Joy on the Trails is a blog series detailing all the incredible hiking trails within an hour of Denver. All the trails featured are accessible to anyone new to hiking, or just wanting to get out without driving for hours into the mountains. I hope you uncover your own joy of hiking and I hope you’re inspired to try a few of my favorite trails. And if you’re so inclined, join me sometime… I’m out there a lot!
It’s a New Year, Try a New Trail!
It’s a new year, and this week I’m going to try a new trail. I’ll post next week on the details, but for now let’s talk about how to pick a new trail, and how to be safe and confident when you don’t know where you’re going. There is so much to see in Colorado, so take a chance, plan a route, ask friends were they like to hike, and get lots of pictures.
My favorite tool on new trails is the “All Trails” app. If you are an avid hiker, pay a couple bucks for the upgraded version so you can download trails. You’ll want this feature because most trails don’t have great data connection. The star feature of this app are the interactive maps that use GPS to show you where you are on the route and track the elevation. I love knowing how much further the “uphill” is. You get me, right?
My other favorite tool is books! There are countless trail guides available and I love all of them. The “Best Hikes…” series has books on 14ers, 13ers, dog friendly trails (hint - all of them), easy hikes for kids, and more. Guide books do a great job of describing interesting historical details or specific sights you may see on the trail.
One thing I will say about all trail guides… pay attention to how the hikes are rated. Check the mileage on the hike as well as expected elevation gains to make your own evaluation. For example, if a book is rating “Moderate” hikes around 8-10 miles with elevation gain, I do some math to calculate my knee pain, plus the number of glasses of wine I had the previous night, divided by forecasted wind speed and find that the answer to this hike is actually “Challenging”. Your math may be different, but take the time to pull out a calculator!
When you’re trying a new trail, absolutely don’t forget to send someone a text sharing your location and letting them know when you’re expecting to be back. Additionally, leave a quick note on your car with your expected route description. Take more ounces of water, and review your pack to make sure it’s stocked (ahhh… another blog post coming soon: what to pack).
With some research and careful planning, trying new spots is pure joy! Even with 25 years in the Denver area hiking all the local trails, I am still finding new routes and peaks to climb.
Come hiking with me!
If you want more information on this or other trails in the area, please don’t hesitate to reach out! Just like the homes I sell, I can even show it to you in person! And learn more about my Realtor life here.
