Absolutely breathtaking. Accidentally turned on the wrong street last winter and ended up there and…read moreI absolutely loved it!!

Each stop on our full day was momentous. The clouds touch the mountains and it's breathtaking…read more Pictures do not give justice to the view. Wear weather appropriate clothes and shoes. We were not able to make it to the top of the steps but still happy we got to explore this place for a bit!

Beautiful scenic overlook with absolutely breathtaking views, straight out of a postcard!!! It's…read morean easy drive and there was plenty of parking when we arrived, which made it very convenient. Just a heads up: it can be very icy, so definitely wear snow boots or sturdy protective shoes (I slipped a few times ). Overall, totally worth it and I highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area.

Very pleasant and scenic short hike…read more Popular wedding site. We have run into wedding groups who tried to close off trail, which they are absolutely are not allowed to do.

Not going to lie. You're going to work for your view!…read more Total hike 10-11 miles with 3700 feet of elevation gain. For your efforts you are rewarded with stunning views of Silverthorne, Lake/Resevoir Dillon. the Gore range, and so many amazing peaks. Bring at least 2 liters of water, snacks, and good hiking shoes

When you follow the directions, it puts you at a good place to park at the end of a dirt road. But…read moreyou follow it for maybe a quarter of a mile, and then there's a paved road. The next portion of the trail isn't well marked, but if you follow the asphalt road up until the 2nd no trespassing sign, it's there. Don't be like us and walk through the neighborhood instead (which was pretty, but not our intention). Also, this trail has a lot of scree, and beyond a nice view of the town, doesn't have much going for it.

On our way from Denver to Breckenridge, we stopped at this lake for a bit of a break. The natural…read morebeauty of this body of water is breathtaking....from far, you can see the lake and the Rockies in the background...up close you can enjoy the crystal blue waters and some of the activities that are allowed on the lake. Dillon Reservoir, sometimes referred to as Lake Dillon, is located in Summit County, Colorado, south of I-70 and bordered by the towns of Frisco, Silverthorne, and Dillon. It is a reservoir for the city of Denver, and its waters are under the control of Denver Water. Popular ski areas are close to the reservoir, including Copper Mountain, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin, and Breckenridge. During the winter months, ice fishing and snowmobiling are common activities. For warmer months, the towns of Dillon and Frisco each have marinas on the reservoir. The Dillon Marina is open pretty much during the season and hundreds of sailboats can be seen docked or sailing. Due to Dillon Reservoir's proximity to the towns of Dillon, Silverthorne, and Frisco, the lake has many lodging, camping, and RV facilities. The reservoir has a popular 18 miles paved bike path that winds around the entire reservoir. The path can be accessed at any point around the reservoir. The views from any angle are worth the drive to this beautiful lake.

A quick pit stop to stretch your legs and take a few pretty pictures. The trail is just a few steps…read morefrom the parking lot. Summer views of Dillon Reservoir are much better, but it's still quite beautiful here in April.

Questions people ask at the beginning of every hike: ++ Is…read moreit long?! YES. ++ Is it going to be hard? YES, The best things always are. ++ Is it going to be worth it? ABSOLUTELY!! Chihuahua Lake was no exception. After Matt C posted some pictures of this alpine beauty, I just knew I had to go there this season. So when my hiking companion Tiffany N and I both ended up with a Monday off, I knew just the adventure to be had. So we grabbed our gear, some coffee, and took to the mountains. Located just east of Keystone, Chihuahua Lake makes for a challenging day trip. From the 2WD trailhead, you can anticipate approximately an 8-mile round-trip hike. I highly recommend a high clearance vehicle to get there. The road is super bumpy. If you park towards the bottom of the road (which appears to be the staging area for OHVs) you will be adding roughly 4 miles total to the trip. We arrived at 9:30am and there were only two cars parked at the 2WD trailhead, however there's only enough parking for maybe four cars there. So be early. There are two major steep areas - one long steady one in the beginning and one brutal final push just before the lake. There were several water crossings, so make sure to wear waterproof boots and bring extra socks, just in case. It's not a matter of if you end up in the water, but when you end up in the water. We encountered maybe five people during our hike and had the lake to ourselves for a solid 30 to 45 minutes while we snacked and relaxed. Chihuahua Lake was gorgeous! You work for it, that's for sure, but the views are out of this world! Chihuahua Lake was definitely a rewarding way to spend our day. While at the end of the hike I felt personally victimized by the trail, I can safely say I'll probably make my way back next season. **Pro Tip: Some parts of the trail are not marked the best, especially once you get to the 4WD trailhead. Download the trail off AllTrails before you hit the dirt to ensure you don't get turned around.

