Looking for Your Next Mountain Adventure Near Boulder, Colorado?

Let’s be honest: Boulder has outstanding access to countless trails, but sometimes you just need to escape “the bubble” for a day or two, head up to the high alpine, and enjoy life at a higher elevation. Thankfully, we have two incredible wilderness areas and a national park less than an hour’s drive away, with no time on I-70 required!

If you’re looking for an off-the-beaten-path mountain adventure to enjoy next weekend, look no further. Below, I share the deets on a three different, excellent options of varying lengths:

The Day Hike: Flattop Mountain and Hallett Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park

What’s better than hiking one peak? Hiking two, of course - especially when it’s in your backyard national park. This hike up two iconic peaks offers stunning views of Rocky Mountain National Park, a well-marked trail, and a great workout.

The Stats:
Round-trip mileage: 10 miles
Total elevation gain: 3,267 feet
Highest point: 12,713 feet (Hallett Peak)
Trail type: Mostly class 1 with one short section of class 1+/class 2
Trailhead: Bear Lake in RMNP
Parking and permits: You must buy a one-day, seven-day, or annual pass to enter the park; no additional permit is needed for a one-day hike.
Map and trail info: click here

You’ll love this adventure if…

You love summiting peaks!
You’re not quite ready for more challenging 13ers and 14ers, but still want a solid workout.
You’re a fan of marmots. Plenty of these furry friends along the trail! (But remember, please don’t approach or feed them).

Trail Beta
Go early (arrive no later than 7 am in the summer) to secure parking. While this hike doesn’t see nearly the crowds that a Front Range 13er or 14er might, it does start out at the most popular trailhead in RMNP, so know that you might not find solitude during the first couple miles - especially during late mornings on weekends. The trail itself is well-marked, but the last 1.5-2 miles offer minimal shelter from the elements. Be prepared for high winds, and know that snow can stick around on this trail well into summer months.

The Big Day Hike or Mellow One-Night Backpacking Trip: Devil’s Thumb Lake -> High Lonesome -> King Lake Loop

This loop truly has it all: pristine alpine lakes, lush forests, rolling tundra, and expansive views. For a big day in the alpine, do the loop as a one-day push; for a mellow, laid-back backpacking trip, take two days and one night to complete this loop.

The Stats:
Round-trip mileage: 14.75 miles
Total elevation gain: 3,376 feet
Highest point: 12,105 feet (High Lonesome Trail on the Continental Divide)
Trail type: Class 1
Trailhead: Hessie Trailhead outside of Nederland
Parking and permits: Parking is free; you must obtain a $5 permit through the Boulder Ranger District if you camp in this area between June 1st and September 15th
Map and trail info: click here

You’ll love this adventure if…

You’re a big fan of bodies of water. This hike offers not only multiple alpine lakes, but also allows you to hike along a river during several sections of the trail.
You enjoy getting above treeline, without all of the loose rock that usually comes with that. The high point of this loop offers trail that rolls along soft tundra - no rock scrambling required.
You love wildflowers. During the summer months, fields of vibrant wildflowers line the trail.

Trail Beta
This loop can be completed in either direction; I personally camped at Devil’s Thumb Lake the first night, and did the High Lonesome -> King Lake section the following day, which offered incredible views and a great campsite, but I’ve heard that either way works well. Make sure to be off of the High Lonesome portion of the trail early or if there are approaching storm clouds, as this section leaves you very exposed to potential lightning strike. If you have extra time and energy while on this loop, a side trip to Bob and Betty Lakes (near King Lake) is well worth it.

The Full Two-Day Backpacking Trip: Gibraltar Lakes + Red Deer Lake

If you’re looking to really get away from it all for a weekend, consider this two-day/one-night backpacking trip to several alpine lakes. On this trail, you won’t find many crowds, but you will experience gorgeous forests, winding rivers and calm lakes, rugged peak views, and - most likely - several moose.

The Stats:
Round-trip mileage: 19.5 miles
Total elevation gain: 3,212 feet
Highest point: 11,181 feet (Upper Gibraltar Lake)
Trail type: Mostly class 1; some off-trail hiking on soft tundra and stable boulders near upper Gibraltar Lake
Trailhead: Camp Dick/Buchanan Pass (after you drive through Camp Dick, there will be a small parking lot at the beginning of Buchanan Pass Road)
Parking and permits: Parking is free; you must obtain a $5 permit through the Boulder Ranger District if you camp in this area between June 1st and September 15th
Map and trail info: click here

You’ll love this adventure if…

Forests are your thing. While this hike does offer some stunning alpine views, you will primarily be hiking through trees.
You prefer gentle ascents over steep trails. While this outing does offer over 3,000 feet of elevation gain, it’s distributed over many miles, so you won’t have to deal with your big pack fighting gravity on the steeps.
You love wildlife. This area is known for its growing moose population; I certainly saw several moose on this trail. As always, do not approach wildlife, and know what to do when you encounter animals.

Trail Beta
First of all, if you have a 4WD vehicle with high clearance that can handle extremely rough, rocky roads, you can shave about seven miles round-trip off of this hike by driving up Buchanan Pass Road (which parallels the hiking trail) to the 4WD trailhead. That said, the first few miles of trail are on soft trail right along the river, and are - in my opinion - not to be missed.
My recommended route for this trip is to backpack up to the beaver ponds below treeline (about a mile before Gibraltar Lakes) and set up camp there. Just remember to camp at least 100 feet away from lakes and streams (and trust me, with all the water-loving moose up there, you’ll want to do this). Once your camp is set up, adventure up to Gibraltar Lakes and enjoy the stunning alpine views - this is truly a gem of a place. The next day, pack up and hike to Red Deer Lake. After enjoying some time here, head back the same way you came (don’t try to take the social trail “shortcut” you might see on your map - it only leads to extensive bushwacking and doesn’t save much time, if any). Make sure to stop and soak your tired legs in the river at the end of the hike - it’s the best way to heal sore muscles!