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Family-Friendly Hikes in Colorado

The directory currently contains 23 quality-checked routes matching this guide in Colorado. Their average mapped distance is 2.6 km and average recorded ascent is 22 m (72 ft); the longest route in the set is 6.4 km.

This subset represents 14% of the 168 quality-checked routes in Colorado. Its average distance is 2.6 km, compared with 40.6 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 22 m (72 ft), versus 793 m (2,602 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

Every route in this set has the kid-friendly field set to true. Age, experience and current terrain still need an individual assessment. Within this set, 23 routes (100%) are rated easy, 0 (0%) are rated hard or expert, and 8 (35%) 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

0.6 km

Village Streamwalk

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

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

0 m

Village Streamwalk

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

Return logistics

2 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

Easy

Bear Lake Trail

Colorado · United States

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
21 m
Typical duration
15 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Mountain Plaza at Vail Village in Vail, Colorado
Easy

Village Streamwalk

Colorado · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Typical duration
7 min
  • River
Easy

Sports Walk

Colorado · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
6 m
Typical duration
9 min
Easy

Frog Pond Trail

Colorado · United States

Distance
5.2 km
/ 3.2 mi
Elevation gain
133 m
Typical duration
1 hr 17 min
  • Castle and ruins
Easy

Mule Deer Meadow Trail

Colorado · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
30 m
Typical duration
12 min
  • Alpine meadow
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
Easy

Coyote Valley Trail

Colorado · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Typical duration
10 min
  • Mountain
Easy

Siamese Twins Trail

Colorado · United States

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
35 m
Typical duration
14 min
Easy

Forest Discovery Trail

Colorado · United States

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

Wapiti Trail

Colorado · United States

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
43 m
Typical duration
15 min

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
Bear Lake TrailColorado1.0 km21 m15 minEasyJuly to September
Uncompahgre River Walk LoopColorado3.5 km41 m48 minEasyJuly to September
Village StreamwalkColorado0.6 km0 m7 minEasyJuly to September
Johnson to Anderson Park Loop, Clear CreekColorado2.0 km0 m25 minEasyJune to October
Denver Orbital Trail - Segment 3Colorado4.9 km16 m1 hr 3 minEasyJune to October
Dancing Horse TrailColorado1.3 km0 m16 minEasyApril to October
Denver Orbital Trail - Segment 15Colorado4.8 km6 m1 hrEasyJune to October
Denver Orbital Trail - Segment 19Colorado5.7 km6 m1 hr 12 minEasyApril to October
Denver Orbital Trail - Segment 24Colorado6.4 km36 m1 hr 23 minEasyJune to October
Sports WalkColorado0.7 km6 m9 minEasyApril to October

Bear Lake Trail, Uncompahgre River Walk Loop, Village Streamwalk 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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Other shortlists covering the same area or the same kind of terrain.

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