In case you missed it, there is no better place for hiking than Colorado (not that we are biased or anything!), which makes it nearly impossible to decide which hiking trails are the best of the best! Since we have given our take many times, we have decided to ask you, our knowledgable readers, for your recommendations via our Only in Colorado and Colorado Nature Lovers Facebook pages. Here is what you said:
- Hanging Lake (Glenwood Springs)
Flickr/Bryce Bradford Are you surprised that the Hanging Lake trail was one of the most nominated spots on our list? No? Neither were we! Nestled away just outside Glenwood Springs, the Hanging Lake Trail is a 1.2-mile trek leading to the creme de la creme of Colorado gems: the pristinely blue Hanging Lake!
- Bridal Veil Falls (Telluride)
Flickr/Shawn Stilwell Tucked away outside Telluride, Bridal Veil Falls is a jaw-dropping 365-foot-tall waterfall accessible via a 1.8-mile-long trail. (Please note: This trail is deemed moderate and contains an elevation gain of a whopping 1,650 feet. Please hike with caution.)
- Fox Run Park (Colorado Springs)
TripAdvisor/Marsha S What may just be one of the best urban trails in southern Colorado is Fox Run Park, which is housed in - you guessed it! - Fox Run Regional Park. Located north of Colorado Springs, Fox Run Park boasts several trails within a scenic forest setting. Speaking of Colorado Springs trails…
- Garden of the Gods (Colorado Springs)
Flickr/David Wipf You cannot go wrong with any Garden of the Gods trail; however, Strausenback Trail was the most highly recommended! Coming in at just under 2 miles, there is no better way to enjoy this great area than the red rocks and lush foliage at Strausenback.
- Three Lakes Loop (Crested Butte)
AllTrails/Kent Micho Crested Lake is the epitome of Colorado, and Three Lakes Loop is the epitome of Crested Butte (and, therefore, Colorado). Classified as easy, Three Lakes Loop is less than 3-miles-long and winds past lakes, waterfalls, and under towering trees.
- Paint Mines (Calhan)
Flickr/Bryce Bradford There is no place like the Paint Mines! Spanning 750 acres, the Paint Mines Interpretive Park houses stunning geologic formations with vibrant colors that date back some 9,000+ years! Which trail should you take? We recommend meandering through the entire park, so you don’t miss any of this fascinating Colorado history.
- Devil’s Kitchen Trail (Grand Junction)
AllTrails/Rita Sanders It may sound sinister, but the 1.9-mile Devil’s Kitchen Trail is actually quite lovely with its larger-than-life rock formations and 360-degree views as far as the eye can see.
- Chasm Lake (Rocky Mountain National Park)
AllTrails/Michael Hartigan You knew we couldn’t have a list of the best hikes in Colorado without a Rocky Mountain National Park Trail! Located just outside Estes Park, the 8.8-mile Chasm Lake is difficult but comes with an incredible payout: a unique alpine lake!
- Echo Lake (Idaho Springs)
Google/Jan Gerdts Are you noticing a trend with all of these lake trails? There is an excellent reason for it, and Echo Lake is a perfect example. Spanning a mere 1.5 miles, Chasm Lake proves that even easy hikes can come with superb payouts (a la the namesake lake, pictured).
- Sugarloaf Mountain (Boulder)
AllTrails/Vanessa Hamilton If you think the name of this trail sounds sweet, wait until you visit the 1.3-mile out-and-back Sugarloaf Mountain for yourself and get a glimpse of the incredible landscape from high in the sky.
- Bear Canyon (Boulder)
AllTrails/Tram Tran Your eyes do not deceive you: We have TWO Boulder trails in a row, and for a great reason. Featuring meadows of wildflowers and ponderosa forests, this 1.9-mile (albeit difficult) hike is an expert outdoors(wo)men’s dream come true.
For even more of our favorite trails, check out The Aptly-Named Rocky Mountain High Trail Is About As Colorado As It Gets.
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Address: Hanging Lake, Colorado 81601, USAAddress: Bridal Veil Falls, Colorado 80517, USAAddress: Fox Run Regional Park, 2110 Stella Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80921, USAAddress: Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, USAAddress: Three Lakes Loop Trailhead, Co Rd 706, Somerset, CO 81434, USAAddress: Paint Mines Interpretive Park, 29950 Paint Mine Rd, Calhan, CO 80808, USAAddress: Devil’s Kitchen, 840 Kennedy Ave, Grand Junction, CO 81501, USAAddress: Chasm Lake, Colorado 80510, USAAddress: Echo Lake, Colorado 80439, USAAddress: Sugarloaf Mountain Trail Head, Sugarloaf Trail, Boulder, CO 80302, USAAddress: Bear Canyon Trailhead, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
- Hanging Lake (Glenwood Springs)
Flickr/Bryce Bradford Are you surprised that the Hanging Lake trail was one of the most nominated spots on our list? No? Neither were we! Nestled away just outside Glenwood Springs, the Hanging Lake Trail is a 1.2-mile trek leading to the creme de la creme of Colorado gems: the pristinely blue Hanging Lake!
- Bridal Veil Falls (Telluride)
Flickr/Shawn Stilwell Tucked away outside Telluride, Bridal Veil Falls is a jaw-dropping 365-foot-tall waterfall accessible via a 1.8-mile-long trail. (Please note: This trail is deemed moderate and contains an elevation gain of a whopping 1,650 feet. Please hike with caution.)
