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Best Fourteener for a Local

Longs Peak

Summiting Longs Peak via the Keyhole Route is a rite of passage for Colorado hikers, though not an adventure to be taken lightly. The trail traverses Class 3 terrain, so you must have a strong stomach for exposure and be well prepared for emergencies. On top of that, this out-and-back trail is 14.5 miles long and requires route-finding along narrow ledges where no obvious trail exists. Most people begin the trek in the dark, hitting the trailhead at 3 or 4 a.m., as it can take between ten and twelve hours to complete. Needless to say, this shouldn't be anyone's first fourteener, but it's a worthy challenge for those who are up to it.

14ers.com

Best Hike Within Two Hours of Denver

Isabelle Glacier Trail

The Isabelle Glacier Trail offers exceptionally dramatic vistas of rugged peaks on its way past a small waterfall and two scenic mountain lakes. Take advantage of opportunities to view wildflowers, hear native songbirds and spot moose, elk, deer, marmots and pika. The moderate, well-maintained trail starts at the Long Lake Trailhead in the Brainard Lake National Recreation Area. The 8.6-mile round trip starts at an elevation of about 10,500 feet and gains about 990 feet, so take warm clothing and rain gear. Expect afternoon thunderstorms in the summer.

fs.usda.gov

Best Year-Round Hike

Eagle's View Trail

The aptly named Eagle's View hike at Reynolds Park near Conifer is appealing not only because of that forest view — which starts midway and is dominated at the summit by the north face of Pikes Peak — but also because it's a gently sloped and well-marked trek that allows you to get out there any time of year. At 4.3 miles and a 1,010-foot elevation gain, this lollipop loop takes about two hours, ideal for a snowy sojourn. Spikes are good to have on hand in the winter months.

jeffco.us

Best Hike in Metro Denver

Summit Loop Trail

Nestled between Golden, Lakewood and E-470, William F. Hayden Park is a picturesque oasis within spitting distance of Denver. Although there are a number of trails worth exploring in the park, our favorite is the Summit Loop Trail, which takes hikers to the top of Green Mountain, where they can enjoy views of Denver as well as the plains to the east and peaks to the west. The trail is especially beautiful in summer, when wildflowers dot the surrounding hillsides.

lakewood.org

Best Hike With Dogs

Mayflower Gulch Trail

It's getting tougher these days to find a trail in Colorado that allows dogs off-leash, but they do still exist. The Mayflower Gulch Trail near Frisco offers six miles of out-and-back along with two spurs, so there's plenty of room for your pooch to run free (dogs must respond to voice commands). With its 1,478 feet of elevation gain from 10,955 feet, the trek is moderately difficult, but pockets of dense forest and mining ruins offer breathers for exploring. Pups love to dip into Mayflower Creek, which runs along parts of the trek, and in winter, this year-rounder is fun on cross-country skis or snowshoes.

fs.usda.gov

Best Hike When You're High

Wigwam Trail

Hiking is rewarding enough, but hiking while high can be transcendent. What's critical for a good high hike? First: that you can't get lost. Second: that the hike lasts long enough for you to come down before driving back to civilization. Third: the fewer people, the better. Wigwam Trail in Pike National Forest near Cheesman Reservoir checks all of those boxes, plus offers killer views of McCurdy Mountain and Buffalo Peak and the chance to wander through a red rock wall maze. The eleven-mile out-and-back is an amble through old-growth evergreens, aspen groves and wildflower meadows. Bikes aren't allowed, and you're not likely to encounter anyone else. Stop off at the beaver ponds and enjoy the quiet.

fs.usda.gov

Best Hike With Kids

Fossil Creek Trail

As any parent knows, family-friendly hiking requires planning and patience. It also helps to have distractions along the way, such as raptors — including golden eagles and red-tailed hawks — that perch on trees and fence posts, a creek to get muddy and cool off in, and animal-track impressions of animal tracks pressed into the pavement. Named for an environmentally passionate city councilwoman, Cathy Fromme Prairie Natural Area comprises the paved, 2.4-mile out-and-back Fossil Creek Trail, which winds wavy-gravy through an expanse of wetlands and grasslands. Restrooms and interactive placards round out an easygoing time, and extra mileage can be added via the connected Spring Canyon Park and Pineridge Natural Area. Bring binoculars to share.

fcgov.com

Best Mountain-Bike Trail

South St. Vrain Figure 8

Few mountain-bike trails start off easy, but the South St. Vrain Figure 8 begins with six miles of sufferfest, much of it a rough alpine ride through boulder gardens, loose rocks, ruts and roots that finally eases into nearly four miles of easy road and mellow singletrack before returning to the abuse for another six. The elevation gain is a not-trifling 2,116 feet, making for a great early-season technical training ride; this is also a popular fat-bike ride, with some of the ground gnar covered in snow. The full Figure 8 includes Sourdough Loop, Little Raven, Waldrop and the Brainard Lake Cutoff, all of which adds up to nearly sixteen miles of magnificent misery.

Best Year-Round Urban Bike Path

Coal Creek Trail

The fourteen miles of point-to-point alternating gravel and dirt that is the Coal Creek Trail winds between open space and residential sections along the creek from Superior to Erie, passing through Louisville and Lafayette on the way. It's flat and easy enough to bike year-round, including in the winter, when the snowpack usually builds up a solid enough surface to bike on fat tires or snow bikes. In nicer weather, picnic tables and benches offer rest stops, and there are a few restrooms, as well. If you long for more time out there, Coal Creek intersects with several other cool paths, including Flagg Park and the Rock Creek Trail.

bouldercounty.org

Best Bike Path in Metro Denver

Clear Creek Trail

Beginning in Thornton, this scenic bike path is a great way to escape the city. The Clear Creek Trail follows the creek of the same name over an eighteen-mile stretch that gains 700 feet in elevation as it moves westward. Along the way, bikers pass through green areas that will make them feel like they aren't in an urban area at all. It all culminates in Golden, and the ride back to Denver is almost entirely downhill.

spinlister.com

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