This park in Evergreen, Colorado is a family favorite of some of our good friends. They have two young daughters and love to hike Alderfer and Three Sisters. The park has so many trails that the network can get confusing, so download the Alderfer trail map or pick one up at the trailhead. Scroll down for more information on this hike in the foothills of Colorado.
Trail Snapshot: Alderfer and Three Sisters Park
| Hike Distance | 18 Trails: .2 to 10+ Miles |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Easy (but consider altitude) |
| Duration | 15 min – 1.5 hrs |
| Trail Type | Loops, Out & Back |
| Starting Elevation | approx. 6500′ |
| Elevation Gain | 0 to approx. +950′, depending on the trail |
| Seasons | All |
| Dogs | Allowed On Leash |
| Hike Trail Map | Click for a Map of Alderfer and Three Sisters Park |
| Denver Drive Time | 40 min |
| Driving Directions to Alderfer and Three Sisters Park | Click for Google Map |
| Town Nearest Hike | Evergreen, Colorado |
| Beauty | rock formations, vistas, meadows, ponderosa pine, views of the Continental Divide, Stellar Jays and Coopers hawks |
| Activities | Hiking, climbing, family picnics, mountain biking |
Alderfer Three Sisters Park has an East and West Trailhead.
- Driving Directions to Alderfer Three Sisters East Parking Lot
- Driving Directions to Alderfer Three Sisters West Parking Lot
Alderfer and Three Sisters Park has everything from short, pleasant strolls for the family to more strenuous climbs and a long loop hike.
Some Hike Options at Alderfer and Three Sisters Park
A Short Family Hike:
The Wild Iris Loop (.6 mile loop) is a tame stroll through mountain meadows and can be easily accessed from the west parking lot.
Two hikes that are more strenuous
will take hikers to summit views: Evergreen Mountain East Trail, and the Sisters Trail. The Sisters trail may be the most difficult and most enjoyable in the park. The trail takes you up through three, unusual rock outcroppings and to views down into the quaint town of Evergreen.
A 10+ mile loop hike
can be created by hiking the trails that follow the outer rim of the park. Because the park has so many trails, it’s advisable to download the Alderfer Three Sisters Park Map (see link in the above trail snapshot). There are so many options that you’ll find it easy to create a hike custom to your visit.
Tips & Resources for Hiking Alderfer and Three Sisters Park:
- TIP: Trail List for 3 Sisters – JeffCo Parks
- TIP: Take a hike to the Brother for a great panoramic view and a place to take pictures.
- Alderfer and Three Sisters Park Map: Trail Map Link
- Colorado Road Conditions: Colorado Road Conditions
- After the Hike: Pizza at Beau Jo’s in Evergreen
- Photo: We would like to express our gratitude to Simon Foot for sharing such an amazing photograph of this hike.
Weather
Map & Driving Directions to Alderfer Three Sisters Park
Click for Driving Directions
It’s amazing how many trails they were able to fit into this great little park. I recently did the Sisters Trail, including the Brothers Lookout and the bit of Ponderosa Trail that connects them. The Sisters Trail alternates between easy and moderate, with the official park map describing parts of it as “strenuous”. I would describe myself as moderately fit and I did not find myself huffing and puffing at any point on the hike.
If you like to scramble, the Three Sisters rock formation provides some fun Class 3 climbing and rewards you with a 360 degree view of the area. The Brothers Lookout is a short, easy to reach point from the parking lot and affords a good view of Evergreen.
Other things to note include trash cans, well maintained pit toilets, clear and easy to spot trail signs and a large, easy to read map of the trails in the paved parking lot. Overall, a great park to spend the day in if you want to escape the city and be surrounded by trees and mountains.
Three Sisters is one of my favorite hikes near Denver. There are many trail options that are family friendly and provide gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. I would suggest this site for hikers of all levels who want to enjoy Colorado’s beautiful mountains without having to drive very far.I always encourage friends from out of town who want a nice hike to start there.
One thing to note though, is that on weekends the trails can get pretty busy, so if you like to hike in complete solitude, this may not be the place for you. With that said, it’s one of the less crowded hiking spots that I’ve hiked that is easily accessible to Denver.
Did this one this morning and it was fantastic. We got there at around 8 AM and there was not a lot of people there, it was a perfect experience. It is popular with mountain bikers, dog friendly, we saw elk and brother’s lookout is definitely worth it. Overall, it was a pretty easy hike with tree cover when you get across the meadow into the hiking trails. The park was filling fast at about 10
AM, so get there as early as you can! Will definitely go, thanks to this site for a great spot.
Awesome! Great blog and photos. I will refer to your blog when I visit CO again with my pup. Congrats on being in the Top 100 Hiking blogs to follow :) Alicia @ http://www.girlonahike.com
This is one of favorites too. I live in Evergreen and hike here at least once a week. One thing for flatlanders….the startind elevation is about 7500 ft, not 6500. As always, hydrate, hydrate , hydrate….the Mountain rule is half your body weight in ounces per day, so that’s gonna be 2 1/2 to 3 liters for most guys and 2 to 2 1/2 fur most ladies. Pease be courteous to others as this is a very popular hike….come enjoy our paradise but do be respectful as Mountain folk are kind and friendly…
Just did this on June 7, 2019 with my Texas sister. I liked the trail and (although in late 50s and not an avid hiker) did not find it to be too strenuous. It was really tough for my sea-level sister, though: I should have found an easier hike as now I’m not sure I will ever convince her to hike in Colorado again! A nice lunch and glass of wine in Evergreen restored her. I do think that had we started out on the Ponderosa Trail (going left rather than uphill on the Sisters Trail), taken in Brother’s Lookout, continued on Ponderosa, and then simply doubled back when she felt fatigued, it would have been a much gentler introduction to hiking. I’ll be back with Denver friends.