The Buttes Trail at Pawnee Buttes: This easy day hike exposes you to some of the "other" Colorado: the prairie on the state's eastern plains. A 1.5-mile trail leads to Pawnee Buttes, the Rattlesnake Buttes made famous in James Michener's Centennial. Keep your eyes open for coyotes, a variety of birds, and other wildlife, and colorful wildflowers in the spring.
The Emerald Lake Trail at Rocky Mountain National Park: If you like mountain lakes, this is the trail for you. Starting at Bear Lake, it's an easy .5-mile to Nymph Lake, then a moderate .5-mile climb to Dream Lake, and the last .8 mile brings you to Emerald Lake. Total elevation change is 605 feet over a little less than 2 miles, with spectacular scenery all along the way.
The Colorado Trail at Kenosha Pass: This easy section of the Colorado Trail near Breckenridge is a fun day's walk or can be the starting point for a serious backpacking trip. Pick up the trail off U.S. 285 where the highway crosses 10,001-foot Kenosha Pass. This access point provides opportunities for short or long hikes through the aspen and bristlecone forest.
Hiking the Dunes in Great Sand Dunes National Monument & Preserve: This isn't a trail at all, but an opportunity to don your best French foreign legion hat and set out into the shifting sands in search of dramatic views from the top of a 750-foot dune.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
