We started off with snowshoes but, it wasn't necessary. We ended up switching to microspikes. About…read morea 1 mile in we encountered a moose on the trail. We tried waiting her out but, she was determined to eat from the trees right next to the trail. Therefore, we cut our hike short and went back. It is a beautiful area, there were no cars in the parking lot when we arrive around 8:15am on a Saturday morning.

I love this trail, and one of the reasons why is the end-as you finish up a great hike or ride, you…read morearrive near the parking area and there are some nice warm boulders by the river-take off your shoes, sit and feel the warmth of the sun radiating from the rock, soak your feet in the icy water...life is good. The trail starts at 8300 ft. From the parking area the trail travels a cushioned gentle slightly downhill roll through woods along the banks above the St. Vrain. Most of the first mile+ is cool and shady even in the summer and the smell of the pines fills your senses. For bikers, there are a few bumpy sections, not a lot. Further on you will get to more technical stuff when you reach a 4x4 road-plenty of steep and rocky. From 36 follow Left Hand Canyon to the fork, take right fork to Jamestown, go through Jamestown, follow to end of pavement, keep going about 1.5 miles

I was in Boulder eating breakfast at a bar and a few locals recommended Anne U White Trail for a 2…read more- 3 hour hike, somewhat nearby, and not overly difficult. The woman I spoke to swore me to secrecy, asking that I not tell anyone about this relatively unknown trail, so I apologize to her for this Yelp review, not really. I had no car, so I Ubered to the trailhead (it was a short 15+ minute ride up a windy road). He dropped me off, and sped away, leaving me in the dust. More about this in a second. The trail is quite beautiful - I visited on a hot and dry August Sunday and it was not crowded at all. I wished that the streams and brooks had water flowing, but Denver had been experiencing a drought and so the beds were bone dry. You'll see many native plants, trees, and flowers, and nice views, but there's no grand vista, so to speak, but still scenic cliffs, meadows, and furs abound. After about an hour, the trail sort of teeters out and it becomes private property with signs indicating so. When I got back to the trail head, I discovered that there was no cell service, or perhaps one bar at best, so I couldn't connect with an Uber. I thought about walking until a cell service came, but I thought that the windy road with no shoulder would be where I died. So, I proceeded to ask people for a ride back to Boulder. I got a series of "no, way dude" you could be a murderer, probably remembering an episode of Dateline. Finally, I found two twenty-something dudes who I thought could maybe murder me, but beggars can't be choosers. I sat in the back of their falling apart SUV with the hairy, slobbering dog which I petted profusely to stay on its friendly side. They slowed down the car and let me off at a gas station. Despite this adventure, I highly recommend Anne U White Trail for a an interesting, scenic hike near downtown Boulder that is not too challenging or crowded and doesn't require all day. Oh, and I recommend you drive.

What a gem of a trail! The perfect balance of shade and sun meant nobody got too hot, and the water…read morestayed close the entire time. We loved discovering little slow-moving pockets and coves for the kids to splash around in!

This is a super lovely and quiet trail. Lion Gulch Trailhead is located on Hwy. 36. Thirteen miles…read morewest of Lyons and 8 miles east of Estes Park. From Estes Park travel to the 8-mile marker on Hwy. 36. It has a smaller parking lot probably could hold 10 cars. It starts off with a pretty steep climb, but there is a fair amount of shade and some water crossings along the way. This is a great trail in my opinion if you have dogs especially on the warmer sunny days. There is a bathroom at the beginning of the trail but there is not however any trash cans, so when you go you need to go with the intention of packing out all the bring you in. Including your dog poop. I can't remember if there were dog poop bags at the trail head so if you have a dog be sure to pack some with you (and then take them out with you) There are lots and lots of ways to go on teh trail and a variety of old homesteads to see. It is really quite cool. There are signs with some of the history along the route as well. Right now about half the trail is covered in ice, so if you dont have yak traks or spikes it would be best to not go until later as there are parts that are a sheet of ice.

We came in late to Estes Park and wanted to fit in a hike before dark. One of the locals…read morerecommended this trail, and after some research, saw it was highly rated for the area. It's a pretty easy hike, be warned it can be steep at times, but if you're mostly fit, you'll be able to do it. There were a few icy patches at times, but I was fine in regular boots. The views going up just keep getting better and better, they were all so beautiful. You HAVE to check out the bathroom near the top as that might be one of the best views the whole hike! The small lake at the top was pretty, especially iced over, but nothing compared to the views on the actual hike. It was a really awesome, cool trail in the middle of Estes park without having to pay to get into the Rocky Mountain National Park, and it was super easy to get to. I would highly recommend.

This was a beautiful hike we did with our twin boys who are 12. It was a bit longer than we…read morethought, we are fairly fit but from Texas so we were easily winded and took breaks. It is a pretty easy hike BUT there is a lot of steep parts, lots of steep steps. There were a few icy patches as it was winter when we were there. The views are amazing on this trail. The lake is small but still pretty at the end! Going down is always easier haha. We enjoyed this one since Hollowell Park in RMNP was closed.

