We visited the Vedauwoo area on a bright sunny day and hiked an hour or two along a winding trail…read moreat the base of the rock formations. It was a bit disconcerting to gaze up at the GIANT rocks looming overhead and some appearing to be VERY precariously balanced atop the mountain. It felt cartoonish in some respects, imagining a boulder barreling towards us as a real possibility. We saw all manner of interesting plants, including flowering wild roses already spent and showing rose hips and also the stark white bark of so many aspen. We also found water running and trickling down the rock face and disappearing at the base. There was also evidence of deer scat in several spots, but we didn't see any critters other than birds. Overall, an incredible hike amongst some of the most spectacular scenery, one of my top ten. Highly recommended to visit here and not too terribly crowded on a weekday. Would love to return.

Great for a quick afternoon hike or a night of stargazing. The trail is relatively easy to follow-…read morevery interesting rock formations along the way and you may even see a beaver family in the pond towards the end of the trail. Just look for it as you're passing along I-80, can't miss it!

This is a 4.1 mile loop trail rated easy with 669 feet of elevation gain…read more This trail is out in the middle of nowhere which is nice. You park at the green rock parking lot. It is $5 to park in the lot unless you have a national parks pass. Bring a copy of your pass to leave in your dash if you have a pass otherwise bring $5 cash and a pen to write on the envelope. The trail is mostly shaded and had really lovely views. It follows the stream for a good chunk of the way. There is even a bridge that goes nowhere ;) It does seem like an area that would be likely to have moose though thankfully we did not see any. It is pretty remote, I would bring bear or pepper spray with you. You can add more miles by taking a turn on barber lake trail if you would like. Dogs are welcome as long as they are leashed.

Loved this trail! Have lived in colorado for over 40 years now and i did not know this trail…read moreexisted. Crosier mountain trail is around 40 minutes from fort collins. Go up highway 34 and then towards drake. There is a small dirt parking lot with what looks like a locked gate. there are no signs that this is a trail. However if you go through the gate and walk up the hill a bit then you will see the trail sign. The trail round trip is 10.2 miles. We only did 5.5 miles today because of time constraints, but definitely want to go back. The trail starts off in the open and then gets you back into a wooded area. The views are pretty stunning and there were some fall colors popping in various parts of the hike. There is a lot of elevation gain. I believe i saw the trail has over 3000 feet of elevation gain from start to finish. In the first 2.5 miles we did 1500 feet of elevation gain. Parts are fairly rocky. But the trail is clear and well worn. Dogs are allowed but need to be leashed. It says that mountain bikers are also able to use the trail as well. The sign did say that rattle snakes can still be in this area so be on the look out if you go up. I loved that we were out for a couple of hours and didn't run into a soul. that is my kind of hiking experience.

While visiting Red Feather Lakes, I really wanted to stop by at least one hiking area to check it…read moreout. The weather was beautiful, and I loved the green expanses near the trailhead. Honestly I didn't make it very far before having to turn back and continue my drive home, but I definitely recommend cruising along this 7.3 mile out-and-back trail that seems relatively flat. Parking is straightforward, and it was not crowded.

Mount Margaret Trail is a 7.2 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Red Feather…read moreLakes, Colorado that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from February until November. Dogs and horses are also able to use this trail. This trailhead has a small parking lot. There is a bathroom at the trailhead. There is not however a trash can or dog poop bags. This trail is thankfully one that is not usually over populated. Its 7.2 miles and 540 feet of elevation gain. So its rated easy. Its beautiful in the fall and winter especially! There are lots of aspens in the area and it is a great hike to see fall colors. In the winter the snow contrasts the trees. There are frequently moose sightings in the area. SO just be cautious. Especially if you have your dogs.

Super easy hike with some decent views. I wanted more of a challenge, but still had a good time…read more There is a lot of traffic on these trails and a lot of kids were there...not an issue, but it was busier than a lot of the hikes I do. Parking is $10 though!

Make it a destination when in NoCo....the place is just a beautiful place, close to town, and…read morestands out as must not miss !! Great place for a short hike, or use their amenities to start your longer adventure.

I Love waterfalls! I require a waterfall or Lake to be on any hike. It was a up hill climb for…read morequite some time and the path wasn't very well cleared in some areas so we ended up climbing over downed trees and pushing bushes/branches to make out way through. Once we got to the falls the bridge still had a closed sign on it but we were able to take photos. If you hike from the other direction it is a shorter hike to the falls from a parking area. We didn't get to do the loop because of the bridge closure. So out and back was still about 4 miles.

