Of all the various outdoor recreational activities, hiking is perhaps our favorite. At The Outdoor Corps, we feature hike guides, lists of an area’s best hikes, and many other tips. Our objective — to help you discover your next hiking adventure around the Rocky Mountain West.
The Outdoor Corps’ hiking articles provide recommended hikes for all skill levels, from novice to advanced. You’ll often find recommendations for some of the most popular hikes in an area (e.g., a national park or wilderness area). However, you’ll also find recommendations on hidden gem hikes that see far fewer crowds. In addition, we back up our recommendations with hike ratings, focused on difficulty, scenery, crowds, and a general fun factor.
There certainly is no shortage of amazing hikes in the Rocky Mountains. Whether you’re looking for a quick day hike or a multi-day backpacking route, The Outdoor Corps has it all.
Canyonlands National Park covers a huge amount of land and, in certain areas, is extremely remote. We recommend visiting all of the districts within Canyonlands for a full park experience. This article features some of our favorite hikes within the Island in the Sky, Needles, and Maze districts.
North Table Mountain Park is located in Golden, Colorado within Jefferson County. At 6,552ft., North Table Mountain is a mesa that prominently towers over the city. The park is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, especially rock climbers who frequent the park's Golden Cliffs area.
White Ranch Park is an open space located in Jefferson County, Colorado, north of Golden. With 3,953 acres and 21.5 miles of trails, it's the largest park in the Jeffco open space system. Trails are mostly multi-use, so hikers, runners, mountain bikers, and equestrians can all enjoy.
Betasso Preserve is a beautiful foothills park in Boulder County, only minutes away from downtown Boulder, Colorado. With approximately nine miles of trails over 1,181 acres and elevations ranging from 5,900ft. to 7,700ft., visitors are treated to open meadows, mountain vista scenery, and abundant wildlife throughout this expansive open space.
Mount Galbraith Park is located in Golden, Colorado within Jefferson County. All of the trails within this 799 acre open space are designated as hiking-only. Thus, the park is particularly popular with local hikers and trail runners. With moderately difficult trails, this park is an ideal location for all.
Eagle's Nest Open Space is a 755 acre park in Larimer County, Colorado about 30 minutes northwest of Fort Collins. This beautiful area is a perfect spot for short day hikes, horseback riding, and fishing along the North Fork of the Cache la Poudre River.