COLORADO

The state of Colorado is made up of mountains, foothills, high plains and desert lands. The state is not only known as a winter destination, but also a mecca for mountain climbing, hiking, biking, fishing and camping. Here, you will find four national parks - Rocky Mountain, Mesa Verde, Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Great San Dunes National Park and Preserve. There are also five national monuments and a number of state parks.

Vien and Hermann have been hiking together in Colorado for over fourteen years. But prior to getting married, Hermann has explored many miles of hiking trails and climbed fourteeners since 1980. 

Featured Video

Golden Gate Canyon State Park in Autumn

 Hiking Trails

YOUR REFERENCE TO HIKING IN THE HIGH MOUNTAINS

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ARAPAHO NATIONAL FOREST

      Herman Gulch Trail – 7.5 miles

      Second Creek Trail to Twin Cones – 4.6        to 6 miles

      Silver Dollar & Murray Lake Trail – 7              miles

      Watrous Gulch Trail – 6 miles

      Butler Gulch Trail – 6 miles

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• Butler Gulch "Lollipop Loop" Trail - 6 miles

• St. Mary's Glacier to Rock House/Loch Lomond Overlook- 6.5 miles

• Loch Lomond, Steuart Lake, Ohman Lake & Reynolds Lake - 6.3 miles

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COLLEGIATE PEAKS – SAWATCH RANGE, BUENA VISTA

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      Hartenstein Lake –7 miles

      Browns Pass – 8 miles

      Kroenke Lake – 8.6 to 10 miles

      Lake Ann – 6.6 miles

      Ptarmigan Lake – 7.5 miles

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CRESTED BUTTE, GUNNISON COUNTY

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      Three Lakes Trail – 4.5 miles

      Snodgrass Mountain - 4 miles

      Oh-Be-Joyful Trail – 8 miles

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GORE RANGE – EAGLES NEST WILDERNESS

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      Eaglesmere Lakes – 8 miles

      Lower Cataract Lake Loop Trail – 2.5            miles

      Tipperary & Surprise Lakes Loop – 10          to 11 miles

      Pitkin Lake – 11 miles

      Wheeler Lakes – 7.5 miles

      Piney Lake to Lost Lake – 7 miles

      North Ten Mile Creek Trail – 6 miles or          longer

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HINSDALE COUNTY, LAKE CITY

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      American Basin – 4 miles

      Williams Creek Trail – 7 miles

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HOLY CROSS WILDERNESS – SAWATCH RANGE

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      Missouri Lakes – 8.5 miles

      Lake Constantine – 9 miles

      Lyle & Mormon Lakes – 7 to 10 miles

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INDIAN PEAKS WILDERNESS – FRONT RANGE

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      Lost Lake to Devils Thumb Trail – 6.5           miles

      Woodland Lake – 9.5 miles

      Diamond Lakes – 9 miles

      Arapaho Pass/Lake Dorothy – 8 to 9              miles

      Long Lake (1.0 mile) & Lake Isabelle –          6 miles

      Mitchell Lake & Blue Lake – 6 miles

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JAMES PEAK WILDERNESS/ROOSEVELT NATIONAL FOREST – SOUTH BOULDER CREEK TRAIL

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      Forest Lakes – 9 miles

      Crater Lakes – 6.5 to 7.5 miles

      Rogers Pass Lake – 9 miles

      Heart Lake – 10 miles

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MAROON BELLS – SNOWMASS WILDERNESS-WHITE RIVER NATIONAL FOREST

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      Maroon Lake Trails

      Crater Lake – 6 miles

      American Lake – 7 miles

      Cathedral Lake – 6.5 miles

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MOSQUITO RANGE, PIKE & SAN ISABEL NATIONAL FOREST

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      Mohawk Lakes (Spruce Creek                       Trailhead) – 8 miles

      Mayflower Gulch – 6 to 7 miles

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MOUNT EVANS WILDERNESS

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      Echo Lake – 1.3 mile

      Chicago Lakes – 8.5 - 10 miles

      Beartrack Lakes & Cub Creek Trails – 5        to 10 miles

      Mount Bierstadt – 8 miles

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NORTH SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS

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      Blue Lakes – 10 miles

      Portland Creek Trail-Chief Ouray Mine -        8 miles

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PIKE NATIONAL FOREST

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      Shelf Lake – 7 - 9 miles

