With over two thousand lakes throughout Colorado, you can fill every weekend with a new expedition. We are on a mission to profile as many Colorado lake hikes as we can. Our favorites are the high mountain paternoster lakes. These are a series of tiered lakes connected by mountain streams, each lake spilling into the other, creating cascades and waterfalls along the way. Rocky Mountain National Park is full of these. Explore the trail profiles below and come back as we add more lake hikes near Denver.
Andrews Glacier and Tarn in Rocky Mountain National Park
Black Lake Falls in Rocky Mountain National Park
Shelf Lake Falls in Rocky Mountain National Park
Shelf Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park
Black Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park
Jewel Lake Hike in Rocky Mountain National Park
Mills Lake Hike in Rocky Mountain National Park
Four Lakes and Waterfall Loop in Rocky Mountain National Park
Lake Haiyaha Hike in Rocky Mountain National Park
Dream Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park
Nymph Lake Hike in Rocky Mountain National Park
Sky Pond in Rocky Mountain National Park
The Loch in Rocky Mountain National Park
Ultimate Guide to Maroon Bells in Colorado
Buffalo Creek Falls at Wellington Lake
Pine Valley Ranch Park Hike
Blue Grouse Trail at Golden Gate Canyon Park
Guide for Hiking Hanging Lake in Colorado
St. Mary’s Glacier near Idaho Springs, Colorado
Mt. Bierstadt Trail on Guanella Pass
Evergreen Lake Trail
Forgotten Valley Hike at Golden Gate State Park
Chicago Lakes Hike Near Mt. Evans
Bear Lake Hike at Rocky Mountain National Park
Crown Hill Lake Trails
Lakes Loop Trail at Rocky Mountain Arsenal
Arthur’s Rock Trail in Lory State Park
Echo Lake Trail Near Mt. Evans
Emerald Lake Hike Rocky Mountain National Park
Aaron Johnson has been hiking in Colorado for over 20 years. The owner and editor of Dayhikes Near Denver, Aaron writes every trail profile as a local guide who has hiked hundreds of miles of trails along the Front Range and deep in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.