Colorado
Rocky Mountain High
There are over 30,000 known trekking trails in Colorado.
Most popular trails:
Emerald Lake Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park: This moderate trail is 4.6 miles round-trip and leads to a stunning alpine lake.
Sky Pond via Glacier Gorge Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park: This challenging trail is 6.8 miles round-trip and offers stunning views of several peaks, including Sky Pond.
Royal Arch Trail in Garden of the Gods Park: This moderate trail is 1.5 miles round-trip and leads to a natural arch with views of the city of
Mount Bierstadt Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park: This challenging trail is 6.4 miles round-trip and offers views of several peaks, including Mount Bierstadt, the 10th highest peak in the state.
Saint Mary's Glacier Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park: This moderate trail is 3.2 miles round-trip and leads to a small glacier.
Best trails for certain activities:
Hiking: The Colorado Trail is a 500-mile long-distance trail that runs from Denver to Durango.
Mountain biking: The White River National Forest has over 1,000 miles of mountain biking trails.
Backpacking: The Indian Peaks Wilderness Area has over 500 miles of backpacking trails.
Rock climbing: Eldorado Canyon State Park is a popular rock climbing destination.
Snowshoeing: Rocky Mountain National Park has over 100 miles of snowshoeing trails.
Most challenging trails:
Longs Peak Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park: This challenging trail is 14.4 miles round-trip and offers stunning views of the surrounding peaks.
Quandary Peak Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park: This challenging trail is 5.6 miles round-trip and offers views of several peaks, including Quandary Peak, the 14th highest peak in the state.
Pole Creek Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park: This challenging trail is 11.2 miles round-trip and leads to a remote valley.
Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness: This wilderness area has several challenging trails, including the 4.4-mile round-trip to Crater Lake.
The Narrows in Zion National Park: This challenging trail is 16 miles round-trip and follows a slot canyon.
Most scenic trails:
Iceberg Lake Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park: This moderate trail is 4.8 miles round-trip and leads to a lake surrounded by snow-capped peaks.
Dream Lake Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park: This moderate trail is 3.2 miles round-trip and leads to a lake with stunning views of the surrounding peaks.
Bear Lake Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park: This moderate trail is 2.4 miles round-trip and leads to a lake with views of several peaks, including Longs Peak.
Torreys Peak and Grays Peak Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park: This challenging trail is 13.4 miles round-trip and offers views of several peaks, including Torreys Peak and Grays Peak, the second and third highest peaks in the state.
Mount Evans Summit Trail in Mount Evans Wilderness: This challenging trail is 12.4 miles round-trip and offers views of the Front Range and the Great Plains.
Most family-friendly trails:
Bear Creek Lake Park: This park has several easy trails, including the Bear Creek Lake Loop Trail, which is 1.2 miles round-trip.
Garden of the Gods Park: This park has several moderate trails, including the Royal Arch Trail, which is 1.5 miles round-trip.
Roxborough State Park: This park has several easy trails, including the South Rim Rock Shelter Trail, which is 0.6 miles round-trip.
Chatfield State Park: This park has several easy trails, including the Chatfield Reservoir Trail, which is 1.2 miles round-trip.
Cherry Creek State Park: This park has several easy trails, including the Cherry Creek Trail, which is 1.8 miles round-trip.
Most accessible trails:
Barr Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park: This trail is paved and wheelchair accessible for the first 0.8 miles.
Bear Lake Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park: This trail is paved.
Where to get permits for trails:
Wilderness Areas in Colorado:
You can visit the U.S. Forest Service website for Colorado to find details about wilderness areas
State Parks in Colorado: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
