Top 7 Memorial Day Weekend Hikes

Trying to figure out where to hike this Memorial Day weekend? We’ve put together a list of recommended hikes within about an hour of Denver. We’ve also noted a seven to avoid this Memorial Day weekend. Unless you’re backpacking deep in the wilderness, you’re still going to encounter a lot of traffic and people. If you want to avoid all of that, you’ll need to arrive at the trailhead before 7AM. Here’s the criteria we’ve used to select these seven hikes near Denver: Be sure to download our Free Hiking Guide to help you prepare and pack smart for your dayhikes.

• Ample Parking: Memorial Day Weekends generate some of the highest traffic to our website each year. So, I’m going to draw the conclusion that the trailheads near Denver experience the same high number of visitors. Vacationers are making their way into Colorado, and graduation events are in full swing. So, while I’d rather direct you first to some wonderful features like waterfalls and peak-top views, getting a parking space is probably priority number one.
• Enjoyable with Friends & Family: Often on holiday weekends, like Memorial Day Weekend, we are out hiking with friends and family. I tried to put together a set of hikes that are not too difficult and open up spaces for conversation.
• Close to Denver: This set of hikes are all within 60 minutes of Denver, Colorado. If you want to explore hikes that are further from town, check out our Hikes Worth the Drive page.

• Castlewood Canyon State Park Trails

Distance: 1/4 mile to 4 miles
Drive Time from Denver: 50 Minutes
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Castlewood Canyon State Park has a lot of hiking options, but some of the best hikes follow the creek along the canyon floor. It’s important to know that parking is limited on the west side of the park, but the parking on the east side near the visitor center accommodates more vehicles. Check out our Castlewood Canyon State Park Trails page for a list of 5 different hike options.






• Clear Creek Trail in Downtown Golden

Distance: 1.8 miles Round Trip
Drive Time from Denver: 30 Minutes
Difficulty: Easy
The Clear Creek trail in Golden offers a great opportunity for families with strollers and groups to hike alongside one another. As I mentioned before, with water levels high and currents swift this time of year, be cautious around the water’s edge. See our Clear Creek hike profile page for full details, including directions to several parking areas. It’s not your classic backcountry hike, but it’s a great weekend adventure.





• Trading Post Trail at Red Rocks Park

Distance: 1.4-mile Loop
Drive Time from Denver: 30 Minutes
Difficulty: Easy
I recommend the Trading Post Trail at Red Rocks more than any other hike in the Denver Area. I have three reasons: The hike is beautiful, it’s short, and it’s super close to Denver. There is more than just the trail to explore. Be sure to take in the amphitheater and the cave just north of the amphitheater. You’ll find the cave info on another trail profile for the Red Rocks Trail below. This is a great hike for families with kids and the perfect hike for family who are visiting for the holiday weekend.





• Spruce Mountain Hikes Near Larkspur

Distance: 1.5-mile Out & Back and 4-mile Loop
Drive Time from Denver: 50 Minutes
Difficulty: Moderate
Spruce Mountain is one of our favorites. The hike is south of Denver in the middle of a landscape of rolling green meadows and towering buttes. The views of Pikes Peak are incredible. Because it is elevated, you are more exposed to weather rolling in over the foothills. See our full trail profile of Spruce Mountain for directions, map, and hiking tips specific to this hike.





• Red Rocks Trail at Red Rocks Park

Distance: 6-mile Loop
Drive Time from Denver: 25 Minutes
Difficulty: Moderate
Here’s another trail in Red Rocks Park just outside of Denver. If you are looking for a longer trail with more options, this may be a great choice. It is very exposed to the sun, so remember to wear a hat and sunscreen. This hikes offers great views of the iconic red rocks of Denver, the amphitheater, hogbacks, and foothills.





• Waterton Canyon Trail

Distance: 12.4 miles Round Trip with other options
Drive Time from Denver: 35 Minutes
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Waterton Canyon is a popular hike south of Littleton that follows the Platte River for 6.2 miles up to Strontia Springs Dam. Every bend in the broad dirt road beckons you to discover new views just around the corner. No dogs allowed on this one because of the wildlife. I’ve seen golden eagles and bighorns sheep nearly every time I’ve hiked Waterton Canyon. For tips on where to spot the bighorns and for directions, see our full trail profile on Waterton Canyon. Waterton Canyon has experienced closures in 2016, but has been reopened for 7-days a week access beginning 5/15/16. Because of the high river levels, the river access is closed until about mile marker three.





• White Ranch Sunset Loop Near Golden

Distance: 2-mile Loop
Drive Time from Denver: 45 Minutes
Difficulty: Moderate
White Ranch is tucked away in the foothills north of Golden and makes for a great afternoon sunset hike or morning sunrise hike. We’ve assembled a set of trails to create a loop that we’ve named the Sunset Loop. See our full trail profile for details a great loop hike at White Ranch.

7 Hikes to Avoid this Memorial Day Weekend

The following Hikes will likely be packed and have both parking and capacity issues.
– Eldorado Canyon
– Maxwell Falls
– Mt. Galbraith
– Roxborough Park
– Evergreen Lake
– Mt. Falcon
– Hikes out of Boulder’s Chautauqua Park

Map of Top 7 Memorial Day Weekend Hikes