FunColoradoHikes Blog

(photo: family on top of Chief Mountain)

Having family or friends visit this summer? Do you want to show them some of Colorado’s famous beauty? These are the best hikes for the occasion – we know from experience. They offer great views, easy or moderate hiking, and a fun day out in the mountains!

Chief Mountain (1 hour hike to top – uphill)

Rosalie/Mt. Bierstadt (scenic 1 hour drive from Denver – Rosalie is short and sweet)

Alderfer Three Sisters (really good hike for elderly hikers and young children)

See the main Fun Colorado Hikes website for more great hikes!

(photo: Alderfer Three Sisters hike in autumn)

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Trails, trails, everywhere!  Look at the mainsite here for the answers that many people have like: Which trails are best?  Which ones are closer to Denver? Where are the great scenic views? Which hikes are good for avid hikers and those who are occasional hikers?

It doesn’t get any better than this!

(Photo: Sunset over Mt. Evans)

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There are so many hiking trails on the map and you wonder, “Which one is good for me and my family; especially the kids?”

Fun Colorado Hikes offers many such hikes that have been tested with small children and deemed as some of the best trails on the Front Range! 

Also check the other posts in this blog for easy day hikes 30 minutes from Denver and others that are deeper in the mountains 60 minutes from Denver. They are really fun hikes for kids and the whole family!
Plan ahead: three or four days in advance of your hike day, tell your family which hike you plan on going to. The anticipation of the event is half the fun. Explain where you will go and what you might see. Get the imaginations going! And don’t forget to plan a treat after the hike (pizza or icecream stop on the way home is a great way to end the day).

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A 60 minute drive from Denver will put you in the heart of the mountains where there are plenty of hikes with great views. See the list below for trail details, or visit Fun Colorado Hikes website for a lot more trails.

If you are looking for hikes closer to home see the previous post.

Chief Mountain

Silver Dollar Lake

Mt Evans State Wildlife Area and Elk Reserve

St. Mary’s Glacier

Maxwell Falls

Burning Bear

Pine Valley Ranch

Three Mile Creek

Colorado Trail Kenosha Pass

Devil’s Head National Recreation Trail

Mountain Lion Trail (Golden Gate Canyon State Park)

Devil’s Hole

Burro Trail (Golden Gate Canyon State Park)

Raccoon Trail (golden Gate Canyon State Park)

Herman Gulch Trail

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Need a quick reference for a mountain hike that’s not too far from Denver?

The Fun Colorado Hikes website is the place to find it.  With so many trails across the state it can be very difficult to find a hike that is not too far or too difficult for a beginner or a family with children.

Below is a listing of some great hikes with beautiful views and fairly easy hiking that are within a 30 minute drive from Denver:

Alderfer Three Sisters Open Space

Elk Meadow/ Bergen Peak

Deer Creek Canyon

Coyote Song Trail

Meyer Ranch Park

Reyonold’s Park

Glendale Farm Open Space

Castlewood Canyon State Park

Mt. Falcon Park

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This photo is at Summit Lake on the Mt. Evans Highway.

Silver Dollar Lake is another one of Colorado’s beautiful alpine lakes. Silver Dollar Lake Trail is a popular hike just south of the Guanella pass campground (south of Georgetown).

 The Silver Dollar Lake Trail is another good family hike.  It was a new hike for us last summer and worthy of being posted on the Fun Colorado Hikes website. There is a new parking lot which is a super-nice addition.

 We hiked in late June and there was still snow on the trail in shady areas.  Because of the snow, we lost the trail in several spots, but recovered because it is well-traveled and there were several people out there who had been there before.

We hiked to the first lake (Nylor Lake), but didn’t continue further up the trail to Silver Dollar Lake. Nylor Lake was just far enough for our kids. It was the perfect setting for a picnic overlooking the lake and the snow covered peaks above.

Try it this summer (late summer). It’s a fun hike!

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Good News to all of you who frequent Guanella Pass – the road is getting a huge face lift!
This is not just a patch here and there, it is the real thing. Where your car will go over the road smoothly and not one washboard after another.

If you are not familiar with the pass, it is the road that leads from Georgetown up to the Mt. Bierstadt west face. It is a wonderful drive with sheer beauty all the way. If you travel over the other side of the pass, you will come out at Grant and US 285. The road has trails scattered along the way, many of which are detailed on the Fun Hikes website. The pass also has a new set of parking lots and restrooms! Wonderful conveniences, but now busier than ever too. Plan to go early in the morning to avoid crowds.

This is a recommended scenic tour for anyone – it’s one that we like to take out-of-town guests to leave them in awe of Colorado’s beauty.

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Take break from the trail and grab your bike!

Looking to take a break from hiking and enjoy the mountains in another way? Grab your kids and your bikes and head for the hills. Take a beautiful ride in the mountains, and don’t worry if you don’t have a mountain bike. Your regular street bike and helmet will do just fine.

We have often enjoyed the scenery around Lake Dillion and Breckenridge. We always see it in the car and we have ridden our bikes from Frisco to Breckenridge more than once. There is a paved path that is perfect for a day ride with the family. It is flat and wide. Perfect for kids who have a good handle on their biking skills. We like it because you don’t have to be a pro to make the trip.

It takes a half day to make the round trip. We love to have lunch in Breckenridge (the half-way point). We like to eat at Breckenridge Brewery (on main street at the south end of town).

Try it out – it’s another fun day in the mountains.

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I’ve lived in Colorado for more than 20 years and have not heard until recently that Colorado is a wine producing state! I was so surprised! How could this climate produce fine wines? I’ve learned that in certain areas (mainly on the western slope) the weather is just right for growing grapes.

The great Rocky Mountains and wineries – what a surprisingly delightful combination!

There are more than 60 wineries across the state. Many of them are open for tours and wine tasting. As our family travels around the state this summer, we plan on dropping by one of these treasures. Before or after a day of hiking, we’ll squeeze in a quick visit. (It’s not exactly an activity that our kids would consider as “family fun”).

Our favorite wine is Sparkling Riesling which I’ve read is available at The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey in Canon City.

Here is a short list of some of the wineries in Colorado:
Colorado Cellars Winery (Palisade)
Creekside Cellars (Evergreen)
The Terror Creek Winery (Paonia)
Trail Ridge Winery (Loveland)
Plum Creek Cellars (Grand Junction)
Pikes Peak Vineyards and Winery (Colorado Springs)
Check out the internet for more!

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This is an intriguing opportunity for anyone who enjoys hiking, history and archaeology!

Have you ever visited Mesa Verde National Park? If you have, you know what an amazing archeological site it is. If you have not visited, you have surely seen photos of its ruins.

This year is the Centennial Year of Mesa Verde National Park. In celebration, the park is opening two backcountry trails to visitors. These trails lead to ruins that have not been open to the public since the 1930′s and earlier.

Oak Tree House and Mug House are the two backcountry hike destinations that are being offered to visitors. Hiking to these destinations makes for a mysterious and adventuresome hike for the whole family. The trails are rugged and are not for the faint of heart. However, children are welcome to hike with their parents. These are ranger-guided day hikes and have some restrictions because of the frailty of the sites and rough terrain.

There is a limited number of hikers allowed and each hiker must register ahead of departure. This can be done online or on the phone. Click here to see the Mesa Verde Special backcountry hikes for 2006!

This is the opportunity of a lifetime to hike and see the archaeological discoveries that have been closed for decades! Take the whole family – hike for a day in Mesa Verde!

Posted by funhikes under Around Colorado,Hiking Trails
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