re: Denver/Breckinridge in May-best hikes?

Such a bad, bad idea for a flatlander to go to elevation in May for a diffcult hike. Here is what you do. Go to Boulder. Park at Chautauqua. Hike the 2nd Flatiron or Gregory Canyon or Saddle Rock to Green Mountain if you are feeling ambitious. You get views of the Front Range and the back range and you still get a 3 k elevation gain but at a more flatlander-friendly altitude.

If you are feeling really ambitious, again, drive to Boulder, park at NCAR LINK and hike all the way to the top of Bear Mountain. It's a challenging hike, but again under 9000 feet and that makes a huge difference if you are not acclimated.

The advantage of Boulder is you are less than an hour from Boulder and the weather is FAR more predictable. Plus when you are done you have your choice of every bar and restaurant in town. Trust me on this.

Edit-The link I gave you has the best trails in Boulder. I have hiked every square inch of Boulder County 1000 times. If you get a cold day-try Mt Sanitis, as it is south facing and snow and ice very seldom accumulates on the trail. It's a great hike, you go up "the steps" from the main trailhead and go down the front side onto a really nice trail. This is more step than trail and can wear ya out for a short hike if you aren't used to it. All of these hikes are the kind of hike you take in shorts, a layer or two and a fleece.