Tips & Hints - After Work Hikes

One of the great joys of the summer is that it stays light out long enough to get in an after-work hike. Thanks to the excellent work of Jefferson County Open Space and Denver Mountain Parks, those of us on the Front Range have a plethora of options to choose from. Here are a few of my very favorite after-work hikes:

Mt. Falcon – This is a great leg burner. You climb about 1,000 feet in 1.7 miles, and can climb an additional 1,000 feet to a picnic shelter, if you are so inclined. The nice thing about Mt. Falcon is that it offers a hiker-only trail in the Turkey Trot trail. Since this area is extremely popular with mountain bikers, I highly recommend that option!
Mt. Galbraith – A great hiker-only park. Good climb through some interesting terrain, and a very doable 4.4 miles round trip, if you add in the loop at the top, which you should.
Green Mountain – Another popular trail with both mountain bikers and hikers, with a lot of different options for adding or subtracting length to your hike (take a map!). I would recommend doing this one in early summer or late summer/early fall. There is very little shade, and it can get scorching!
Apex – This trail leaves from the parking lot of Heritage Square and is also very popular with mountain bikers. But, it meanders near a creek and you can often catch deer or elk at the top, so it makes it worthwhile. And, it’s a great climb.
Deer Creek – A little south of the metro area, this is a great area that offers mixed use trails as well as a hiker-only option. There are some interesting red rock formations to check out, and usually some deer near the trailhead.
Elk Meadow – I like to save my Evergreen hikes for when it’s super hot in Denver. This one is a pleasant walk in the trees and meadows near Evergreen, and also serves as the base of the climb to Bergen Peak.
Bergen Peak – It a while to get to the top of this 9,700 peak, so I would not recommend it if you are short of time or can’t leave the trailhead by 5:30 or 6. It is 3.7 miles one-way to the top, and I have been caught hiking back down in the pitch black a few times, which can be a little dangerous.
Lair O’ the Bear – This is a great trail for kids because it follows Bear Creek and is relatively flat for about 1.5 miles before climbing more steeply. This JeffCo park connects with Little Park, a Denver Mountain Park, so be sure you have a map that covers both areas.
Red Rocks Trail – This trail offers great views of Denver and Red Rocks Amphitheater. It is not recommended for hot, hot, hot days as there is very little shade. Depending on how far you want to go, you can park at Red Rocks, or at the Matthew Winters Parking lot.
White Ranch – Great Foothills hike with a hiker-only option. Not a ton of shade until you reach the top, but really pretty views of Golden and Denver beyond.
Centennial Cone – This park alternates mountain biking days and hiking days on the weekends, but are multi-use during the week. The trail has several loops, so you can make it as long or as short as you’d like.

There are other options for your after-work enjoyment, but these are a few of my favorites. What are your favorite after work hikes?