Hiking Longs Peak in Estes Park, Colorado, is a thrilling adventure for experienced hikers and somewhat of a rite of passage for Colorado residents. The 15-mile round trip via The Keyhole Route is challenging, with steep ascents, narrow ledges, and exposed rock faces.

The Harvard-Columbia traverse is one of those hikes that people groan about on hiking forums and where SAR rescues are plenty. I was certainly a little spooked by the reviews on it, so I knew that if I ever attempted it I would have a partner with me.

Isak Hearthstone lives in the woods of Breckenridge by the Illinois Gulch Trailhead. This towering wooden troll has become one of Breckenridge's most beloved attractions, drawing people from all over the world to experience its charm.  It's a perfect family-friendly activity that offers a bit of magic and wonder in the great outdoors.

Located near Ridgway, Colorado, Blue Lakes Trail is a popular day-hike as well as backpacking spot, and is part of the Mt. Sneffels Wilderness area of the Uncompahgre National Forest. We made the hike up to Lower Blue Lakes where we set up camp before going to try to tackle Mount Sneffels.

We started hiking around 3:15AM. The trail goes up for approximately 1.5 miles, where Notch Mountain will be on your left. While we couldn’t see it in the dark, we knew that it was there since you’ll then start to descend. The descent is 1,000 feet (!!) and leads to the East Cross Creek and adjacent campground.

Saturday, June 29: My friend Lacie and I headed to the trailhead for Huron Peak in the wee hours of the morning, only to be greeted with rain and chilly weather. Fast forward to July 2, where I headed off to the trailhead after work- I had to get this hike done!

Nestled amongst the sharp switchbacks of Berthoud Pass is Second Creek Trail, a popular summer hiking spot and winter ski touring area. The trail is right off of Highway 40, with parking on the same side of the trail head as well as across the road.

Mt. Sherman is ranked No. 43 on the lists of Colorado 14’ers, situated in the Mosquito Range at an elevation of 14,043. I had a friend visiting for the weekend and she was most excited to tackle a 14’er. Mt. Sherman is on the easier side, and a good option for those visiting Colorado looking for a challenge that won’t totally do them in.

The San Juans may be the most beautiful mountain range in Colorado. They span Southwestern Colorado and Northwestern New Mexico, and the main towns were once mining hubs. One of the most popular hikes in the area is to Ice Lake and Island Lake, in the Ice Lake Basin.

Our hike up Grey’s and Torreys was completely in the dark until about 30 minutes from the summit, and it was a quite chilly morning! We had prepared for some cold but we would have welcomed another layer and warmer gloves. There was a cloud inversion, combined with a light sunrise, which made for a beautiful view. We didn’t last up top long though because of the howling wind- and trying to shelter by a wall of rocks did us no good.

Boreas Pass is a road in Breckenridge that leads down to Como, and is frequented by people car camping, cycling, or hiking (there’s some nice trails off of the road). We found a great pullout and set up shop for the evening, with a dinner of chicken and shrimp skewers. We played some board games, drank some wine, and the view wasn’t too shabby either!

Located just under 30 minutes from Breckenridge, Quandary Peak is one of Colorado’s most climbed 14’er because of its reputation of being on the easier side. Parking for this hike used to congest the road leading in and it led to unsafe road conditions, so to reduce that there is a parking lot reservation system or you can take a shuttle from the Breckenridge Gondola Lot. Read more here on how to access Quandary Peak.

Looking for a moderate hike with wildflowers and under 2 hours from Denver? The secret is out, thanks to social media. Acorn Creek Loop in Silverthorne, Colorado has become a popular wildflower hike after going viral on TikTok. Located off a dirt road in the Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness, this loop is just under 5 miles and is a moderate difficulty. It’s no 14’er, but there is a constant incline no matter which direction you do the loop in.

Learning something new as an adult can be daunting…but it doesn’t have to be! I took up skiing as an adult (mid/late 20’s) and it is one of my best decisions ever! Read on for some quick tips I have for adults looking to learn to ski.

Located in Summit County past Copper Mountain (coming from the West), Mayflower Gulch is an easy hike with a big reward. It’s just a little over 3 miles round trip, up a low-incline jeep trail that eventually opens up into the jaw-dropping gulch.

Maroon Bells are the most photographed peaks in Colorado, and some of the top in the country. And it’s for good reason- the two bell shaped peaks rise tall above Maroon Lake giving off a dramatic and jaw-dropping scene (they’re 14’ers).

Red Rocks Amphitheatre is 30 minutes outside of Denver and has a capacity of 9,500. It is a notable venue as it is built into the massive red rocks caused by iron oxide and pink feldspar. The park is 738 acres and adjacent to the amphitheatre there is the opportunity for a brief walk/hike.

Ok- so it wasn’t quite 10 miles, but 9.34 miles is close enough! This trail is located in the Wildernest area of Silverthorne and goes to the South Willow Creek Falls. This was my first trip to Colorado, and thus my first hike there! This trail took up a solid chunk of the day, we spent just under 5 hours out/back, and 3 hours 50 minutes were spent hiking.