Denver’s enviable position at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains provides residents and visitors with unparalleled access to some of America’s most spectacular hiking terrain. Within a short drive from downtown skyscrapers, trails climb through multiple ecological zones, offering everything from gentle meadow strolls to challenging summit attempts. The city’s mile-high elevation of 5,280 feet serves as a launching point for adventures that can reach twice that height. The Mile High City’s surrounding landscape offers trails for every type of hiker, from families with young children to seasoned mountaineers.
Here is a list of 18 exceptional hikes near Denver that showcase the region’s diverse topography, wildlife, and natural beauty.
Red Rocks Trading Post Trail
This 1.4-mile loop offers the perfect introduction to Colorado hiking without venturing far from the city. The trail winds between massive red sandstone formations that provide a stunning contrast against blue Colorado skies. Morning hikers often encounter mule deer grazing along the path while birds of prey soar overhead.
The trail’s proximity to the famous amphitheater means hikers can combine their nature walk with a venue tour or even catch evening concerts where music reverberates off ancient rock walls.
South Valley Park
This Jefferson County open space park in Littleton features wide, well-maintained trails cutting through striking red rock formations reminiscent of Garden of the Gods. The Coyote Song and Swallow Trail loop covers 3 miles of gentle terrain suitable for families and beginners seeking to build endurance.
Prairie dogs maintain extensive colonies visible from the trail, their sentinel calls echoing across the valley as hikers approach. The park’s eastern ridgeline offers impressive panoramic views of the Denver skyline framed by dramatic rock outcroppings.
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Mount Falcon Castle Trail
This moderate 7-mile out-and-back trail in Morrison leads to the ruins of a stone castle built in the early 1900s. The path climbs steadily through ponderosa pine forest before opening to mountain vistas stretching from downtown Denver to distant snow-capped peaks.
Historical markers along the route explain the ambitious plans for a summer White House that never materialized after the developer’s untimely death. Eagle-eyed hikers might spot golden eagles riding thermals above the park’s meadows during warmer months.
Evergreen Lake Trail
This gentle 1.3-mile loop circles a picturesque mountain lake just 30 minutes from downtown Denver. The flat, accessible trail accommodates strollers and wheelchairs while offering stunning views of Bear Mountain reflected on the lake’s surface.
During winter months, the frozen lake transforms into a charming outdoor ice skating venue surrounded by snow-dusted evergreens. The historic boathouse serves as both visitor center and warming hut depending on the season.
Lookout Mountain Trail
This 2.6-mile loop near Golden combines hiking with educational opportunities at the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave. The trail offers sweeping views of both the Great Plains stretching eastward and the Continental Divide to the west—a perfect illustration of Colorado’s diverse geography.
Wildlife viewing opportunities include mule deer, wild turkeys, and occasional black bears during berry season. The summit brings hikers to the final resting place of the famous frontiersman, with interpretive displays explaining his controversial legacy.
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Carpenter Peak
This challenging 6.4-mile round-trip in Roxborough State Park rewards hikers with spectacular views of the park’s dramatic red rock formations. The trail climbs over 1,000 feet through diverse ecosystems ranging from scrub oak thickets to ponderosa pine forests. Spring hikers enjoy colorful wildflower displays, including Indian paintbrush, wild iris, and pasqueflowers dotting meadow sections.
The distinctive fountain formation layers visible throughout the hike represent 300 million years of geological history.
Royal Arch Trai
This challenging 3.5-mile round-trip in Boulder’s Flatirons climbs over 1,400 feet to reach a massive natural stone arch. The steep, rocky trail tests hikers’ endurance with sections of stone steps and roots demanding careful foot placement.
The arch frames stunning views of Boulder and the surrounding Front Range peaks, creating a natural window perfect for photographs. Early morning hikers often have the arch to themselves before crowds arrive—a tranquil experience worth the pre-dawn start.
Alderfer/Three Sisters Park
This Jefferson County park near Everett offers nearly 15 miles of interconnected trails across 1,127 acres, allowing hikers to customize their experience. The moderate Sisters Trail leads through ponderosa pine forest to impressive rock formations perfect for scrambling and exploration.
Meadow sections burst with colorful wildflowers during late spring, while berry-laden shrubs attract black bears in late summer. The park’s varied terrain provides habitat for wild turkeys, mule deer, and over 100 bird species.
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St. Mary’s Glacier
This short but steep 1.5-mile round-trip near Idaho Springs leads to a permanent snowfield that provides year-round snow play opportunities. The trail climbs past a scenic alpine lake, reflecting jagged peaks before reaching the snow-covered slope where summer visitors often bring sleds.
Experienced hikers can continue beyond the glacier to nearby James Peak for additional challenges and expanded views. The high-altitude trailhead at 10,300 feet gives lowlanders a taste of thin mountain air without committing to a lengthy expedition.
