The Centennial State is one of the best places in the country to enjoy hiking. The people of Colorado are blessed with natural wonders, and they appreciate this fact. Even in the heart of Denver, you don’t have to go far to experience nature.

Still, if you want to get the most out of your next Colorado hiking trip, then you need to find a destination that matches up with your needs.

With that in mind, we’ll look at the different places you can hike in Colorado and the advantages that each brings to the table.

State Parks

If you’re looking to try hiking on your own for the first time, then you should definitely pay a visit to one of the many state parks in Colorado.

The largest and most famous is the State Forest State Park, which is around 7 times larger than the next biggest state park in Colorado.

But if you can’t make it to the State Forest then you don’t have to worry, there are state parks spread throughout Colorado, so you never have to drive too far to get to one.

Besides state forest, other popular parks include the John Martin Reservoir, Golden Gate Canyon, and Lake Pueblo State Parks.

Each park offers unique natural wonders and visitor centers that will provide you with the information you need to find the right hiking trail for you. Make sure you get a map before heading out.

Even if you think you don’t need one the chances are that you’ll be thankful you brought a map later on.

Resort Towns

Hiking can be relaxing if you do it right, but you need to know what you’re doing and where you’re going.

If you’ve never gone hiking before and you want your first hiking experience to be as safe as possible, then you should consider hiking out from one of Colorado’s many resort towns.

Resorts are dedicated to providing guests with a safe and stimulating hiking experience. You’ll have to pay for the privilege of getting hiking assistance, but if you’re worried about safety, then the service is worth the price.

After all, nothing’s more valuable than your health and safety.

“Mile High City”

Once you’ve gotten used to hiking over plains and hills, there will come a time when you look up a mountain and decide you want to climb as far up as you can.

Colorado is the place to be if you want to get as high as you can. Denver is called the “Mile High City” for a reason and the mountains that loom over the city climb even higher.

The state has over 50 peaks that rise up more than fourteen thousand feet in total. Popular mountain hikes include Saint Vrain Mountain, Flat Top Mountain, and Mount Elbert.

The highest point you can climb to in the state is on Mount Elbert, but there are also trails you can take if you don’t want to go all the way up.

The Colorado Trail

Hiking up a single mountain is enough for most people, but if you’re a truly dedicated hiker who craves challenge, then the Colorado Trail might be what you’re looking for.

This is a trail that crosses over 500 miles of Colorado’s most amazing natural wonders. If this sounds intimidating, you should know that you don’t have to walk the entire 500-mile trail.

It has been divided into 28 segments so that you can choose the stretch of the trail that meets your needs.