island lake in colorado’s san juan mountains
There’s little debate that hiking in Colorado is in the United States’ top tier. With gorgeous alpine lakes, beautiful wildflowers, and majestic mountain ranges, Colorado will take your appreciation of nature to another level.
While my time in Colorado has been short, I’ve thankfully had the chance to spend some quality time outdoors, soaking up what makes this state special. So, if you’re looking for a new hiking trail or want to return to an all-time favorite, I hope these best hikes in Colorado show you an amazing time.
These Are What I Consider the Top Hikes in Colorado
A couple of things to note. I’ve completed all of these trails. If there’s a popular trail not on here, it’s probably because I haven’t done it yet! I’m staying away from the popular 14ers simply because it would turn into a list of 14ers.
Hopefully, these inspire you to try out a few new hikes in Colorado that you may not have done yet!
1. Blue lakes (Bonus summit Mt. Sneffels)
Looking down on Blue Lakes in Colorado. Photo Credit: Alec Sills-Trausch
My favorite area of Colorado is the San Juan Mountains. Instead of mountains that look weathered and dull, these are magnificent jagged peaks. The first on this list is one everyone’s heard of.
Blue Lakes is simply phenomenal. I first did this in 2019 and then again in 2020. Then, it was far less visited. Now? It’s a madhouse. There’s even talk of it being permitted.
To reach the lower Blue Lake, it’s not too shabby of a hike, though the elevation will make it harder. The first third is decently challenging, and then it gets more gradual.
I remember audibly saying “Holy Sh*t!” when I first saw the lake with the dramatic backstop. It’s easily one of the best hikes in Colorado.
If you want to add on a summit of Mount Sneffels, I highly recommend it. The views up top are wildly magnificent. I still think about this hike 7 years later.
Location: San Juan Mountains
Distance: 7 miles round trip (lower lake), 9ish to the upper lake
Elevation Gain: 2,500 in all (less for just the lower)
Difficulty: Moderate to Blue Lakes, Hard to Blue Lake Pass, and Mt. Sneffels
2. Ice lakes basin and island lake
Island Lake in a sea of flowers. Photo Credit: Alec Sills-Trausch
Another one of my favorites in the San Juans. I also did this in 2019 and 2020.
The trail is broken into three sections: A good warm-up, a flat section, and a strenuous climb above 12,000 feet. But once you’re in Ice Lakes Basin, I can’t think of a more magical place.
Both of my trips were incredibly rewarding. If you can catch wildflowers here, it’ll blow your mind. I just happened to get it near peak in August 2019, and I had never seen sights like that before.
I don’t think this is an issue anymore, but so many people missed out on Island Lake in the past. It’s probably my favorite small lake in the world.
Location: San Juan Mountains
Distance: 9.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 3,000 feet
Difficulty: Hard
3. Columbine lake
A tent up off the shores of Columbine Lake in Colorado. Photo Credit: Alec Sills-Trausch
My final favorite of the San Juans! Columbine Lake was one of my first backpacking trips in Colorado. I did this back in 2019, and it is still the highest point I’ve ever slept at (12,800 feet).
Columbine Lake may be the bluest lake I’ve ever seen in the world. It’s so vibrant and surrounded by dull rock colors, which really makes the water pop.
This trail is a constant uphill push, except for a short flat section within the basin. I was huffing and puffing going up it, but the views are so worth it!
Location: San Juan Mountains
Distance: 7 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,500 gain
Difficulty: Hard
4. Lake Isabelle
Photo Credit: Alec Sills-Trausch
This was one of the first hikes we did after moving to Colorado, and honestly, I had no idea how fantastic it would be. We didn’t realize we needed a reservation, so we added a few more miles onto our day than we expected.
But the views at Brainard Lake Recreation Area were phenomenal. It really got us stoked on being Colorado residents. The jagged peaks of the Indian Peaks Wilderness, tons of wildflowers, and moose made for one heckuva hike.
Location: Indian Peaks Wilderness (Front Range)
Distance: 4-5 miles
Elevation Gain: 400 feet, first half is nearly flat
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
5. Missouri lakes and fancy lake
A woman looks out at Treasure Vault Lake near Missouri Pass. Photo Credit: Alec Sills-Trausch
This was our first overnight trail living in Colorado! We needed a pretty, but not overly tough, overnighter, and Missouri Lakes and Fancy Lake looked perfect. Indeed, it was.
While I loved being able to camp out, you can totally do this as a single hike.
We went clockwise, as we wanted to sleep at Missouri Lakes. This route gives you a very moderate uphill climb to the lakes. From here, you’ll quickly ascend Missouri Pass and wrap around to Fancy Pass, the trail’s high point. From there, it’s all downhill – though it did seem to take a while!
Location: South of Vail
Distance: 10 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,900
Difficulty: Moderate to More Challenging
6. Maroon bells (Choose your distance)
Photo Credit: Alec Sills-Trausch
Maroon Bells Recreation Area is one of the most famous and photographed places in the United States. I made my first trip in the fall of 2025 and got to see why it’ sone of the best places for fall colors in Colorado.
We didn’t do much hiking there – just photographed the sunrise – but there are ample opportunities to go hiking. And for those who have luck on their side, backpacking the Four Pass Loop is a bucket list hike. At 30 miles, it showcases nature at its finest.
