S ECT I O N T HR E E
1 0 BEST H IK ING TR AILS
2. OUZEL FALLS
Colorado is all about majestic beauty, and while there are truly memorable hikes in places like Maroon Bells near Aspen, there are also lots of great day hikes near Denver, featuring everything from alpine lakes and wildf lower meadows to red-rock formations and panoramic vistas.
1. MILLS LAKE The hike to Mills Lake is one of the most scenic in Rocky Mountain National Park. It’s a moderate 5.3 mile round-trip trek that winds past Alberta Falls, a mesmerizing 30-foot waterfall that’s one of the park’s most popular features, with people gathering to snack on backpack picnics while sitting on rocks near the tumbling waters. The trail crosses the footbridge over Glacier Creek, and when you reach Mills Lake, it’s a beautiful place to picnic and savor the view. The alpine lake is fringed by such peaks as the 13,497-foot Pagoda Mountain, the 12,668-foot Thatchtop Mountain and the 13,579-foot Chiefs Head Peak.
The rare and delicate Calypso Orchid can be spotted on a wildf lower hike to Calypso Cascades and Ouzel Falls in Rocky Mountain National Park. Also called the fairy slipper orchid, this wildf lower isn’t always easy to f ind — it often hides beneath trees, tucked into shady spots. Fellow hikers who f ind them are eager to show them off. Late June and early July is the best time to see the calypso orchid. But there are dozens of other wildf lowers to see on this round-trip hike, which is about 3.6 miles to Calypso Cascades and 5.4 miles to Ouzel Falls. This moderate hike starts on a relatively f lat path, passing meadows with wildf lowers, then winding up a gentle incline. Eventually the trail gets steeper, with steps and risers to help hikers ascend to Ouzel Falls, a 40-foot waterfall that sits at an elevation of 9,370 feet.
3. BEAR CREEK TRAIL Bear Creek Trail at Lair o’ the Bear Park near Morrison is an easy, shady trail that’s popular with families because it’s got so much to offer. There’s plenty of shade, easy f lat trails, woodlands and the cool burbling waters of Bear Creek, which attract anglers. There are also loads of wildf lowers growing near the creek alongside cottonwood and box elders.
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