BLUE LAKES

If you could only go do one alpine lake hike then I would highly suggest hiking to Blue Lakes. The hike itself is 8.7 miles long with an elevation gain of 2,529 ft. On this trail, you will see THREE lakes, lower, middle, and upper blue lakes. Don’t be like us and think there are three different viewing points of the lower lake and decide to stop hiking and turn around because we were satisfied. However, we were told that Lower Blue Lake is the best lake! So, if you do want to stop after the first one then you should, but there are TWO more lakes you could see if you kept on going.

Now that we have established that there are THREE lakes on this trail, let’s just talk about the Lower Blue Lake. I mean…what an incredible site! Look at this!!!

Never have we ever seen a lake this color before. It is God’s finest work, and we get to witness it! So cool! The trail is an out-and-back, located in Ridgway, Colorado. There are great dispersed campsites around the area that would be great to stay at if you can! Once you get to the lower lake there is an epic view of Mount Sneffels. And if you’re feeling brave you can continue to hike a little over 7 miles and up almost 4,000 more ft to summit this beautiful mountain!

Blue Lakes is a sight to behold, and even though the hike can be a little challenging for some, it’s totally worth it! This hike will change the way you think about alpine lake hikes.

ICE LAKE

Although Blue Lakes was life-changing for us, Ice Lake Trail was our favorite! Everything about this trail and our experience for the whole weekend was just one for the books. The views, from not only the lake, but the entire mountainside are just breathtaking!

Ice Lake is located in the San Juan National Forest (also a must-see) in Silverton, CO. The trail is a doozy, but it’s worth it! At 8.3 miles long and with an elevation gain of 2,877 ft this out-and-back features waterfalls, creeks, and those sweet, sweet mountain views.

Because this is a very popular trail, I would advise getting to the trailhead early to ensure a parking spot. If you decide to go the night before there is a great campground just across the street. South Mineral Campground is first-come, first-serve with a cost of $34 per site. It is a seasonal campground which is only open May-September. The campground is absolutely beautiful, located at the base of red and grey streaked mountains, but still plenty shaded by the towering pine trees. If you aren’t lucky enough to claim a spot, there are free dispersed campsites around the area. The parking lot is located just across the street, so in the morning you should have no problem claiming a spot!

ISLAND LAKE

The great thing about Island Lake is that it is located on the same trail as Ice Lake! This way you can knock out two birds with one stone. Even though they are only minutes away, the views are so different! Less than a mile away from Ice Lake sits Island Lake. The trail does get steep and follows a narrow path, but I promise it’s worth the extra work. Island Lake is named after the small island that sits in the middle of the lake. Original, right? You could potentially swim to the island, but I would advise letting the water warm up as much as possible because the lake does sit at the base of a 13,000 ft mountain. Ulysses S Grant Peak is a stunning mountain that does have a trail that leads to the top, but beware, it looks intense!

After taking in the green lake, going for a dip, and enjoying a PB&J, you could either go back the way you came or continue down from Island Lake creating a lollipop trail. I would highly suggest this way! Who doesn’t love a change of scenery while hiking? Whichever way you go, this trail deserves 5 stars! It was an incredible hike with so many beautiful views and a hike that will go down as one of our all-time favorites!!

MIRROR LAKE

Are you up for a challenge? Because I have the PERFECT hike for you! Mirror Lake & Crater Lake via Cascade Creek Trail. This is a whopping 16-mile hike with an elevation gain of 2,368 ft. I know what you’re thinking… 16 miles?! No, thank you. But please I promise you will not be disappointed! This trail is top 5 for us for sure!

Mirror Lake is located in Arapaho National Forest at the base of Lone Eagle Peak. A magnificent mountain that makes the trail worth it even without the lake! This out-and-back trail could be done in a day but is also a popular destination for backcountry camping. So, if you feel like there’s no way you could do it in a day or just simply want to take your time there are so many beautiful spots to camp just off the trail!

The trail starts from Monarch Lake Trailhead, just outside Granby, another beautiful lake that would be great to enjoy a short hike, picnic, or even fishing! The trail is very gradual and never too steep, which is always a plus! This hike features beautiful scenery, such as wildflowers, open fields, waterfalls, and stunning views of Lone Eagle Peak. After 8 miles you finally reach Mirror Lake. A small, blue lake with a perfect reflection of the mountain. There are plenty of spots to sit, enjoy lunch, and take in the views. Whenever you’re ready and before you head down you MUST take a short walk over to Crater Lake because you’ve already come so far and to miss yet another epic lake would be a tragedy.

CRATER LAKE

What’s better than alpine lake hikes? An alpine lake hike with TWO lakes! Crater Lake is just past Mirror Lake on the opposite side of Lone Eagle Peak. You get such a different view of the peak and also the surrounding mountains. This lake is much bigger but just as clear.

Thank you to the people who told us to keep going because once again we almost missed this one! If you do decide to do this hike in one day, which is totally doable, just make sure you are prepared. Pack plenty of water and food, extra socks, headlamp, etc. Because by the end of this hike, we couldn’t feel our feet…worth it though!