See Carly W's review. K thx bye…read more JK, although I felt like Chihuahua Lake owned me, I cannot give it enough kudos! This is one of those trails that is a hidden gem and I kinda hope it stays that way. I hike a lot and love some moderate hikes but this was one of the hardest I've done in awhile. The first stretch is steep and will have you questioning if it was worth driving up the bumpy road and possibly damaging your suspension if you're not blessed enough to have AWD or 4WD. Then you cross the first of many creeks and get a panoramic view of the Rocky Mountains and then something clicks in your head (besides the "Hills are alive with the sound of musiiiiiiiic")....views like the ones you see on this hike are the reason visit and move here! You won't see a lot of people on this hike and it's much welcomed, this is truly a lesser known trail and when you get to the lake, you will say "Ay chihuahua!" I think we saw five to six people the entire time, it was awesome and how I wish more hikes within driving distance of Denver were! The only animals we saw were birds, chipmunks, pika and bugs.....nothing too scary! Must Haves for this hike -Extra pair or two of socks, I don't care how waterproof your shoes are, they WILL get wet! -Poles. I NEVER bring my poles and I'm so grateful I brought them and used them on all eight plus miles of this hike! -A plethora of snacks -A positive attitude, you're going to need it!

Wonderful trail wow! We saw so many mountain goats! The views of the lake were incredible. Would…read moretotally come back!

Take the 850 road which is unpaved to the 1st parking lot with a lake to the south side. Here you…read morecan see the waterfalls in the distance. You will have to cross the river which has no bridge. Either take off your shoes or skillfully traverse the river by rock hopping across. If you have poles you stand a better chance of not falling off the stepping stones. After the falls you can drive all the way up to the dam and park there. Mountain goats do walk about there to lick the dust off cars or lick the roads there for salt which was left over from the salting of the roads during winter. If you are lucky you will be able to see them up close. Apparently they are there frequently. The views are spectacular in this glacial valley.

What's iconic about this Centennial State is the fact that it has numerous and stunning alpine…read morelakes. That's why we Coloradans feel lucky to have close access to these crystal clear lakes only a short drive away from our homes. Well, after living in the state for 28 years, I belatedly had a chance to climb up to see the beauty of Mohawk Lakes just several days ago. Due to the unprecedentedly low snowfall the past season (2025/2026), the lower Mohawk Lake's water level was quite low. This was by no means a disappointing view in any way; it still was emitting the beauty of a clear lake image that calmed us the hikers. We got tempted to sit right by the lakeside and start reading a great book although we didn't have one (lol). Two beautiful waterfalls treated us on the way to the top which we, of course, took advantage of by walking around them and snapping photos. Watching the rushing waters invigorated our spirits. Upper Mohawk Lake was the absolute treat to state the least. This lake deserves far better expression than "beautiful" or "stunning" as those words were quite ordinary for it. "Splendid" might be a bit better to use to describe its incredible depth of the character and the charm. Well, you will have to see it for yourself; mere words or even well-taken photos don't justify how gorgeous it is. Late August was a bit too late for the colorful wild flowers and yet it wasn't completely devoid of them as we saw some dark pink and white on the way. The trail gets a bit confusing during the 4.5 miles walk. You might feel a bit lost due to the lack of signs (we did too) especially when we got closer to the lakes (so I would say the last 0.75 miles or a mile) but we kind of followed other hikers to stay on the road. Don't worry; you'll get there! The Canada Jays or Gray/Grey Jays, fluffy mostly white with some black, were quite friendly! They flew over to us where we almost got to pet them! When they come close to you, stick your index finger. They might come and lightly and playfully bite it but it won't hurt. They are absolutely adorable and made our hike so memorable.

