Colorado
Looking for the best running in Colorado? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Colorado. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.
Top Running Spots in and near Colorado
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Aspen, Colorado
Explore Aspen's Foliage Along Government Trail
5.010 mi / 2193 ft gainThe Government Trail is beautiful and relaxing during spring and summer, but my favorite time to hike it is during fall because it goes through countless numbers of Aspen groves, which have turned a majestic yellow. After a moderate ascent for the first couple of miles, the trail become flat and ...Read more -
La Veta, Colorado
Camp at Bear Lake
4.5There are two main campgrounds with enough room for RVs. A secret for dispersed campers, if the campgrounds are full, turn south on the dirt road by the lower campground and you can drop a tent anywhere. Caution as this turns into an extreme 4x4 trail within half a mile.From Walsenburg, take CO...Read more -
Durango, Colorado
Camp at Little Molas Lake
5.01 mi / 40 ft gainLittle Molas Lake Campground is about 1 mile off of US Highway 550 on Molas Pass just North of and on the other side of the highway from the Molas Overlook. Pro-tip: there is also another campground nearby called Molas Lake Park & Campground, so it's important to distinguish which you are hea...Read more -
Longmont, Colorado
Hike or Trail Run on Rabbit Mountain, CO
4.03.95 mi / 472 ft gainThis is a great hike/trail run in Boulder County. It is located between Longmont and Lyons and is part of Boulder County Open Space. Rabbit Mountain has over 5 miles of trails and 2,733 acres of beautiful open space. The views are incredible as most of your hike you are looking out at the entire ...Read more -
Littleton, Colorado
Hike to Carpenter Peak
4.56.2 mi / 1171 ft gainCarpenter Peak stands at 7,166 feet above sea level. While that altitude might not exactly take your breath away, the views from the top certainly will. Starting at the Visitor's Center, the trail to Carpenter's Peak begins as a relatively flat, well-traveled trail. A little less than a mile into...Read more -
Lyons, Colorado
Hike the Kruger Rock Trail
4 mi / 1000 ft gainCutting through the forested hills surrounding Estes Valley, the Kruger Rock Trail is a well-marked 4 mile loop to the top of Kruger Rock. The trail begins in Hermit Park Open Space, located just a few miles southeast of Estes Park and is a moderate hike with around 1000 feet of elevation gain. C...Read more -
Carbondale, Colorado
Mushroom Rock and Red Hill
5.02.82 mi / 928 ft gainMushroom Rock sits high above Colorado Highway 82 overlooking the town of Carbondale. With huge views up the Crystal and Roaring Fork River Valleys, terrain that inspires more desert-Utah than Rocky-Mountain-Colorado, this recreation area feels like a getaway even when it is minutes from Main Str...Read more -
Alamosa County, Colorado
Mosca Pass Trail, Great Sand Dunes NP
5.06.49 mi / 1549 ft gainThe Mosca Pass trail is an (approx) 6.5 mile out and back hike that takes you through beautiful ponderosa and aspen forests to summit 1500 above the start. The trailhead parking is the first left after the Great Sand Dunes visitor center. It is a moderate hike, but allow for several hours, as the...Read more -
Ward, Colorado
Pawnee & Buchanan Pass Loop
5.026.98 mi / 6978 ft gainBefore you start your trip, get a camping permit from the Boulder Ranger Station. Plan to spend your first night in the Crater Lake BZ (Backcountry Zone), and your second in Buchanan BZ. If you're feeling particularly sedate, you can easily spend a third night in Coney Creek. Start early in the ...Read more -
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Perkins Central Garden Trail
5.01.13 mi / 138 ft gainGarden of the Gods has dozens of hiking trails that cover miles through the park itself. The Perkins Central Garden Trail takes you through the heart of the rock formations and really gives you perspective on the size of these red rocks. This trail also takes you past several areas where rock cl...Read more -
Crested Butte, Colorado
Hike to Judd Falls
3.02.5 mi / 220 ft gainStarting at 9600 feet, just outside the small town of Gothic is the trail head for Judd Falls. The parking lot is on the side of the road and getting to this area is completely possible with a passenger car. The trailhead includes bathrooms and is particularly uncrowded on weekdays and in the lat...Read more -
Monument, Colorado
Mt. Herman & 715 Loop
4.06.16 mi / 1877 ft gainThe Basics: Mt. Herman is the most prominent peak overlooking Monument, CO and is easily spotted from I-25. The area between Monument and the mountain hosts a large network of meandering trails that are great for trail running and mountain biking. Our hike today starts at the uppermost parking lo...Read more -
Boulder, Colorado
Shanahan Ridge Trail
4.03.84 mi / 715 ft gainStarting on the edge of a neighborhood in South Boulder, this 3.8 mile loop begins its 869 foot elevation gain by meandering through a pine forest. You can 'choose your own adventure' by exploring the handful of trails that meet up with the Shanahan Ridge Trail, such as the South Mesa Trail, Shad...Read more -
Boulder, Colorado
Sunshine Lion's Lair Loop
5.05.05 mi / 1257 ft gainThis is a mix of trails that will bring you on an easy loop to the peak of Mt Sanitas, but will keep you away from the usual crowds of the more well-known paths up. The hike is a clear path that brings you 5+ miles from around 5,500 ft in elevation to 6,800. You'll start at the Centennial Trail...Read more -
Ophir, Colorado
Drive Ophir Pass
4.58 mi / 2500 ft gainOphir Pass (el. 11,114’), officially known as Forest Service Road #630, is one of the easiest of the high alpine trails in the San Juan mountains, but still can provide trouble to the inexperienced or when bad weather is present, particularly on the western/Ophir downhill side. The pass and road ...Read more -
Durango, Colorado
Hike the Colorado Trail: Little Molas Lake to Lime Creek
5.010 mi / 755 ft gainTo hike this section of the Colorado Trail, you'll begin from the Little Molas Lake Campground at around 10,895-ft. Little Molas Lake Campground is about 1 mile off of US Highway 550 on Molas Pass just North of and on the other side of the highway from the Molas Overlook, which is just South of S...Read more