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Colorado is a boundless, jagged, sublime playground for hikers. This book covers day hikes of 2 to 12 miles in length—some are flat and easy, others are burly and hard. There are 75 trails here, covering as much of the state as possible and as many habitats, biomes, and kinds of hikes as I could find. I hiked them all in under a year, for a total of 334.3 miles, 63,833 vertical feet, and 10,000 miles on our family minivan. Still, this list is only the tip of the mountain.

Colorado’s trail options are overwhelming: 350 miles of hiking trails in Rocky Mountain National Park alone, plus three other national parks and a plethora of national monuments, historic sites, and recreation areas. For long-distance backpackers, the Colorado Trail spans 567 miles from Denver to Durango. Add that to 42 state parks and innumerable municipal open space systems, and you’ve got more hiking opportunities than most could handle in a lifetime.

That’s where this book comes in. I’ll help you whittle down your options so you can choose from the best bang-for-your-buck trails, whether you’re looking for lakes, rivers, peaks, wildlife, wildflowers, or just a breath of fresh air. Hike to the crest of the Continental Divide, walk through thick, fairytale aspen groves, or commune with mountain goats on a snow-capped peak. After traveling the trails, sample Colorado’s craft beers and spirits, natural hot springs, historic railroad routes, and runnable rivers. Use this book to guide yourself not just to trailheads, but also all around the Centennial State.

Moon Colorado Hiking offers a range of trail difficulties, including easy/ moderate trails for casual hikers and families, and also steep summits, high lakes, several thirteeners, and one via ferrata (involving a vertical cliff face), so intermediate hikers will find challenges as well.

Now, look up and around, drink a deep breath of mountain air, and take a step forward as I wish you: good hiking!

Best by Season

Mountain weather is funny and flippant. It’s also challenging to divide into four neat seasons. Funny memes about Colorado weather list extra seasons such as Fool’s Spring, Second Winter, Spring of Deception, Third Winter, Mud, and Road Construction. The daily temperature and condition fluctuations add to the uncertainty of which jacket to wear. The old trope is, “If you don’t like the weather in Colorado, wait five minutes.” Experienced hikers know to be prepared for just about any kind of weather, at any time of year, at any time of day.

Winter

>> Chicago Lakes Trail to Idaho Springs Reservoir: Strap on some snowshoes at the Echo Lake trailhead and follow the trails west and then north toward the reservoir. Even a beginner can get some steps in here, since you can go as far out as you like before turning around (page 26).

>> Green Mountain West Ridge: This alternative route to one of Boulder’s highest peaks is a brisk winter walk and not as steep as starting from the east side. It follows a lesser traveled ridge and ends with views across Boulder. It’s often icy in the winter, so bring traction (page 65).

>> Garden of the Gods Lollipop Loop: Garden of the Gods is less crowded and much cooler in the winter, making it an ideal time to visit. Choose among numerous trails and short loops, and if there is snow on the monuments, it’s like another world (page 122).

>> Lake Isabelle via Jean Lunning/Pawnee Pass Trails: These designated snowshoe trails are often packed down and are relatively flat, depending on how many folks have gone up since the last snowfall. Be prepared for fierce winds, since this area is right below the Continental Divide (page 181).

Spring

>> Fountain Valley Loop: Just south of Denver, these formations are impressive with or without snow, both of which may happen in spring. This trail holds up well in muddy conditions, which sometimes create trail closures in other parts of Colorado in the spring (page 47).

>> Horsetooth Falls and Horsetooth Rock Loop: Hit this trail near Fort Collins while you’re waiting for the higher mountains to thaw from winter. Close to town, it gives a nice perspective of the Front Range any time of year, but it’s particularly brisk and less crowded in spring (page 94).

>> High Dune Trail: Medano Creek hits peak flow in late May to early June, and sand temperatures are still cool enough to climb. That makes spring ideal for a visit to Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve (page 257).

>> Monument Canyon Loop Trail: This high desert trail on the Western Slope is hikeable year-round but can be unbearably hot if you wait too long in the season. Spring brings empty trails and cool temps (page 317).

Summer

>> Trading Post Trail: Sunrise at Red Rocks on a cool summer morning is an iconic Colorado tradition. Join your fellow sun worshippers in the bleachers of the famous amphitheater before hiking the short loop (page 41).

>> Deluge Lake Trail: Tackle this climb to an icy lake above 11,700 feet. It’s not clear of snow and ice until at least midsummer, making it perfect for a late July excursion (page 223).

>> Little Molas and Molas Lake Trail: Bite off this small but mighty segment of the Colorado Trail as it straddles Molas Pass near Silverton. It’s high enough to be covered by snow in all but a few months during the summer, when it commonly bursts with wildflowers (page 282).

>> Crag Crest Trail to Beginning of Ridge Walk: Climb above the trees to a rocky ridge walk on the Grand Mesa. This trail is a good way to get up above tree line when temperatures climb in the lower parts of the Western Slope (page 314).

Fall

>> Ouzel Falls: A water-soaked river walk in Rocky Mountain National Park, through a tunnel of bright colors in the leaves make this an autumn classic (page 175).

>> West Maroon Trail: Witness epic fall foliage in this forest near Aspen. Hike through vast and giant aspen groves with a background of jagged peaks (page 206).

>> Kenosha Pass West: Aspen-carpeted, rolling section of the Colorado Trail (CT) near South Park. Golden yellow groves reach in both directions here as the CT crosses Kenosha Pass, offering a short forest-bathing hike (page 245).

>> Petroglyph Point Trail: Cooler temperatures and fewer visitors are the rewards of visiting Mesa Verde National Park (or any national park) during the shoulder season, especially in the fall, after school has started and far fewer travelers are on the road (page 297).

*This is an excerpt from Joshua Berman’s Moon Colorado Hiking: Best Hikes Plus Beer, Bites, and Campgrounds Nearby.

 

 

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