• Hike Distance: 6.6 Miles RT
• Denver Drive Time: 1hr 45min
• Difficulty: Moderate
  
• Duration: 4hr
• Activities: Horseback Riding, Hiking Trails
• Dogs: Not Allowed in Park
  

Bridal Veil Falls is a gem tucked away in the northern reaches of Rocky Mountain National Park. This hike is about 1hr 45 minutes from the Denver area and features expansive meadows, wildflowers, forest, and a little bit of a rock scramble. Bridal Veil Falls launches from a rock slab at a diagonal, making it a beautiful site. Most visitors to the National Park go to the center of the park, so you may find yourself alone on the trail on a weekday. I wouldn’t expect that on the weekend though.

Like most areas in the park, the wildlife is abundant. We often joke, calling it the zoo. Elk and deer, as well as eagles and other raptors can be seen along Cow Creek trail. The trail to Bridal Veil Falls begins at the Cow Creek Trailhead. You’ll pass through meadows and see the cascades along Cow Creek. Eventually, you’ll hike up in the forest, getting a bit of a break from the sun. Before the waterfall, you’ll encounter some rocks to hike and scramble over, making this a more moderate hike.

Tips:

• A Great View: Cross the stream then work your way up the area just left of the falls to the stream above. It’s beautiful above the falls, just take care not to turn it into a rock climb. Remember that Water + Rock = Slippery.
• Parking is a Limited: It’s just a small area along the road near the ranch. You’ll need to parallel park. Also, get their early for a space.
• Not Much Shade: Bring the sunscreen. You’ll be in the sun a lot along Cow Creek Trail.

Related Hikes:

• Alberta Falls Hike in Rocky Mountain National Park
• Emerald Lake Hike In Rocky Mountain National Park

Meyer Ranch Open Space offers 3 great hiking options only 30 minutes from Denver. They range from easy to moderate in difficulty and 2.4 to 4.8 miles in length. Meyer Ranch has expansive meadows and patches of wildflowers, grazing deer & elk, and trails that take you to overlooks.

1. Lodgepole Loop: 2.4 miles – Easy - Take the Owls Perch Trail South and continue straight (left) down the trail, at the next junction go right and continue on the Lodgepole loop for 1.2 miles until you arrive back at the Owl’s Perch trail and take (left ) that back to the parking lot.

2. Sunny Aspen Trail Loop: 3 Miles – Moderate - Take the Owls Perch Trail South and continue straight (left) down the trail, at the next junction go right and continue on the Lodgepole loop, go .6 miles and take a right onto the Sunny Aspen Trail, continue on the Sunny Aspen Trail for .8 miles until it joins again with the Lodgepole Loop (go right), follow this back to the Owl’s Perch trail and back to the parking lot.

3. Old Ski Run Trail 4.8 Miles – Moderate – Take the Owls Perch Trail South and continue straight (left) down the trail, at the next junction go left again for .2 mile until you find your next junction, go left onto the Sunny Aspen Trail taking that for .5 mile until you reach the junction with the Old Ski Run Trail. The Ski Run trail is an out & back trail with a loop at the end. The Ski Run section is 2 miles out and back (including loop). Return the way you came via the Sunny Aspen Trail.

Related Hikes:

• Meadow Hikes Near Denver
• Nearby Hike: Maxwell Falls Waterfall Hike

Click on the Maroon Links to get directions, trail maps, and hiking profiles.

#1 Panorama Point at Corwina Park

This is a 2.8 miles hike of medium difficulty, just 35 minutes from Denver. The trail begins along a small creek and winds around to Panorama Point, where as you would expect, there are some great views of Mount Evans and Bear Creek Canyon. Be sure to download the trail map from the Corwina Park Hike profile page.

#2 Canyon Loop Trail at Betasso Preserve Near Boulder

Betasso Preserve is situated in the foothills above Boulder, Colorado. This loop hike is great as a sunset or sunrise hike. If you are looking for a leisurely walk with your family or a friend, this is a great choice. It has some picnic areas just before the trailhead that are shaded by some beautiful Ponderosa pines. Because it’s just down the road, we would suggest taking in Boulder Falls as well, but expect a crowd. We’ve only hiked Betasso once, on a Saturday afternoon, but it was much quieter – just a few cars in the parking lot.

