Talk about well maintained trail with some nice scenic views along the way and nice diversity of…read moretrails to choose from lots of elevation gain to moderate. It outside of Denver not sure exactly time cause here only for race weekend. We decided to meet up with trail running group one day. Only Emily ran with the group while Ashley and I exploring walk. Base before start nice they have map of different trail routes, free pamphlet exact routes, and nice warnings for bears. Thankfully not cross one. lol. We started with the group cause different loops some intersect but most start base loop. Some parts single track but most part all pretty wide. I love taken care of see pine tree fell over they cut it down clear the path. There even few bench saw chill and soak up nature. Busy trail runners, walkers, bikers, and groups. If love outdoors and looking for great trail. Elk Meadow Park is winnah!

Elk Meadow to Bergen peak is a lovely hike that will keep you in shape…read more It can get tedious doing it over and over again...but it is close to Denver and the facilities are top notch. Dogs are welcome. Great mountain biking Great trail running.

We arrived at the upper trailhead parking lot and immediately saw four fire engines and a rescue…read morevehicle. Someone had gotten lost but, fortunately, they were found. I don't normally believe in omens but I do now. This is a beautiful trail. We saw deer and moose. Unfortunately, the falls were non-existent because of the drought. Yes, you can get lost here. You can get lost if you venture off the trails. And you can get lost if you stay on the trails. You think you can't get lost on a loop, right? Well, now. The signage on the trails sucks. Period. We exited the forest at the wrong trailhead. Getting back to the correct trailhead parking lot was a separate adventure. Beautiful trail. Moose and deer. Falls...sometimes. And better luck to everyone following the signs.

It's a fine trail…read more I've been here a couple times in the summer and it hasn't been much to write home about. The falls have been minimal and parking is scarce but it's a fine trail to take in the nature. I havent been here on the wknd due to the reviews I've seen with crowds but due to the lack of parking, it's ideal during the week if you're looking to get away from people.

This Little Park leaves a big impression that lasts. The punctually pulsing river provides a sound…read moreof peace one can only find outside bustling cities that never sleep. This spot packs a punch with its breathtaking views, shady paths, and picnic benches that invite one to stay and savor the scenery while sampling a snack for fortitude. The rich, riveting history of the place provided by signage is absolutely fascinating as well. Definitely a destination worth recommending for residents and tourists alike. There's plenty of parking and the hut provides Harry Potter vibes for fans of the gentle giant Hagrid. We can't wait to go back in the fall and see the aspens showing off their golden glittering coats.

This is a wonderful place for a pleasant hike. I haven't explored much besides bear creel and the…read morecool castle but I am sure there must be some heart pounding hikes somewhere up there. Great parking lot and toilets.

Go see some bison and climb a small mountain…read more During winter, you'll want spikes or snowshoes but it's beautiful scenery. We did the loop earlier and saw plenty of pups. It's not too hard to get to the summit although I'd say it's twice as easy in summer, without snow. The huge bison pin is at the start and end of the trail. Fun hike, would recommend but I'd rate difficulty as moderate in the winter.

Easy stop to kill some time. A lot of parking. Short hike up hill to start seeing bison. Recommend.read more

My honey was out of town and so I decided to take a hike she's done before but I never had taken:…read morethe Devil's Head Fire Tower down off the Rampart Range Rd between Denver and Colorado Springs. Great decision! Not too long. A beautiful drive to a place I've seen from I-25 hundreds of times but have never taken the time to do in decades of living on the Front Range. A great easy hike up a well-marked (and well used) trail that leads up to the fire lookout at the crest of one of the rocky outcroppings of the Rampart Range giving you a 360 degree vista of hundreds of square miles of that part of the country. The only really steep part of the walk is the final staircase(s) up the rocks to the lookout itself. Check out the pics (everyone takes he same ones:) and give yourself a treat by heading up there one day understanding that weekends won't be the best time to be alone). God, I love Colorado. We are soooo lucky to get to live here! Sign me,, David "Thankful" M

Incredible 360 views where you can see Denver, Pikes Peak, many other 14ers…read more It is a unique view of Colorado from above since Devils Head is kind of isolated from other mountains. The trail I think is the perfect length, it does feel a little longer than 2.8 miles out and back. I'd say this is a moderate hike. You can bring dogs on this trail. I don't think it is super friendly for young children. I personally would get pretty exhausted if I had to backpack up my toddler. But for the older kids it would be a good one. Definitely add this one to your list! I think it is my favorite hike I have done so far on the front range!

