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    Diamond Lake Trail

    5.0 (9 reviews)

    Diamond Lake Trail Photos

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    Tiffany N.

    Officially my favorite hike in Colorado! I was wanting to check out the leaves before they all wither away and found awesome reviews for Diamond Lake Trail so I decided to venture out of my normal hikes and check it out. I went with a friend and we were at the trailhead by 830am and ready to go! By then the parking lot (free parking woot woot!) was getting to be full and by when we left at 1pm, it was full plus cars along the bumpy and pothole filled road. When people say taking a 4 wheel drive or all wheel drive is best, they aren't kidding. I've had my Forester for 3 years and have never been on a road that bumpy so props for feeling like a true Coloradoan and using my Subbie! The trail starts pretty steady, then steep with a lot of switch backs. There are some beautiful babbling brooks (hi alliteration) along the water and immense number of photo opps. There's a fork that's not labeled, we took a left and thankfully that was the right way to go. You'll pass a creek with a gorgeous waterfall where you can sit and enjoy a snack before you get to the lake. We even grabbed some water in our bottles and it was some of the freshest water I've had in awhile. All in nice then it gets steep again as you near the lake. We definitely had to stop and catch our breath more than a few times but once you get to the lake it is absolutely stunning. When I think of stereotypical Colorado sites with pine trees, mountains and water, this is what I think of. This would be a great place to sit, pack a lunch and enjoy a cold one while taking in the scenary. There was definitely more people coming up to the lake on our second half of the way back to the car so it's probably best to go early. I will definitely be coming back here again, how have I NOT known about this place?? PS-one of the best parts....bathrooms on site!

    Diamond lake
    Wonder W.

    This is a fabulous hike, however, getting to the start of the trail may be a challenge car wise. If you have a car with good road clearance, then you'll get through the 4 miles of rocky terrain and tons of pot holes needed to get to the start of the trail just fine. Parking is limited once at the start of the Fourth of July road to Diamond lake with at least 25-30 designated parking spots. Intensity of the hike is moderate with occasional change in scenery (i.e. small waterfall, open view of mountains, streams of water). The hike has a great amount of shade and sunny sections, gradual ascending, descending and level sections. The hike is 2.5 miles in and 2.5 miles out (5 miles total but it felt longer). Once at the lake you'll bask in the beauty of why it might be called Diamond lake. The reflection of the sun off the water makes it appear like diamonds are sparking in the water. Packing a hardy lunch once reaching the lake is highly recommended - a great reward for a wonderful hike. Stay hydrated and take lots of pictures. The boyfriend actually packed a fishing rod for the hike but unfortunately we did not scout the entire lake to find a good spot to cast. Perhaps next time. We'll be back.

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    Crater Lakes

    Crater Lakes

    (8 reviews)

    This is a great trail in summer & winter. Minimum is 7 miles with 1800 ft elevation, slightly…read morelonger to explore around any of the lakes more than the shortest trail provides. It's easy to reach in all seasons: due to the train tunnel, the dirt road to the trailhead is kept well maintained and plowed. Definitely way way more crowded on summer weekends than in winter. Several little waterfalls and tons on wildflowers even in late August made it a rewarding trail along the way, not only payoffs at the lakes. The trail from the lower two lakes to the upper lake is much steeper, but worth the added effort. Just note that when you first reach what you think is the upper lake, it's actually the drainage (albeit also lovely, see my attached photo); you need to go just a bit further over the boulders & through some bushes to reach the final upper cirque.

    James Peak Wilderness area is one of my favs close to Denver. That and Indian peaks wilderness…read more Crater lakes is a moderate hike to 5 fantastic lakes that you can hike, camp, backpack, fish at. Last time I was there I saw two amazing Moose...just gorgeous. Area gets insane on the weekends with tons of peoples and dogs. Last three times I have been there I have been in thunder and hails storms after 1 pm. So if you are planning to hike getting off the mountain before might be a good idea. You can also take the more strenuous Heart Lake trail which is also fantastic and if you really want to kick your ass go up to Rogers pass for beautiful vistas. Great parking.

    Colorado Sightseer - Red Rocks Amphitheater

    Colorado Sightseer

    (88 reviews)

    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!

    Diamond Lake Trail - hiking - Updated May 2026

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