Editor’s note: It’s not too early to start planning. As ski lifts shut down, there’s more fun to be found in Colorado’s mountains. President of the Alpine Club, Paige Powers, weighs in with her suggestion for great hikes accessible to DU students.
As with all hikes you’ll want to do your own research and take into consideration the time of year and weather you might encounter. There are several helpful Websites such as 14ers.com, protrails.com and nps.gov. In addition, the DU Alpine Club offers cheap guided trips to these and similar locations throughout the fall and spring. For more information, check out dualpineclub.org.
Hanging Lake near Glenwood Springs
This is a great hike for beginner to intermediate hikers. It’s short and sweet with an amazing vista of Hanging Lake. The hike starts at around 6,000 ft in elevation and rises to around 7,200 ft. in about 1.2 miles. The total hike is 2.4 miles roundtrip and takes close to two hours. For those of you who miss the water features from back home (wherever that may be), Hanging Lake is a great hike. You’ll be hard pressed to find clearer water nearby. The trailhead is 2.5 to 3 hours west of Denver and is accessible directly from I-70.
Guanella Pass near Georgetown
If you’re looking for more of a challenge or a starting point for 14’ers, this is a great one to start with. Located in the Front Range 2 miles west of Mt. Evans, the Mt. Bierstadt trail is 7 miles roundtrip and has a total elevation gain of 2,850 ft. and is considered a Class 2 in difficulty. Mt. Bierstadt is located 12 miles off the Georgetown exit of I-70.
Chautauqua Park in Boulder
Want to get away for the day but don’t want to stray far from Denver? Boulder is a quick and easy place to go for a day hike. There are tons of options in the Boulder area for hiking ranging in difficulty. Mesa Trail in Chautauqua Park trail is of moderate difficulty and is 3 miles round trip, with a total of 1,440 ft. in elevation gain. There are some pretty great views throughout the hike, and it’s a great starting point for getting to know the Boulder trail network.