The accessible 1/4 mile paved path to the lower falls is perfect for anyone with mobility issues…read more From the overlook you can clearly see and hear the 200+ foot waterfall. There is another 2 mile, more strenuous trail that goes up the falls themselves for those with more time and energy. Worth the effort to experience the falls when visiting Steamboat Springs.

This is a 10.1 mile out and back trail near Glen Haven. It is considered a moderate route with…read more1889 feet of elevation gain. Dogs are able to use the trail but must be on leash. This trail goes near a river for at least the first 4 miles of the trail. I have not finished the trail. Though this one is absolutely lovely. There is a mix of trees and a burn area and the river. Moose and mountain lions are in the area so you will need to be on the lookout if you are choosing to hike here. This tends to be a quieter trail at least on the weekdays. There is a fairly good sized parking lot. There is a bathroom at the trail head. There are not however poop bags or trash cans. You will need to be prepared to pack out what you pack in. If you are bringing your pups be sure to pack along poop bags and also be ready to take them out with you. Along with any trash you may have brought with you.

Best scenic view. Wandering canyons. Streams. Wildlife. Unbelievable views. Going back in time.read more

Another fantastic hike. Come prepared to work as you will be climbing some of the most gorgeous…read morepeaks Colorado's mountains have to offer. Please keep in mind this is a vast piece of land and you should pack your survival items in the event you should need them. A whisper sounds like a yell that echoes for minutes in this deep canyon with the Poudre River running through it. Great hiking, stunning scenery and you will encounter all kinds of wildlife so be prepared for that as well. There are bears in this area, real bears. Be sure you have done the appropriate amount of research before attempting to hike this area. This is NOT for beginners but is an awesome piece of land! There are random areas with lone trees or scattered brush, there are areas where you can easily become injured so do not attempt to do anything you are not sure you can do. Always play it safe and be prepared. You can hear the river long before you see it and that is one of the most special things about this place. Once you do lay your eyes on it, it is glorious and magnificent and well worth all of the efforts and aches and pains you have made to get there.

Our visit to Rocky Mountain National Park was very fluid - we didn't have much planned, but Alpine…read moreRidge Trail was still one of the only hikes that was on our must-do hike. It is so breath-takingly gorgeous, that if you're able to complete it, it should 100% be included on your itinerary. Located right by the Alpine Visitors Center, this hike is about 0.6 miles roundtrip and requires you to climb approximately 225 stairs. The hike itself is moderate, but also take into account that you're at a higher elevation - you'll probably have to take more frequent breaks, so just make sure to pace yourself. Plenty of fun placards to read along the way, though, so it's like the hike is inviting you to take a breather. The summit is at 12,005 feet and so beautiful. You will get a full 360 view from the top - take some time to just sit and enjoy. There's even a elevation sign at the top that you can take your picture with. It was June when we visited, so it was still cold, windy, and drizzling. Snow was still out on the mountains. But it was still so serene. The hike starts at the Alpine Visitors Center, which has both clean & modern bathrooms and a water bottle refill station. So make sure you stop by - it's not often you find both of these at a trailhead. Wonderful experience, highly recommend.

If you're stopping at the Alpine Visitor Center when driving through Trail Ridge Road, it only…read moremakes sense to stop by here and go up the 1 mile hike. It is a slight bit challenging (well maybe it's because I didn't bring my water with me), but taking a break or so every 10 or so stairs will help out a ton. Once you get to the top, the views are priceless. You're not going to see viewpoints like this anywhere in RMNP. Being 12,000+ feet above sea level is special. This is one trail you can't skip out on and you'll remember it forever.

We visited so many areas within Medicine Bow, but the highlights were the Lake Marie area, the…read moreLibby Flats overlook, and the Snowy Range overlook. We did some impromptu stops when we spied a moose wading in a smaller lake along the scenic byway. We also saw deer, chipmunks, and bald eagles. Stone outcroppings, glacial upheaval, tumbled rocks left behind in the aftermath of raging floods, and wide open grassy ranges kept our attention as we primarily explored the area from Laramie to Cheyenne. Highly recommend for anyone to visit for any reason at any time if at all possible and guaranteed will not be disappointed. Will plan to return as soon as possible to explore further.

We drove through Medicine Bow National Forest enroute to Laramie from Cheyenne. Driving this way…read moreis an nice alternative to going straight through on Interstate 80. Tip: Drink plenty of water and dress appropriately; it can get VERY windy here We didn't have much time to explore because of our time crunch, so we might come back this way to see what there is to see.