Hi! We’re Paige & Adam

Thank you for joining us on this journey! We’re passionate explorers who are dedicated to keeping our bodies moving until we’re old and grey. Through our travel guides and expert travel physical therapy advice, we empower future travelers with the tools and inspiration to embrace adventure every step of the way. Your support means everything. Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have! Have fun, stay safe, and happy hiking!

The post THE BEST ALPINE LAKE HIKES TO DO IN COLORADO appeared first on Trails of a Travel PT.

If you travel directly West from my home in Missouri, after hours and hours of corn or bean fields and cattle ranches, one of the first peaks you’ll see WAYYY in the distance is Pike’s Peak. To truly appreciate the size of this mountain is to see it from the road and then continue to drive HOURS before ever actually getting there. For many of us road-tripping Midwesterners, the Colorado Front Range is the first chance to get a glimpse at these grandiose geological “master-peaks”.

The Colorado front range is one of the most beautiful places to visit any time of year, especially for all the hiking enthusiasts out there. We lived in Longmont, Colorado from January-April 2021, and during that time we got to check off many great Colorado hikes in the surrounding area.

If you’re looking for even more incredible Colorado hikes, check out our blog post THE BEST ALPINE LAKE HIKES TO DO IN COLORADO.

COLORADO/MANITOU SPRINGS & THE SURROUNDING AREAS

THE INCLINE & BARR TRAIL

The infamous Incline trail is a very well-known Colorado hike. If you’re looking for an incredible challenge that won’t take you all day to finish, this is the hike for you. The nearly 2000ft elevation gain is all completed in 1 mile of continuous steps going directly up the side of Pike’s Peak. After completing all 2,744 steps you can choose to continue on to summit Pike’s Peak, hike back down the stairs (which would be rough), or trek down the more friendly switchback Barr Trail.

Although The Incline is a hard trail, it’s a great feat and one I highly recommend if you have the courage.

GARDEN OF THE GODS

You can’t pass through Colorado Springs and not stop by the Garden of the Gods. This iconic location is free to the public and full of incredibly unique red rock formations, easy hikes, fun activities, and lots of wildlife!

This loop trail will take you around the majority of the large formations that everyone wants to see. You will hop on three separate trails that all combine to make one epic and easy trail throughout the park. The 4-mile hike will take about an hour and a half to complete in total, which gives you plenty of time to explore the rest of the park by car or partake in other fun experiences the park offers, such as rock climbing.

PAINT MINES INTERPRETIVE PARK

If you have time, I would highly recommend making the one-hour trip East of Colorado Springs to the Paine Mines Interpretive Park. The Paint Mines are a smaller version of the Badlands, an area of colorful exposed layers of eroded Earth that date back to almost 9,000 years ago! This park is free to public, but does not allow dogs, animals, or drones. I wouldn’t recommend this hike following a heavy rain or snow as it’d likely be very muddy, but otherwise, this is a great spot for some instaworthy pics!

This easy loop trail will guide you along colorful rock formations, slot canyons, and more. It’s the perfect hike if you have kids or are looking for an easy hike away from crowds!

GOLDEN

HUNTSMAN GULCH TRAIL

The Huntsman Gulch Trail is a quick steep hike outside of Golden that will surely get your heart rate up! The hike offers great views of the winding roads weaving through the Colorado Rockies, as well as a chance to spot some mountain terrain wildlife. This is a perfect trail to get away from the crowds, get a great workout in, and enjoy some incredible views!

DENVER

RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATER

Most people have heard of the Red Rocks Amphitheater, an incredibly unique venue for concerts, theatre, and more performances just outside of Denver, CO. This area also offers great hikes to view more red rock formations, similar to Garden of the Gods. The amphitheater seating is free and open to the public when not in use. The stairs themselves make for a great thigh-burning workout or calming place to practice yoga. It also offers a great place to sit down and have a picnic following your hike.

Red Rocks trading post trail is an easy hike that features incredible red rock formations, wildlife, and on a clear day, views for miles. This trail can be easily adjusted to suit your time frame, whether you’re looking for a longer or shorter hike, you can connect/disconnect to the other trails nearby to fit your needs.

BOULDER

CHAUTAUQUA & BLUEBELL TRAIL

This family-friendly trail is great for a quick hike with stunning views of the Flatirons, Boulder’s beautiful backdrop. Parking can be a bit tricky, so get there early if you want a spot at the trailhead. This trail can also be great for sledding following a big snow!

ROYAL ARCH

This trail stems from the Chautauqua-Bluebell loop mentioned above. A moderate/hard hike due to its fairly steep incline for most of the trail, but the effort is worth it as it leads to an incredible natural arch rock formation that opens up to reveal a great panoramic view of Boulder and the expanse of the Great Plains extending for miles at the cusp of the Front Range.

ENCHANTED MESA & MCCLINTOCK NATURE TRAILS

Across a small valley from Chautauqua Park are the connecting Enchanted Mesa and McClintock trails. These trails offer similar, just a bit more distant, views of the Flatirons with less traffic and a section of trail that passes through beautiful large pine trees. Again, a great family-friendly hike or place to get a quick jog in.

