Of all the various outdoor recreational activities, hiking is perhaps our favorite. At The Outdoor Corps, we feature hike guides, lists of an area’s best hikes, and many other tips. Our objective — to help you discover your next hiking adventure around the Rocky Mountain West.
The Outdoor Corps’ hiking articles provide recommended hikes for all skill levels, from novice to advanced. You’ll often find recommendations for some of the most popular hikes in an area (e.g., a national park or wilderness area). However, you’ll also find recommendations on hidden gem hikes that see far fewer crowds. In addition, we back up our recommendations with hike ratings, focused on difficulty, scenery, crowds, and a general fun factor.
There certainly is no shortage of amazing hikes in the Rocky Mountains. Whether you’re looking for a quick day hike or a multi-day backpacking route, The Outdoor Corps has it all.
Mount Sniktau (13,240ft.) is a 13er mountain located in Colorado's Arapaho National Forest near Loveland Pass. The standard route to Mount Sniktau's summit is via its Class 1 Southwest Ridge. At 3.7 miles roundtrip with about 1,250ft. of elevation gain, this hike is challenging but relatively easy in comparison to other Colorado 13er and 14er hikes.
Walker Ranch is located in Boulder County, just outside of Boulder, Colorado. With an impressive ecosystem spanning 2,888 acres, Walker Ranch is a favorite destination among locals, particularly hikers, mountain bikers, and anglers fishing for Rainbow Trout in South Boulder Creek.
Hall Ranch, located in the foothills of Boulder County, just outside of Lyons, Colorado, is a popular open space area. With 3,899 acres featuring beautiful meadows, forests, and mountain vistas, this park caters to hikers, trail runners, mountain bikers, equestrians, and more!
Mount Flora (13,146ft.) is a 13er mountain located in Colorado's Arapaho National Forest near Berthoud Pass. The standard route to Mount Flora's summit is via the Class 1 Southwest Ridge. At 6.4 miles roundtrip with about 1,700ft. of elevation gain, this hike is a great introduction to 13er mountains.
Mount Massive (14,421ft.) is a 14er mountain located in Colorado's Sawatch Range, close to Leadville, CO. The standard route to Mount Massive's summit is via the long 13.1 mile out-and-back Class 2 East Slopes. As with many Sawatch Range mountains, this is a challenging hike with significant elevation gain.
Mount Sherman (14,036ft.) is a 14er mountain located in Colorado's Mosquito Range. The standard route to Mount Sherman's summit is via the Class 2 Southwest Ridge. With a route less than 5 miles roundtrip, Mount Sherman is considered one of the easier 14er summits.
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