The 6 Best Hikes in Colorado: Astonishing Lakes & Summits
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Colorado hikes really have it all. Glacial lakes that glow blue, a summit that looks like you’re walking on Mars, colorful wildflowers that overflow into picturesque lush meadows, and waterfalls that gush down snow capped mountains.
With Colorado still fresh in my mind, I wanted to write about my 6 favorite hikes I’ve done in the state- I was going to do 5 but had to throw in one more! 😉
While I may not have spent a lifetime in Colorado, I have spent a few months here and have done dozens of hikes, ranging from easy to hard in many parts of the state.
If you’re looking for more hikes in Colorado, check out my post on the Best Day Hikes near Denver or my post on a One Week Road Trip Through Colorado!
Hiking Essentials & Rules
Hydration
Hiking anywhere requires you to consume more water than usual, but hiking in Colorado where you may be hiking at elevations greater than 10,000 feet means you REALLY need to stay hydrated! Some recommend 1L of water for every 1,000 feet of elevation gain. I think this is a relative number honestly. I say if you think you’re taking enough water with you, throw in another bottle! If I’m hiking a 14er I generally don’t bring anything less than 3L per person. For harder hikes I also recommend Liquid IV to get in some sugar, minerals, & vitamins!
Snacks
Especially for longer or more intense hikes you will want to bring some food. Food we love to bring on hikes: trail mix, nuts, protein bars, PB&Js, rice cakes, beef jerky, & fruit.
Watch for Altitude Sickness
Serious! If you have a headache that doesn’t go away, nausea/vomiting, trouble walking straight, and/or confusion get down to a lower elevation immediately and get medical attention! This is very serious and people have died from it! How to prevent it: Acclimate slowly (AKA don’t try to summit a 14er the day you touch down in Denver) & hydrate hydrate hydrate! You can also try a prescription medication called Diamox that can help you to acclimate.
Gear
I will always recommend not to wear regular tennis shoes on hikes. I personally love my Danner boots. And I love my Osprey backpack that has lasted me over two years and dozens of hikes!
Leave no trace!!!!
Leave these trails better than you found them! I really can’t stress this enough. Do not leave your dog poop bags or any other trash on the trails- pack it out. Do not try to take an easy way through, always stay on the trails! All of this will slowly erode the ground around the trail, making it wider & can kill wildflowers, plants, and animal species. Leave things just as you found them! Do not move rocks or vegetation around. Most of these trails are very popular and already overrun with people as it is! It is so important to do your part and leave these trails better than how you found them. We also saw way too many people camping too close to lakes. Generally, you should camp 200 feet away from an alpine lake. We saw a tent not even ten feet away- makes me so angry! Don’t be these people.
Check current trail conditions & reviews
I use alltrails.com each time before I go for a hike. You can see if people have mentioned things such as parking, the trail being closed, current road & trail conditions, extra gear such as microspikes being necessary, etc. It’s always a good idea to be informed before embarking on a hike!
Sky Pond & Lake of Glass
Trailhead: Glacier Gorge for the least mileage. Located in Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, CO.
Trail Stats: 9.5 miles & 1840 ft. elevation gain.
About the trail: This is a rather popular trail located in famed Rocky Mountain National Park. Starting at Glacier Gorge, you will pass by three lakes: The Loch, Lake of Glass, and Sky Pond. We did this hike in early June so there was still a bit of snow on the trail so we needed microspikes. The trail is rated as ‘hard’ in AllTrails but honestly didn’t feel as hard as other hikes I have done in Colorado. Their is a waterfall you have to hike up into, but nothing too intimidating or requiring special skill. Also- get to the trailhead early as the Glacier Gorge parking lot is not very big!
Why I love it: Lake of Glass & Sky Pond are seriously stunning alpine lakes. Once you get past the waterfall the scenery is gorgeous and we felt like we weren’t even in the park anymore, it was like a little slice of heaven! The ‘shark tooth’ mountains around Sky Pond are really unique and beautiful as well.
Lake Isabelle
Trailhead: Long Lake Trailhead in the Brainard Lake Area. Indian Peaks Wilderness near Ward, CO.
Trail Stats: 4.4 miles & 440 ft. elevation gain.
About the trail: This is the easiest trail on this list by a long shot! The whole surrounding Indian Peaks Wilderness area is stunning and there are lots of hikes to choose from. You’ll want to arrive early to the trailhead, I’ve heard in the busy summer months the parking lot can fill by 7am!
