All Colorado Trails
A complete collection of all Colorado trails on this website in chronological order.
Handies Peak (14,058′), San Juan Range
Handies Peak, which rises to 14,048 feet in elevation, is the highest point of land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Among Colorado’s 14ers, Handies Peak is considered one of the more straightforward climbs, although getting to American Basin can be a...
Lost Lake (9,850′), Front Range
Lost Lake is an alpine lake surrounded by the majestic mountains of the Indian Peaks Wilderness. It’s a perfect destination for a day trip. The lake’s crystal-clear waters are a popular spot for fly fishing. Keep an eye out for a glimpse of moose, which are commonly...
Mt Flora (13,146′), Front Range
Located within the James Peak Wilderness area, this hike offers a well established trail to the summit. The trailhead at Berthoud Pass also provides convenient access to the trailhead all year because the pass is plowed in winter. As you ascend, you'll traverse a...
Arapaho Pass (11,950′), Front Range
From the east, access to Arapaho Pass can be found along a rough 2WD road that provides access to the Fouth of July Trailhead. The trail begins in dense forest with wonderful fields of wildflowers blooming in the summer months. For part of the hike to the top of the...
Star Dune (8,617′), Great Sand Dunes N.P.
The Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado is home to the tallest sand dunes in North America, reaching heights of up to 750 feet at Star Dune. Some interesting facts about Star Dune: 1. The Star Dune is the tallest dune in the park, standing at a height of 755...
Lake Haiyaha (10,244′), Front Range
Lake Haiyaha is a secluded, boulder-riddled lake in lower Chaos Canyon. Hallett Peak (12,713') and Otis Peak (12,486') tower over the lake, and are situated on the Continental Divide, making for spectacular scenery. The shores of the lake are home to some of the...
Black Canyon of the Gunnison N.P. (8,500′)
The Black Canyon of the Gunnison park contains 12 miles (19 km) of the 48-mile (77 km) long Black Canyon of the Gunnison River. The national park contains the deepest and most dramatic section of the canyon. The canyon's name comes from the long shadows, where...
Argentine Pass (13,207′), Front Range
Argentine Pass is the highest named vehicle-accessible pass in Colorado. Vehicle travel is only possible on the Georgetown side of the pass (during the summer months) by a four-wheel drive vehicle with high-clearance. The trail on the Horseshoe Basin side is only...
Rollins Pass (11,671′), Front Range
Rollins Pass is located on the Continental Divide, approximately five miles east of Winter Park, when approaching from the west. The abandoned rail route over the pass was designated a National Register of Historic Places in 1980 because of engineering feats...
Mt Ida (12,880′), Front Range
The Mt Ida trail, at Milner Pass, is one of Rocky Mountain Park's most scenic alpine treks. The trail has spectacular views that include tundra flats, panoramic views across the Never Summer Mountain Range, and 360 degree views of Rocky Mountain National Park from the...
Lower Fish Creek Falls (7,420′), Park Range
Lower Fish Creek Falls is a 283' waterfall located about 5 miles to the east of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. There are two trails which provide great views of the falls. First is the Overlook, a 1/4 mile handicapped-friendly accessible trail, which is relatively flat....
Bierstadt Lake (9,470′), Front Range
Bierstadt Lake sits atop a forested moraine, which is a ridge composed of material left behind thousands of years ago by receding glaciers. The lake was formed when a dam was made from glacial debris deposits. Water from the lake drains into Mill Creek within the Mill...
Mt Sniktau (13,234′), Front Range
Mount Sniktau sits just east of the Continental Divide on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. The summit is located less than a mile south of Interstate 70, and east of the Eisenhower Tunnel. Despite being close to an Interstate and being one of the windiest...
Lake Isabelle (10,910′), Front Range
Lake Isabelle lies hidden in a high, isolated bowl-shaped basin at the top of the South St. Vrain drainage in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area. It lies at tree-line in a stunning alpine valley surrounded by Navajo (13,409'), Apache (13,441') and Shoshoni (12,967')...
