15 Easy Hikes in Denver (& Nearby!)
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If you’re searching for worthwhile, short, easy hikes in Denver and nearby, we’ve got you covered! Denver is filled with city hikes, park trails, and nearby mountains, which are perfect for relaxing and reconnecting with nature.
As outdoorsy people ourselves (it’s a goal of ours to visit every national park in the USA), we’ve managed to hike on many of the trails surrounding Denver.
All the good trails follow the trees and the mountains, so these are the closest easy hikes we have found near downtown Denver! Get ready to explore the city, the forests, and the mountains near Denver.
Fountain Valley Loop Trail
🥾Distance: 2.6 miles
Fountain Valley Loop Trail is a 2.6 mile loop that sits 50 minutes outside of Denver in Roxborough State Park. Although the entrance to this park requires a small entrance fee, this year-round trail offers a beautiful, yet simple hike perfect for any age.
This loop takes an average of one hour to complete and winds through some valleys and past some stunning rock formations. This trail bears the name Denver’s Garden of the God’s twin sister and shares similar views and experiences!
Boulder Falls Trail
🥾Distance: 0.3 miles
Boulder Falls Trail leads you straight to a waterfall in the nearby town of Boulder, nearly 50 minutes outside of Denver! This short hike near Denver takes under 10 minutes to complete (although that doesn’t account for any time spent at those beautiful falls) and hardly gains any elevation.
The hike starts with a collection of historical photos and information and ends at a stunning waterfall in under half a mile! This trail does close seasonally, so we recommend visiting anytime after March and before the first big snow of the season.
Sprague Lake Loop
🥾Distance: 0.8 miles
Sprague Lake Loop is a short, stunning hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. This hike is nearly two hours outside of Denver, but the trip to RMNP is always worth it!
This hike is a quick loop around Sprague Lake, is open year-round and is often a popular water spot for the elk. The trail is perfect for hiking, snowshoeing, and sightseeing and takes under 20 minutes to complete!
Red Rocks Trading Post Trail
🥾Distance: 1.5 miles
Reach this Red Rocks trail in under 30 minutes from downtown Denver! The Red Rocks Trading Post Trail loops through the famous red rock formations of Red Rock Park in Colorado.
This popular hike takes just under an hour to complete and features stunning rock formations and several sets of stairs. Red Rocks Trading Post Trail ranks moderate only because of the stairs, but it is still a super simple trail near Denver!
Cherry Creek Trail
🥾Distance: 24.6 miles
Truly, you have not seen Denver if you’ve not seen it from the Cherry Creek Trail. Discover Denver from this creekside trail! Uncover hidden parks, distinctive suburbs, and classy shopping centers during your hike on Cherry Creek Trail.
This trail is just under the length of a marathon at 24.6 miles and is perfect for biking, walking, hiking, and running. Marathon through the heart of the Mile High City on this easy hike in Denver!
Canyon View Nature Trail
🥾Distance: 1.5 miles
Canyon View Nature Trail is one hour outside of Denver, nestled in the canyons of Castlewood Canyons State Park. This quiet out-and-back trail offers plenty of canyon views and overlooks and lots of large rocks to climb on.
This easy hike near Denver does allow dogs, as long as they are leashed. Bring the pups for an easy paved hike on the Canyon View Nature Trail!
Washington Park Loop
🥾Distance: 2.3 miles
Washington Park Loop is a 2-mile hike near Denver, Colorado. Enjoy an easy hike around the lakes of Washington Park, only 20 minutes north of Denver!
This loop is paved and smooth and takes an average of 45 minutes to complete. It’s a popular trail, though, so be ready to greet some new faces and meet some cute pups!
Our personal favorite thing about Wash Park is that you also can rent boats here, too. Bask in the sun on a boat after hiking!
Rifle Falls Coyote Trail
🥾Distance: 0.7 miles
Rifle Falls Coyote Trail is a bit farther than a few of these other trails we’ve listed, but it’s a short hike near Denver that’s worth mentioning! This hike is a three-hour drive across I-70 in Rifle Falls State Park, a stunning 20-minute hike.
Rifle Falls Coyote Trail is a popular, short hike leading to several stunning waterfalls and caves. We recommend exploring the falls after a night of rainfall for an even more enchanting experience!
The Broadmoor Seven Falls
🥾Distance: 4.11 miles
The Broadmoor Seven Falls is in Colorado Springs, just an hour and a half south of Denver. This location offers several different hikes with varying degrees of difficulty.
The hike to Midnight Falls is the shorter hike at Broadmoor Seven Falls near Denver and can be completed in under 30 minutes on a round trip. This once-secluded spot is now a popular family destination for a short but sparkling waterfall.
We recommend hiking all of Seven Falls Trails to experience the entirety of this location for a 4-mile breathtaking hike near Denver!
Bear Lake
🥾Distance: 0.7 miles
Bear Lake is one of the most popular hikes on the Bear Lake Corridor of Rocky Mountain National Park. Follow the Bear Lake Loop for a short hike near Denver! Rocky Mountain National Park is still an hour and a half outside of Denver, but every bit of the trip is worth it!
Bear Lake is open all year round but is truly magical during the peak of the fall foliage. There are many benches and bridges along this loop, so be sure to bring a camera to document this easy hiking trail near Denver!
Cheesman Park Outer Loop
🥾Distance: 2.0 miles
Cheesman Park Outer Loop is a hiking trail in the heart of Denver. This paved path around the park is perfect for walking, running, biking, and scouting out a patch of grass for a picnic!
The two-mile loop takes an average of 40 minutes to complete and is open year-round. Be ready to encounter some friendly faces and furry friends on this short hike near Denver.
Rooney Trail Loop
🥾Distance: 3.4 miles
Head towards the mountains from Denver and arrive at Rooney Trail Loop in under 30 minutes! This easy hike near Denver loops through William F Hayden Green Mountain Park and shows off an abundance of wildlife and wildflowers.
Rooney Trail Loop takes an average of an hour and a half to complete and is a perfect hike for the kids or pups!
Elk Meadow Trail
🥾Distance: 4.0 miles
Elk Meadow Trail is an easy loop in Evergreen, Colorado which is only 30 minutes outside of Denver! Hike through the evergreens and meadows of Elk Meadow Park in less than two hours.
This trail is well maintained and clearly marked with only a few ups and downs through the woods and meadows, so it easily makes the list for easy hikes near Denver!
Platte River Trail Loop
🥾Distance: 3.8 miles
The Platte River Trail Loop takes you along the Platte River in the heart of Denver. This easy hike is the perfect urban introduction to hiking in Denver! This paved city walk takes just around an hour to complete and connects to several other easy trails in Denver.
Start on one side of the river and eventually loop around to the other side for a full panoramic view of the river and the city!
Chautauqua Trail
🥾Distance: 1.2 miles
Chautauqua Trail is a short out-and-back hike near Denver. Drive towards Boulder and reach this trail in 30 minutes from downtown Denver. Chautauqua Trail is an extremely heavily trafficked trail that shows off the beautiful flatirons of Boulder.
There are many other trails nearby, but this short hike near Denver offers all the views you need for an out-and-back hike in under an hour!
Pro tip: when you’re done hiking, stop by Foolish Craig’s Cafe on Pearl Street. This is one of our favorite breakfast spots around Denver.
Each of these trails leads you to a different destination, but the beauty in the hike is in the journey. Grab your backpack, lace up those hiking boots, and hit these easy trails near Denver!
