Lyons, Colorado

Take the road as if you are going to St. Mary's Glacier, but you will take a left off the road (next to a very nice house) before the road makes a sharp right turn to go up hill. The road is a smooth dirt road for about a mile, but gets very rocky after that and you will need a good off road vehi...

Start at the trailhead located at 1103 County Hwy. 93 and enjoy a little warm up time by the creek that winds past wild plum, chokecherry, and willow trees. Matthews-Winters Park is filled with red rock formations that make for amazing scenery. It also has the remnants of a historic cemetery. The...

Matthews/Winters Park, which is part of the Jefferson County Open Space system, is proof that you do not have to go far from the city to enjoy the mountains. Nestled in the foothills between Golden and Morrison just off I-70 and C-470, Matthews/Winters is easy to access from Denver and any of the...

Green Mountain Trail is a 6.5-mile loop and has a challenging ascent to the park's highest point. Because the mountain is one of the first to rise out of the plains, you get unique views of where the mountains meet the prairie and fascinating geology. The summit, at 6,857' offers stunning views o...

Skip the bar and spend happy hour hiking/biking this fun and easy loop. With convenient access from the Denver-Metro Area, this spot is perfect for a quick ride after work, or hike with your dog. The park has three parking lots, and the trail can be completed as a loop system (in either directio...

I loved this trail when I lived in Lakewood. It has a decent elevation gain, close to the city, spectacular views, and you can pretty much hike it year round unless you just had a winter snow storm (though you could just hike in snow boots!). I take the John O Hayden Trail from the Utah Parking l...

American Lakes are two high alpine lakes located within State Forest State Park and the Never Summer Mountain Range. The park is located about 75 miles west of Fort Collins, Colo. along Highway 14 on the west side of Cameron Pass.Coming down from Cameron Pass, look for a sign for the American Lak...

Note: This is NOT the Beaver Brook Trail in Genesee Park/Lookout Mountain! If you enjoy the scenery and ambiance of Evergreen, but Evergreen Lake has become too crowded for your tastes, Beaver Brook Watershed (owned by the City of Golden) is an excellent alternative. It’s a small, secluded area a...

The hiking trail starts at the parking lot located across from the Dinosaur Ridge Discovery center (which you should totally go check out!). Once you park you will follow the gated and paved Alameda Parkway towards the ridge. Along the way there will be several sites on the left until you reach t...

In State Forest State Park, you start at Agnes Cabin, a historic cabin built in 1925. Because of its rustic architecture, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior. It is a one-story, lodge pole pine log cabin. The cabin is empty, bu...

Westerly Creek Trail is an out-and-back trail that is good for all skill levels located near Denver, Colorado.

At Snow Mountain Ranch, you can strap on the snowshoes and heading to an old homestead on the ranch. It is about 3 mile round trip adventure.You snowshoe through the woods and by some of the cabins at Camp Chief Ouray. On the trail, check out the aspen trees. You can see the markings where the e...

Take I-70 from Denver and then US 40, go all the way to Mile marker 240 of US 40 and park in the area at the side of the road. The Second Creek trail head is just behind the parking area and is easy to find.The trail climbs from a start at 10,600ft and finishes up at 11,325ft at the hut, but you ...

This hike begins at Second Creek Trailhead off of US Highway 40. It's pretty steep right off the bar gaining about 800ft of elevation in the first mile. This first mile takes you to Broome Hut, which has a bathroom and is a great place to stop and take a break. Keep in mind that there are no dogs...

This is a fairly popular snowshoeing and cross country skiing trail in the winter and offers a variety of additional trail options from the lake. Starting at the parking lot, the trailhead is easily accessed and begins the very gradual assent to Lake Zimmerman. Once at the lake, there are beautif...

WARNING! AVALANCHE DANGER!Make sure you have avalanche safety knowledge and equipment. This route enters avalanche terrain.If you are looking for one of the ultimate cross-country ski treks along the northern Front Range, look no further. This trip takes you to the American Lakes at the base of t...