#3 Mt. Falcon Castle & Fire Tower Hike

Ruins, a firetower, and panoramic views – what more could you ask for? This 3.7 mile loop hike is just 40 minutes from Denver. Check out the trail profile for a trail map and directions on how to put together the loop.

#4 Maxwell Falls Near Evergreen

This is the hike our family chose for the 4th of July weekend. We did the Cliff Loop. It was a great blend of shade and sun. This is a 3 mile loop hike about 20 minutes outside of Evergreen, Colorado. It features cliffs, waterfalls (cascades), and Maxwell Creek. We’d suggest going earlier in the morning on this one. The lower lot was full around noon.

Trails to Avoid on the Fourth of July Weekend (if you want peace and quiet)

• Eldorado Canyon – This place packs out fast on most weekends, and for good reason – it’s beautiful and offers a lot of options.
• Pretty Much any of the State & National Parks – They are hitting their peak season. If you are looking for a great hike in Rocky Mountain National Park, that will take you away from the crowds then drop us an email via the contact button.
• Mt. Evans & Echo Lake will likely be crowded
• O’ Fallon Park - This park will hit capacity before noon on a Saturday. That doesn’t mean that the trails will be crowded, because most folks come to picnic and to play in Bear Creek. So, we recommend going very early, and probably not on a holiday weekend.

Related Hikes:

• 7 Best Picnic Areas Near Denver
• Best Hikes For Family Visiting the Denver Area
• 4 Hikes Close to Denver for Hiking with Strollers

What it lacks in challenge Mt. Evans makes up in breathtaking panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains and opportunities to view wildlife up close. It isn’t much of a hike, because you can summit this 14,265 foot peak in just a few minutes. Yet your trip to Mount Evans can include several stops at high mountains lakes, to view wildflowers, and to take in the expansive scenery (See our itinerary below). This is one of the best attractions near Denver for visiting friends and family, especially if you don’t have the luxury or equipment to take them into the Colorado backcountry. The views are stunning and there is a good chance that you’ll encounter wildlife that would usually require hours of hiking to see. Still, you are at fourteen thousand feet, so be aware of the effects of altitude, drink plenty of water, and keep an eye on the weather.
Here is our suggested Itinerary

• Take The I-70 Route for a shorter Drive: Click for Directions
• Take the a bit more scenic route: Click for Directions
• First Stop, Echo Lake - We like to arrive here early in the morning when the water is like glass and before other visitors arrive. Check out our full profile on Echo Lake
• Second Stop, Mt. Goliath - After passing through the toll booth, you’ll begin a drive up the winding Mt. Evans Highway. After a few miles you’ll encounter a nature center Dos Chappell Nature Center at Mt. Goliath. Stop here for a short wildflower hike and to take in the views. Click for Google Map
• Third Stop, Summit Lake- Grey cliff bands drop to the base of Summit Lake. It’s breathtaking. Keep your eyes out for Bighorn Sheep and Mountain Goats as well. Click Here for Google Map
• Finally, the Summit of Mt. Evans.

Tips:

• A Better Itinerary? Because weather comes in during the early afternoon, we suggest that you start early, make a short stop at Echo Lake, then drive straight to the summit. On your way down, stop at Summit lake, then make your last stop at the nature center at Mt. Goliath.
• Do consider altitude. We avoid bringing friends who are not in good health. Be sure to have your guests drink plenty of water, and make sure they have had a day or two to get used to the altitude in the mile-high city.
• The Weather link below is for Idaho Springs. Weather at the altitude of Echo Lake may be very different, and Weather at the summit will definitely be different. Check this National Weather Service Link for more accurate forecasts.
• Looking for a more challenging Hike? Try the Chicago Lakes Hike. The trail begins at the Echo Lake Parking Lot.

