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Crater Lakes

4.6 (8 reviews)

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Carly W.

This past Friday, I found myself craving a hike that really challenged me. I yearned for lakes, mountains, streams, and more! So I loaded up and hit the road towards Nederland and gave Crater Lakes a shot. It definitely didn't let me down. Quick Stats: Crater Lakes Trail is a 7.5 mile (if you head up to Upper Crater Lakes) out and back trail near Moffat Tunnel. It boasts a great variety of terrain - including 1975 feet of elevation gain! PRO: The first half of the trail follows South Boulder Creek closely. Making for a wonderfully cool and shaded hike, even on a 90+ degree day like I had. CON: Holy. Mosquitos. Batman! SOLUTION: Don't forget the bug spray, like I did! A little Deet would've gone a long way and saved me the agony of 20+ mosquito bites! #rookiemistake PRO: Tons of open space full of the most beautiful wildflowers can be found throughout the area! CON: These space boast much more sunshine and I am burnt like a lobster on my shoulders. Whoops! SOLUTION: Sunblock. You'd think I'd be more prepared, and usually I am, but after not needing it for many years it takes a brutal sunburn to remind me not to skip such things. #burnttoacrisp PRO: There's a wide variety of terrain on this hike, including meadows of wildflowers, babbling streams, waterfalls, snow in July, lakes, boulder fields, and more! CON: It's a tough hike and aptly rated "hard" on AllTrails. SOLUTION: The toughest journeys lead to the best rewards. Pace yourself! The distance and elevation gain can be brutal. Take it slow, and you will ensure that you have a good experience and get to soak up all the beauty this hike has to offer. #slowandsteady PRO: A variety of smaller trails can be found throughout the area to explore areas around the lower crater lakes, upper crater lake, or various places along the trail. CON: There's a lot of "social trails" in the area. Not only is it bad for the vegetation, but it can lead to confusion for fellow hikers. SOLUTION: Download your trail map before you head out! This will help ensure you don't take a wrong turn. #knowbeforeyougo After all is said, Crater Lakes was definitely the hike I needed. I'm excited to come back and check out more of the gorgeous hikes the James Peak Wilderness has to offer. **Special thanks to Matt C for his epic adventures that inspire me to explore all the places!

Janet D.

This is a 6.5 heavily trafficked trail. It runs parallel to the Moffat Tunnel. Like others mentioned this is a heavily trafficked trail to say the least. I've been here probably 5-6 times. In winter and summer. I prefer winter time when the crowd is so much less. Therefore parking is not not an issue. We tried getting in at 7:30. Sometimes the big lot is full. 6:30 is more like it. This week day ( Wednesday overnight) was my later trip here and I brought with me two newbie backpackers. They were such ideal first-timers. No whining. No heroics. Just eager to be backpacking. We were so happy with the blooming wildflowers. The first meadow was full of them! So this is a great place to enjoy a short trip simply because to me there's an abundance of water. Lakes everywhere you look. If you feel like climbing something there's that the too.? The big parking lot is no match for the crowd that visits this trail and that's the main drawback. Pre-COVID it wasn't like this at all. Although this Wednesday it was sweet and almost weird. Way less people esp backpackers!

Lake on the hiking trail.

Excellent hiking and gorgeous views. Loved the lakes too. Just beautiful. Definitely worth the visit.

Colton J.

Beautiful area with endless options. Amazing trails, remote landscapes, & snowy peaks. We snowshoed 4.5 miles up to the crater lakes area. Gorgeous views. Would be a great place to do some camping in warmer months.

