If you have a family with younger children it can be difficult to find those perfect family friendly hikes. The idea of taking a family hike is great, until you get into the hike and the kids start complaining and the hike ends up being terrible rather than fun. So, to help us all get out and enjoy the beautiful state of Colorado I am sharing some of our favorite family friendly hikes in Colorado.
Family Friendly Hikes In Colorado
Evergreen Lake Trail
Distance: 1.3-mile Loop
Drive Time from Denver: 40 Minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Evergreen Trail is just a fun place for kids to play in and explore. There are places to fish and rent boats as well. Bring a picnic and make a day of it in Evergreen. This hike is a relaxing way to spend your Saturday mornings. During winter, the Evergreen Lake transforms into an ice skating wonderland so you better be prepared for that and include that in your itinerary.
Pine Valley Ranch Park Hike
Distance: 1.2 to 3.2 miles Round Trip
Drive Time from Denver: 1 Hour
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Pine Valley Ranch Park has become one of the best family-favorite parks near Denver. There are a lot of options to pick from the several hikes here. The park has it all: a beautiful lake, a rich history, a small island with a gazebo, and perhaps the best picnic area on the Front Range of Colorado.
Clear Creek Trail Downtown Golden
Distance: 1.8 miles Round Trip
Drive Time from Denver: 30 Minutes
Difficulty: Easy
The Clear Creek Trail in Golden, Colorado is a very kid-friendly hike! It has shade, kids can bike it, and you can end the hike with a walk through downtown Golden.
Raccoon Loop Hike in Golden Gate Canyon State Park
Distance: 2.5-Mile Loop
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Drive Time from Denver: 1 Hour
The Raccoon Loop will take you to the heart of Golden Gate Canyon State Park, located about 1 hour from Denver. There are many easy to moderate hiking trails in the park, and this is a great place to start.
Adams Falls in Rocky Mountain National Park
Distance: 0.6 round trip
Difficulty: Easy
Drive Time from Denver: 1 hour
Adams Falls is a short .6 mile round-trip hike near Grand Lake, Colorado. The waterfall borders Rocky Mountain National Park and its trail begins at the same trailhead for the East Inlet Trail. The waterfall is so beautiful.
Bridal Veil Falls in Idaho Springs
Distance: 1/4 mile round trip
Difficulty: Easy
Drive Time from Denver: 45 minutes
Bridal Veil Falls is best viewed from Water Wheel Park, a short and easy walk from the downtown of Idaho Springs, Colorado. The legacy of steam locomotives and gold mining make this a historic hike in an historic Colorado town.
Monarch Lake Loop Hike
Distance: 4 mile round trip
Difficulty: Easy
Drive Time from Denver: 3 hours
The Monarch Lake Loop is a perfect family hike that leads 4 miles through shaded forest, across creeks, and along the shore of the lake. It’s one of the more diverse, but easy, hikes in the area. Monarch Lake is a popular destination for canoeing, kayaking, and access to the Indian Peaks Wilderness area.
While these are not all of the kid friendly and family hikes in Colorado they are some of the more popular ones that do have a great space for picnics and play time. My kids love when the end of the hike ends with something different than a normal walk – that is why I included a lot of “water feature” endings like the lakes and waterfalls. As always, make sure you are following park/state rules when doing your hikes.
