If you’ve found yourself in the state of Colorado and are looking to take an incredible hike, you’ve got plenty of options to choose from! With the Rocky Mountains running through it, Colorado is a gorgeous state with seemingly infinite hiking trails to choose from. Sorting through all of the state’s many hiking trails may seem intimidating, and that’s where we come in! From the Four Lakes Loop in Rocky Mountain National Park to the First and Second Flatirons Loop located within the town of Boulder, join ViewCation as we try to find the best hiking in Colorado.
Four Lakes Loop
Located within the confines of the greater Rocky Mountain National Park, the Four Lakes Loop has understandably risen to prominence as one of the preeminent hiking trails in the entire state of Colorado. The reason that the trail has become so popular is inarguably because of it’s accessibility, as well as the fact that taking it’s hike serves as a sampler platter of sorts for all that the glorious state has to offer.
The entire loop is only a little over six miles long, and it’s name stems from the fact that taking it’s hike will bring visitors past four separate lakes. There’s also Alberta Falls, which has come to be known as one of the most popular waterfalls in the entirety of Rocky Mountain National Park. The terrain can vary along the trail, though things never get too difficult. The variety of scenery and experiences offered by the trail in a relatively compact package make it one of the best hikes to take if you’re only staying in Colorado for a short period of time. Even if you’re going to be in the area a while, you should hike the Four Lakes Loop at least once.
Monarch Lake Loop
The Monarch Lake Loop is another loop trail that is fairly popular amongst tourists visiting Colorado. The hike is a little bit shorter and easier than the aforementioned Four Lakes Loop, though that doesn’t mean that the views that it offers are any less spectacular or diverse. The trail is located near the area of Winter Park, and it’s centerpiece is it’s namesake Monarch Lake, which you’ll see plenty of people boating on.
Monarch Lake Loop offers it’s hikers plentiful and diverse scenery, from it’s namesake lake, to it’s off-shooting creeks, to the surrounding dense forest. The popularity of the hike means that it can be fairly crowded when the weather’s right, and you may have a hard time trying to find parking! However, braving the crowds is worth it for the views.
Maroon Bells
If you head to the two peaks in the Elk Mountains that go by the name of the Maroon Bells, you’ll find plenty of hiking trails that all sort of blend together. Depending on how far you want to go, hiking around Maroon Bells may take you all day! The area is incredibly beautiful, with a few lakes and plenty of golden aspen trees. The Maroon Bells are just as beautiful to gaze at from afar as they are to hike, and you’ll want to be sure to get a nice view of their peaks!
Hanging Lake Trail
Located near the resort city of Glenwood Springs, the Hanging Lake Trail is one of the most popular in all of Colorado due to the beauty of it’s namesake lake. The Hanging Lake is named as such because it’s waterfalls make it look as if it is literally hanging in the sky, and the magic of such a sight is hard to describe to someone who hasn’t seen it for themselves! The hike to the lake itself isn’t all that long, but it can be a little bit challenging if you aren’t used to the rocky terrain and the high elevation. If you’re in the Glenwood Springs area, this hike is a must!
Alberta Falls Trail
We already mentioned the stunning waterfall known as Alberta Falls while talking about the Four Lakes Loop, but visitors to the Rocky Mountain National Park that want to get a closer look at the amazing waterfall will certainly want to also check out the Alberta Falls Trail. Taking the hike will give you a much better and more personal view of the great waterfall, and it’s not all that difficult! If you’re exploring the many trails located within the Rocky Mountain National Park, you should be sure that the Alberta Falls Trail is one of them.
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Devil’s Head Lookout Trail
Located near the town of Castle Rock, the Devil’s Head Lookout Trail offers an incredible view of it’s namesake Devil’s Head, which is a unique and naturally occurring formation made out of granite. The formation is insanely impressive, and just as impressive is the full-circle view that is allowed to hikers when they get to it. Hikers will get the opportunity to look out from the summit and see mountains sprawling out as far as the eye can see, making the Devil’s Head Lookout Trail one of the absolute best hikes to take if you’re staying in the nearby area. Just be sure that you’re ready for a bit of a climb if you want to see the view!
