Where are the most effective hiking trails close to Denver? We’ve put together a listing of greater than 20 hikes which would possibly be a couple of 30 minute drive from the city heart. These hikes provide quite lots of landscapes, from the purple rocks of South Valley Park, to the big cottonwood timber that line the Highline Canal, you can experience the broad vistas of the Flatirons, or the aspen laden meadows near Evergreen. There are even a number of trails that lead hikers above the town to achieve views of the distant snowcapped Rocky Mountains or down to the town of Denver under. Explore this web page for an summary. But there could be extra, as each hike has an in depth web page with trail maps, driving directions, and pictures.
* Distance: 1.6 Miles
* Difficulty: Easy
* Let’s start with a household favorite. Lair O the Bear has one of the best name of any park near Denver. Our household has found it a quick escape from the town and an excellent place to have a day picnic within the shade of the aspens alongside Bear Creek. The quick drive up Bear Creek Canyon is gorgeous. The trail runs alongside Bear Creek, so maintain your eyes peeled for Ouzels, little birds also referred to as Dippers that dive underneath water to feed.
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* Distance: 9.2 Miles
* Difficulty: Difficult
* If you may be on the lookout for a challenging peak hike that’s just a 35 minute drive from downtown Denver, then Bergen Peak is a superb choice. Bergen Peak is situated in the western fringe of Elk Meadows simply outdoors of the quaint foothills town of Evergreen. It’s an excellent quick escape from the heat of summer and the summit provides great panoramic views of the meadows under and the mountains to the west. There are seasonal closures to dogs on the trail, so make sure to learn all the primary points on the total trail profile page.
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* Distance: 2.7 Mile Loop
* Difficulty: Easy
* The Bluffs Regional Park is located in the city of Lone Tree on the South End of Denver. If you’re on the town on enterprise this hike is located simply minutes from the Denver Tech middle near Cabelas. Within a quantity of hundred yards of trail you’ll begin to comprehend great views down into Denver and out to the Western foothills. It’s a broad filth trail that finally winds its way as a lot as a broad mesa with unbelievable views of the Front Range Mountains. Look for meadowlarks feeding, especially in the late afternoon and early evenings.
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* Distance: 1.four Mile Loop
* Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
* Located in downtown Castle Rock, about 30 minutes South of the city middle, the Castle Rock Trail at Rock Park winds up to the bottom of the rock for which the town is known as. Stop and examine the conglomerate rocks embedded on this large rock formation and take within the views to the West of city, out to Devils Head and the Front Range beyond it.
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* Distance: 5 Miles Round Trip
* Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
* If you’re up for an actual workout of a hike, then Chimney Gulch, located near the town of Golden, is only a 25 minute drive from downtown Denver. Watch paragliders launch from the top of Mt. Zion and catch the winds alongside the foothills.
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* Looking for extra waterfalls near Denver? Explore our greater than 50 Colorado Waterfall Hikes, our favourite Waterfall Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park, or 7 Waterfalls within One Hour of Denver.
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* Distance: 1.eight Round Trip
* Difficulty: Easy
* The Clear Creek trail was a favorite with our young children. The first segment, in downtown Golden, is paved, then turns to a mud trail after going 470. The county has plans to keep expanding the trail into Clear Creek Canyon. You can soak your feet within the cool water of Clear Creek and watch kayakers run through the chutes. If you’re lucky, you might get a chance to witness swift water rescue trainings hosted right here yearly.
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* Distance: 2.7 Miles
* Difficulty: Easy
* Deer Creek Canyon is tucked away in the foothills simply south of Ken Caryl in Littleton. Combine the Meadowlark and Plymouth trails to form a brief loop hike. If you reside within the suburbs south of Denver, this loop is a great place to stroll the canine after work.
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* Distance: 6 Miles
* Difficulty: Easy
* The Plum Creek trail winds alongside its namesake for six miles via the town of Castle Rock. Our household will often pick up the Plum Creek trail from the small trailhead alongside Meadows Parkway for an after work and school stroll or bike ride. The trail acts as artery connecting the East and West sides of the town. Tall cottonwoods and lone pines stretch above the meadows surrounding the creek.
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* Distance: 2.6 Mile Loop
* Difficulty: Easy
* Just exterior the city of Evergreen are miles of meadows situated at the base of Bergen Peak. Elk Meadows is aptly named, so scan the fields once in a while to see when you can spot grazing elk. A nice hike to see the altering colours and certainly one of our favorite dog friendly hikes near Denver.
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* Distance: 1.9 to three.three Miles
* Difficulty: Easy
* If you’re on the lookout for Wide Open Spaces, then you’ll discover them at Flatirons Vista simply south of Boulder. The views of the distant Flatirons formation that rises from these meadows is breathtaking. We profile just a couple of the various trail options that make their means out from the Flatirons Vista Trailhead. There is a trailhead parking payment and completely no shade–so don’t forget the sunscreen.
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* Distance: 1.6 Mile Loop
* Difficulty: Easy
* One of our prime dog-friendly hikes as a outcome of it’s not far off the interstate, it’s quick, and has a 17-acre off-leash dog area subsequent door. Take in views of Devils Head in the west, Longs Peak in the north, and Pikes Peak to the south.
