Best Hikes Near Denver, Colorado
Denver is a legitimate gateway city for hiking. The foothills start about 30 minutes west of downtown, the Arapaho National Forest is within an hour, and the White River National Forest (home to Hanging Lake and the Maroon Bells) sits about two hours out. Add Rocky Mountain National Park to the northeast and you have more hiking options within a single tank of gas than most cities can claim. Here are the hikes worth prioritizing.
The Short List
Hanging Lake is the bucket-list hike in this region; book the permit in advance or you're not going. Chief Mountain is the best quick option from Denver when you have half a day. Emerald Lake via Bear Lake is the best introduction to Rocky Mountain National Park for first-timers. If you want to check a 14er off your list, Mt. Sneffels is a serious objective worth the longer drive.
Arapaho National Forest and the Foothills (45 minutes to 1.5 hours from Denver)
The mountains closest to Denver sit in and around the Arapaho National Forest and Jefferson County Open Space. These trails are the most accessible for after-work hikes and quick weekend mornings.
Chief Mountain
3.0 miles out-and-back, 600 ft elevation gain, easy-moderate
A short hike near Evergreen (about 45 minutes from Denver) with outsized views. The summit sits at 11,709 feet and on clear days you can see Mount Evans, Longs Peak, and the Denver metro spread across the plains to the east. The trailhead is off CO-103 near Echo Lake. No permit required. Best from June through October; accessible on snowshoes or microspikes in winter.
Continental Divide Trail near Berthoud Pass
8.0 miles out-and-back, 1,500 ft elevation gain, moderate
Berthoud Pass (11,307 ft) puts you on the Continental Divide with minimal driving effort from Denver (about 1 hour 15 minutes via I-70 and US-40). From the pass, the CDT runs north along the ridge through open tundra with sweeping views into both drainages. This is genuinely above-treeline hiking without the full commitment of a 14er. Best from July through September. No permit required.
White River National Forest (1.5 to 2 hours from Denver)
The White River National Forest covers more than 2.3 million acres and contains some of the most famous scenery in Colorado. Plan extra time for the drive and arrive early at all trailheads. Beyond Hanging Lake and the Maroon Bells, the forest has excellent quieter objectives: the Booth Falls trail near Vail and the Lost Man Loop near Independence Pass are both solid day hikes that see far less traffic.
Hanging Lake
2.8 miles out-and-back, 1,000 ft elevation gain, moderate
One of Colorado's most iconic hikes: a turquoise lake perched on a cliff shelf above Glenwood Canyon, fed by waterfalls that drop from an upper pool. The color comes from mineral deposits on the lake floor. The trail is steep and relentless for its short length. Permits are required year-round ($12 per person plus reservation fee) and sell out weeks in advance. Book through Recreation.gov. See our guide on how to get a national forest permit for tips on navigating the reservation system. No swimming, no wading, no dogs. Access is from a trailhead off I-70 near Glenwood Springs. Best from May through October; the lake is accessible in winter for those willing to park at the canyon rim and hike down.
Read the full Hanging Lake trail guide
Maroon Bells via Crater Lake
3.6 miles out-and-back, 500 ft elevation gain, easy-moderate
The Maroon Bells are the most photographed mountains in Colorado, and the Crater Lake trail gives you the full view without significant effort. The hike passes the famous Maroon Lake reflection area (visible from the bus drop-off) and continues to Crater Lake at the base of the cirque. From late June through early October, private vehicles are prohibited past the T-Lazy-7 Ranch gate; a shuttle from Aspen Highlands is required ($8 round trip). Book the shuttle in advance. Best from late June through September; peak color in the aspens runs late September to early October.
Rocky Mountain National Park (1 to 1.5 hours from Denver)
Rocky Mountain National Park is not a national forest; it is a separate federal unit managed by the National Park Service. That distinction matters for permits. (For more on how these designations differ, see our guide to national forests vs. national parks.) The park requires a timed-entry permit from late May through mid-October ($2 reservation fee, separate from park entrance). Book permits through recreation.gov well in advance.
Emerald Lake via Bear Lake
3.6 miles out-and-back, 600 ft elevation gain, easy-moderate
Three lakes in one hike: Nymph Lake (0.5 miles), Dream Lake (1.1 miles), and Emerald Lake (1.8 miles) at the base of Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain. Dream Lake is arguably the most photographed spot in the park. Easy enough for most ages, beautiful enough to justify the drive and permit hassle. Bear Lake trailhead requires a park shuttle from the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center during peak season. Best from late June through September.
Worth the Longer Drive: San Juan Mountains
Mt. Sneffels
6.0 miles out-and-back, 2,900 ft elevation gain, strenuous
Mt. Sneffels (14,150 ft) sits near Ouray, about four hours from Denver, which makes it a weekend trip rather than a day hike from the city. It earns a mention here because it is one of the more accessible and scenic 14ers in Colorado, and many Denver-based hikers make the drive specifically for it. The standard route from Yankee Boy Basin follows a well-defined trail to a loose couloir below the summit ridge. High-clearance vehicle recommended for the basin road. No permit required. Best from mid-July through September.
When to Hike Near Denver
June through September is the primary season for alpine trails above 10,000 feet. Snow lingers into late June on shaded north-facing slopes, and afternoon thunderstorms are common from July through August. Start early (trailhead by 7 a.m.) to summit before weather builds.
May and October work well for foothills trails and anything below 9,000 feet. Chief Mountain and lower portions of the CDT near Berthoud Pass are accessible in May with the right footwear.
Winter is viable for Chief Mountain (with microspikes) and lower foothills trails, but high alpine routes require avalanche awareness and proper gear.
Hanging Lake and the Maroon Bells Scenic Loop permits fill up on the day they open for the season. Set a calendar reminder for the reservation window, which typically opens in early spring on recreation.gov. The Conundrum Hot Springs trail near Aspen is another permit-required objective worth planning well in advance if you want a hot springs backpacking trip.
Denver's hiking access is genuinely exceptional. You can be above treeline in under 90 minutes from downtown on a summer morning, do a real mountain hike, and be back before dinner. Plan your permits early (see our guide on how to get a national forest permit for help with Recreation.gov), start before the thunderstorms build, and follow Leave No Trace principles on every trip. You'll understand why people move here for the hiking.