Why I love it: I really loved this trail because it was so easy to get to this beautiful lake. Most of the trail is flat, and the hike is short so it makes it perfect for sunrise/sunset missions or if you want to relax at the lake all day since it doesn’t require much effort to get back. There’s also a lovely waterfall on the trail. Apparently later in the summer the area comes to life with wildflowers surrounding the lake, but when we went in early July the trail was still covered in snow.
Redcloud Peak
Trailhead: Silver Creek/ Grizzly Gulch. Near Lake City, CO. Road in is dirt and a bit bumpy but 4WD not required.
Trail Stats: 9 miles & 3650 ft. elevation gain.
About the trail: This is a 14er (mountain with a summit over 14,000ft) and by far the hardest hike I have ever done! We tried so hard to get to Sunshine Peak (it’s other 14er neighbor) but we got halfway and we were exhausted and it was getting late. Since this is a 14er, you will want to be off the summit by noon and back in the treeline. This was actually the first hike I ever felt like giving up on. Around the top is a lot of loose rock and I have a fear of heights so it wasn’t a good combo! If you have strong hiking capabilities, Redcloud Peak is a must!
Why I love it: So while I didn’t necessarily love the last half of this trail to the summit because of the difficulty, the peak itself and the surrounding summit view just can’t be beat. The top of the mountain is red- how is cool is that?! And seeing the colorful San Juan mountains just made the summit even more magical looking. The summit views were the best of the 4 14ers we have done.
Blue Lakes
Trailhead: Blue Lakes Trailhead near Ridgway, CO. Road in is dirt and bumpy but 4WD not required.
Trail Stats: 8.6 miles & 2370 ft. elevation gain.
About the trail: This actually may be my favorite hike I’ve done ever.. that is how pretty it is. I distinctly remember how genuinely happy both me and my boyfriend were seeing these three lakes on this hike with the 360 mountain views once you get to the second lake. There are three lakes on this hike- if you’re up for more of a challenge keep going past the third lake to blue lakes pass to see them all from above! I plan to come back and do this hike again and make it to the pass. 🙂
Why I love it: The opacity of the first blue lake seen from above is.. just jaw dropping to me. It reminds me of the opacity and color of the Canadian Rocky lakes (Peyto, Lake Louise, Moraine, etc.) But even more stunning to me, especially because you have to put in a lot more effort to get here! This hike is also close to Telluride, which we went to for the first time after doing this hike. The whole area is my favorite part of the whole state! I’m just sitting here dreaming of the day I can go back..!!!
Ice & Island Lakes
Trailhead: Ice Lake trailhead across from South Mineral Campground near Silverton, CO.
Trail Stats: 8.4 miles & 2500 ft. elevation gain.
About the trail: This is a very popular trail in the San Juans! Some people we met on the hike weren’t doing both lakes, but I really urge you to hike to both! They are both beautiful in their own way, and are less than a mile away from each other. If you have the ability & strength to hike to one, it really doesn’t require much more energy to the other.
Why I love it: The color of the lakes, especially Ice Lake! It is such an electric blue. Be sure to choose a sunny day and start early before the storms roll in- the lakes look much more vibrant in the direct sunlight. Island Lake was beautiful because it looked like it was in a perfectly shaped bowl below the mountains. Of course once you are above treeline, you’ll see the colorful and majestic San Juan peaks behind you, and in the basin below the lakes there are a few waterfalls. There are also lots of wildflowers surrounding the lakes!
Columbine Lake
Trailhead: Columbine Lake Trailhead; if you do not have 4WD vehicle, follow the directions that AllTrails gives you and park on 679 right off of the Million Dollar Hwy. This is right below the turn to go up to the trailhead on 820. The road on 820 is bad and there’s not much parking available, and no where to turn around! We have a AWD Honda Cr-V and were really glad we didn’t bring it up the road.
Trail Stats: 8.3 miles (if parking from further trailhead) & 3000 ft. elevation gain.
About the trail: The first half of your ascent is in shaded trees, but once it opens up and you get most of the elevation gain out of the way, it is a gorgeous steady walk to the lake in a basin of mountains, wildflowers, and waterfalls.
Why I love it: It’s lesser known & traveled than nearby Ice & Island lakes. I think the trail going up to the lake is actually prettier than the Ice & Island Lakes too. The lake is actually very big so it’s easy to spread out from other people, and the blue color of the lake is so deep & vibrant!
And that concludes my 6 favorite hikes in Colorado! If you have any trails in the state you love, drop them down below!
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