OT Denver hiking recommendations

[NTDawg]

Last “minute “ trip to Denver for work. I came out a couple of days early to do some sight seeing. Going to an Avalanche game tonight. Want to go hiking tomorrow and Wednesday. Tomorrow I have all day and Wednesday I’m free until late afternoon. I researched places to hike last night and was overwhelmed. Do y’all have any recommendations?

 

[Maroon Eagle]

Even if you walk downtown, you’re a mile high.

 

[HotMop]

You're a 1.5 hour drive away from the Rocky Mountain National Park, some of the best hiking trails in the nation.

 

[Lawdawg86.sixpack]

Staunton State Park in Pine, CO. 45 mins West of downtown Denver. Newest State park opened in 2013. Incredible hikes with breathtaking overlook views at about 10,000 feet. Mason Creek Trailhead (parking lot at base) to Catamount Overlook and Pike's Peak Overlook. 6 mile hike roughly, 2500 feet of elevation gain. Not easy but totally worth it. Probably 4 hours roundtrip taking it easy. Entrance fee is $7 and Mason Creek's Trailhead is to the right after entry at ranger station. Great maps at park and clearly marked trials, easy to follow. Green Mountain is a good option in Boulder. Easier hike and sweet views at the top.

 

[Lawdawg86.sixpack]

Hike to Dream Lake in RMNP is legit. 5 miles gradually uphill out and back finishing at a sweet alpine lake. Also, cheap entry like $8 bucks.

 

[PrimeDog]

Go hit the Manitou Incline. Easy peasy

 

[jethreauxdawg]

Drive up mount evans, then hike the last 100 feet of elevation. Tell your hiking buddies you climbed a fourteener.

 

[AttalaDawg72]

Rocky Mountain National Park is beautiful and worth the short drive. May still be a lot of snow up there though

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

Rocky Mountain National Park is beautiful and worth the short drive. May still be a lot of snow up there though

Yep. You're not getting on most mountain trails until June. Bear Lake is a real popular hike in RMP and snotel currently has it with 50" of snow depth. I know NT well enough that he would never ruin a good hike by wearing snow shoes.

Just stay out of the mountains and focus on the front range and you'll be fine. Look for stuff along rivers or canyons. Most of Colorado's snow is up about 7000'. Here's a good map from the forest service showing current snow depth. Most of Colorado is not actually in the mountains/snow so you should find plenty of places. But call ahead, even when it's not snow covered a lot of trails are closed to prevent damage in wet/muddy conditions.

 

[Car Ramrod.sixpack]

Most of Rocky Mountain NP is still closed for the season if you do venture up that way pick up a pair of ice cleats . Check out Garden of the Gods if you are feeling foggy give the Manitou Incline a try. Pikes peak is something every American should experience.

 

[LandArchDawg]

Hiking in Colorado at that altitude is a different animal. Me and a group of guys from my church did 24 miles in three days & nights in the Collegiate Peaks area of the Colorado Trail near Buena Vista/Salida end of last June and it was an absolute blast, but I was sucking wind almost the entire time and kept fighting off the urge to vomit. I was carrying a 35-lb. pack and taking Diamox for the altitude sickness. We were able to summit Mt. Belfort (14,207'), and if we had enough time we could have grabbed Mt. Oxford too, but we had to split the last day. That last night we camped at 12,500' elevation, and it was the absolute clearest night of stars I've ever seen in my life. Total climb across the 24 miles was about 7,000 feet.

 

[FrontRangeDawg]

Drive up to Evergreen, which is 15 minutes west of Red Rocks. You can hike RR park which is awesome, and then you can go to Evergreen and hike 3 Sisters Park or Alderfer, and have lunch on the Lake. A lot more convenient than going to Estes.

ETA- The weather in Morrison/Red Rocks for Friday and Saturday has a high of 45 and sunny, which is about the best you can get in March on the FR. In the sun, it feels like 70 down south.

 

[Shmuley]

As others have said, hiking at that elevation in March is probably a no go.

 

[NTDawg]

Yep. You're not getting on most mountain trails until June. Bear Lake is a real popular hike in RMP and snotel currently has it with 50" of snow depth. I know NT well enough that he would never ruin a good hike by wearing snow shoes.

Just stay out of the mountains and focus on the front range and you'll be fine. Look for stuff along rivers or canyons. Most of Colorado's snow is up about 7000'. Here's a good map from the forest service showing current snow depth. Most of Colorado is not actually in the mountains/snow so you should find plenty of places. But call ahead, even when it's not snow covered a lot of trails are closed to prevent damage in wet/muddy conditions.