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Liquid Descent - Hank raft guide was the best

Liquid Descent

4.9(632 reviews)
11.7 mi

I can't say enough good things about our experience with Liquid Descent. My daughter and I signed…read moreup for the beginner rafting trip... and while she was excited... I was terrified. I was so nervous walking in, but from the moment we arrived, every single staff member made us feel welcomed, safe, and supported. Our guide, Koa, was the perfect balance of fun, kind, and incredibly skilled. He guided us through the rapids with such confidence and ease while also making sure everyone felt safe and included. He checked in on us several times throughout and made sure we were having fun, asked us if we wanted to "spice it up" a bit or keep it mellow and just really let us know this was "our" trip and he's cater to what we wanted. I quickly found myself letting go of fear and enjoying the moment... something I didn't expect would happen. Koa's energy was contagious, and his calm, respectful nature made us feel like we were in the best hands possible. At one point on the river, another rafting company had a mishap and we had to pull over and wait for them to recover and get their riders back into the raft safely. Koa explained what had happened with total grace - no judgment, no gossip - just a calm and respectful explanation. He also spoke so kindly of his own coworkers and even the owner of Liquid Descent. You could tell he genuinely cares about the rafting community and takes pride in his work and LOVES his Liquid Descent family! Every employee we encountered was friendly, encouraging, and helpful - from getting us fitted with helmets and life jackets to cheering us on as we headed out. As someone who started out nervous, that kind of supportive vibe made a huge difference. They encouraged me, and they helped me push past my comfort zone in the best way possible. What a GREAT memory! We will remember this day not only for the thrill of the rapids, but for the kindness and heart of the people who guided us through it! If you are considering rafting in Colorado, go with Liquid Descent. I'm so glad we did!

First time rafters, and LD and their amazing crew delivered! Class III/IV rapids out of the Idaho…read moreSprings area - highly recommended! Ask for Ben, our guide. He was awesome!!! Hack - go on one of the early rafts, like the 8:30 or 9:00, easier parking and often the weather is nicer!

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Liquid Descent - People rafting

People rafting

Liquid Descent - Our group of 17 ready to conquer the rapids.

Our group of 17 ready to conquer the rapids.

Liquid Descent

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Colorado Sightseer - Red Rocks Amphitheater

Colorado Sightseer

4.9(88 reviews)
33.9 mi•Southeast

The day started at union station and for awhile did not know if the guide was going to show up…read more When time came, two guides popped out, split people into two group and led us to the van. PRO TIP: try avoiding the most back row if you have long legs or any stress with mobility. Because once you sit there, the seat is assigned and you will have to deal with being cramped in a tighter space. And you basically are always the last one to get off. This was one of the biggest cons. Moving on, the tour itself was great. We stopped by a cafe on the way to and back, for food and bathroom breaks, and pretty soon, the van took us to the Rocky Mountain with beautiful views and even saw many wildlife - the big horn sheep, elk, deer (i think), and, not to forget, smaller animals like birds, mouse, and chipmunks, but no moose spotted. Nonetheless, the breathtaking view of the Rockies is certainly worth the journey. The guide was very knowledgeable about trees and shared many stories about the places and tips for visiting Denver in general! She also took us to a few Native American owed stores that featured indigenous art that were very cool to see. One thing to note is that I think the Colorado Sightseer, the tour company, had listed at least two slightly different itineraries, and I might have been sent to the one I did not pick. I noticed because I intentionally picked the tour with visits to two visitor centers, vs the one I went on only took us to Beaver Meadows. Not a big deal bc I did get still get my stamp, and the tour used most of the day's time efficiently by visiting many attractions. But this might be something you want to make sure if the stops matter a lot to you. Nonetheless, with a group tour, it is understandable and expected for the itinerary to potentially change. For instance, the day I went, the tour guide actually too us to visit places in different order to avoid crowds. Another thing to really appreciate is that the tour provided some snacks, extra gloves/beanies, which were really a lifesaver in the cold mountains. I know I was not fully prepared for it and so glad I could borrower some!

Our day trip to Rocky Mountain National Park was great. Anne was a super guide, giving us loads of…read moreinformation about the area. Bonus was her recommendations for places to each in Denver. I wish we had a Lo Dough in the OC!

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Colorado Sightseer
Colorado Sightseer - Fall Aspen Leaf Peeping on tour

Fall Aspen Leaf Peeping on tour

Colorado Sightseer - Juniper Pass

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Juniper Pass

Crater Lakes - hiking - Updated May 2026

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