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Boulder, Colorado

Looking for the best hiking in Boulder? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Boulder. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Hiking Spots in and near Boulder

  • Fort Collins, Colorado

    Hike the North Loop via Foothills Trail

    5.0
    6.5 mi / 700 ft gain
    Despite its singular name, the Foothills Trail in Fort Collins is an interconnected series of trails that follows the ridges and hogsbacks which comprise the majority of the eastern side of the Horsetooth Reservoir. The trail can be accessed at several points along its length (by trails also call...
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  • Fort Collins, Colorado

    Fat Tire Bike the Foothills Trail

    5.0
    8.5 mi / 1000 ft gain
    The Reservoir Ridge and Foothills trail system around Horsetooth Reservoir and Fort Collins is excellent for mountain biking, trail running, and hiking. During the winter it is particularly great for fat tire mountain biking, and the Foothills Trail is one of the best. The trail itself is roughly...
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  • Dillon, Colorado

    Snowshoe or Ski Watrous Gulch

    4.0
    4 mi / 1200 ft gain
    Despite sharing a trailhead with the popular Herman Gulch, I had not heard of Watrous Gulch until I stumbled across it while researching something else. Knowing that Herman Gulch is filled with spectacular views and deep snow ideal for snowshoeing/skiing, I had to discover if the smaller, lesser-...
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  • Dillon, Colorado

    Wildflowers, Lakes, and Peaks, Oh My!

    5.0
    Herman Gulch is one of those special places that makes you fall in love with Colorado all over again. This spectacular wildflower hike that ends at an alpine lake will have your head swiveling from start to finish. Wildflower season is July and August, with peak season being mid-to-late July. Ple...
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  • Estes Park, Colorado

    Mt. Ida via Milner Pass

    5.0
    9.28 mi / 2112 ft gain
    The hike to Mt. Ida offers some of the most stunning views of Rocky Mountain National Park. How to get there: From the east, take Trail Ridge Road all the way to the west side of the park. You will pass Alpine Visitor Center and the road sharply turns south at Medicine Bow Curve. The trailhead...
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  • Estes Park, Colorado

    Backpack Alpine Terrain to Haynach Lakes

    17 mi
    Begin at the Milner Pass Trailhead off of Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. Commonly used to summit Mount Ida, this trailhead is often popular with summer hikers. The trail climbs steeply through the trees before revealing open slopes of tundra and fantastic panoramic views. Altho...
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  • Grand Lake, Colorado

    Photograph Moose in Rocky Mountain National Park

    4.3
    Moose are the largest members of the deer family. They can stand over 6ft tall at their shoulders and weigh over 1500lbs. Males have antlers which can reach 6ft across and weigh up to 40lbs each. Amazingly these impressive creatures are strictly herbivores and will eat several dozen pounds of veg...
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  • Littleton, Colorado

    Hike the Eagle's View Trail

    4.3
    4.3 mi / 900 ft gain
    Reynolds Park is part of the Jefferson County Open Space system. Located a few miles south of Conifer, off Hwy 285 on S. Foxton Road, it is a foothills park geared for families, groups, and the casual hiker. The network of trails on the west side of the road offers hikers and equestrians anything...
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  • Fort Collins, Colorado

    North Shield Pond Trail

    3.0
    1.54 mi / 43 ft gain
    North Shield Pond Trail is a loop trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Fort Collins, Colorado.
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  • Lone Tree, Colorado

    Hike Bluffs Regional Park Trail

    2.7 mi / 200 ft gain
    This loop trail is 2.7 miles long but has several options for overlooks that add 0.8 miles to the trip. This is an easy hike with minimal elevation gain and is a great option for the whole family. Every time I've done this hike I've seen numerous deer which only adds to the hike! 
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  • Grand Lake, United States

    Hike to Timber Lake

    4.5
    9.6 mi / 2050 ft gain
    I love Timber Lake! I never see that many people on the trail and I can't figure out why. The hike starts at the Timber Lake trailhead and climbs gradually through Pine and Aspen trees on the way up. We saw a few elk on the way up that didn't seem to be bothered by our presence. We also started h...
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  • Grand Lake, Colorado

    Hike the Colorado River Trailhead Loop

    5.0
    13.6 mi / 1245 ft gain
    Since this hike is 13.6 miles (according to my watch the hike was more around 14 miles, but it's in that range), I'm going to break it down into four different parts.  To Lulu CityTo Little Yellowstone / Thunder PassThe Grand Ditch  Red Mountain Trail  The first 0.5 miles and the last 0.5 miles a...
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  • Dillon, Colorado

    Grays Peak via the South Ridge

    9.9 mi / 3970 ft gain
    Grays is easily one of the most popular 14ers in Colorado due to its moderate difficulty and proximity to Denver. Grays Peak is an awesome 14er but the crowds take away from the hike. And while the views on top of Grays are amazing, the barren landscape of the hike to get there isn't the most ama...
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  • Laporte, Colorado

    Hike the Bellvue Dome

    2.8
    1.75 mi / 600 ft gain
    The Bellvue Dome, known locally as "Goat Hill", was created by the same geological forces that made the Rocky Mountains, but what makes this structure unique is its shape, the steep cliff on its western edge carved by the Cache la Poudre River at the base, and its prominent location dominating th...
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  • Dillon, Colorado

    Hiking Mount Sniktau

    5.0
    4 mi
    Mount Sniktau is a great beginner 13er. This hike offers a fun ridge walk with amazing views! Make sure you come prepared, the wind can be pretty relentless. Parking is limited so make sure you arrive early.This hike will get your blood pumping from the moment you exit your vehicle. You will cli...
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  • Dillon, Colorado

    Hike Grizzly Peak at Loveland Pass

    5.0
    6 mi / 2900 ft gain
    While a typical Colorado hike may be an ascent to your destination followed by a descent back to your car, the hike to Grizzly Peak at Loveland Pass (Grizzly Peak "D") breaks that mold. At 13,427 feet, Grizzly Peak stands in the path to Torreys Peak’s west face (14,267’). Even though it is only ~...
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