Related Hikes:

• Echo Lake Near Mount Evans
• More Great Hikes for Visiting Family & Friends
• Chicago Lakes Trail from Echo Lake

Denver’s Highline Canal was designed as an irrigation stream, but it has become a 66 mile long hiking and biking trail running through the heart of Denver. This particular hiking trail section is in the Littleton & Highlands Ranch area. There are two parking lots from which you can start the hike: the Countyline Road Trailhead, or the Fly’n B Park lot. Round Trip, this segment is about 4 miles. From the Countyline Trailhead, cross over the first footbridge and head South (left). You’ll run into an intersection about 200 yards up. Take a right to continue following the Highline.

Water flows in the highland canal about 90 days a year. Because the canal only drops two feet per mile, the water, even when it is flowing fast, appears calm. This is part of what gives this trail such a pastoral feel, even though it is close to 470. Immense Cottonwood trees arch over the path, and all sorts of birds decorate the bushes and wetlands that have grown up wild along its edges.

The trail is great for a stroller hike and for wheelchairs. After about 2 miles of trail, you’ll walk through a tunnel that goes under 470. You’ll then emerge to find yourself at Fly’n B Park. It looks like it is an old ranch that has been converted into a great park near Highlands Ranch. It features a small pond with boat dock, and a fantastic shelter house. The pond looks like a perfect place to take kids fishing in Denver. We haven’t tried it out yet, so we would love your feedback if you have. The Highlands Ranch Metro District Parks has plans to renovate the home on the property. Outdoor restrooms and some parking is available. However, we recommend parking at the Countyline Road Trailhead for this hike.

Tips:

• A detailed guide to of the Highline Canal Trail can be ordered from Denver Water.
• Take some snacks and extra water. The Highline continues well beyond this section and you’re likely to want to explore more of it.
• From the Countyline Trailhead, you can also go North towards for views of McLellan Reservoir and the Front Range.

Related Hikes:

• Great Stroller Hikes Near Denver
• Clear Creek Trail in Golden, Colorado
• Nearby: South Valley Park Trails

Mount Falcon features several trails. By combining a few, you can create a 3.7 mile loop and take in several historic sites as well as breathtaking views of Denver, Red Rocks, and the Front Range. This is makes it one of the best hikes close to Denver for visiting friends and family. Because it is an easy hike and has a relatively flat and wide trail, you can take the jogging stroller on this one, too.

The Loop: Start at the parking lot and when you come to a fork in the trail, take the Tower Trail to your right. Soon you’ll pass the Eagle Eye Shelter which offers great views towards Mount Evans and the surrounding foothills. Stay on the Tower Trail until you get to the Fire Tower which commands a panoramic view of Denver, Red Rocks, and more of the Front Range of Colorado.

Then continue on the Tower Trail until it intersects with the Meadow Trail. Take the Meadow Trail North/Left for about .3 miles. It will end at the Castle Trail – take a left. The Castle Trail will lead you back to the parking lot, but don’t head back until you stop at the ruins of the old Walker Home. The views from here are beautiful as well. Click here for a link to the Mount Falcon trail map.

Tips:

• Bring a Lunch and stop at the Eagle Eye Shelter for a Picnic
• Go early or late to catch some of the best sunsets along the Colorado’s Front Range

Related Hikes:

• Best Hikes For Family Visiting the Denver Area
• More Hikes Close to Denver for Hiking with Strollers
• Daniel’s Park – Incredible Sunrises & Sunsets in South Denver

Our children are not big enough to hike long distances yet. So, we usually we put the kiddos in the child carrier backpacks. When we can though, we try to break out the Bob Stroller and hit a local trail. Here are 4 trails close to Denver that work great with a stroller.

Criteria for these Denver Area Stroller Hikes

• Crushed Gravel or Paved Trail
• Great Views or Natural Features
• Accessibility

Click on the Maroon Links to get directions, trail maps, and hiking profiles.