Estes Cone (11,007′), Front Range
Estes Cone is located about 3 miles from the Longs Peak trailhead on the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park. The peak serves as a prominent landmark in the Tahosa Valley to the east. The peak is named for one of the first settlers in Estes Valley, Joel Estes....
Wager Gulch (12,350′), San Juan Range
The road up Wager Gulch (high-clearance 4-wheel drive vehicle recommended), leads to the remnants of the abandoned mining town of Carson, on the way up to the Continental Divide and beyond. Founded in 1889, Carson reached its peak at the turn of the century when some...
Alpine Loop (12,800′), San Juan Range
The Alpine Loop Backcountry Byway is a rugged 4x4 road that winds through the spectacular scenery of the San Juan Mountains, connecting Lake City, Silverton, and Ouray. The loop traverses passes up to 12,800 feet while showcasing old mines, ghost towns, natural...
Greenhorn Mountain (12,352′), Wet Mountain Range
Greenhorn Mountain is the highest summit of the Wet Mountain range, located on the southern end of the range. Greenhorn Mountain can be seen from Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Trinidad, and also from along Interstate 25 rising over 7,000 feet (2,100 m) above the great...
Music Pass (11,450′), Sangre de Cristo Range
Music Pass is a east/west pass across the southern Sangre de Cristo range connecting the Wet Valley in the east with the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve on the western side. The road gets progressively worse as you near the trailhead, so without a high...
Potato Lake (9,800′), San Juan Range
Spud Lake Trail #661 to Potato Lake is beautiful and short, with minimal elevation gain, making this an extremely popular hike. Passing through aspen glades, it offers excellent views of Engineer Mountain, Grayrock Peak, and Spud Mountain, along with good views of the...
Lily Lake (12,385′), Sangre de Cristo Range
This trail is one of the more beautiful in the state with lots of bang for your buck. The trail starts out at 10,400 feet, hiking in an beautiful valley surrounded by huge mountain scenery, and is virtually flat. So if you don’t want to make the climb up to Lilly...
Arikaree River (3,317′), Eastern Plains
The point where the Arikaree River flows out of Colorado and into Kansas is the lowest point in Colorado, at an elevation of 3,317 feet (1,011 m). It holds the distinction of being the highest low point of any U.S. state, and higher than the highest points of 18...
Pikes Peak (14,109′), Front Range
Pikes Peak is the highest summit of the southern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains in North America. The prominent 14,109-foot fourteener is located in Pike National Forest, 12 miles (19 km) west of downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado. The summit is higher than any...
Blodgett Peak (9,429′), Front Range
Blodgett Peak is located in Blodgett Peak Open Space along the Rampart Range of the Rocky Mountains. The peak has a small summit that provides unobstructed views in all directions, rising from the eastern edge of the Rockies. The trailhead is situated close to the...
Pancake Rocks (11,060′), Front Range
Pancake Rocks Trail shares the trailhead used to reach Horsethief Falls for the first .7 miles. The trail climbs trough heavy forest before leveling out near the two trail junctions. At the second junction you can go straight for a .5 mile trip to Horsethief Falls, or...
Mosquito Pass (13,185′), Mosquito Range
Mosquito Pass was built to connect the towns of Alma to the east, with Leadville to the west. It is the highest crossable vehicle mountain pass in the U.S. outside of Alaska. While there are higher vehicle passes, they are all out and back. The trail crosses the...
Humboldt Peak (14,068′), Sangre de Cristo Range
Humboldt Peak is part of the Crestones in the rugged Sangre de Cristo mountain range. The Crestones are a cluster of 14,000′ peaks comprising Crestone Peak, Crestone Needle, Kit Carson Peak, Challenger Point, Humboldt Peak, and Columbia Point. Humboldt Peak is the...
