A flourishing business startup scene, active local arts and music industry, and more—Denver offers numerous opportunities to its locals. Moreover, being surrounded by majestic and breathtaking natural landscape, they are able to enjoy plenty of active and outdoor activities the moment they step out of their Denver exclusive properties. Outdoor enthusiasts can easily find lists of best hikes in Denver anywhere on the internet. However, for those who are looking for new adventures just near their posh Denver homes, they should check out these nine underrated hikes near Denver.
Deer Creek Canyon Park
Location: Littleton
Distance from Denver: 21.1 miles
About Deer Creek Canyon: Only a few miles away from Denver and other suburbs, the Deer Creek Canyon is a great place for those who want to take a quick hike to escape from the bustle of the city. It has about 13 miles of trails that let people see scenic views of the surrounding red rock formations and Denver in the distance.
Roxborough State Park
Location: Littleton
Distance from Denver: 25.7 miles
About Roxborough State Park: The national natural landmark Roxborough State Park features plenty of spectacular rock formations in its nearly 4,000-acre space, including hogback ridges, fossil remains, and red rock formations. It also offers numerous trails for hikers of any level and guided hikes led by expert naturalists that give out in-depth explanations about the area’s geology.
Mt. Falcon
Location: Morrison
Distance from Denver: 27 miles
About Mt. Falcon: One of the more unique Denver hiking trails, Mt. Falcon is an easy trail that features mountain vista views, wild flowers, and historical landmarks like the Tower Ruins of John Brisben Walker’s home. History buffs that happen to love outdoors as well will surely find a haven in Mt. Falcon.
Royal Arch Trail
Location: Boulder
Distance from Denver: 29 miles
About Royal Arch Trail: Although a relatively short trail with about 3.4 miles only, hiking on the Royal Arch Trail is a serious workout due to it having a lot of uphill and downhill slopes. The good thing is, as a consolation for the challenging hike, the trail gives hikers a perfect view of the Boulder city and of Colorado’s Front Range.
Chicago Lakes Trail
Location: Idaho Springs
Distance from Denver: 52 miles
About Chicago Lakes Trail: Hiking in Denver is surely more enjoyable with four-legged companions, whether it may be dogs or horses, which Chicago Lakes Trail allows! The challenging hike within the wilderness area of Mt. Evans also provides amazing mountain and lake views, as well as strong cellphone service for those who need to stay connected while hiking.
South Arapahoe Peak
Location: Nederland
Distance from Denver: 53 miles
About South Arapahoe Peak: South Arapahoe Peak is a lightly trafficked trail which features a variety of wildflowers, as well as meadow and waterfall views. It is rated moderate, which could be challenging for kids, and allows dogs kept on leash. July through September are the best months to hike on this trail.
Black Lake
Location: Rocky Mountain National Park
Distance from Denver: 90 miles
About Black Lake: One of the most spectacular hiking trails in Denver, the Black Lake Trail in Rocky Mountain National park is approximately a 10-mile difficult and challenging roundtrip. It begins either at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead or at the Bear Lake Trailhead, and its midpoint is at Mills Lake which is where most hikers call it a day.
Curecanti National Recreation Area
Location: Gunnison
Distance from Denver: 216.5 miles
About Curecanti National Recreation Area: Formed by three reservoirs, the Curecanti National Recreation Area boasts many great trails, rock climbing walls, panoramic mesas, reservoirs, and canyons. Moreover, it becomes one of the darkest parks in Colorado during nighttime which makes it a spectacular site for stargazing and night hiking.
Conundrum Hot Springs
Location: Aspen
Distance from Denver: 240 miles
About Conundrum Hot Springs: Several few hours away from Denver near the mountains just outside Aspen, the Conundrum Hot Springs features a long and challenging trail that leads to the natural hot springs set high up in the mountains. Dogs are permitted on the trail, but not on the campsites and springs.
There are definitely more trails that hikers can visit near Denver, but those are the nine underrated hikes near Denver that deserve to be walked on by more people. Go outside, play with nature, and get to know more about Denver and its surroundings.
