If you are a fan of wildflowers, you cannot miss the opportunity to visit the wildflower capital of Colorado, Crested Butte. In particular, the Snodgrass Mountain meadow and Brush Creek/East River Trail had the best displays of wildflowers at this time. You can see hills blanketed with a variety of wildflowers and rare flowers such as the Monument Plant in abundance.
Our trip backpacking in the Indian Peaks Wilderness section of Buchanan Pass Trail was perfect in every way. We got plenty of exercise, were close to a water source, had amazing views of the mountains and sky from our meadow campsite, saw the Milky Way, and encountered wildlife.
At 6.3 miles with 1,849 ft elevation gain, of approximately 800 ft is in the last half mile to the summit, the hike to Estes Cone is somewhat challenging, but definitely The views of the Rocky Mountains, especially the Mummy Range, were beautiful and well worth the effort to trek and climb the rock scramble to the top.
It was late June and the weekend forecast was for rain and snow almost all over Colorado, but we wanted to go hiking. Our solution? A memorable road trip to Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve.
Rabbit Mountain features several trails where you can hike, bike, or horseback ride. For hiking, the Eagle Wind Trail loop hike is most recommended by locals. This hike features wildflowers, wildlife, and views of the Rocky Mountains.
Interim Joder Trail is a pleasant hike with some nice views, but the wildflowers were definitely the highlight of the hike. If you are a fan of wildflowers, I would recommend taking a short hike along this trail.
Hogback Ridge Loop is a great option in North Boulder for a short hike. It’s short enough that you can go for a quick hike after work to see the sunset, and is connected with several trails, providing a number of options for adding mileage to your hike.
The Heil Valley Ranch Loop is a moderate hike with a good amount of mileage you can log. The viewpoints and mellow track through Ponderosa Pine forest and grassy fields is pleasant.
Trail Ridge Road stretches 48 miles from Estes Park on the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park to Grand Lake on the west side. Built in 1932, this scenic byway climbs over 4,000 feet up from Estes Park quickly and winds through amazing mountain landscapes. It is a great destination to visit.
This loop around Homestead Trail and the Mesa Trail, with some added mileage on the Shadow Canyon South Trail is a relatively easy hike of 4.15 miles with a total of 800 ft elevation gain. These trails, located in South Boulder, provide lush green scenery at this time of year with beautiful views of the mountains, including the Flatirons, as well as an abundance of wildflowers.