Stony Pass (12,592′), San Juan Range
Stony Pass Rd crosses the Continental Divide and follows small streams that make up the headwaters of the Rio Grande River. The road was created in 1872 to connect the area’s mining operations in Silverton to the town of Del Norte. The Continental Divide Trail crosses...
Mt Audubon (13,223′), Front Range
Mt Audubon is the highest peak in the Indian Peaks Wilderness that has an established trail nearly to the summit. It is located in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area, about an hour outside of Boulder. The great 360 degree view from the summit looks out over the...
Shelf Road (9,494′), Fourmile Canyon
Shelf Road Gold Belt Tour National Scenic Byway is a dirt road passable with a 2WD vehicle in good weather. It follows the old stagecoach route between Cripple Creek and Cañon City built in 1892. It twists along Fourmile Creek, with long bands of limestone towering...
Flat Tops Scenic Byway (10,343′), Flat Tops
Flat Tops Trail Scenic Byway (County Road 8), runs through the northern portion of the Flat Tops Wilderness. The Flat Tops is Colorado's second largest Wilderness, spanning a total of 235,214 acres. Part of the White River Plateau, the wilderness has an average...
Trappers Lake (9,627′), Flat Tops
Roughly a mile and a half long and half a mile wide, reaching depths of 180 feet, Trappers Lake is the second largest natural lake in Colorado after Grand Lake. You reach the lake by taking the Flat Tops Scenic Byway from Yampa or Meeker. The area is as wild today as...
Hayden Pass (10,709′), Sangre de Cristo Range
Hayden Pass road crosses the Sangre de Cristo Mountains between Villa Grove in the west, and Coaldale to the east. The road is most challenging and scenic when started from Villa Grove, on the southwest side. With grades up to 20%, great views of the San Luis valley...
Fremont Peak (7,273′), Royal Gorge
Fremont Peak is the high point along a narrow ridge of hills rising near the eastern edge of the Royal Gorge's north rim. The desert peak is part of a very small sub-range of mountains called the Gorge Hills. These peaks are relatively low and are covered in desert...
The Crags (10,856′), Front Range
The Crags Trail #664 follows Four Mile Creek through deep forests and lush meadows, ending at a rocky dome with unobstructed views in all directions. At the summit of the windswept dome there are views of the Rampart Range, Pikes Peak Mastif, Catamount Reservoirs, and...
Tincup Pass (12,154′), Sawatch Range
Tincup Pass gets its name from prospector Jim Taylor, who in 1860 brought his gold strike back to camp in his tin cup. The pass was used to move supplies between St. Elmo and the town of Tin Cup starting in 1881, when a wagon road was built. The views and hiking...
Mt Antero Rd (13,800′) , Sawatch Range
Mt Antero is one of only a handful of 14,000' peaks that has a road that travels to within a short distance of the summit. The road up the mountain is difficult, rough and rocky, requiring four-wheel drive, eventually topping out at 13,800'. From the end of the road...
Hallett Peak (12,713′), Front Range
Hallett Peak, viewed from east Rocky Mountain National Park, is distinctive with it's slanted square structure towering over the landscape. As you near the summit however, the square melts away and you are left looking at a more traditional mountain silhouette. Rising...
Hurricane Pass (12,730′) and California Pass (12,960′), San Juan Range
The National Water and Climate Center reported that the SWE (snow water equivalent) for the San Juan Mountains, including Hurricane Pass and California Pass, in May of 2019 was 728% above normal. It was such a heavy snow year that most of the back country at higher...
Hanging Lake (7,290′), Glenwood Canyon
Hanging Lake, in Glenwood Canyon, is a beautiful travertine lake formed high up in Deadhorse Canyon. The lake was formed when an acre and a half of the valley floor sheared off from a fault and dropped to what is now the shallow bed of the lake. This travertine lake...
