With Kids Colorado,” by Jamie Siebrase (Falcon Guides)
Her winter pick is also one of my own go-to hikes: North Table Mountain in Golden. “This is a great winter destination because most of the trails are fully exposed and you’re basically guaranteed some warmth from the sun,” Siebrase said, suggesting a start on the West Trailhead to get warmed up from the initial steep climb.
Spring, aka “mud season,” is Siebrase’s time to go a little south to the trails in Colorado Springs. “Cheyenne Mountain State Park is a total gem with over 28 miles of hiking trails,” she shared. “I like to tackle Blackmer Loop via Zook Loop.” Plus, this park offers four-wheel Terrain Hoppers for hikers with disabilities to explore designated trails here too.
Sometimes you just have to go with those well-known trails because they’ve rightfully earned their reputations. Siebrase’s summer hike pick is Lair o’ the Bear Park in Evergreen. “It’s easy to make a short loop around the water using Bruin Bluff Trail, it’s somewhat shady, and Bear Creek is a great place to cool off post-hike,” she said. “My kids love the giant climbing tree near Ouzel Bridge.”
Siebrase struggled to pick just one hike for fall, but settled on Kruger Rock inside Hermit Park Open Space. “You’ll definitely get your fill of the yellow aspen leaves and epic views on this 3.4-mile moderate out-and-back trek,” she stated.
For those popular hikes, consider going early before everyone else is there. Jefferson County Open Space shows peak times on their website for places such as Mount Falcon so you can plan ahead in each season. Also, be sure to check websites and social media for possible trail closures that can happen when there is significant mud or wildlife.