There are so many Denver day hikes to choose from that it can be hard to narrow them down. We recently spent a few days in Denver in October, visiting our daughter, who moved there last year, and she put together the perfect three-day itinerary for us. Denver is an amazing destination, with so many direct flights from across the country that it makes for an excellent long-weekend escape. In addition to the mostly free outdoor activities, Denver hosts an incredible food scene. As mentioned before, nothing makes me happier than a great meal, especially after a good hike!
Tips for Denver Day Hikes
Something to keep in mind when getting around to the different trails is the traffic. Whereas most people think of rush hour in town, especially during peak hours getting to and from work, we were surprised to find that most rush-hour traffic in Denver is leaving the city! Everyone is trying to get to a trail to hike, bike, or ski, depending on the time of year, and traffic can crawl. The earlier you get out, the less time you’ll spend sitting in traffic and the less congested the trails will be. All times given are estimates and can vary widely based on current weather and traffic conditions.
Another tip is to download the free AllTrails app and pull up your trail map before you lose a good Wi-Fi connection. I currently use the free base version (best in well-populated areas with good cell service), but upgrade to the paid version if you want to download your maps offline and use their safety features. The AllTrails+ (best for remote areas with poor cell service) version is currently $35.99 per year, while the AllTrails Peak (best for backcountry explorers) is $79.99 per year. Some of the Denver day hikes mentioned are in remote locations, so plan ahead.
Best Denver Day Hikes With Views: Silver Dollar Lake and Murray Lake Trail
Since we were staying downtown and wanted to get a quick start on our day, we made a short stop for coffee and pastries at Kaffe Are Downtown ($). This Swedish coffee chain in Denver and New York City serves delicious coffee and healthy pastries in a cool, aesthetic space. We took ours to go so we could beat the traffic on the way out of town.
About the Silver Dollar Lake and Murray Lake Trail Hike
One of the most spectacular trails we hiked during our three-day visit was near Georgetown, a little over an hour outside of Denver, depending on the time of day you go. Although this is a slightly longer drive than our other hikes, it was so worth it for the lake views! Silver Dollar Lake and Murray Lake Trail is an in-and-out trail, meaning you will hike the same path both ways. Located in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests & Pawnee National Grassland, this rocky trail starts at the Silver Dollar Trailhead, and was one of the Denver day hikes so worth the effort!
We found the hike to the first lake, Silver Dollar Lake, to be fairly easy. The paths are well-marked, and the elevation was pretty gradual. Be prepared for the second part of the hike, up to Murray Lake. That was quite steep and challenging! Although my daughter and I made it up fairly easily, we were a bit concerned about whether John would make it to the top! The altitude can be tricky, especially if you haven’t been in Denver long enough to adjust. However, the view from the top is so worth the effort, it’s absolutely stunning!
Silver Dollar Lake and Murray Lake Trail Details
- Directions to Silver Dollar Trailhead: Google Maps
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length: approximately 4.3 miles
- Trail Type: Out & Back
- Elevation Gain: approximately 1,000 feet
- Time: 2-3 hours, depending on whether you hike all the way down to Murray Lake at the end of the trail. We chose to turn back after reaching the top and viewing Murray Lake.
- Dogs: Allowed on Leash
Denver Eats Day 1
Eating local is one of my favorite things to do, not only because it supports small businesses, but also because you get such a variety of flavors and unique dish preparations. Our first night’s dinner was one for the books. Our daughter had been wanting to try a local French restaurant, Brasserie Brixton ($$$), a small corner restaurant located in the Cole area, not too far from Downtown Denver. Reservations should be made in advance on Resy due to the restaurant’s small size. Looking at the menu online, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but everything was so delicious! We highly recommend the burrata as an appetizer, and enjoyed a variety of entrees, including the duck, halibut, half chicken, and Brixton Burger. You really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu!
Dog Friendly Denver Day Hike: Homestead and Mesa Trail
About the Homestead and Mesa Trail Hike
We went in a slightly different direction the next day, heading to the Homestead and Mesa Trails near Boulder, about 45 minutes outside of Denver. The trail begins at the South Mesa Trailhead, and from there you can take up to ten different trails, such as the Homestead, Towhee, Mesa, Shadow Canyon, and more. So many different Denver day hikes to choose from!
The Homestead and Mesa trails were fairly wide, easy dirt trails, and the elevation didn’t bother us as much as the lake trails. We didn’t actually see it, but several hikers coming down the trail warned us that there was a reactive rattlesnake around the boulder ahead on the trail. Thankfully, it had moved on by the time we reached that part of the path, but since we had brought Miya, their black lab, we proceeded cautiously. The view of the flatirons here is beautiful. Those looking for a challenge can attempt the Flatirons Loop trail, a vertical 3.1-mile hike with almost 1,500 feet of elevation. I hope to hike it on a trip soon!