Mount Bierstadt
This popular 14,060-foot peak offers one of the most accessible summit experiences among Colorado’s famous “fourteeners.” The 6-mile round-trip begins from Guanella Pass, already at 11,669 feet, making the elevation gain more manageable than many high-mountain adventures.
The well-defined trail crosses scenic wetlands on boardwalks before climbing through the alpine tundra, where yellow-bellied marmots whistle warnings to passing hikers. The summit delivers panoramic views of the Front Range and nearby Mount Evans, connected by the challenging sawtooth ridge.
Devil’s Head Fire Lookout
This moderate 2.8-mile round-trip south of Sedalia leads to the last working fire lookout tower in Colorado. The trail climbs steadily through granite boulders and ponderosa pine before reaching a dramatic staircase of 143 steps to the actual lookout.
During summer months, visitors can chat with the resident lookout ranger, who scans the surrounding forest for smoke from this 9,748-foot perch. The tower offers unobstructed 360-degree views stretching from Pikes Peak to Mount Evans across five ranger districts.
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Chimney Gulch Trail
This challenging 6.5-mile round-trip in Golden gains 1,700 feet while offering continuous views of Clear Creek Canyon. The trail switches back numerous times through different vegetation zones, displaying the dramatic effect of elevation on plant communities.
Mountain bikers often share this route, creating opportunities for friendly trail conversations during rest breaks. The upper sections connect with the Windy Saddle Park trail system for those wanting to extend their adventure.
Elk Meadow Park
This Jefferson County open space in Evergreen offers 14 miles of trails across 1,140 acres with options for every ability level. The Bergen Peak Trail provides a challenging climb to 9,708 feet, with views extending to Denver’s skyline on clear days.
True to its name, the park hosts a resident elk herd most visible during early morning and evening hours, particularly in fall during rutting season. The meadow’s expansive grasslands provide a striking contrast to the surrounding forested mountains.
Green Mountain
This moderate 6.5-mile loop in Lakewood’s William F. Hayden Park climbs a prominent grassy dome visible from much of the Denver metro area. Spring hikers enjoy spectacular wildflower displays, including blankets of bright yellow sunflowers and delicate lavender wild onions across open slopes.
The summit provides exceptional 360-degree views encompassing both the mountain peaks to the west and urban Denver to the east. Coyotes frequently patrol the park’s boundaries while red-tailed hawks hunt from overhead.
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Bluebird Lake
This challenging 12-mile round-trip in Rocky Mountain National Park takes hikers past three stunning waterfalls before reaching a pristine alpine lake. The trail gains 2,500 feet while passing through forests, wildflower meadows, and, finally, alpine tundra zones.
Moose frequently wade in marshy areas near Ouzel Lake, creating exciting wildlife viewing opportunities along the journey. Late summer hikers may find wild raspberry patches near lower stream crossings—a sweet natural trail snack.
South Boulder Peak
This strenuous 8.5-mile loop summits three peaks—South Boulder Peak, Bear Peak, and Green Mountain—for those seeking serious elevation gain. The route passes through areas affected by the 2012 Flagstaff Fire, offering educational opportunities to observe forest regeneration processes first-hand.
Ambitious hikers can complete all three peaks in a single day, gaining over 3,000 feet of elevation across varied terrain. Early sections through Shadow Canyon feature fascinating rock formations and seasonal stream crossings.
Lost Lake
This moderate 4-mile round-trip near Nederland leads to a picturesque mountain lake surrounded by Indian Peaks Wilderness. The trail passes through dense lodgepole pine forests before emerging at a lake that perfectly reflects the surrounding peaks on calm mornings.
Summer brings vibrant displays of columbine—Colorado’s state flower—along damper sections of the path. Wooden benches at the lake provide perfect lunch spots with views worth lingering over.
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Raccoon Trail
This moderate 2.5-mile loop in Golden Gate Canyon State Park offers a perfect introduction to Colorado’s montane ecosystem. The trail passes through aspen groves that provide spectacular golden displays during autumn months.
Panoramic Point lives up to its name, with views extending 100 miles on clear days, encompassing both the Continental Divide and the Great Plains. The park’s rich wildlife includes black bears, mountain lions, and mule deer, though the larger predators typically avoid human encounters.
Mountain Memories and Future Adventures
Denver’s surrounding mountains offer lifetime opportunities for exploration, with trails changing character through seasons and years. Summer thunderstorms transform dusty trails into vibrant corridors of wildflower activity, while autumn aspen shows paint hillsides gold before winter snows create entirely new landscapes.
These eighteen trails represent starting points for discovering a region where nature’s grandeur remains accessible just minutes from urban conveniences. The greatest challenge for Denver hikers isn’t finding good trails—it’s deciding which ones to explore first.
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