Chelsea Thomas

Chelsea Thomas

Huge lover of all things coffee, cheese, animals and music. Full Bio

 

Chelsea's TOP 5 Favorite Hikes in Colorado!!

One upside to the pandemic last year, was that I was able to hike A LOT more because I had the time!

So here are my top 5 favorite Colorado hikes from the past year:

#1 Lake Isabelle

This hike was GORGEOUS. It's about an hour and a half drive from Denver.

Definitely recommend leaving around 4 a.m. to get there because parking is limited, and it doesn't hurt to see a beautiful sunrise on the way up!

I thought this 7.3 mile round trip hike was a little more difficult but my friends rated it as moderate! It's also dog friendly so yay!

#2 St. Mary's Glacier

This is a SUPER popular Colorado tourist destination in Idaho Springs. It's only 1.9 miles out and back but there's a fast 800 ft. elevation gain so I promise you will sweat on this hike!

The glacier is so cool to see at the top and it's also dog friendly!

**Some people jump off the glacier into the water but its EXTREMELY dangerous and freezing. Do not jump.

P.S. Stop for some lunch in Idaho Springs on the way back to Denver. Superrrr cute town!

#3 South Valley Park

I LOVE the South Valley Park trails! I would rate these as much easier trails if you are looking for something low impact.

These trails are open space trails, have beautiful views and there a bunch of them that you can follow. So this hike could be as easy, or as lengthy as you want it to be!

Also dog friendly and located in Littleton, Colorado so VERY close to Denver!

#4 Flatirons Vista Trails near Boulder

A lot of people have asked me if the above photos are photoshopped because they look fake haha! They are not!! The views of the flatirons near Boulder are just that beautiful!!

There are multiple trails you can take to have a beautiful view of the flatirons. There's the flatirons vista trail, and the first and second flatirons loop!

Some are as short as 2 miles, some up to 8!

I've done this hike in the summer and winter and loved both! Also dog friendly if your dog is on a leash!

#5 Emerald Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park

This list is in no particular order but this hike is definitely one of my favorites EVER!

I lived in Colorado for 3 years before visiting Rocky Mountain National Park and I wish I went sooner! The only reason I didn't was because the park does not allow dogs, which is a bummer because I love to bring my dog on all my hikes! BUT... this hike is worth the day trip!

The hike is an easy/moderate 3.3 out and back trail and the views are INCREDIBLE!

I went in the winter and I 100% plan on going back in the summer because it was just THAT good!

I know that in the summer you need reservations, and the fee is always $35/vehicle and it's good for 7 days if you don't have a national parks pass!

Also another hike I recommend getting up early for, we got there at 8am-ish and we got the last spot! As we were leaving the park around 12 p.m. we saw a longggg line to get into the area!

All of these hikes were beautiful and would 10/10 recommend! And side note- if you are hiking in the winter and there's ice, I would invest in a pair of crampons from REI or anywhere online because they definitely help with traction!

Send me your favorite Colorado hikes you would recommend in a DM on instagram!


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