Homestead and Mesa Trail Details
- Directions to South Mesa Trailhead: Google Maps
- Difficulty: Easy
- Length: approximately 3.3 miles
- Trail Type: Loop
- Elevation Gain: approximately 600 feet
- Time: 1.5-2 hours
- Dogs: Allowed on Leash
Denver Eats Day 2
On your way back to Denver, stop at The Flats Beer Garden ($), a local hangout offering food and drinks with gorgeous views! We enjoyed a quick stop here on the patio for a pick-me-up after hiking.
Dinner on our second night was at Himchuli ($), a casual local restaurant offering Indian and Nepali cuisine. There are two locations, one in the Highlands and the other in Rino. The portions here are large, allowing for leftovers. Everything we tried was delicious, especially the curry dishes!
Denver Day Hikes #3: Red Rocks & Clear Creek Trail
I was so curious to see Denver’s red rocks, as I’ve seen them in Sedona, Arizona. They did not disappoint! If there isn’t a show going on, you can walk through the impressive Red Rocks amphitheater! Attending a show there is on my bucket list, especially since my daughter has attended one and said it was amazing.
Easy Denver Day Hike: About the Red Rocks Hike
We chose to check out the impressive amphitheater first, then went on about a mile-and-a-half hike through the red rocks. It was pretty crowded, as it’s a popular spot, which can slow your pace. It’s definitely not strenuous, so after this easy hike, we drove over to Golden for a second hike.
Red Rocks Hike Details
- Directions to Red Rocks Trail at Red Rocks Park:
- Difficulty: Fairly easy, a bit rocky
- Length: ranges from 1.4 – 6 miles
- Trail Type: mostly loops with some shorter connecting trails
- Elevation Gain: approximately 400 – 1,200 feet, depending on the trail
- Time: 1-3 hours, depending on the trail
- Dogs: Allowed on Leash
Closest Denver Water Hike: About the Clear Creek Trail Hike
Golden is just that, golden! The leaves were changing colors in October, creating beautiful scenery! I absolutely love hiking near water, and this creek winds all along the paved trail. We did about two miles, staying near the town, but the trail goes pretty far out if you’re up for the challenge. The elevation on this trail is mild, and it’s paved making it a pretty easy hike. Maya loved jumping into the creek during the walk! When you get back to town, check out one of the local outdoor beer gardens. It’s a great way to top off your hike in a beautiful setting!
Clear Creek Trail in Downtown Golden Details
- Directions to Clear Creek Trail in Golden
- Difficulty: Super Easy (paved)
- Length: 1.8 miles
- Trail Type: in-and-out
- Elevation Gain: nearly none
- Time: 1 hour
- Dogs: Allowed on Leash
- The additional Clear Creek Trail going outside of Golden is 18.8 miles
Denver Eats Day 3
We went casual for dinner after returning from Golden. Cart-Driver ($$) is a shared-plate concept restaurant with amazing food! They have two locations, one in LoHi and the other in RiNo. We enjoyed the seasonal burrata (seems to be a thing for us!) with pizza, but they also have oysters and several other shared plate options.
Optional Day 4 – Explore Denver!
If you have an extra day or don’t feel like going on one of the Denver day hikes, the city itself has so much to take advantage of, or you can mix some of these up with the ideas listed above. John had to work out of the Denver office the day before we flew out, so my daughter and I spent the day shopping and eating our way through some cute neighborhoods.
Shopping
RiNo Art District: This is a great area for shopping, with so many cute boutiques and upscale shops to explore. You can park in one spot and walk to everything. We made a dent in our pocketbooks! We stopped by Improper City for a drink by the outdoor fire pits. They also serve local coffee, wine, and craft beers. We especially loved stopping by the King Arthur Baking Company, a pop-up that has been there a while. You can browse cooking tools and baking mixes – we got the peach scones to try out.
REI Denver Flagship Store: Located in a huge, two-story brick building over a century old, you’ll find everything you could possibly need for outdoor activities, whichever season you are visiting. It’s worth stopping by just to see the space, even if you don’t need any gear. We easily spent an hour browsing camping and snow skiing equipment.
More Restaurants
Stowaway Kitchen ($$): I loved this quaint little restaurant located in the RiNo neighborhood. The menu is an eclectic mix of dishes inspired by the owner’s travels. I personally loved the Japanese asa-gohan dish, with salmon and a delicious mix of ingredients. We also enjoyed the lattes, mimosas, and pastries – you can’t order wrong!
Corner Ramen & Poke ($): Located in the Cole district, this restaurant offers great comfort food, with huge bowls of ramen or poke. It’s a local hangout with limited seating, but it also has a robust take-out service.
Odie B’s ($): With locations in both RiNo and Sunnyside, you can get your fix Monday – Saturday, and they are dog-friendly on the patio. They claim to have Denver’s best burrito and burger. I didn’t try the burger, but I can agree that the burrito was incredibly tasty!
If you have trails around Denver you love, leave a comment below! We’re always looking for new hikes to try in the area. Same with local restaurants, as we frequently head to Denver to visit our daughter. She did an amazing job curating our hiking and dining experience, making us feel like locals. I hope you get an opportunity to plan your own long weekend and take advantage of all the Denver day hikes available!
Looking for a hike in an exotic location? Check out my post where we hiked in El Yunque on a siblings-only destination trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico!
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