The lakes were beautiful and the falls were also very beautiful. The hike was challenging but…read moredoable and not too hard. Good shade in a lot of places but lots of mosquitoes as well you need bug spray for sure! Really crowded but less crowded than a fourteener.

I had a random Monday off and finally made my way to Guanella Pass after being in my bucket list…read morefor so long. When you first exit Georgetown, there are so many signs to guide you to Guanella Pass (also unlike a lot of places, this is free with free parking as well). This is a drive so be kind and share the road. This is also a paved road so driving was quite easy. There are lots of curved spots to park your car if there's a view you are interested in. Drive at your own pace. Take your time and drive slowly because the views are amazing, especially in Autumn. There are lots of lakes so if you see a sign for picnic area, make a stop. Drive up to the top of the summit. It's chilly but the views are wonderful. My little fur baby had a blast.

Gorgeous. Guanella…read morePass is certainly a fan favorite, especially for those seeking the fall colors a short drive from Denver. Plus it's a paved pass so that's a plus. Along the route are a ton of pull outs and scenic stops which are well occupied and used. There are also some campsites for those wishing to stay longer and check out some of the hiking trails. Absolutely a must see if you're scouting out the fall colors or looking to climb Mount Bierstadt.

Trip report: 8/22/26 Sat 8 a.m starting from the TH…read more Parking lot was full but still able to find the spot by the TH. Facilities: porta potty. Didn't use it. TH is 30 min from STARBUCKS at Idaho Springs so if you do not like the porta potty, thats another option. Wild flowers: July 12, 2025 so much wild flowers including columbines everywhere especially at the finally leg of the hike. Aug 22, 26.. Definitely lot less and no columbine. Took about 2 hours to the lake and another 2 coming down. Had several people in the group with foot problems and also breathing problem. Do not wear brand new hiking shoes to this long trail. You will get a blisters! Also, if your shoes are tight, you will get a black toes on the way down so get a shoes thats 1/2 size bigger. Also, bring a hiking stick if you are not sure of footing. Will help! RT 7.29 miles Elevation gain: 1665 ft Highest: 12009 ft

This hike is at least in my top three. An hour from Denver and close to cute mountain towns for…read morelunch after? Count me in. Wear good shoes because you will encounter way too many exposed roots along different parts of the trail. Other than that, it's pretty perfect. You'll huff and puff at the beginning and level out to some meadows and wildflowers. You'll huff and puff again when it gets steep towards the end. Finally you come to the lake and 360 degree mountains all around. There are some rocks to sit on and take pictures, have a snack and a rest. It gets crowded so as always with popular trails in this area, leave early in the day. Parking is tight so there's another reason to be an early riser for this hike.

During the Summer Butler Gulch is a delightful easy trek...Winter in a foot of snow and subzero…read moretemps...not so much. It will test your stamina but it is worth snowshoeing up to the Jean Mine. Look out for Nordic skiers and Snow Mobiles. Awesome views

Are you seeking wildflowers?! ++ COME HERE!!…read more Craving some waterfalls?! ++ COME HERE!! Does old mining equipment intrigue you?! ++ COME HERE!! Do you crave a customizable challenge?! ++ COME HERE!! Having had Butler Gulch on my "must hike" list for what feels like forever, it was one of the first hikes I chose this season. Tiffany N and I made our way there in search of some wildflowers, and we were not disappointed. The trail shape is a lollipop. We, however, chose a slightly less challenging route and treated it as an out and back (by going counterclockwise until just a bit past the old mining equipment) versus a loop. If you plan to do the whole loop, you are going to want to go clockwise once you get to the split in the trail, as there are some intense switchbacks that you don't want to tackle going down hill. There are definitely some steep stretches that we found challenging, but once we passed those we found great rewards - an abundance of wildflowers covering the surrounding mountains. It was glorious! There are several streams and waterfalls along the way too. I highly recommend hiking Butler Gulch early in the season to ensure that you get to take in all that colorful Colorado has to offer!