re: Denver - Top Hiking Trails/Things to Do this summer

The Mt. Evans area is close enough to Denver that you can go pretty much any afternoon and it is basically empty during the week. A lot of purist hate on it b/c of the road to the top but you can easily avoid that but you can also use that to your advantage. You can use the road to access different areas of the mountain to gather beta. The approach from Echo lake via the Chicago Basin offers mind blowing views! If you are adventurous, you can approach from Echo Lake up through the Basin and then return down the front side via Warren, Rogers and Goliath. It is about a 20 mile round trip with a good deal of vert. Also, you can always use the road as a visual anchor if you get disoriented.

Closer in, Clear Creek Canyon offers a lot of fun options. Just head out on 6 and stop at any of the numerous trail heads and start exploring.