Overnight Trip to Great Sand Dunes National Park
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.
Boulder – Rabbit Mountain Loop
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.
Boulder – Joder Ranch
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.
Boulder – Hogback Ridge Loop and Nearby Options
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.
Boulder – Heil Valley Ranch Loop
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.
RMNP – Visiting Trail Ridge Road
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.
Boulder – Homestead Trail, Shadow Canyon, and Mesa Trail Loop
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.
RMNP – Deer Mountain
Overview Deer Mountain is a quick drive from the Beaver Meadows Entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park on Trail Ridge Road. The hike is an easy to moderate 6 miles out and back with about 1,400 ft elevation gain overall to a summit of 10,013 feet. The trail is wide …
RMNP – Twin Sisters Peaks
Overview Hiking up to Twin Sisters Peaks and back is a moderately difficult trek of 7 miles with about 2,500 ft elevation gain that winds through both Rocky Mountain National Park and Roosevelt National Forest. On this hike we saw some of the best panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains …
RMNP – Gem Lake and Balanced Rock
Overview My husband and I have been searching for trails that provide great panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains, and this trail certainly did that. At 7.5 miles with about 1,800 feet elevation gain, it is an intermediate-level hike. However, if you only hike to Gem Lake, it is a …