Location: Aspen
Distance: TBD
Elevation Gain: TBD
Difficulty: Easy to Hard
Permit Required: Learn more here
7. Sky pond
Lake of Glass Photo Credit: Alec Sills-Trausch
Sky Pond is one of Rocky Mountain National Park’s most popular trails. Usually, it’s teeming with people. But mid-week for a sunset mission, my two buddies and I had it to ourselves. I think it was a bit harder for me, as I had only been in Colorado for a week, and hiking at 10,000 feet was rough.
Still, it’s a straightforward hike offering superb views. The hardest part is climbing up the small rock wall to the right of the main waterfall below Sky Pond. Take your time, as it can be slippery.
Location: Rocky Mountain National Park
Distance: 8.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,800 feet
Difficulty: Moderate to Hard
8. Mohawk lakes
Photo Credit: Alec Sills-Trausch
Outside of Breckenridge, Mowhawk Lakes is a fantastic half-day hiking outing. There are seven lakes in total on the trail. Because I did this during my Bachelor Party weekend, we only hiked to Mohawk Lake (7 miles round trip). We could have shaved a mile off at both ends by driving on a rocky road to an unofficial upper trailhead.
Overall, it earns its place on the list of Colorado’s best hikes. I’m sure it looks far better in summer, with greenery and flowers, than it did near the end of October.
Location: Breckenridge
Distance: 9 miles (to the furthest lake)
Elevation Gain: 2,100 feet
Difficulty: Moderate to Hard
9. Cathedral lake
Cathedral Lake outside of Aspen, Colorado. Photo Credit: Alec Sills-Trausch
I was completely blown away by this hike. A friend suggested we do it, so I had zero idea what was in store.
Overall, it’s a decently steep hike that doesn’t offer much of a break until the end. But the views at Cathedral Lake are phenomenal! I was in love with the jagged rocks above the lake and its light-blue water.
This one’s far less visited, and you’re in for a treat!
Location: Aspen
Distance: 6 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,100 gain
Difficulty: Hard
10. Abyss lake
Photo Credit: Alec Sills-Trausch
What a gorgeous trail. Though we only did six miles round trip of the trail for fall colors. In all, it’s a 16-mile round-trip day, making for a long day hike or a nice overnighter. If you’re looking for top fall hikes in Colorado, this is one of them!
While it’s long and there’s a ton of elevation gain, it’s super gradual. So your per-mile average gain is only 500 feet.
Location: Guanella Pass (Georgetown)
Distance: 17 miles
Elevation Gain: 3,900
Difficulty: Hard
11. Bear, nymph, Emerald, and bear lake (Add on lake haiyaha)
Photo Credit: Alec Sills-Trausch
I did this back in 2016 on my first trip to Rocky Mountain National Park. Then, I returned in 2021 to snowshoe in April. Even though it’s spring almost everywhere else, we had blizzard conditions.
This is a fan favorite for a reason: it showcases the beauty of the Colorado Rockies.
The trail is relatively easy and straightforward, bringing you past multiple lakes as you go further and farther away from the parking lot.
Location: Rocky Mountain National Park
Distance: 4 miles
Elevation Gain: 750 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
12. Decalibron
Photo Credit: Alec Sills-Trausch
This was my first hike in Colorado as an adult, way back in 2016. A buddy and I woke up super early in Denver and drove out. Even with a very early start, we were hailed on at the top of Mount Bross. (No fun.)
Thankfully, that passed, and we did Mount Lincoln and Mount Cameron. We never got to do Mount Cameron because storm clouds were brewing on top, so we decided to book it back down before the weather hit us.
If you get it on a good day, you can complete four 14ers in one loop.
Location: 9 miles
Distance: 3,800 gain
Elevation Gain: Front Range (south of Breck)
Difficulty: Hard (but generally pretty chill for 14ers)
13 silver dollar lake and Murray lake
Near Guanella Pass and Georgetown, Silver Dollar Lake is a fun, short hike into the mountains. You start at 11,000 feet, so you’ll feel the elevation almost immediately. The trail is decently short and brings you to two alpine lakes.
It’s almost entirely above the treeline, so be cognizant of the sun and afternoon storms.
Location: Georgetown/Front Range
Distance: 4.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,100
Difficulty: Moderate
14. Mount galbraith loop
Just outside of Golden, but still in the Denver metro area, Mount Galbraith is a low-key, fantastic hike that won’t take more than two hours to complete. It’s also a perfect workout trail if you get out of work early or want to get the heart going on the weekends.
The parking lot isn’t big by any means, so you may have to park on the road. This is one I’ve done twice and will keep turning to for a quick workout.
Location: Golden
Distance: 4-4.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 900 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
15. Rattlesnake gulch
Here’s another one for those not looking to drive too far from the Denver metro area. Eldorado Canyon is beautiful, with a nice creek running down the middle and giant rock walls on both sides.
I’ve done this one twice – once alone and once with my parents. It’s not too challenging, but there are steep parts. For those just arriving in Denver, you’ll notice the altitude. Still, it’s a great hike you can do almost year-round.
Location: Eldorado Canyon State Park
Distance: 3 miles
Elevation Gain: 750 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
State Park Fee required
This article originally appeared on www.Explorewithalec.com
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