#1 The Bluffs Loop South of Denver

This 2.7 mile loop trail is one of our favorites, and probably is the hike we do the most. The Bluffs provide panoramic views of Colorado’s Front Rang and of downtown Denver. We try to go around 7pm when the sun is setting. You’re likely to see deer and meadowlarks along the trail. Right now, we just hike it, but other will use this as a challenging run with the stroller.

#2 Bear Creek Trail at Lair O’ The Bear Park

This 1.7 mile stretch of the Bear Creek Trail is accessed at Lair O’ the Bear park. We’ve observed from our O’Fallon Park Hike that the trail stretches further west.We doubt that all 6.3 miles are stroller accessible, but there is definitely more to explore. The trail follows bear creek and goes in and out of the trees, so you get a bit of shade. Be alert for mountain bikes as it’s one of the more popular mountain biking trails near Denver.

#3 Fountain Trail at Roxborough State Park

This trail is not paved but all 2.7 miles are considered handicap accessible, so it makes for a great hike with your stroller. Of the four hikes, this is the most beautiful. It’s also great for birdwatching as well as giving the kids a chance to see deer, as they are used to the human traffic in the park.

#4 Clear Creek Trail in Golden

We’ll admit that this last one isn’t that much of a “real hike.” But it makes for a great lazy weekend morning. The trail runs along Clear Creek and there is always something to entertain: swallows playing under the bridge, kayakers and water rescue training, and the summer farmers market. We love to take a picnic, and throw a blanket down in Parfet Park or grab coffee at the Windy Saddle Cafe which has a great little play room for the kids.

Disclaimer: These hikes are for strollers that are designed for jogging and trails. The Clear Creek trail is paved and would be great for almost any stroller.

Looking for a great place to picnic near Denver? As we have been profiling hiking trails close to Denver, we have taken notes on the best picnic areas.
Criteria for these Denver Picnic Areas

• At Least 1 Picnic Table
• Close to some great hiking
• Great Views or Natural Features

Click on the Maroon Links to get directions and hiking profiles.

#1 Daniels Park Picnic Area

Daniel’s Park is our favorite for watching the sun set – they are some of the best sunsets you’ll see on the front range of Colorado. The park is small, but has an old rock picnic shelter complete with a stone fireplace. There are picnic tables throughout the park and a few grills as well. Daniel’s Park is located in South Denver about 10 minutes south of Highlands Ranch. There are no established hiking trails in Daniel’s Park, but we’ve put a few hikes together on the trail profile.

#2 Betasso Preserve Near Boulder

Betasso Preserve has great views looking east to Denver. After exploring Boulder Falls, we drove up to the park for a picnic. Unlike many of the other picnic areas we’ve visited, it was just us and the squirrels. So, if you are looking for a quieter picnic spot, this would be our first suggestion. Betasso preserve also has a shelter that can be reserved for a reasonable fee. Just follow the link to the Boulder County Picnic Shelters page.

#3 Evergreen Lake Picnic Area

Evergreen is a quaint village about 40 minutes into the mountains from Denver. You can walk from town to the lake, or park the car at the lake parking lot on the west side of the lake. There you will find a small picnic area complete with grills. There is a lot to do at the lake: paddle boats & canoes, fishing, and a boardwalk.

#4 Eldorado State Park Picnic Area

Eldorado Canyon State Park may have the best picnic area in Colorado. The drawback are the crowds. On the weekends, just getting in the park can be an issue. So, we suggest going on a weekday. It makes a perfect after work picnic. The picnic area is right along South Boulder Creek and the views of the canyon are breathtaking. The directions at the above link will take you to the parking area for the Rattlesnake Gulch Trail, but you’ll want to drive past that until the road dead ends at a parking area. There you will find both the picnic area and the interpretive center.

#5 Lookout Mountain Picnic Area

Deer, squirrels, and rabbits wander about the picnic area at Lookout Mountain. It’s situated in a grove of ponderosa pines an close to the interpretive center. It’s a perfect place to take the kids, and can be a real educational experience.

