One of the main reasons I chose a university in Colorado was because I wanted to hike a lot while I was here. You see so many amazing pictures of trails online that just look like fairylands covered in wildflowers or waterfalls that invite hikers in the summer and entertain the ice climbers in the winter or these exuberant red rocks that look so fun to climb in the southern part of the state. There’s really a trail for every outdoor adventurer. And to be honest, it really is one of the best places for year-round hiking (or snowshoeing). You’ve got a total of 17,099 trails accumulating over 5,600 miles of hiking trails. All of these trails can be found on alltrails.com!

The 10 best hikes around Colorado:

1. Blue Lakes Trail

Location: Mount Sneffels Wilderness near Ridgway, CO

Distance: 8.2 miles

Elevation gain: 2400 feet

I’ve never seen water so blue. When I visited in August, the trail was still blown up with colorful wildflowers and vibrant greens. There’s free camping near the trailhead which is by far one the best places I have ever camped and while you can complete the blue lake trail in a day, there are multiple backpacking spots up near the lake that seemed so dreamy to camp in. Could you imagine waking up to views like that? However, a beauty like this always brings in a crowd. Visit on the weekdays and start early in the morning! While I stopped at the third lake, you can also make it up Mt Sneffels, a class 3 14er that must have stunning views.

2. Mount Sniktau, Grizzly, and Cupid

Location: Arapaho National Forest near Dillon, CO

Distance: 6.7 miles

Elevation gain: 2631 feet

For those summit chasers, this is the perfect hike for you. It includes three different 13ers and lots of scrambling making it extremely rewarding once you complete. The views are stunning, giving you 360 views of rolling mountains. I loved this hike at sunrise and the manmade wind blockers at the top too.

3. American Lake

Location: White River National Forest near Aspen, CO

Distance: 6 miles

Elevation gain: 2020 feet

This hike was super rewarding. There were stunning views all throughout the trail. The lake at the top of the hike was so clear we could see the trout swimming around. Our dog jumped straight into the water to cool off and we sat near the edge of the lake amongst the wildflowers to take in the views. Even though the trail can be crowded in the summer, there’s plenty of spots around the lake to get away from the crowd a little bit.

4. Emerald Lake

Location: Rocky Mountain National Park

Distance: 3.3 miles

Elevation gain: 702 feet

This hike is a must-do in Rocky Mountian National Park! You’ll pass Dream Lake on your way to Emerald Lake and when you’re done with the hike, you can venture off to the right of the trailhead to see Bear Lake as well. It’s such a beautiful spot for a picnic. It’s also an amazing hike to do year-round. I’ve only done it in the winter so far but I can’t wait to do it in the summer! Get there early, the parking lot fills up quickly!

5. Mount Bierstadt

Location: Mount Evans Wilderness near Silver Plume, CO

Distance: 7.5 miles

Elevation gain: 2782

Mount Bierstadt was my first Colorado 14er and I had no idea what to expect before starting! While it was challenging as I’ve only been up to this elevation a few other times, it was absolutely stunning and rewarding. There are lots of campsites nearby to help you acclimate which made it a lot easier on my body. We saw a moose on our way down as well as a few mountain goats which is probably why I love this trail so much. I recommend this trail to anyone who wants to do their first 14er!

6. Crater Lake

Location: Maroon Bells Snowmass Wilderness near Aspen, CO

Distance: 3.8 miles

Elevation gain: 692 feet

This hike is a must-do when visiting Maroon Bells. It’s easy enough to accomplish in a few hours and the perfect spot to set up a picnic and waste the day away. I had to take the bus and make reservations in advance but it seems that before 8 am and after 5 pm you can drive up to the trailhead without a guarantee that there are parking spots open as they often go quick with the people that backpack the area. The buses run frequently and I found it was just easier to do that.

7. McCullough Gulch

Location: White River National Forest near Breckenridge, CO

Distance: 6.2

Elevation gain: 1578

Any hike that involves a waterfall or a nice alpine lake is a good hike to me. I car camped and did this hike solo and really enjoyed it. I remember there being backpacking spots at the top and thought that it would be awesome to stay up there overnight. Instead, I hung out with the marmots at the top and enjoyed the views.

8. Rustler’s Gulch

Location: Maroon Bells Snowmass Wilderness near Crested Butte, CO

Distance: 9 miles

Elevation gain: 1791 feet

Crested Butte is one of those places that are amazing to visit year-round. You have amazing ski resorts in the winter, beautiful fall colors, lively springs, and warm fun summers that are great for mountain biking and hiking. Every year Crested Butte has a wildflower festival and I highly recommend visiting during that. This place blows up with red, orange, yellow, and purple flowers. Rustler’s Gulch is one of the best trails for wildflowers in the state.

9. Mount Princeton

Location: San Isabel National Forest near Nathrop, CO

Distance: 6.8 miles

Elevation gain: 3320 feet

Mount Princeton is another great 14er. Lots of scrambling and switchbacks involved but I think Mount Princeton has one of the best views out of all the 14ers in Colorado. Camping at the trailhead was a lot of fun and made the 5 am alarm clock a lot easier to deal with!

10. Grays and Torreys

Location: Arapaho National Forest near Idaho Springs, CO

Distance: 9.7 miles

Elevation gain: 3684 feet

Last but not least, Grays and Torreys. Two more 14ers that can be completed together. There are plenty of switchbacks but not as much scrambling as other 14ers. I really enjoyed the views all the way up as you start off in vibrant green meadows before heading into the rocky alpine. Definitely recommend this trail as two of your first 14ers!