Choose between a 2-mile or a 3-mile loop hike here at the foot of the Front Range. Both loops are on the easy side of moderate, winding between ponderosa woods and open grassland views. The iconic slabs of the Flatirons rise to the northwest.

This hike gains roughly 1,000 feet as it climbs the Cedar Gulch Trail then loops the summit of Mt Galbraith, situated just west of Golden. Look west for mountain views or east across the plains to Golden, Denver, and beyond. It's a moderate, 5-mile round-trip hike to the upper loop and back down to the trailhead.

A moderate, 3-mile loop hike circles the western end of North Table Mountain, providing open views and well-graded trails along the way. Hikers seeking a longer adventure can extend the loop to upwards of 8 miles depending on the trails they choose, but combining the North Table Loop, Tilting Mesa Trail, and Mesa Top Trail makes for a lovely evening ramble.

An easy 1.5-mile loop along the Trading Post Trail gives hikers up close views of these stunning rock formations above Morrison. This park is also home to the famed Red Rocks Amphitheatre, so it's a good idea to check the concert schedule if you're looking for a quiet evening outing.

This strenuous 3.6-mile hike above South Boulder Creek has a lot to offer. The scenic climb up Rattlesnake Gulch gets the blood pumping and passes the ruins of the historic Crags Hotel. Higher up, a spur trail leads to a wide view of the Continental Divide and a short loop leads back around to the top of Rattlesnake Gulch.

An easy 2.7-mile loop welcomes hikers here along with grand views of Denver and the Front Range. Add a mile to the hike by taking the two spur trails to observation points inside the loop. The trail gains 350 feet on its circuit.

A two-mile loop winds along the shores of Lake Mary and Lake Ladora here in a landscape that's home to over 250 species of birds and scores of mammals, including bison.