      Square Top Lakes/South Park Trail – 4          to 5 miles

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WHITE RIVER NATIONAL FOREST

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      Hanging Lake – 3 miles

      Loveland Pass Trail – 3.5 mile

• Shrine Ridge Trail – 5 to 7 miles

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MESA COUNTY

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COLORADO NATIONAL MONUMENT – GRAND JUNCTION/FRUITA

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     Monument Canyon Trail/Wedding                 Canyon Trail –  5 to 7.2 miles

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 ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

(RMNP)

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• Chasm Lake via East Longs Peak Trailhead – 8.4 miles

• Twin Sisters Peak – 7.5 miles

• Estes Cone – East Longs Peak Trailhead - 6.5 miles/from Lily Lake via Storm Pass Trail - 7.5 miles

• Bear Lake to Loch Vale to Lake of Glass to Sky Pond Trail – 6.5 to 10 miles

• Bear Lake, Odessa Lake to Fern Lake – 10 miles

• Bierstadt Lake to Bear Lake to Sprague Lake – 8 to 9 miles 

• Chipmunk Lake & Ypsilon Lake – 9.5 miles

• Bear Lake to Black Lake, Mills Lake, Jewel Lake – 11 miles (Black Lake/Mills Lake/Jewel Lakes)

• Dream Lake, Lake Haiyaha, Emerald Lake, Nymph Lake – 7.5 miles

• Bear Lake, Dream Lakes, Alberta Falls – 5.5 miles

• Dream Lake to Emerald Lakes – 4.5 miles

• Lumpy Ridge/Gem Lake – 5.5 miles

• Mill Lake to Jewel Lakes - 7.5 miles

• Chasm Falls – 3 miles           

• Bridal Veil Falls – 7 miles

• Cub Lake – 6.5 miles

• Deer Mountain – 6.5 miles

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RMNP WILD BASIN ENTRANCE

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• Finch Lake – 8 miles

• Ouzel Falls – 6 miles

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HIKING TRAILS

IN THE FOOTHILLS

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BOULDER COUNTY

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• Bear Peak, Shadow Canyon – 7.5 miles

• Walker Ranch Loop – 8 miles

• Green Mountain/Saddle Rock/Gregory Canyon – 6.5 miles

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JEFFERSON COUNTY

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• Alderfer/3 Sisters Park/Elephant Butte – 6 to 8.5 miles

• Apex Park – 5.5 to 8 miles

• Bergen Peak – 10 miles

• Deer Creek Canyon Park – 7 to 10 miles

• Flying J Ranch Park – 3.5 miles

• Green Mountain - 5.5 to 9 miles

• Hogback – 4.5 miles

• Lair O’ the Bear Park – 5 miles

• Matthews/Winters Park, Hogback – 8 to 12 miles

• Meyer Ranch/Legault Mountain – 6.5 miles

• Mt. Falcon Park – 7 to 9.5 miles or longer

• Mt. Galbraith Park – 4.6 miles

• Mt. Morrison – 6 miles

• O’Fallon/Pence Parks/Jefferson Mountain – 6.5 miles

• Reynolds Park – 6 miles

• South Valley Park -

• White Ranch Park - 9 to 11 miles

• Windy Saddle Park - 5 miles​

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COLORADO STATE PARKS

CASTLEWOOD CANYON STATE PARK

ROXBOROUGH STATE PARK, DOUGLAS COUNTY

      Fountain Valley Trail – 2.5 miles

      Carpenter Peak Trail – 7 miles

      Carpenter Peak & Fountain Valley Loop Trail –              8.5 miles

      Carpenter Peak, South Rim & Willow Creek                    Loop Trail – 9 miles

STAUNTON STATE PARK 

     Elk Falls Pond & Elk Falls Overlook - 12 miles

     To Elk Falls - 11 to 12 miles

     Catamount Overlook, Pikes Overlook &                           Eagle Cliffs Overlook - 8.5 miles

GOLDEN GATE CANYON STATE PARK

     Coyote & Mule Deer Loop Trail - 8.0 miles

     Burro & Mountain Lion Loop Trail - 7 miles

     Black Bear & Horseshoe Loop Trail - 6.5 miles