Picket Wire Canyonlands Tracksite (4,403′), Eastern Plains
Picket Wire (Purgatoire) Canyonlands, in the Comanche National Grasslands, is home to the largest dinosaur track site in North America. 150 million years ago this area was part of a large shallow lake and was teaming with Brontosaurs and Allosaurs. As these massive...
Lake Helene (10,630′), Front Range
There is no signage and you must follow a social trail to get to the lake, but despite it's obscurity, Lake Helene is a spectacular destination inside Rocky Mountain National Park. The lake is situated at treeline, between Flattop Mountain (12,324') and Notchtop...
Garden of the Gods (6,400′) Front Range
Garden of the Gods is a geologically unique 480 acre park, having one of the most complete and complex exposures of earth's history anywhere in the country. On the outskirts of Colorado Springs, it is popular for hiking, technical rock climbing, biking, and horseback...
Mills Lake (9,965′) & Jewel Lake (9,990′), Front Range
Located within Glacier Gorge in Rocky Mountain National Park, Mills and Jewel Lake provide dramatic views of the surrounding peaks. The Longs peak area is prominently visible from the valley. The summer route initially takes you to Alberta Falls, another popular...
Crater Lake (10,400′) and Mirror Lake (10,325′), Front Range
Mirror Lake and Crater lake are found deep in the heart of the Indian Peaks Wilderness. Cascade Falls is a popular destination found along the trail. It is about 4.5 miles in and comprises of multiple waterfalls. The destination, Crater Lake, sits in a large bowl...
West Spanish Peak (13,625′), Sangre de Cristo Range
West Spanish Peak (13,625') and East Spanish Peak (12,684') have world class geological features that made the two peaks a National Natural Landmark in 1976 and designated as a Wilderness Area in 2000. The peaks rise 6,000 ft from the edge of the eastern plains, and...
La Plata Peak (14,344′), Sawatch Range
La Plata Peak is known for it's distinctive Ellingwood Ridge, and is one of the highest 14,000' peaks in Colorado. Traverseing the Southwest Ridge route, with Huron Peak and the Three Apostles providing a backdrop, makes for stunning scenery. "La Plata" is Spanish...
South Colony Lakes (12,000′), Sangre de Cristo Range
The South Colony Basin lies in the heart of southern Colorado's Sangre de Cristo Range, home of the South Colony Lakes. Surrounded by Crestone Needle (14,197'), Humboldt Peak (14,064'), and Broken Hand Peak (13,573'), the basin is one of the most beautiful alpine...
Almagre Mountain (12,360′), Front Range
Almagre Mountain (Mt Baldy) is the only other peak, besides Pikes Peak, above treeline when viewed from Colorado Springs. Located in the Pike National Forest just south of Pikes Peak, this hike is rated easy, but getting there can be a challenge. In order to drive to...
Mt Rosa (11,500′), Front Range
Mt Rosa is located in the Pike National Forest just south of Pikes Peak and is the only cone shaped summit in the area. This provides rare unobstructed 360 degree views from it's small but lofty summit, one mile above Colorado Springs. From it's summit you can see...
Mitchell and Blue Lake (11,360′), Front Range
Mitchell and Blue Lake are located in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area, west of Boulder, Colorado. Brainard Lake itself is a small lake at the junction of two major valleys in the east central Indian Peaks Wilderness. The northern of the two valleys holds Mitchell...
Cheyenne Mountain (9,565′), Front Range
Cheyenne Mountain's is a triple peak mountain with the geological summit on the southwestern portion of the mountain. In 2017 there were no trails to the summit, so it was necessary to navigate most of the way without a trail through the Pike National Forest. In late...
Mt Herman (9,104′), Front Range
Mt Herman is the highest point on the Palmer Divide, just west of Monument, Colorado. It lies along the Rampart Range of the Front Range, between Denver and Colorado Springs. The area is popular for hiking and mountain biking, paragliding, and 4x4 trails heading west....
