10 Beautiful Winter Hikes Near Denver

Written By Dasha

While summer and fall certainly have their appeal, the Rockies covered in snow is something that everyone has to see at least once. Winter hikes are also far less crowded, and if you have the right gear and layer properly, I promise it isn’t that cold! :)

Without ado, here are a few of my favorite hikes that are driving distance from Denver, Colorado!

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Gear for Winter Hiking in Colorado

Before we get into it, let’s talk about being prepared for winter in Colorado. Of course, there are the obvious things — thicc coat, fleece mid-layer, synthetic base layer (avoid cotton), hat, socks, and a warm pair of gloves. 

But, below are some additional winter essentials to bring with you on your hike:

  • Kahtoola MICROspikes — an absolute must for walking on ice and snow without slipping. There will be hikes that you simply cannot do without spikes!

  • Hand Warmers — these are cheap and helpful in a pinch. For example, I pop my hands out of my gloves to take photos almost all the time and my hands are in need of a warm boost immediately after!

  • Oboz Bridger Insulated Waterproof Boots — because nobody likes cold toes or having wet feet. These are my go-to boots for winter.

  • Revo Explore Snowshoes — snowshoes allow you to hike on top of deep snow without sinking. Most of the time, spikes will do the trick but some trails are ideal for snowshoes (plus it’s fun!) You can also rent these from REI if you don’t want to buy your own!

  • Guide BT Avalanche Beacon — may be good to have some avalanche safety gear on hand if you choose to hike in zones with some avalanche risk (more on this below). 

  • Emergency Blanket — this is cheap but can very much come in handy whether for yourself or someone you come across that might be in trouble.

Be sure to check trail conditions on AllTrails as well as weather, because I’ve definitely dressed in full on ski gear for a hike before given the wind and cold! Remember that weather can change very quickly out in the mountains, so no matter what be sure to bring your layers even if it calls for 50s and sunny.

For more recommended products to comfortably tackle Colorado’s winter hikes, check out my winter hiking gear list here.

Trail Conditions and Avalanche Risk

Unless you are an experienced hiking guide or have avalanche safety training, I wouldn’t recommend hiking anywhere with avalanche risk. In recent years, avalanches have become deadlier with the 2020-2021 season seeing the highest number of fatalities. 

I don’t say this to scare you at all, and the majority of the hikes that I recommend are very safe (read: I have a low adrenaline threshold so I’m not out here taking too many risks!) But, each hike and its conditions are going to vary based on the current weather patterns in that area.

To check for avalanche safety, visit the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) and simply input the name of the hike in the search bar. For your convenience, I’ve linked to each of the trail’s locations via CAIC underneath the information for each hike.

Hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP)

Some of the hikes in this post are located in Rocky Mountain National Park, which currently charges a $30 fee to enter. The alternative is purchasing the America the Beautiful National Parks Pass, which is $80 for the year and gives you access to over 2,000 different parks, national monuments, historic sites and more. It’s totally worth it if you’re planning to visit at least 3 parks per year and makes a perfect gift for an outdoors lover!

Normally, RMNP requires timed entry reservations from May 26 through October 22, unless you arrive before 6am. But, the nice thing about winter is that no timed reservations are needed.

For the latest rates and reservations, visit the National Park Service website.

Best Winter Hikes Near Denver, Colorado

This post will feature the following hikes:

  1. Mills Lake

  2. Herman Gulch

  3. The Loch

  4. Eldorado Canyon Trail

  5. Bald Mountain 

  6. Mayflower Gulch

  7. Lake Haiyaha

  8. Lost Lake

  9. Royal Arch

  10. Lily Pad Lake

Mills Lake via Glacier Gorge Trail

This is an absolutely gorgeous hike that some might consider easy in the summertime, but the added challenges of hiking in the winter make it more moderate. 

Herman Gulch

This is one of my absolute favorites hikes of all time, but a little tricky in terms of gauging avalanche safety. I strongly recommend checking the trail conditions via AllTrails for any recent reviews as well as CAIC. Snowshoes are recommended in the late winter, while early winter is doable with just microspikes.

The Loch via Glacier Gorge Trail

An absolutely breathtaking hike which takes you past Alberta Falls and ends at a gorgeous lake. If you’re up for an even bigger challenge, continue past the Loch and all the way up to Sky Pond!