View attachment 769940

So I wanted to go to RMP but everything I read said I needed microspikes and at the time I thought what the hell is that. Got up this morning and said 17 it I’m going. Stopped in Boulder at REI and rented some microspikes and thank god I did. I parked at Beaver Lake and started walking. The altitude was rough but I kept going. After about a 1/2 mile in I got on what I thought was a marked trail but after a while I realized that I was the only one on it. It was trail that others had used but none today. It was steep. I saw probably over 500 people and and I was the only idiot wearing shorts. Actually once I started walking it wasn’t that bad but the wind was blowing. Had a blast and I can’t wait to come back. I’m planning something tomorrow but closer to Denver.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

So I wanted to go to RMP but everything I read said I needed microspikes and at the time I thought what the hell is that. Got up this morning and said 17 it I’m going. Stopped in Boulder at REI and rented some microspikes and thank god I did. I parked at Beaver Lake and started walking. The altitude was rough but I kept going. After about a 1/2 mile in I got on what I thought was a marked trail but after a while I realized that I was the only one on it. It was trail that others had used but none today. It was steep. I saw probably over 500 people and and I was the only idiot wearing shorts. Actually once I started walking it wasn’t that bad but the wind was blowing. Had a blast and I can’t wait to come back. I’m planning something tomorrow but closer to Denver.

Hahaha.

I have a dinner with friends this Friday at a yurt in the mountains. They bring in top tier chefs and you have to "hike 2-3 miles into the mountains." Well depending on conditions, you can walk(with micros), skate ski, or snow shoe.... I made the joke at your expense and 17 me if we aren't going to get 2' of snow and now I have to rent snow shoes to go to dinner.

 

[NTDawg]

Hahaha.

I have a dinner with friends this Friday at a yurt in the mountains. They bring in top tier chefs and you have to "hike 2-3 miles into the mountains." Well depending on conditions, you can walk(with micros), skate ski, or snow shoe.... I made the joke at your expense and 17 me if we aren't going to get 2' of snow and now I have to rent snow shoes to go to dinner.

karma

 

[hailmari1]

Last “minute “ trip to Denver for work. I came out a couple of days early to do some sight seeing. Going to an Avalanche game tonight. Want to go hiking tomorrow and Wednesday. Tomorrow I have all day and Wednesday I’m free until late afternoon. I researched places to hike last night and was overwhelmed. Do y’all have any recommendations?

Red Rocks has some decent hiking available. Even you’re not seeing a show it’s a cool place to go walk around. They allow people to come in and exercise in the amphitheater during the day. Also, take the tram to Boulder and hike the flat irons.

 

[NTDawg]

Hike to Dream Lake in RMNP is legit. 5 miles gradually uphill out and back finishing at a sweet alpine lake. Also, cheap entry like $8 bucks.

FYI $30 day pass

 

[FrontRangeDawg]

Hahaha.

I have a dinner with friends this Friday at a yurt in the mountains. They bring in top tier chefs and you have to "hike 2-3 miles into the mountains." Well depending on conditions, you can walk(with micros), skate ski, or snow shoe.... I made the joke at your expense and 17 me if we aren't going to get 2' of snow and now I have to rent snow shoes to go to dinner.

You headed to Tennessee Pass Yurts? We got engaged out there 12 years ago and it was a great trip. If it is TN Pass, that "2-3 miles" is a little bit shorter than listed.

 

[aTotal360]

Hahaha.

I have a dinner with friends this Friday at a yurt in the mountains. They bring in top tier chefs and you have to "hike 2-3 miles into the mountains." Well depending on conditions, you can walk(with micros), skate ski, or snow shoe.... I made the joke at your expense and 17 me if we aren't going to get 2' of snow and now I have to rent snow shoes to go to dinner.

Sounds like your walk to school.

 

[HotMop]

So I wanted to go to RMP but everything I read said I needed microspikes and at the time I thought what the hell is that. Got up this morning and said 17 it I’m going. Stopped in Boulder at REI and rented some microspikes and thank god I did. I parked at Beaver Lake and started walking. The altitude was rough but I kept going. After about a 1/2 mile in I got on what I thought was a marked trail but after a while I realized that I was the only one on it. It was trail that others had used but none today. It was steep. I saw probably over 500 people and and I was the only idiot wearing shorts. Actually once I started walking it wasn’t that bad but the wind was blowing. Had a blast and I can’t wait to come back. I’m planning something tomorrow but closer to Denver.

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

I asked AI to create a pic of the standard SPSer, below is the return. You'd be better off asking about all you can eat buffets.