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* Distance: three.7 Round Trip
* Difficulty: Easy
* The Highline Canal Trail winds 66 miles via Denver and out of town both to the south and the north, providing a riparian zone proper by way of the heart of town. This phase of the Highline is located within the Highlands Ranch area and may be accessed from a trailhead along County Line Road. Traveling slightly below two miles southwest leads to a the historic Fly’n B Park, an old refurbished homestead full with fishing pond and picnic shelter.
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Get our Dayhikes Near Denver Hiking Guide. It consists of our favorite hikes near Denver, packing lists, hiking food and snack ideas, and suggestions for hiking the Front Range of Colorado.
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* Distance: 0.6 Mile Loop
* Difficulty: Moderate
* Just off of insterstate 25 within the Town of Castle Rock, you’ll find the Challenge Hill loop, part of the Phillip S Miller park. Inspired by the Manitou Incline, the city built over 200 steps up the facet of a bluff with railroad ties. Hike to the highest and trail run to the bottom, making as many curcuits as you wish to fill your exercise.
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* Distance: 1.eight Mile Loop
* Difficulty: Easy
* The Rocky Mountain Arsenal is a 15,000 acre wildlife refuge positioned just half-hour northeast of Denver. This 1.eight mile loop trail takes you along the shoreline of Lake Ladora and Lake Mary on the southern end of the park. Go early in the morning in your finest chances to view wildlife.
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* Distance: 0.6 and zero.eight Mile
* Difficulty: Easy
* These are our favorite hikes for youths near Denver. Abert’s Squirrels romp through the bushes and deer graze in the shade of tall ponderosa pines on this idyllic spot atop Lookout Mountain within the foothills above Golden, Colorado. It’s a couple of 25-minute drive to the trailhead. The nature heart is among the best in the Jefferson County parks system.
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* Distance: 2.4 to 4.8 Miles
* Difficulty: Easy & Moderate
* At Meyer Ranch open area you’ll find a loop trail and an out-and-back choices that take your across meadows and lodgepole and ponderosa forest. Explore our three trail profiles to choose the hike or hikes that finest suit your plans.
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* Distance: 4.9 Mile Loop
* Difficulty: Moderate
* A couple years again Mt. Galbraith was a hidden gym, however because of its proximity to Denver, it’s gained in recognition. We advocate that you just go in the early morning or through the weekdays. Mt. Galbraith offers great views down into Golden and Denver. On the back aspect of the loop, you can achieve views to the west down into Clear Creek Canyon.
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* Distance: 2.7 to 7.7 miles
* Difficulty: Moderate
* I love the initial hike up the north side of North Table Mountain. It’s an old access street, like a large ramp constructed into the mountainside. When you gain the highest of this massive butte (we call buttes “mountains” for some purpose in Colorado), you’ll see a broad tableland of windswept grasses and have entry to an entire host of trail options. Explore the complete trail profile for a number of loop hikes choices on North Table Mountain.
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* Distance: 1.3 to 7 Miles
* Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
* O’Fallon Park offers three totally different loop trails and an extended out-and-back choice on the Bear Creek Trail. Our favorite is the meadow view loop the place, at the top you can take in the distant snowcapped peaks in the West.
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* Distance: 2.7 Mile Out-and-Back
* Difficulty: Moderate
* Panorama Point may be the quickest drive and hike to realize these sort of views of the Front Range. Mt. Falcon most likely provides it a run for it’s cash, but it undoubtedly lives as much as its name. We recommend beginning on the West lot for a shorter hike to the purpose.
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* Distance: 6-Miles+ Out-and-Back
* Difficulty: Easy
* A traditional hike right in the heart of historic Red Rocks Park in Morrison Colorado. The Red Rocks trail takes you thru the meadows surrounding the giant monoliths that make this park famous. Be sure to tour the Red Rocks Amphitheater throughout your go to and climb the steps to the top for views down into the City of Denver.
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* Distance: 0.5 mile to 3 miles
* Difficulty: Easy
* This could additionally be my favourite spot to hike that’s near Denver. It’s as if somebody secreted away a bunch of pink rock formations in a meadow behind the hogbacks–those angled foothills you see if you drive along the southwestern curcuit of 470. It’s quiet enough to hear an acorn fall from the scrub oaks along the trail. And winter snows create an attractive distinction of orange and pink on white./p>
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* Distance: 1/2-Mile Round Trip
* Difficulty: Easy
* The Trading Post Trail is our go-to hike near Denver! It’s the perfect hike for visiting family and friends as a outcome of it’s comparatively easy and quick. No snowcapped peaks right here, however your surrounded by towering pink rock. If you’ve limited time in Denver, that is your finest option. The Trading Post trail also makes for a great early morning hike before the paths get busy and the solar heats things up.
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Distance: Up to 12.four Miles
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
We’ve encountered Bighorn Sheep each time we’ve hiked up into Waterton Canyon. And that is why canines (really, any pets) are prohibited. Golden Eagles soar excessive above the orange canyon partitions, and trout can be discovered feeding within the currents of the South Platte river. Waterton Canyon is a favourite of mountain bikers and hikers alike and a perfect place for a night picnic. See our full trail profile for different hike choices and picnic spots.
Aaron Johnson
Aaron Johnson has been hiking in Colorado for over 20 years. The owner and editor of Dayhikes Near Denver, Aaron writes every trail profile as a local information who has hiked hundreds of miles of trails alongside the Front Range and deep in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.