Challenging ascent of Lookout Mountain from its base in the town of Golden.
If you seek a stiff workout in the mountains, make one of these tough trails your next objective.
The hills and mountains around Denver offer endless opportunities for a challenge. The city ends where the Rocky Mountains begin, so your workout close to home or your hotel could be a rigorous ascent. If a jog around the block just won’t do it for you, try summitting a nearby mountain instead. Take Chimney Gulch Trail from Golden and finish on top of Lookout Mountain, or scramble up Mount Morrison near Red Rocks Amphitheater. If you find yourself in Boulder, try the trails that climb Green Mountain, home of the famous Flatirons.
To unlock more challenges, venture deeper into the mountains. Try a grueling day hike or overnight backpack into an alpine wilderness, where Jasper and Devils Thumb Lakes lay near the Continental Divide. If your idea of a “Rocky Mountain High” is feeling light-headed at high altitude, try a Colorado 14er like Mount Bierstadt or Longs Peak. The difficult hikes on this list are just a sample of the challenges you can find near Denver. Start with these to test your mettle against the mountains, and to whet your appetite for more.
Challenging ascent of Lookout Mountain from its base in the town of Golden.
A tough ascent to the highpoint over Red Rocks Amphitheater.
A loop to the top of Boulder's most iconic mountain.
Long day hike or overnight trip into a wilderness area, with pristine alpine lakes near the Continental Divide.
Despite being known as one of Colorado's easier 14ers, the climb up Bierstadt is still varied and rewarding.
Standard route to the top of Longs Peak, the only 14er in Rocky Mountain National Park.