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

I lived there for a decade and hiking is my deal.

Drive to Boulder. Park. Hike.Chautauqua is a great place to start-there are a myriad of trails . If you want a good challenging hike try Gregory Canyon/Green Mountain. If you want to amp it up try Bear Mountain a mile to the South. If you want a GREAT short (under an hour up) steep trail run try Mt Sanitas. These are all day hikes at the moderate to difficult level (in parts). Do it in the morning and head to Boulder Creek to cool down and then head over to Pearl Street Mall in the afternoon for food /drinks/people watching.Seriously, make Boulder your base and you will Thank me later.

If you have 3/4 days and want a really cool long hike with camping I'll give you a GREAT one that's off the grid. Drive to a town called St Elmo's. Ask a local to direct you to a trail head. Preferably the one that takes you up Mt. Princeton. Enjoy two/three days of perfect solitude. Bring a couple beers in your backpack for the top.