When I first moved to Colorado, I had no idea how much this state had to offer and in the early stages I didn’t do too much exploring outside of my own backyard. With that said, I was still blown away with some of the hikes I did in my early days and regretfully, have since started taking them for granted. I wanted to put together a list of some of those places for people new to the Denver area. Granted this doesn’t cover everything, I found these to be easy ways to escape the city life for a morning or afternoon.

Let’s start off with one of my favorites - Roxborough State Park. This was one of the first places I explored after moving out to the Denver area, and with snow on the ground and no spikes, it certainly made for an adventure. Roxborough to me is a quieter version of Garden of the Gods, which I still haven’t visited. Whoops. But I found myself coming back here several times to escape for a quick hike or get in a beautiful sunset. There are several trails ranging in difficulty which makes it great for any level of hiker looking to get some fresh air.

The next place might not come as a surprise. Rocky Mountain National Park is a bit further of a drive but well worth it if you can get there early enough to escape the crowds. I have done the Dream/Emerald Lake hike at least 5 times now and it never seems to fail. I do recommend doing it for sunrise as the light hits Hallett Peak beautifully for first light and you can cruise into the park without having to wait in the lines that grow by the minute in the summer months. And if you are looking to extend the hike, you can stay on the same trail to reach Lake Haiyaha.

A great hike halfway between Denver and Colorado Springs is the Upper Cheeseman Trail at Cheeseman Canyon. The trail provides some shade but there is quite a bit of open space so beware on sunny days that it can get HOT. With that said, the views are incredible and surely took my breath away when I did this hike in the early spring. Once you get higher up in elevation you are treated to gorgeous views of Cheeseman Lake and then once you reach the end point, the damn flows into the South Platte where you are sure to find plenty people fishing.

Castlewood Canyon State Park for sunset in August

Just east of Castle Rock in Franktown, CO you can find the rather unassuming Castlewood Canyon State Park. Once you decline into the canyon you might be surprised to find out there is this much beauty not too far south of Denver. The trails are very manageable, but be aware, it can get buggy down in the canyon during the warmer months. Be sure to stick around for sunset to see the golden light cover the lush canyon and glow off the arching bridge right outside the park.

Located just outside of Golden, Golden Gate Canyon State Park offers a quiet getaway with beautiful views and abundant wildlife. On my visit, my roommate came across a moose just above the cabin pictured above and fish were rising to feast on this pond the entire hour or so I spent up here. Maybe I should bring my rod next time.

If you are looking for some unique views of red rocks alongside the mountain layers of the front range, look no further than Mt. Falcon State Park. This might be the most easy to access for the general Denver population and provides a good workout as well. Taking the entrance from the east TH the Castle Trail Loop provides some solid incline, but with about 2 miles in, you can have some stellar views. This spot is great for sunset and sunrise, with a panoramic view less than halfway through.

Sawtooth Ridge and Mt. Bierstadt for sunset in September

Wrapping things up, Guanella Pass, just outside of Georgetown has become a haven for me when I need to escape the city and just breathe. In the warmer months you can drive to the TH of Mt. Bierstadt, one of Colorado’s many 14ers, and take a short hike to this view that overlooks the peak. If looking for a bigger challenge, I recommend hiking the peak for sunrise. It’s one of the easier 14ers and you will feel like a champion being on top of a mountain before most of the state has even got out of bed. This spot tends to provide some insane sunsets, so for a casual visit, bring a chair out and enjoy one the front range’s most beautiful views around.

Hope this was helpful to the newcomers out there, and maybe even some veterans. Let me know in the comments if I missed one that has to be on here!