Longs Peak (14,259′), Front Range
Iconic Longs Peak (14,259') is the highest mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park, and the northern most 14,000' peak in the Rocky Mountains. The peak is guarded by granite cliffs and does require Class 3 climbing, although the first 6.5 miles before the Keyhole are...
Mt Blue Sky (14,268′), Front Range
Mt Blue Sky can be accessed via the highest paved road in North America, reaching an elevation of 14,138'. The Mt Blue Sky Scenic Byway, maintained by the Forest Service, offers easy access to Colorado’s inspiring high mountain environment. A drive up, and short walk...
Mt Sneffels (14,155′), San Juan Range
Mt Sneffels is the second highest summit in the San Juan mountains and known as the "Queen of the San Juans". Mt Sneffels is situated in the Mt Sneffels Wilderness of the Uncompahgre National Forest. There are only 15 miles of constructed trails in the 16,587 acre...
Huron Peak (14,006′), Sawatch Range
Huron Peak is known as one of the most beautiful hikes in the Sawatch Mountain Range of Colorado. It is the most remote peak in the range, located within the San Isabel Nation Forest, and offers views of wilderness in every direction from it's small summit. It's not...
St Vrain Mountain Trail (12,162′), Front Range
The St Vrain Mountain trail is located just outside the border of the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area to the south, and Rocky Mountain National Park to the north. The trail climbs steeply heading west, just east of the Continental Divide, with views across the Middle St...
Flattop Mountain (12,332′), Front Range
Flattop Mountain is located just east of the Continental Divide in Rocky Mountain National Park. The trail was built in 1925, and rehabilitated in 1940 with Civilian Conservation Corps labor. Today it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The scenic...
La Plata Peak (14,344′), Sawatch Range
La Plata Peak, in the middle of the Sawatch Range, is known for it's distinctive Ellingwood Ridge, popular among climbers. The Northwest Ridge trail starts from Highway 82 and follows the northern ridge that divides the La Plata basin from La Plata Gulch. There are...
Nymph (9,705′), Dream (9,905′), and Emerald Lake (10,110′), Front Range
Nymph, Dream, and Emerald Lake are located inside Rocky Mountain National Park, west of Estes Park. From the popular Bear Lake Trailhead, the trail passes Nymph and Dream Lake on the way to Emerald Lake. There are prominent views along the way of Longs Peak, Glacier...
Quandary Peak (14,272′), Ten Mile Range
Quandary Peak is the only 14,000' peak in the Ten Mile Range. The summit provides great views of other nearby peaks such as Northstar Mountain, Mt. Lincoln, Mt. Cameron, Mt. Democrat, and Mt Bross to the south. To the north you see Pacific and Crystal Peak, as well as...
High Dune (8,700′), Great Sand Dunes N.P.
The Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve contains the tallest sand dunes in North America, rising about 750 feet (230 m) from the floor of the San Luis Valley at the western base of the Sangre de Cristo Range. The dunes cover about 19,000 acres (7,700 ha)....
Zapata Falls (9,250′), Sangre de Cristo Range
This popular short hike to Zapata Falls is located 3 miles south of the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, off of Highway 150. Simply driving to the trailhead provides an excellent view of the entire dune field and San Luis Valley. Drive (east) onto a rough...
American Basin to Sloan Lake (12,920′), San Juan Range
The Handies Peak trail to Sloan Lake meanders through American Basin, one of the most scenic basins in the San Juan Mountains. The destination, Sloan Lake, is a high alpine lake above treeline near the base of American Peak in the basin. The trail continues past the...
Carpenter Peak (7,166′), Front Range
Carpenter Peak is located in Roxborough State Park, which is a Colorado Natural Area and a National Natural Landmark. The parks 4,000 acres is filled with dramatic red-rock formations, distinct plant communities, and a host of wildlife ranging from black bears to...
Devils Head Fire Lookout (9,748′), Front Range
Devils Head Lookout was the last of the seven original Front Range lookout towers in continuous use since the 1800's. It was closed in 2018 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Bill Ellis and his wife operated the lookout over the last 25 years,...
