Three of the best summer hikes in Colorado from Roots Rated

One of the biggest perks of living in an American Legend home in Colorado is access to local attractions in the great outdoors. With the Rocky Mountains right around the corner from all of our communities, families can easily find a fun day hike for all skill levels. Rootsrated.com has an extensive index of outdoor activities all around the country, here are a few Northern Colorado hikes  they’ve shared:

Longs Peak - Keyhole Route
Difficulty: Hard
At 14,255 feet, Longs Peak is the 13th highest mountain in the state and one of the most visited peaks. The National Park Service estimates about 15,000 people attempt to get to the top of Longs each year, with only 50% of them actually reaching the summit. The 15-mile roundtrip, 5,000+ feet of elevation gain, thrilling exposure, and unpredictable weather can challenge even the most seasoned hiker. The trail is well-marked and can be crowded on summer weekends, but Longs always delivers on its promise of stunning views and rocky terrain.

Mount Bierstadt
Difficulty: Moderate
Many aspiring Colorado hikers make the mistake of targeting Longs Peak before they have the fitness or experience. Here’s where Mount Bierstadt comes into play. This popular 14,060’ peak off of Guanella Pass near Georgetown is a 6-mile round trip along a well-maintained trail. It’s a great starter mountain for those hoping reach all of Colorado’s tallest summits. More experienced hikers can test their skill on Sawtooth Ridge, a 1-mile stretch of Class 3 rock that connects the summit of Bierstadt with the shoulder of Mount Spaulding and eventually Mount Evans. 

Argentine Pass
Difficulty: Easy to moderate 
Argentine Pass connects two basins, one accessed from Guanella Pass near Georgetown and a second accessed from the tiny mountain town of Montezuma near Keystone Resort. Both access points require a bit of driving to reach. The eastern approach from Guanella has a parking area at the mining town of Waldorf. From here, a walk up to the 13,207’ pass is roughly 2 miles one-way up a 4x4 road (dedicated 4x4 vehicles can drive to the top of the pass). From the the Montezuma side, hikers take a 2.5 mile trail up from the less-developed Horseshoe Basin to the pass. From the top of the pass, hikers carry on to grab 13,738’ Argentine Peak to the South or 13,850’ Mount Edwards to the north.