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!

Plenty of parking space and an overflow lot. Trail is well maintained and it's a quick in and out…read morehike. The views at the top are gorgeous.

I had a great hike at Dawson Butte Ranch the past Sunday (Oct 11, 2020) with my friend and highly…read morerecommend this place for a hike with your friends/family/pooch! This is a spacious place that only has a loop (about 5 miles all the way from the start to finish) so you will never get lost there. It's got some shades so despite the name you will be able to rest and catch some breath in a shaded area if you don't want to be in the sun. The trail is moderate and is mainly sandy which I liked; it's not too burdensome for your knees if you have knee problem. We also saw people with horses and donkeys so there should be some horse/donkey riding place where they offer such service (watch out for their droppings on the trail!) It also offers beautiful views of nearby buttes and you will be able to take great pictures there. Can't wait to go back there again!

Many parts of this hike are desolate & near the road. During this stretch no trees so it's HOT!…read moreMany people here with horses don't have to clean up after but if you have your dog you do!

I feel this route needs a solid review from someone who is mathematically, grammatically and…read morealpinistically (I just made that up), "inclined". First of all, this is probably the most beautiful yet somewhat challenging short hike in town. If you want a snapshot of the grandeur awaiting you beyond the I25 corridor (and cell phone range) this is it! Absolutely beautiful. The short: for the average person of moderate or lacking fitness level, it should absolutely be doable. I would say the normal person could knock it out in less than 4 hours (with picture/selfie taking along the way and up top). Decent fitness levels should be up and down in less than 2 hours... Don't bring the cat-dog looking micro mutt as you will either be carrying it or burying it somewhere about the first hour of hiking. There is water throughout the trail so regular dogs should have a blast here. There is an issue with dog poo littering the parking lot and trails (despite free poo bags being offered at trail head... This hike is no joke. Wear proper shoes with decent traction. You can get hurt here! I would bring at least a liter (Nalgene bottle) of water during hot days. Although covered with trees throughout, the sun will beat down on you throughout the hike. I only say this because I passed a family of 5 about half way with no water. As far as short local hikes go, Stanley Canyon gets a Five from me. Awesome!

This hike is not for the faint of heart. It's a pretty steep hike up and coming back down can be…read morevery difficult if you have bad knees or don't have excellent tread on your hiking boots. Scree for days! But it's a beautiful one and a great workout.

We enjoyed our hike at the gulch trail in Castlewood Canyon State park. It was a beautiful day and…read morethere weren't too many people hiking this spot, but still popular. There were a decent amount of spots if you want to stop for a rest, or take the sites. Would recommend a visit! It was beautiful, and an easy hike even in extreme heat.

My husband and I really enjoyed our hike here. We went into the canyon and were stunned with how…read morebeautiful the area is. We've drove by this state park so many times without stopping. We now see that was a travesty. The park is easy to navigate and has a lot of parking. There are a lot of easy trails to hike throughout the park. The park is also mapped out nicely.

Ever since I saw castle rock for the first time, I have wanted to hike up to it…read more The hike itself is pretty easy and quick; the location is very accessible. About 300 ft of elevation gain and just a bit over a mile in distance. There was plenty of parking when I went. There are some stairs so it would not be wheelchair or stroller friendly. Dogs are allowed here. I'd definitely recommend adding this to your day if you are in the castle rock area. We had a nice time doing this hike then hanging out in downtown castle rocks which is less than a mile away!

I don't have much to add here except to say this is a 45 minute short and fairly easy little hike…read moreup to the bottom of the landmark rock that we see we see from the highway on the way to and from its namesake, Castle Rock. It can get slippery in places due to the rocks and dry dust everywhere so wear good shoes. (June 2026) The views are nice at the top. You're able to walk all around the base of the rock and see birds that live there fly in and out of the little spaces and crevices. There is signage explaining the history of how this trail came to be, as well as a picnic area. There are two trails, I chose the John Emerson summit trail.

This Jefferson County park is well maintained with plenty of parking and better than average…read morevaulted toilet. Has two large reservable shelters with many picnic tables and also gazebo at the island for that special occasion. Today's visit, did not see any rangers. Lots of picnic tables by the creeks too. No open fires allowed at this time but allowed to bring gas grills. Lots of anglers, hikers and bikers were present while at the site

Had a great time snowshoeing here! Snow was scarce in some places but was still fun. Not a…read morestrenuous hike and was scenic and nice. Parking lot was not full and spacious. The ice on the lake is thick enough so there were people ice skating and ice fishing. I would say that spikes are better than snow shoes but was still a fun experience and it's also pretty here in the summer.

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.

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.

Very nice place to visit! I went there once almost 30 years ago, and the visit has remained one of…read moremy favorite memories about Colorado. So much has changed compared to today! The waterfall is still beautiful though! As mentioned in other reviews, I would highly recommend making your reservation online before your visit. Try to get the earliest time slot available. Also, wear good walking shoes and bring enough water! It seems like the way you get to Seven Falls has changed quite a bit. I don't remember having to park downhill and take a shuttle to the entrance. The walk to the waterfall, although still beautiful, also feels narrower and more developed than I remember. There are more walkways and structures along the way, which make the experience feel a little more tourist-oriented, or, as I kept thinking, a little "Disneyfied." It's still a beautiful walk, but perhaps not quite as natural or rustic as I remember it from 30 years ago. We went on a Sunday morning in September, and the weather was beautiful. We arrived shortly after 9 a.m. and had no trouble finding parking. We only had to wait about 10 minutes for the next shuttle. If you purchased your tickets ahead of time, they simply scan them while you're waiting in line, so the process was very quick. The shuttle drops you off by the big fence. From there, you walk to the waterfall. It is an uphill walk, but not too steep, and the walkway follows alongside a beautiful stream. Along the way, there is a tunnel you can walk through, with an elevator at the end that takes you to a viewpoint and gift shop. There is also a staircase outside the tunnel that takes you to the same place. You can take the elevator back down or choose to use the stairs. After some more walking, you reach the waterfall. There is a seating area at the bottom where you can relax and enjoy the view. There are 224 stairs to climb if you want to get to the top of the waterfall, but that part is optional. You can admire the waterfall from the bottom. The stairs to the top are definitely tiring! Use the handrails whenever you can, and don't hesitate to stop and rest if you need to. Once you reach the top, there are two trails you can take for further exploration--one is shorter (20 min. round trip) and the other is longer (40 min.). There are signs to guide you. All of the staff members we encountered were friendly and helpful.

Seven Falls was absolutely, positively beautiful in every way. Words can't even describe it, but…read morehopefully these photos can convince you. Seven Falls started out with a semi-short shuttle ride to the actual scenery. From there, it just got more amazing. I understand how the steps could be strenuous for many, and it definitely wasn't easy, but a little stop to catch your breath is provided about midway through. I saw a couple people who didn't feel up to finishing the steps stopping at the rest point, taking some photos, and coming back down. The views were still stunning from that height. Heck, they're stunning from any height or viewpoint. There was also a little shop with delicious popsicles located before the steps. Clean bathrooms along the way as well. It all just seemed very well-thought-out. This was also partially due to the employees, who were all very helpful and pleasant. To put it simply, Seven Falls has it all-it's beautiful, clean, and unique. Amazing in every aspect, stunning from every angle. I felt immersed in the mountainscape from the first step out of that shuttle.

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.