Denver, CO: Boulder Double Bypass Loop, Indian Peaks
Cross two high-elevation passes and camp at a lake right out of the Dolomites on this weekend trip in the Indian Peaks. BY MAREN HORJUS
Boulder is, in many ways, the perfect hikers' city: it's surrounded by the trail-laden Flatirons, has a vibrant outdoor culture and is home to Backpacker HQ. Start your Boulder hiking adventure with a trek up 8,500-foot Bear Peak, where you'll find 360 views of Boulder and beyond. Drive an hour to Rainbow Lakes for an easy day-hike that's perfect for families. Or explore the Flatirons on the 2.9-mile Flatirons Loop, in Chautauqua Park.
Cross two high-elevation passes and camp at a lake right out of the Dolomites on this weekend trip in the Indian Peaks. BY MAREN HORJUS
Find easy-access powder stashes on this beginner-friendly backcountry ski trip to the Nokhu Hut.
Follow this 9.9-mile loop through vibrant wildflower displays and past snow-fed streams to a huge alpine lake with unbeatable campsite views of Mount Meeker.
Hike or ride smooth singletrack on this 7.2-mile lasso-loop, which climbs gently through rich scrubland and ponderosa forest to a killer mountainside overlook.
Get high fast on this 9.1-mile, out-and-back to Fern and Spruce lakes, which sit in gorgeous alpine valleys beneath the Little Matterhorn and several other commanding peaks.
Cruise 5.2 miles along gentle foothills, Ireland-esque pastures, and past an old sawmill to a vista overlooking Boulder Canyon and the Front Range.
Discover the blue pearls of famed Indian Peaks Wilderness on this moderate 8.4-mile high alpine hike.
This 12.4-mile out-and-back sweeps under a giant evergreen forest to a blossoming burn zone, then ends at an alpine lake perfect for stargazing.
A wicked flood raged through this valley 20 years ago, carving wide furrows down the Roaring River from Lawn Lake. This hike is 11.6 miles round trip.
On this 8.4-miler, you'll climb well-marked trails to the tentacle-like flanks of Ypsilon Mountain and its namesake lake, then return off-trail by following a mountain stream past unnamed waterfalls.
This moderately challenging 7.2-mile hike to a photogenic summit proves that sometimes it's not how high you climb--it's where you climb.
Bag two peaks on this 9-mile, fido-friendly loop around Boulder's signature Flatirons.
Downtown and need a post-meeting fix? This heart-pounding 4.3-mile scramble in Apex Park gives new meaning to that old runner's high.
Hike rolling grassland punctuated by towering redrock formations to a ridge overlooking the Front Range on this 6-mile loop just minutes from the city.
Wander through lush forests and high-alpine meadows to a pair of secluded mountain lakes nestled at the foot of the Mummy Range.
Bag three peaks and bird's-eye views of Boulder on this tour of the Flatirons. Bring a few extra energy bars: This out-and-back gains 5,000 feet in 11 miles.
This 5.2-mile trail kicks off with a short albeit aggressive climb, then rambles through meadows that explode with wildflowers in the summer. Craggy mountain vistas abound.
The must-see list for this 5.7-mile dayhike to Glacier Gorge is long: raging waterfalls, alpine lakes, and a skyline of humbling mountain views.
No ropes required, but a camera is recommended, on this shady and scenic 5.6-mile out-and-back stroll into the heart of Eldorado Canyon climbing country.
Leave your car at home: To explore Continental Divide country, you only need a bus ticket and your bike.
The views on this 5.9-miler are so grand that this parkland was once proposed as the summer grounds for a second presidential White House.
Put your quads and endurance to the test on this 6.6-mile hike that features steep scrambles, boulder-strewn canyons, and dramatic views from Bear Peak.
Connect subalpine waterfalls, gurgling creeks, and overlooks above Wild Basin on this 5.3-miler in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Pine-dotted canyons, a gurgling creek, and summit views of Rocky Mountain National Park highlight this 5.4-mile dayhike near Boulder.