11 Off-The-Radar Colorado Hikes That Deserve Way More Love
Colorado’s famous trails get all the glory, but some of the best adventures hide in plain sight. While everyone crowds around Maroon Bells and Hanging Lake, incredible paths wait quietly for explorers willing to venture beyond the usual spots.
These lesser-known hikes offer stunning views, peaceful solitude, and memories that’ll last way longer than your sore legs.
1. Devil’s Head Lookout (Pike National Forest)
Climbing 143 steps to reach a historic fire lookout tower feels like something straight out of an adventure movie. This trail winds through thick pine forests before rewarding hikers with jaw-dropping 360-degree views from the highest fire lookout in the Rockies.
Built in 1912, the tower still stands strong, letting visitors peek inside at vintage firefighting equipment. The moderate 2.8-mile round trip makes it perfect for families looking to add some excitement without exhausting the kids. Plus, spotting Pikes Peak from the top never gets old!
2. Loch Lomond Trail (St. Mary’s)
Named after Scotland’s famous lake, this hidden gem sparkles like a secret treasure chest waiting to be discovered. Wildflowers carpet the meadows in summer, creating a kaleidoscope of colors that would make any Instagram feed jealous.
The 8-mile round trip climbs steadily but never feels brutal, winding past old mining remnants that whisper stories of Colorado’s gold rush days. At the top, Loch Lomond’s crystal-clear waters mirror the surrounding peaks like nature’s perfect selfie. Bring a fishing rod—the lake stocks trout that practically jump onto your line!
3. Upper Cheesman Canyon/Gill Trail (near Deckers)
Following the South Platte River through this narrow canyon feels like walking through Colorado’s secret garden. Granite walls tower overhead while the river sings its endless song, creating a soundtrack that beats any playlist.
Anglers worship this spot as one of Colorado’s premier fly-fishing destinations, but hikers love it just as much for its peaceful solitude. The trail stretches for miles along the water, so you can turn around whenever your legs start protesting. Watch for bighorn sheep clinging to cliffsides like they’re defying gravity!
4. South Park 600 To Square Top Lakes (Guanella Pass)
Square Top Mountain lives up to its name, looking like someone sliced off the peak with a giant knife. This high-altitude adventure takes hikers through tundra landscapes where mountain goats outnumber people by a comfortable margin.
Starting from Guanella Pass keeps the elevation gain manageable, though your lungs might argue otherwise at 12,000 feet. The lakes shimmer like sapphires dropped carelessly across the alpine basin, each one more photogenic than the last. Early summer brings snowmelt waterfalls that cascade down every available cliff face!
5. Blue Lakes – Monte Cristo Gulch (South Of Breckenridge)
These impossibly blue lakes earned their name honestly—the water glows with a turquoise intensity that seems photoshopped even when you’re staring right at it. Old mining cabins dot the landscape like historical breadcrumbs, reminding hikers that fortune-seekers once called this rugged terrain home.
The 8.5-mile trek climbs steadily through wildflower meadows and past abandoned mining equipment that’s slowly becoming part of the mountain again. Three separate lakes offer different perspectives, so pack extra memory cards for your camera. Mountain goats frequently photobomb hikers, posing on boulders like they own the place!
6. Raspberry Mountain Via Ring the Peak (Woodland Park)
Raspberry Mountain doesn’t serve actual raspberries at the summit, which honestly feels like false advertising. What it does offer is arguably the best view of Pikes Peak without actually climbing Pikes Peak itself.
The Ring the Peak Trail system provides multiple route options, but reaching Raspberry’s 10,462-foot summit delivers maximum reward for moderate effort. Aspens shimmer gold in fall, transforming the forest into something straight out of a fantasy novel. Wildlife sightings happen frequently—elk, deer, and black bears all consider this area prime real estate. Pack binoculars to spot climbers on Pikes Peak’s summit!
7. Long Lake/Jean Lunning Loop (Brainard Lake Recreation Area)
Brainard Lake Recreation Area gets plenty of visitors, but most people miss this loop that showcases the area’s best features without the crowds. Long Lake sits like a mirror reflecting the Indian Peaks, creating postcard-perfect scenes at every turn.
The relatively flat 5-mile loop makes it accessible for hikers of all abilities, including those still working off too many breakfast burritos. Moose frequent the willows around the lakes, so keep your distance and your camera ready. Wildflowers explode across the meadows in July, painting the landscape with nature’s brightest palette!
8. Red Mountain #3 (Red Mountain Pass)
Mother Nature went wild with her paintbox on these peaks, splashing reds, oranges, yellows, and purples across the mountainsides like an abstract masterpiece. Mineral deposits from centuries of volcanic activity created this geological rainbow that photographs like a fever dream.
The route follows old mining roads that switchback relentlessly upward, but the colorful scenery distracts from burning quads. At 12,800 feet, the summit delivers panoramic views of the San Juan Mountains that’ll make your jaw drop. Weather changes rapidly up here, so pack layers even if it’s sunny at the trailhead!
9. Scotsman/Buckskin Charlie Loop (Colorado Springs)
While tourists snap selfies at the main Garden of the Gods attractions, savvy hikers escape onto this loop that explores the park’s quieter corners. Red sandstone formations tower overhead like ancient skyscrapers, glowing orange during sunrise and sunset.
The 3.5-mile loop combines Scotsman and Buckskin Charlie trails, offering killer views without killer elevation gain. Rock climbers dangle from cliffs like spiders, providing free entertainment for passing hikers. Pikes Peak photobombs nearly every vista, reminding everyone who’s boss around here. Rattlesnakes occasionally sunbathe on warm rocks, so watch your step!
10. High Dune On First Ridge (Great Sand Dunes National Park)
Hiking on sand sounds easier than it is—every step forward slides you halfway back, turning a simple climb into a full-body workout. But reaching High Dune’s summit rewards the effort with views across North America’s tallest sand dunes stretching toward the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
The 2.5-mile round trip feels twice as long thanks to the sand, so bring extra water and lower your expectations about speed records. Kids love sledding down the dunes afterward, screaming with joy as they tumble toward the bottom. Visit after spring snowmelt when Medano Creek flows at the dunes’ base!
11. Cascade Creek To Mirror & Crater Lakes (Indian Peaks Wilderness)
Two stunning alpine lakes for the price of one hike? That’s the kind of deal hikers dream about! Cascade Creek tumbles alongside the trail, providing a constant water feature soundtrack that drowns out any complaints about the 1,800-foot elevation gain.
Mirror Lake lives up to its name on calm mornings, reflecting surrounding peaks with photographer-pleasing precision. Crater Lake sits higher up, requiring extra effort but delivering even better views for those willing to push onward. The 10-mile round trip makes a full day adventure, so start early and pack plenty of snacks. Wildflowers peak in July!