  • Trailhead: 40.31093,-105.6395

  • Distance: 5.4 miles

  • Elevation Gain: 1,056 ft

  • Out & back

  • Difficulty: Moderate

  • Dog friendly: No

  • Fee: $30 per vehicle or free with national parks pass

  • Avalanche Conditions

Eldorado Canyon Trail

I love the hikes in Eldorado Canyon State Park because I’m almost never worried about avalanche risk, and Pearl Street in Boulder isn’t too far away to grab coffee or go shopping at my favorite outdoors stores. 

This hike, in my opinion, is truly a hidden gem. The parking can get a little crowded but I swear this trail always feels like just the right number of people. The views are stunning and you can see Long’s Peak on a clear day, there’s a charming little bridge at the end as well as a great spot by South Boulder Creek to sit down and have snacks or lunch.

  • Trailhead: 39.93039,-105.29435

  • Distance: 6.6 miles

  • Elevation Gain: 1,994 ft

  • Out & back

  • Difficulty: Moderate

  • Dog friendly: Yes

  • Fee: $10 per vehicle or free with Colorado state parks pass (note: the annual parks pass does not apply)

  • Avalanche Conditions

Bald Mountain via Switzerland Trail

This trail offers incredible views of the Indian Peaks and is generally safe from avalanche risk. It’s also near Nederland, so you basically have to go to Crosscut Pizza after. This little town also has a few coffee shops and stores to pop into.

Mayflower Gulch

While you can opt to do the Mayflower Gulch Grand Traverse (which is a little over 6 miles) some opt to hike the shorter version in which you go from the trailhead to the cabins. Going past the cabins is totally optional but worth it for some incredible views!

Lake Haiyaha

This was my first ever snowshoeing hike and I went with a friend whose boyfriend was experienced navigating avalanche terrain, which made me a lot more comfortable in making this trek!

You’ll also get to see Nymph and Dream Lakes on this hike, which are absolutely gorgeous themselves. But, Haiyaha is a bigger challenge so you’ll likely see very few people on this one — it is SO worth it. 

Lost Lake via Hessie Trail

Another beautiful trail near Nederland. Be very mindful of the parking situation here as it does fill up quickly and all of it is just parallel parking along a somewhat icy road.

Royal Arch

This hike is located in a really popular part of Boulder, Chautauqua Park. The Chautauqua Trail hooks up to a number of different beautiful hikes including this one, so expect parking to be very limited unless you arrive in the early morning (think ~8-9am on a weekend). Stop by the Chautauqua Dining Hall for lunch after and grab some souvenirs at the General Store!

  • Trailhead: 39.99883,-105.28291

  • Distance: 3.4 miles

  • Elevation Gain: 1,469 ft

  • Out & back

  • Difficulty: Hard

  • Dog friendly: Yes

  • Fee: Parking is $2.50 an hour but free in the winter Monday — Sunday

  • Avalanche Conditions

Lily Pad Lake Trail

This is a lovely trail near Silverthorne, meaning it’s also best done in the early winter before ski season is in full swing otherwise you may run into the dreaded traffic on the way home. Catch gorgeous views of Lake Dillon from this hike as well and maybe you’ll even spot a moose!

Final Thoughts and Tips

It’s important to keep a few things in mind when hiking Colorado’s stunning trails. For one, it’s making sure that we preserve and respect all of this natural beauty by practicing Leave No Trace!

LNT is a set of 7 principles or guidelines that comprise a code of ethics for people who love the outdoors.

It goes a little something like this:

1. Plan ahead and prepare, especially since winter weather can be a bit extreme. Check the weather and road conditions the day before and download or have a map on hand. Also, test any specific gear ahead of time — make sure your micro-spikes or snowshoes fit properly, test your avalanche beacon if using one, etc.

2. Hike on maintained trails and durable surfaces to avoid eroding anything.

3. Dispose of waste properly, including doggy bags and orange peels.

4. Leave what you find.

5. Minimize campfire impacts (yes, even in the winter!) Some of Colorado’s worst wildfires, like the Marshall Fire have actually happened in the winter.

6. Respect wildlife and be sure to keep your pets leashed in case of unexpected encounters

7. Be considerate to others.

I can’t wait for you to explore these beautiful trails and make the most out of winter! Happy hiking :)

Dasha

Hi, Dasha here! Merging my love of photography and the great outdoors, I’m here to show you the world through my lens and inspire you to get out there and explore.

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