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Best Forest Hikes in Colorado

The directory currently contains 9 quality-checked routes matching this guide in Colorado. Their average mapped distance is 17.0 km and average recorded ascent is 1,001 m (3,284 ft); the longest route in the set is 48.1 km.

This subset represents 5% of the 168 quality-checked routes in Colorado. Its average distance is 17.0 km, compared with 40.6 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 1,001 m (3,284 ft), versus 793 m (2,602 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

These routes carry the forest tag. The data does not quantify canopy cover or guarantee shade along every section. Within this set, 2 routes (22%) are rated easy, 4 (44%) are rated hard or expert, and 2 (22%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.

Data refreshed September 2026

Choose by the details

How do these routes differ?

A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

1.7 km

North Fork Cutoff Trail

Compare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

392 m

North Fork Cutoff Trail

6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.

Return logistics

0 recorded loops

Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.

Plan the return journey →

Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.

Trails

Expert

Geneva Lake Trail

Colorado · United States

Distance
37.5 km
/ 23.3 mi
Elevation gain
2,175 m
Typical duration
11 hr
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Maroon Bells 7-4
Hard

Maroon-Snowmass Trail

Colorado · United States

Distance
26.4 km
/ 16.4 mi
Elevation gain
1,078 m
Typical duration
7 hr 28 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Expert

Barr Trail

Colorado · United States

Distance
19.1 km
/ 11.9 mi
Elevation gain
2,303 m
Typical duration
7 hr 34 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Expert

Brookside-McCurdy Trail

Colorado · United States

Distance
48.1 km
/ 29.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,836 m
Typical duration
13 hr
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Moderate

North Fork Cutoff Trail

Colorado · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
392 m
Typical duration
57 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Moderate

Lake Park Trail

Colorado · United States

Distance
7.3 km
/ 4.5 mi
Elevation gain
526 m
Typical duration
2 hr 18 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Forest
A petrified redwood stump in Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Colorado.
Easy

Petrified Forest Loop

Colorado · United States

Distance
1.8 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
24 m
Typical duration
24 min
  • Forest
Moderate

Hankins Pass Trail

Colorado · United States

Distance
10.3 km
/ 6.4 mi
Elevation gain
667 m
Typical duration
3 hr 8 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Easy

Forest Discovery Trail

Colorado · United States

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
9 m
Typical duration
13 min
  • Forest

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Geneva Lake TrailColorado37.5 km2,175 m11 hrExpertJuly to September
Maroon-Snowmass TrailColorado26.4 km1,078 m7 hr 28 minHardJuly to September
Barr TrailColorado19.1 km2,303 m7 hr 34 minExpertJuly to September
Brookside-McCurdy TrailColorado48.1 km1,836 m13 hrExpertJuly to September
North Fork Cutoff TrailColorado1.7 km392 m57 minModerateJuly to September
Lake Park TrailColorado7.3 km526 m2 hr 18 minModerateJuly to September
Petrified Forest LoopColorado1.8 km24 m24 minEasyJuly to September
Hankins Pass TrailColorado10.3 km667 m3 hr 8 minModerateJuly to September
Forest Discovery TrailColorado0.9 km9 m13 minEasyJune to October

Geneva Lake Trail, Maroon-Snowmass Trail, Barr Trail currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

Plan with more confidence

All planning articles →

Choosing a route

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.

Read article →

Understanding the map

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.

Read article →

Planning your day

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.

Read article →

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