CO · Mountain West
8 forest guides within driving distance
Planning a trip near Denver? Our curated guide has the top picks.
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Guide to Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests on Colorado's Front Range. Indian Peaks Wilderness, Brainard Lake, alpine trails, and Denver day hikes in the Rocky Mountains.
12 min read
Roosevelt National Forest protects Colorado's Front Range above Fort Collins and Estes Park, with the Rawah and Indian Peaks Wilderness areas and the Cache la Poudre Wild and Scenic River.
5 min read
Complete guide to Pike and San Isabel National Forests in Colorado. Pikes Peak, Mount Elbert, Mount Massive, Collegiate Peaks Wilderness, and over 1,100 miles of trails near Colorado Springs and Denver.
10 min read
Complete guide to White River National Forest in the Colorado Rockies. Trail recommendations, campgrounds, permits, fourteeners, and trip planning resources.
13 min read
San Isabel National Forest spans Colorado's Sangre de Cristo Range and Arkansas Valley, containing more fourteeners than any other national forest and access to Great Sand Dunes National Park.
5 min read
Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests span 2,222,000 acres across southeastern Wyoming and northwestern Colorado, encompassing the Medicine Bow Mountains, the Park Range, and the Rawah Wilderness in a landscape of high-elevation meadows, alpine lakes, and lodgepole pine plateau.
7 min read
Routt National Forest surrounds Steamboat Springs in northwest Colorado, anchored by the Mount Zirkel Wilderness and Fish Creek Falls, with world-class skiing and summer alpine hiking.
5 min read
Gunnison National Forest surrounds Crested Butte and Gunnison in Colorado's Elk Mountains, protecting the West Elk Wilderness, Fossil Ridge, and some of the state's finest wildflower country.
5 min read
Guide to the Sourdough Trail in Roosevelt National Forest. A moderate 15-mile subalpine traverse between Rainbow Lakes Campground and Brainard Lake Road, popular for hiking, trail running, and mountain biking.
6 min read
Guide to Buchanan Pass Trail in Indian Peaks Wilderness via Peaceful Valley. A strenuous 10-mile out-and-back to a remote Continental Divide pass at 11,837 feet through the Saint Vrain Creek drainage.
5 min read
Guide to Blue Lake Trail in Indian Peaks Wilderness at Brainard Lake. A moderate 5-mile out-and-back to a stunning glacial alpine lake beneath Mount Toll at 11,300 feet.
6 min read
Guide to Crater Lake Trail in Indian Peaks Wilderness via the Hessie Trailhead. A moderate 5.2-mile out-and-back to an alpine lake with wildflower meadows and views of Mount Jasper and Devil's Thumb.
6 min read
Guide to Pawnee Pass Trail in Indian Peaks Wilderness. A strenuous 12-mile out-and-back crossing the Continental Divide at 12,541 feet with alpine lake scenery and sweeping Rocky Mountain views.
7 min read
Guide to the Long Lake Loop at Brainard Lake Recreation Area. An easy 2.6-mile flat loop around a scenic alpine lake at 10,500 feet with wildflower meadows and Indian Peaks views.
6 min read
Guide to the Mount Audubon Trail at Brainard Lake. A strenuous 8-mile out-and-back to a 13,223-foot summit with panoramic Indian Peaks and Continental Divide views.
7 min read
Hike to Blue Lake in Roosevelt National Forest, Colorado. This moderate 4.5-mile out-and-back gains 1,200 feet to a stunning turquoise alpine lake in the Indian Peaks Wilderness with wildflowers.
3 min read
Guide to the Wye Trail in Lost Creek Wilderness, Pike National Forest. A 6-mile out-and-back through granite formations where Lost Creek disappears underground near Deckers, Colorado.
5 min read
Guide to Chasm Lake Trail near Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park. A strenuous 8.4-mile out-and-back to a dramatic cirque lake at 12,760 feet beneath the Diamond face of Longs Peak.
7 min read
Hike to Lost Lake in Roosevelt National Forest, Colorado. This moderate 5.5-mile out-and-back gains 1,400 feet to a serene alpine lake near the Continental Divide with wildflowers and mountain views.
3 min read
Guide to Barr Trail in Manitou Springs, Colorado. A 13-mile one-way climb from 6,715 to 14,115 feet on one of the longest maintained summit trails in the United States.
7 min read
Guide to The Crags Trail on the south slope of Pikes Peak. A 4-mile out-and-back to dramatic granite spires with panoramic views, near Woodland Park and Cripple Creek, Colorado.
5 min read
Guide to Gold Camp Road Trail near Colorado Springs. An easy 5-mile out-and-back on a historic railroad grade with sandstone canyon views and access from the city's west side.
5 min read
Complete the Mummy Range Loop in Roosevelt National Forest, Colorado. This strenuous 12-mile loop gains 2,800 feet across the high terrain of the Mummy Range with panoramic alpine meadow views.
3 min read
A 7.6-mile out-and-back in the White River National Forest through the Eagles Nest Wilderness to a remote cirque lake at high elevation above Silverthorne, Colorado, via the Rock Creek drainage.
7 min read
Hike the Cache la Poudre Canyon Trail in Roosevelt National Forest, Colorado. This moderate 6.5-mile out-and-back follows the Wild and Scenic Poudre River through dramatic canyon terrain with good wildlife habitat.
3 min read
Summit Mount Richthofen in Roosevelt National Forest, Colorado. This strenuous 10-mile out-and-back gains 3,000 feet to one of the highest peaks in the Never Summer Range with panoramic alpine views.
3 min read
A strenuous 9.8-mile out-and-back in the White River National Forest climbing to an alpine lake at 11,400 ft in the Eagles Nest Wilderness, ringed by 13,000-ft Gore Range peaks above East Vail.
8 min read
Hike to Twin Crater Lakes in Roosevelt National Forest, Colorado. This moderate-hard 6-mile out-and-back gains 1,600 feet to two glacial lakes in a dramatic cirque basin with wildflowers.
3 min read
Guide to the Booth Falls Trail in Vail, Colorado. A popular 4.4-mile out-and-back hike to a 60-foot waterfall in the Eagles Nest Wilderness.
9 min read
Hike to Mirror Lake in Roosevelt National Forest, Colorado. This moderate 4-mile out-and-back gains 900 feet to a reflective alpine lake in the Rawah Wilderness with wildflowers and mountain scenery.
3 min read
Hike the Twobit Mesa Trail in San Isabel National Forest, Colorado. This moderate 5-mile out-and-back gains 1,000 feet to a flat-topped mesa with wide views across the Arkansas Valley and surrounding peaks.
3 min read
Hike to the Rawah Lakes in Roosevelt National Forest, Colorado. This strenuous 8-mile out-and-back gains 2,000 feet to stunning alpine lakes in the Rawah Wilderness with wildflowers and meadows.
3 min read