FLATIRONS VISTA TRAIL

This trail is unique in that it allows you to traverse through an open to the public cattle ranch, where you have a chance to walk side by side with some friendly bovine beauties while admiring a silhouetted view of the Flatirons and the surrounding peaks. Please be careful if planning to bring a dog on this trail as it may spook some of the cattle and cause harm!!

LONGMONT

MCCINTOSH LAKE

This lakeside trail has minimal elevation gains, offers views of some beautiful Colorado homes, mountains in the distance, and traverses past several prairie dog towns. A well rounded, family-friendly and easy trail.

FOOTHILLS SOUTH TRAIL TO OLD KILN SPUR TRAIL

Just as the name suggests, this trail sits along the foothills of the front range. It can be a great trail to spot some deer or bighorn sheep on the mountainside. Furthermore, it’s got a dog park nearby for all the dog owners or dog lovers out there.

LITTLE THOMPSON OVERLOOK

Tucked into the Rabbit Mountain Open Space, Little Thompson Overlook is a great little trail to feel the transition between the vastness of the Great Plains and the pure magnitude of the Colorado Rockies.

EAGLE WIND TRAIL

The Eagle Wind Trail shares a trailhead with the Little Thompson Overlook trail. Everything that was said for that trail could be said for this one, as well. Depending on how much time you have, this trail gives you the option of a bit longer distance tacked on to your hike.

FORT COLLINS

SOUTH RIDGE & HORSETOOTH ROCK TO HORSETOOTH MOUNTAIN

This is a MUST DO Colorado hike for those in the Fort Collins area. Horsetooth Rock/Mountain was aptly named by the Native Americans for its appearance. Its historic and spirit-filled nature can be felt atop this rocky geological landmark. Be sure to drive down around Horsetooth Reservoir to relax following your hike.

LYONS

BITTERBRUSH SHORT LOOP

If you want to take the EXTRA scenic route to get to Estes Park, I highly recommend taking Highway 7 from Lyons towards Allenspark. We drove this highway countless times just to appreciate the views; however, off this highway is the Hall Ranch, a public open space for hiking. This space is great because it offers many different trail options with varying lengths and difficulties. We only had time for the Bitterbrush short loop, which overlooks many rolling grasslands and sandstone buttes. But if you’re looking for a longer more challenging hike you could continue on to the Nighthawk trail or branch off onto the Antelope and Nelson loop trails.

ESTES PARK

MOUNT OLYMPUS

This hike was one of my favorite Colorado front range hikes. As you are driving into Estes Park on Highway 36 from Lyons, you will run into the Estes Park welcome sign. From there look North beyond the sign and you’ll see Mount Olympus. This hike provides a moderately difficult challenge considering the quick elevation gain. The summit offers views overlooking Estes Park, Lake Estes, Longs Peak, and many of the other peaks packed into Rocky Mountain National Park.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

DREAM LAKE TRAIL

This trail is likely the highest-trafficked trail in RMNP and for good reason! This trail offers some of the best up-close views of the unique glacier-carved peaks. At the trailhead is Bear Lake for those looking to just relax at a great alpine lakeside location. And along the way to Dream Lake, you will pass Nymph Lake. Because Dream Lake Trail has so much to offer you may have to wait in line just to park, even in the dead of winter. So, either arrive early or be prepared to wait your turn.

THE LOCH VIA GLACIER GORGE TRAIL

As I stated earlier, we lived in the area from January-April, thus many of the high-altitude hikes were closed for the winter OR you had to snowshoe in. Hiking to The Loch was my first snowshoe experience. I expected to feel weighed down when wearing the snowshoes, but it was honestly the opposite. The feeling of walking atop snow that you know is several feet deep, like Legalus on Lord of the Rings, I’ve never felt cooler. I have not done this hike in the Summer, but the views of the surrounding peaks are incredible. If given the chance, I’d recommend attempting a snowshoe hike on this trail if up for the challenge.

*I would consider this trail hard if you are snowshoeing.

COLORADO FRONT RANGE HIKES ON OUR TO-DO LIST

We hope to return to Colorado soon and continue to check many of these trails off our to-do list but for now, I figured I’d at least share the other trails I was interested in throughout the Colorado front range that would likely be worth a visit.

• Longs Peak in RMNP
• Roxborough State Park – South Rim and Willow Creek Loop Trail
• Chair Rocks via Colorado Trail
• Palisade Mountain– near Fort Collins
• Lake Haiyaha in RMNP
• Battle Mountain in RMNP
• Cascade Creek Trail to Mirror Lake and Crater Lake
• Green Mountain– Boulder, CO
• Rattlesnake Gulch Trail as well as Eldorado Canyon Trail in Eldorado Canyon State Park
• Devil’s Backbone Nature Trail– Loveland, CO

This is by no means an all-inclusive list, but rather OUR top hikes that we got to do. If we missed any, please leave a comment below with YOUR favorite hikes in the area. Feel free to contact us for any questions about these Colorado front range hikes or you can email me. Have fun hiking!!

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