Paint Mines Park (6,791′), Eastern Plains
Paint Mines Park is located on the eastern plains near Calhan, Colorado. The 750 acre park features geological formations including spires, chasms, overhangs, and carved walls. These formations were created through erosion, creating gullies and exposed layers of clay...
Spruce Mountain (7,635′), Front Range
Spruce Mountain is located on the Palmer Divide, on the eastern fringe of the Front Range. The top of the mesa offers great views of the Palmer Divide, with interesting sandstone formations along the trail. Hiking to the upper loop is a quick climb through shady...
Sky Pond (10,900′), Front Range
Sky Pond, located in Rocky Mountain National Park, is fed by Taylor Glacier and forms the headwaters of Icy Brook. The lake occupies a cirque formed during advances and retreats of Taylor Glacier. A little further down, Icy Brook drains into the Lake of Glass, after...
Missouri Mountain (14,071′), Sawatch Range
At 14,067 feet, Missouri Mountain is the 36th highest peak in Colorado. It is located in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains, and is part of the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness. With eight "14ers" (peaks exceeding 14,000' in elevation), the Collegiate Peaks...
Mt Elbert (14,438′), Sawatch Range
Mt Elbert is the highest peak in the 3,000 mile long Rocky Mountains, a mountain chain which stretches from Canada to Mexico. The peak is situated near the small town and lakes of the same name, Twin Lakes. Despite it's size. the peak is a Class 1 hike, making it a...
Mt Sherman (14,043′), Mosquito Range
In the middle of the Mosquito Range lies Mt Sherman, rising above the western edge of South Park, in central Colorado. The peak is named for the Union General William Tecumseh Sherman, who served under General Ulysses S. Grant during the Civil War. Keep in mind that...
Mt Democrat (14,154′) , Mt Cameron (14,248′), Mt Lincoln (14,293′), and Mt Bross (14,178), Mosquito Range
DeCaliBron" (Mt Democrat, Mt Cameron, Mt Lincoln, Mt Bross) provides an opportunity to summit four 14,000' peaks in one day. The linkup involves a fairly steep hike up Mt. Democrat, followed by a prolonged walk along several ridges. The technical difficulty on this...
Twin Sisters (11,428′), Front Range
The Twin Sisters ridge runs nearly two miles along the east central boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park. From the summit there are panoramic views of the eastern plains and Rocky Mountain National Park, including Longs Peak and Mt Meeker. The heavy rains in 2013...
Alberta Falls (9,400′), Front Range
Alberta Falls, located in Glacier Gorge, is one of the more popular hiking destinations in Rocky Mountain National Park. The scenic 30-foot waterfall thunders down a small gorge along Glacier Creek, with the short trail following Glacier Creek to the falls. The falls...
Mt Morrison (7,881′), Front Range
Mt Morrison stands above Red Rocks park, home of the famous Red Rocks Amphitheater. Mt Morrison can easily be identified by the large outcropping of rock that forms the summit called "The Dome". Red Rocks Park is considered the “jewel” of the Denver Mountain Parks...
Mesa Verde National Park (7,500′), Chapin Mesa
Mesa Verde National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park protects some of the best-preserved Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites in the United States. With more than 5,000 sites, including 600 cliff dwellings, it is the largest archaeological preserve in...
Grays(14,275) and Torreys(14,272) Peak, Front Range
Grays and Torreys Peak are the two highest points on the Continental Divide, with Grays Peak being the highest point. Since the peaks are in close proximity to each other, it is popular to hike them both in one day. The Stevens Gulch trailhead was the third most...
Mt Bierstadt (14,066′), Front Range
Mount Bierstadt is a 14,066-foot-high (4,287 m) mountain summit in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. The fourteener is located in the Mount Evans Wilderness of Pike National Forest, 9.4 miles southeast of Georgetown in Clear Creek County. It was named in honor...