#6 Echo Lake Picnic Area

The picnic area at Echo Lake near Mount Evans is just about perfect. Of the seven picnic areas featured here, this one has the highest capacity. But it probably has the highest traffic. We’ve been up on the weekends and the key is going early. There are grills, restrooms, and an old stone shelter house.

#7 O Fallon Park Picnic Areas

We saved one of the best for last. O’Fallon Park has a beautiful grove of pines that provide plenty of shelter. Bear Creek runs along the picnic area, and there are some great hikes that can be accessed from parking lot. The drawback is that this place fills up quickly on the weekend, even loud. So nix this one as a weekend spot, unless you plan to go for a 10am lunch. An old stone chimney barbeque can be accessed from across the creek.

If you have other picnic areas that you would suggest, leave us a comment and a bit of information on it!

If your legs are ready to gain some quick elevation

to some rewarding views, the Rattlesnake Gulch trail will give you just that. This trail starts at the west trailhead of the Fowler Trail about 1/2 a mile into Eldorado Canyon. The hike first takes you about 1.2 miles to the site of the Crags Hotel. The hotel was built in 1908 and visitors could reach it by taking an incline railroad and by an old wagon trail. In 1912, the hotel burnt to the ground, and just a few ruins remain. The parks department has put up interpretive signs to give you an idea of what the site was like in the early 1900′s.

If you continue past the Crags Hotel site, you can add on an additional 1.4 miles by hiking the Rattlesnake Gulch Loop. A spur along the trail takes you to the Continental Divide overlook, where you can look out to the plains and towards a few peaks to the west. If you don’t want to hike the entire loop, but you want to catch the view from the overlook, take the trail to the right after the hotel site and hike about 10 more minutes. See the map link above for the exact location of the spur that leads to the overlook.

The picture above is looking northeast towards the Cadillac Rock area. If you take a pair of binoculars, scan the formation for rock-climbers. Eldorado Canyon makes for some great Denver area hiking. It’s one of those places with so many unique features, that you’ll find yourself drawn back there time and time again.

Note: Exact trail lengths are approximate until we can GPS this one. We’ve noticed discrepancies on maps and reports. So, be sure to add some buffer time on to this hike.

Tips:

• Parking fills up fast at Eldorado Canyon. So, we suggest you go early in the day, or as the crowds are filtering out of the park in the late afternoon. As well, you’ll find weekdays less crowed. Eldorado Canyon is open from sunrise to sunset year round.
• Use the driving directions above. They will lead you to the nearest parking area.
• As we mentioned above, trail lengths are approximate, so add some buffer time to your hike.

Related Hikes:

• Moderate 3 Mile Hike in Golden Gate State Park
• Strenuous 5 mile hike near near Lookout Mountain

Elk Meadow Park has just over 13 miles of hiking trails near Denver that wind through it’s lower meadows, through ponderosa forest, and two more strenuous options that lead to the summit of Bergen Peak. This profiles a 2.6 mile loop that begins at the south parking area. To form the loop, combine the Meadow View Trail, Elk Ridge Trail, and the Sleepy “S” trail. Use the Elk Meadow Park map at this link. We chose this route because we have 2 children under 3 years old, and it was a good choice – just long enough, trails close to Denver, and lots of change of scenery during a short hike.

There is an off-leash dog area just on the other side of the street from the south parking lot (not visible on this older google map, so you’ll have to trust us that it’s there). If you like to hike with your dog, this is a great place to stop before you hike. Here is a link to the Jefferson County info page on the off-leash area. Dogs are required to be leashed in all other areas of the park.

Tips:

• The Easy way. Take the loop clockwise for the easier route and counter-clockwise if you are looking for a more strenuous (but not much) hike.
• Enjoy some time in Evergreen: The town of Evergreen is a great place to retreat to during the summer. It’s a few degrees cooler, Bear Creek runs through town, and you’ll find some great places to eat.

Related Hikes Near Evergreen Colorado:

• Evergreen Lake Trail
• Alderefer Three Sisters Hike
• O Fallon Park Trails Near Evergreen