Ridiculously beautiful and amazing hike! Almost 2 hours away from Denver but definitely worth the…read moredrive. Absolutely beautiful Waters and trees. There are plenty of restrooms.

Grateful for the philanthropic land donation that lead to this great state park…read more Located off from CO 285 at Pine, CO. This park is loaded with trails for hiking,running, horseback riding, cycling and access to climbing. Campsites are embedded in the park, dense trail system around a former historic farm. There is an interpretive center and plenty of parking at multiple lots. Free access if you paid for the CO Parks pass on your vehicle license renewal.

Flying J Ranch Park is close enough to my house to be easy, but mentally it feels worlds away…read more That's the whole trick. You don't have to make a big Colorado production out of it. Drive to Conifer, get out of the car, and let the city brain loosen its grip. It's also not overrun. Parking is limited, and honestly, that may be part of the charm. It keeps Flying J from turning into one of those Front Range hiking scenes where the parking lot feels like a Subaru convention sponsored by REI. The bathrooms deserve their own mention. They are the cleanest park bathrooms I have experienced. Bring a wipe for your hands and you're good to go. The main walk is Shadow Pine Loop, which is about three miles and easy enough for anyone who wants a real walk without signing up for punishment or humiliation. Go left to right, clockwise, east to west, or whatever directional language works for you. I give directions like a city kid, you'll figure it out. The trail draws a mix of people: parents with young kids burning off energy, older folks, meaning older than me, on group walks, and lots of doggies. Please keep your dog on leash. I know, I know, your dog is friendly. So is everyone's dog... The only subculture to watch for is the occasional bike bro who treats right of way like a personal trail system. Most people are great. A few roll through with a festival-bro confidence level that feels wildly unnecessary on the peaceful trails. The park has changed in recent years. Prescribed burns, thinning, and fallen trees have opened up parts of the forest, so there is more sun than there used to be. Some spots look a little rough. Then you notice the new seedlings coming in, and suddenly you're thinking about forest cycles, renewal, mortality, and why you came here without coffee. Wait. Where were we? Come back. Flying J is not flashy. That's the point. It's easy, close, calm, dog-friendly, and natural enough to help change your headspace. Not every hike needs to conquer something. Sometimes it just needs to hand your brain back in better condition.

Beautiful park in Evergreen with a easy trail. Right now it's great for spikes or snowshoes. The…read moresnow was packed and more slushy and icy so we used spikes instead of the snowshoes and they worked great. The views are pretty and not too crowded at all. There was a ranger at the parking lot and it seems to be checked up on quite a bit. The parking lot isn't too small and there's good space. Highly recommend in the winter because it makes the trail more interesting.

As we all know, i love the out doors. This is a great park. Part of Jefferson county - so the…read moresignage is great, the mileage is spot on, the trails are well kept up! The views at the top are fabulous. Just know that there is not really a top. There is a ridgeline between coming out of the trees and going back in, prob 1/4 mile long. You will say oooh and ahh and that is how you know you reached it! There are many options and you can make the hike different every time. Bonus, the north side is hiker/horse only - woot! Note: There is a relatively nice restroom at the trail head. Trail map: http://jeffco.us/Open-Space/Documents/Park-Documents/Reynolds-Park-Documents/Reynolds-Park-Map-with-North-Fork-Trail/

This review is specifically for the Eagles trail loop. This trail kind of kicked my butt. It's a…read morequick 700+ ft incline on the lollipop before you get to the loop. Then there's another 300+ ft incline while on the loop, including a final climb near the end of the loop before you start your descent. I'm not sure any of this trail is actually easy. Even the final descent is so steep, it puts lots of pressure on the knees. The trail itself was mostly covered in snow. Most of what didn't have snow was covered in slush or was mud. Very little of it was dry and easy to traverse. There's not a lot to see for most of the trail, as it's within the trees. However, about .5 mile of trail in the top of the loop has an open ridge view to the west, and it's pretty spectacular. No doubt we'll do it again, but will probably wait for better weather. Even though the trail was fairly easy to follow, there were still two spots where I missed switchbacks and had to circle back to find where I went off course. So the 4.2 miles of trail ended up as 4.8 miles for me. Tired, but I did it!