The Best Hikes in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains

Colorado has 58 mountain summits above 14,000 feet and several hundred more peaks above 13,000. It has Rocky Mountain National Park, the Maroon Bells, the San Juans, and hundreds of miles of wilderness trails. The challenge is that altitude catches many visitors unprepared — a hike that would be moderate at sea level becomes significantly harder at 11,000 feet, and the acclimatization deficit is real and impactful.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park offers the most organized hiking infrastructure in Colorado with trails appropriate for every experience level. The Emerald Lake trail, 3.3 miles to a stunning alpine lake at 10,000 feet, is one of the most rewarding short hikes in the park. The Sky Pond trail extends to 11,000 feet past two alpine lakes and a waterfall visible from the trail. The Longs Peak Keyhole Route — a 15-mile round trip with 5,100 feet of elevation gain — requires an alpine start before 3 AM to summit and descend before afternoon thunderstorms. Treat it as the serious mountain undertaking it is.

The Maroon Bells

The twin 14,000-foot peaks reflected in Maroon Lake near Aspen produce one of the most recognized mountain images in American photography. The four-mile Crater Lake trail is accessible to moderately fit hikers without significant altitude acclimatization difficulty. The full Maroon Bells Loop requires two to three days of backpacking through some of the most beautiful subalpine terrain in the state but involves several high passes above 12,000 feet that require genuine fitness and preparation.