The Best Hikes in Colorado

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.