Timberline Falls and Sky Pond Trail
The Timberline Falls and Sky Pond Trail is a nearly ten-mile-long loop located in Rocky Mountain National Park, and, more specifically, near the town of Estes Park. The centerpieces of the hike are it’s two namesakes, with those being Timberline Falls and Sky Pond. Timberline Falls rivals the nearby Alberta Falls with it’s staggering beauty, and Sky Pond is a beautiful and relaxing body of blue water surrounded on all sides by glorious mountains. Hikers should note that the loop can be fairly intense, and anyone who hasn’t had any experience hiking may want to build up to it.
Fern Lake Trail
Another great hiking trail in Colorado that offers hikers the chance to get an up close and personal view of a stunning waterfall is the Fern Lake Trail. The trail allows hikers the chance to see Fern Falls, which is a sprawling waterfall coming down a mountainside in the Rocky Mountain National Park. The full hike is only around six miles, and it’s terrain isn’t too terribly trying for average hikers. The waterfall runs through forests and creates a stunning array of moss and other lush plant life, as well as a refreshing mist.
Emerald Lake Trail
If we can only include one more trail located within the greater area of the Rocky Mountain National Park, it would have to be the Emerald Lake Trail. The Emerald Lake Trail is particularly gorgeous, with it’s main draws being both it’s namesake lake and the nearby Tyndall Gorge. Hikers will get the chance to see plenty of both landmarks, making this an incredibly popular hiking route amongst Colorado tourists. The Emerald Lake is named as such because the water appears to glow an almost alien and crystalline green.
Fountain Valley Trail
As compared to the aforementioned hikes, the Fountain Valley Trail is fairly unique as a result of it’s formations made of red rock. The hike is easy and only goes on for a little over two miles, with the main draw of the trail being it’s scenery. The unique color of the rock formations gives the area a slightly dreamlike feel that visitors will want to experience for themselves. The entire trail can be completed in a little under an hour, but you may want to take the time to soak in the interesting atmosphere before truly calling it a day.
First and Second Flatirons Loop
As compared to all of the hikes mentioned previously, the First and Second Flatirons Loop is an impressive hike that is located much closer to the state of Colorado’s more populated areas. The First and Second Flatirons Loop is located in the city of Boulder, just on the outskirts of the Rocky Mountains. The trail is named after the Flatirons, which are great flat rock formations that resemble small mountains and loom over the entire Boulder area.
As with several of the aforementioned hikes, the First and Second Flatirons Loop is located within a sprawling network of other hiking trails, some of which may be more or less difficult. The popularity of the Fist and Second Flatirons Loop above some of the other trails in the immediate area comes from the trail’s mix of accessibility and modest challenge. The hike is only around three miles, though the differing terrain along it’s length, as well as the ascending elevation and already high altitude, can make it slightly difficult.
Of course, the greatest draw of the First and Second Flatirons Loop may be the chance to see the Flatirons themselves up close, as the staggering rock formations are one of the first things that tourists will notice when entering into the city of Boulder. If the First and Second Flatirons Loop is too tame for hikers, they may want to move on to the nearby Royal Arch Trail, which is one of the more difficult hikes in the Boulder area. The Royal Arch Trail takes hikers up an incredibly steep incline with plenty of rocky terrain, and it’s named after it’s own singular rock formation that consists of a naturally occurring rock arch. Hikers will also get to see an incredible view of Boulder and the entire Denver area.
Colorado is home to thousands of hiking trails, but the ones featured in this video are commonly thought to be amongst the best of the best. Now it’s time to hear from you: did you know that there is a range of great rock formations looming over the city of Boulder known as the Flatirons, and that there’s a lake within the Rocky Mountain National Park that appears to glow emerald green? As always, like this video to show your support, and subscribe and hit the notification bell if you’d like to be among the first to know when more globetrotting ViewCation videos are on their way!