- Fox Run Park (Colorado Springs)
TripAdvisor/Marsha S What may just be one of the best urban trails in southern Colorado is Fox Run Park, which is housed in - you guessed it! - Fox Run Regional Park. Located north of Colorado Springs, Fox Run Park boasts several trails within a scenic forest setting. Speaking of Colorado Springs trails…
- Garden of the Gods (Colorado Springs)
Flickr/David Wipf You cannot go wrong with any Garden of the Gods trail; however, Strausenback Trail was the most highly recommended! Coming in at just under 2 miles, there is no better way to enjoy this great area than the red rocks and lush foliage at Strausenback.
- Three Lakes Loop (Crested Butte)
AllTrails/Kent Micho Crested Lake is the epitome of Colorado, and Three Lakes Loop is the epitome of Crested Butte (and, therefore, Colorado). Classified as easy, Three Lakes Loop is less than 3-miles-long and winds past lakes, waterfalls, and under towering trees.
- Paint Mines (Calhan)
Flickr/Bryce Bradford There is no place like the Paint Mines! Spanning 750 acres, the Paint Mines Interpretive Park houses stunning geologic formations with vibrant colors that date back some 9,000+ years! Which trail should you take? We recommend meandering through the entire park, so you don’t miss any of this fascinating Colorado history.
- Devil’s Kitchen Trail (Grand Junction)
AllTrails/Rita Sanders It may sound sinister, but the 1.9-mile Devil’s Kitchen Trail is actually quite lovely with its larger-than-life rock formations and 360-degree views as far as the eye can see.
- Chasm Lake (Rocky Mountain National Park)
AllTrails/Michael Hartigan You knew we couldn’t have a list of the best hikes in Colorado without a Rocky Mountain National Park Trail! Located just outside Estes Park, the 8.8-mile Chasm Lake is difficult but comes with an incredible payout: a unique alpine lake!
- Echo Lake (Idaho Springs)
Google/Jan Gerdts Are you noticing a trend with all of these lake trails? There is an excellent reason for it, and Echo Lake is a perfect example. Spanning a mere 1.5 miles, Chasm Lake proves that even easy hikes can come with superb payouts (a la the namesake lake, pictured).
- Sugarloaf Mountain (Boulder)
AllTrails/Vanessa Hamilton If you think the name of this trail sounds sweet, wait until you visit the 1.3-mile out-and-back Sugarloaf Mountain for yourself and get a glimpse of the incredible landscape from high in the sky.
- Bear Canyon (Boulder)
AllTrails/Tram Tran Your eyes do not deceive you: We have TWO Boulder trails in a row, and for a great reason. Featuring meadows of wildflowers and ponderosa forests, this 1.9-mile (albeit difficult) hike is an expert outdoors(wo)men’s dream come true.
For even more of our favorite trails, check out The Aptly-Named Rocky Mountain High Trail Is About As Colorado As It Gets.
Flickr/Bryce Bradford
Are you surprised that the Hanging Lake trail was one of the most nominated spots on our list? No? Neither were we! Nestled away just outside Glenwood Springs, the Hanging Lake Trail is a 1.2-mile trek leading to the creme de la creme of Colorado gems: the pristinely blue Hanging Lake!
Flickr/Shawn Stilwell
Tucked away outside Telluride, Bridal Veil Falls is a jaw-dropping 365-foot-tall waterfall accessible via a 1.8-mile-long trail. (Please note: This trail is deemed moderate and contains an elevation gain of a whopping 1,650 feet. Please hike with caution.)
TripAdvisor/Marsha S
What may just be one of the best urban trails in southern Colorado is Fox Run Park, which is housed in - you guessed it! - Fox Run Regional Park. Located north of Colorado Springs, Fox Run Park boasts several trails within a scenic forest setting. Speaking of Colorado Springs trails…
Flickr/David Wipf
You cannot go wrong with any Garden of the Gods trail; however, Strausenback Trail was the most highly recommended! Coming in at just under 2 miles, there is no better way to enjoy this great area than the red rocks and lush foliage at Strausenback.
AllTrails/Kent Micho
Crested Lake is the epitome of Colorado, and Three Lakes Loop is the epitome of Crested Butte (and, therefore, Colorado). Classified as easy, Three Lakes Loop is less than 3-miles-long and winds past lakes, waterfalls, and under towering trees.
There is no place like the Paint Mines! Spanning 750 acres, the Paint Mines Interpretive Park houses stunning geologic formations with vibrant colors that date back some 9,000+ years! Which trail should you take? We recommend meandering through the entire park, so you don’t miss any of this fascinating Colorado history.
AllTrails/Rita Sanders
It may sound sinister, but the 1.9-mile Devil’s Kitchen Trail is actually quite lovely with its larger-than-life rock formations and 360-degree views as far as the eye can see.
AllTrails/Michael Hartigan
You knew we couldn’t have a list of the best hikes in Colorado without a Rocky Mountain National Park Trail! Located just outside Estes Park, the 8.8-mile Chasm Lake is difficult but comes with an incredible payout: a unique alpine lake!
Google/Jan Gerdts
Are you noticing a trend with all of these lake trails? There is an excellent reason for it, and Echo Lake is a perfect example. Spanning a mere 1.5 miles, Chasm Lake proves that even easy hikes can come with superb payouts (a la the namesake lake, pictured).
AllTrails/Vanessa Hamilton
If you think the name of this trail sounds sweet, wait until you visit the 1.3-mile out-and-back Sugarloaf Mountain for yourself and get a glimpse of the incredible landscape from high in the sky.
AllTrails/Tram Tran
Your eyes do not deceive you: We have TWO Boulder trails in a row, and for a great reason. Featuring meadows of wildflowers and ponderosa forests, this 1.9-mile (albeit difficult) hike is an expert outdoors(wo)men’s dream come true.
