As an outdoor recreation writer, podcaster and advocate, it’s my job to be outdoors. Whenever I meet someone for the first time, and we discuss careers, the inevitable question I always get is, “What is your favorite trail?”
My go-to answer is: “It depends.”
Looking for wildflowers? Fall foliage? Snowshoeing? An easy or difficult hike, quick or long hike? You get the picture. It’s not an easy question to answer, especially when you hike as many miles as I do and have lived in the Pikes Peak region for decades. When asked to write about my favorite hikes, I decided to combine my passion for photography with the most scenic and photo-worthy trails. And since I like to think of myself as an overachiever, I’ve listed them in three categories of “easy,” “not so easy,” and “very difficult” categories, too.
EASY
Point Alta Vista Trail
Royal Gorge Park, Canon City
Just because this trail is easy doesn’t mean it’s not worth it. It follows an old and abandoned narrow gauge railroad right-of-way to Point Alta Vista. This hike provides stunning vistas, with the Arkansas River flowing 1000 feet below and the iconic Royal Gorge Bridge spanning the river just a mile to the east. Much of the trail is on the old railroad bed, with sections on old railroad trestles that have been resurfaced for hiking. I highly recommend doing this hike late in the afternoon-, shortly before sunset, when the setting sun lights up the gorge. A little over two miles round trip, with little-to-no elevation gain.
Trails.Colorado.gov/routes/119739
Grouse Mountain Trail
Mueller State Park, Divide
This area is one of my favorite places to visit because it has everything: wildflowers in the summer, wide swaths of gold aspens in the fall, and snowshoeing, sledding and cross-country skiing in the winter. You’ll find ponds, old homesteads and great views of Pikes Peak looming over the park to the east. You can camp there in a tent, RV or cabin and there are facilities and trails for equestrians. Wildlife abounds, and it’s not uncommon to see elk in the park in the fall.
About the only thing you can’t do there is hike with your dog or use a motorized vehicle on the trails.
At only one mile round-trip, the Grouse Mountain trail is the shortest trail in the park, but not the only one you should hike. If you explore the park during the day and venture onto any of its numerous trails, I recommend checking in with the staff at the visitor’s center for trail suggestions. Consider saving this particular trail for the end of the day for an optimal experience. Much like the Point Alta Vista Trail, it is best experienced at sunset, especially in the fall when the leaves are changing. Bonus: At 9,843 feet, Grouse Mountain is also the highest point in the park.
Trails.Colorado.gov/routes/119740
NOT SO EASY
Lizard Rock Trail
Tarryall Mountains, Lake George
Though a bit off the beaten path, the drive to Lizard Rock is in itself gorgeous, which is all the more reason to do this hike. In the summer, this five-mile round-trip hike is a haven for wildflowers, and in the fall, it will take you through and above groves of golden aspens. At the end of the trail, scramble up a boulder or two to get on top of Lizard Rock itself and take in the views, which are especially great in the late afternoon.
Trails.Colorado.gov/routes/119914
Waterdog Lakes Trail
Monarch Pass, Salida
Though not a very long trail (a little over three miles round trip, with an ascent of 1,050 feet), it’s a very pretty hike, either in the summer when the wildflowers are blooming or in the fall when the aspens are changing colors. It’s also a popular snowshoeing route in the winter. Finding the trailhead can be a little difficult since the trail sign is off the road in deep shade. The trail starts on the shoulder of Highway 50 (park in the wide parking area on the opposite side of the road and be very careful crossing the road). It enters a deep forest, following a creek and eventually leads to one of the Waterdog Lakes. While this trail leads to one lake, other lakes are nearby and easily accessible with a little bushwhacking and wayfinding. The lakes sit below a towering mountain ridge, below the Continental Divide Trail.
Trails.Colorado.gov/routes/120187
VERY DIFFICULT
Dixon Trail and the Dragon’s Backbone Trail
Cheyenne Mountain State Park, Colorado Springs
The Dragon’s Backbone is very difficult for three reasons: It’s 14 miles long round trip, it has more than 3,400’ feet of ascent and runs along a narrow ridge on the east face of Cheyenne Mountain. This trail is only for the sure-footed who are not afraid of heights. Since there is no back-country camping in the park, you must complete this hike in a single day.
The Dixon Trail starts at the top of the North Talon Trail, with some nice views of Cheyenne Mountain’s south face—the only way for the public to see this part of the mountain. Once you reach the top, you’ll pass an old military aircraft crash site, and then shortly after, you’ll see a rail intersection on your right for Dragon’s Backbone. Don’t turn here, but instead, hike just a little further to the next trail intersection and then bear right to join Dragon’s Backbone. The landscape along Dragon’s Backbone is expansive, and certainly not to be missed. The public is not permitted to drive to the top of Cheyenne Mountain, which means you can’t arrange to have someone pick you up. If you want a challenging hike, this is the trail for you!
Trails.Colorado.gov/trails/dixon-22121
Trails.Colorado.gov/trails/dragons-backbone-22120