Beautiful area for a hike. I did the trail to snow and than sheep mountain. It was a moderate…read moreascent over 6 miles with stunning views and great rock formations Nice parking lot with pretty good toilet at the trailhead

This area is a lovely spot. it sits right across the road from sheep mountain or round mountain…read morehike. It is a great spot to cool pups off after a hike. I went there with my girl scouts today, not to cool off but for our bridging and end of year party. There is a fair amount of parking. There are bathrooms at the parking lot. There are picnic tables and a nice covered picnic table area. There is a large bridge and also some area to walk around. This is a lovely spot for a picnic or a group gathering.

This is a really lovely part of the park, generally not too busy as it is an offshoot from Bear…read moreLake road (and there isn't a ton of parking). You can take some really nice hikes through the Hollowell meadows and continue on to more strenuous hikes as you wish. They also have some really great picnic spots here, and I don't know about you, but for me a picnic in a beautiful place just cannot be beat!

Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) is home to hundreds of hiking trails, several of which have…read morebecome nearly as famous as the park itself. Bear Lake and Bierstadt Lake, in particular, attract hikers and nature enthusiasts from around the world. The well-known trails are gorgeous (mere adjectives cannot describe the awesome grandeur of RMNP), but I'm partial to the obscure trails scattered throughout the park. Hollowell Park Trail -- my favorite by far -- is hidden behind two gender-neutral bathrooms* at the end of an unmarked road. It may not be as famous as other trails, but it's every bit as scenic and serene. I'm directionally challenged, but I will attempt to describe how to find it. Approximately one quarter mile past the east entrance of RMNP (the one facing Estes Park), turn left on Bear Lake Road, drive approximately one mile, and then turn left onto a road heading towards the two aforementioned bathrooms. Hollowell is not a strenuous trail, but parts of it are rocky (these *are* the Rockies) and a bit steep, so take your time and be mindful of your footing. The air is noticeably thin in the mountains, so you might be short of breath until your lungs adapt and adjust to the high elevation. I consider myself to be in excellent physical condition, but even my respiratory system works harder than usual in the Rockies. Bring water, rest when you feel fatigued, breathe deeply, and walk at a pace you find comfortable. A hike on the Hollowell Park Trail is like a lesson on the ecology of RMNP. Over the course of a leisurely three-mile hike, I spotted many plants common to the Rockies, such as yellow rabbitbrush, juniper, and arctostaphylos uva-ussi (aka the more phonetically interesting "kinnikinnick"). Kinnikinnick is notable not only for its rounded leaves and tiny, bell-shaped flowers but also for its appeal to black bears and grizzlies. Bears consume the shrub in late fall, which leads to constipation and prevents them from defecating during winter hibernation. See, aren't you glad you follow The Mysterious Ryan M.? Where else on Yelp would you learn about the opportunistic eating habits and gastrointestinal systems of grizzlies and black bears? Yes, bears are common throughout RMNP, so exercise caution and common sense, especially if you find yourself alone on a seldom-traveled trail such as Hollowell. The signs posted prominently at the beginning of the trail advise hikers to stand their ground if confronted and to fight back when necessary. I propose an addendum to the signage: "When fighting back fails, poke the bear in the eye with your bleeding stump." Hollowell Trailhead was not listed on Yelp, so I performed my civic duty and added it myself. I can't think of a better way to spend an afternoon in the Rocky Mountains. The sentimental part of me wants to keep Hollowell my little secret, but the larger, narcissistic part of me wants credit for exposing Yelp to such a gorgeous, seldom-seen part of the Rockies. *When you check in on Yelp, you can answer "yes" in response to the question, "Are there gender-neutral bathrooms?" Yelpers are dying to know. The Hollowell Park Trailhead does not offer karaoke. Kosher options refer only to Orthodox Jewish hikers consumed by wildlife.

The view of the mountains to the west is one of the most beautiful anywhere! This trail is next to…read morea neighborhood and a golf course, so park in the bottom lot of the golf course. It is a single track easy meandering type trail, but beware of the cacti right next to and even on the trail. There is an elevation gain to get to the top of the butte, but as it is only a 1.3 mile total loop, it is not hard. Dogs are welcome, but must be on leashes.

Close to Devils head with a few trails around the butte and great views. Rarely busy.read more

This is a beautiful hike!…read more Full disclosure: Im not a hiker...not even close, but my colorado fam is always up for a good hike, and every time I end up obliging them. This 4 mile trek, with a relatively smooth and scenic terrain, is beautiful and tranquil, but oh man, I swear I almost had an asthma attack on this trail, and I don't even have asthma! The elevation alone will get the average "low lander" (as Im described by them), but its totally worth it. The sense of accomplishment, as well as the welcomed caloric burn, are great motivating factors for me, the non hiker. At the very top of kruger rock is a panoramic 360 degree view of estes park, and its absolutely breath taking and serene...so much so, we had to strike some yoga poses just capture the tranquility at the top. The trail itself is safe and easy for the non hiker, but as always, stay hydrated and take breaks when necessary. Overall, highly recommend..and you can bring the pooches!!

Thai was a beautiful hike and area. I would definitely go back. The hike was doable for people who…read morearen't overly fit, and the view was so pretty.