Golden: North Table Mountain Park

This is a beautiful hike with excellent views, and is extremely close to Denver. The area has no trees and is extremely exposed to the sun and wind. I wouldn't recommend coming in the hot summer months because you will run the risk of getting fried. No matter what the temperature, remember to wear sunscreen and dress in layers.

We did the North Table Mesa loop, beginning at the southern entrance, which turned out to be about a 2 hour hike. The trail is gravel and wide enough to drive a car on. Although we ran into a number of mountain bikers, there really weren't that many hikers out on a Sunday afternoon. The beginning and end of the hike is steep, however the majority of the trail is flat and easy sailing. I would like to come back and do the bigger loop in the future. The views of Denver/Golden, the mountains, and nifty rock formations are incredible, so don't forget to bring your camera!

An interesting side note: this park has the nicest outdoor public restroom that I have ever seen! Running water, two bathroom stalls, and actual toilets (that were extremely clean, for the record). Stay classy, North Table Mountain.

Driving directions from Denver: Take the Golden exit, right on Hwy 93, drive a few minutes while looking for "North Table Mesa" signs. The parking lot and trailhead will be on the right.

Golden: Centennial Cone Park

We did a small loop, which lasted about 1.5 hours with a few breaks. From the trailhead we took Elk Range Trail to Travois Trail to Juniper Trail to Mayhem Gulch Trail to Travois Trail, which makes a nice little 2 mile loop. Map and park information here: http://jeffco.us/openspace/openspace_T56_R95.htm.

The hike was pretty gentle and mostly flat. Great for a hungover Sunday afternoon when you just want to get some fresh air and a little exercise in a beautiful setting. No water in the area. Hiking is allowed on odd numbered days, and mountain biking is allowed on even numbered days. There are some really nice overlooks and not a lot of people on the trail. I would like to come back and do the bigger loop. There is a bathroom at the trailhead.

Directions from Golden: Take 58 to US 6 toward Black Hawk. There will be a sign on the road for Centennial Cone Park. Go up the road and go straight when the road splits (the paved road will turn into gravel). The trailhead parking lot will be less than a mile up the road. Or, to add 1.5 miles onto your hike, park at the Mayhem Gulch parking area which is just off of US 6 before you see the sign for Centennial Cone Park.

Guanella Pass & Mt. Bierstadt

Best camping spot ever! And the hike wasn't bad either.

From Denver, take I-70 to the Georgetown exit. Go through town and follow the signs to Granella Pass. Once you turn onto Granella Pass Road and begin climbing up the mountain, drive 7-8 miles and look for our camping spot on the left. There are lots of camping spots in this area, but this one can accommodate many tents. Hint- you have to cross a stream to access the camping spot.

To access the Mt. Bierstadt trail, drive up Granella Pass about 12 miles. You will see a paved parking lot on the left with bathrooms. The trail starts right beside these bathrooms.

The Mt. Bierstadt hike is about 7 miles roundtrip, and is extremely intense (for me, anyway). You will climb almost 3,000 feet to get to the peak, which is 14,060 feet. This is apparently one of the easiest 14ers to hike, so you will encounter a ton of people, especially on the weekends. For the best weather, go in July, August, or early September (we went over Labor Day weekend).

Start the hike as early as possible to avoid afternoon thunderstorms. We arrived at the trailhead around 9:30 and hit the trail by 10, and were done with the hike around 3. Remember to pack lots of layers, because it gets colder the higher you climb! I was freezing once we reached the summit.

One more thing- pack a bunch of food and water. And make sure to stretch before you start!