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!
A few trail options… hard and super duper hard!
Ready for a good workout and a decent up hill climb? Head out to Centennial Conefor a nice bun burner! This trail has a two mile incline right out of the parking lot, and then flattens and heads back down hill. The Mayhem Gultch trail is a “balloon” configuration meaning it has a spur, followed by a loop, then you come back down the spur.
My favorite part of Centennial Cone is that they close a majority of the park for elk birthing in the Spring, so until the end of June, the north end of the park is off limits. Cool right?
Some notes about this park… on the weekends, they alternate days for bikes and hikers. On even weekend days, only bikes are allowed. On odd weekend days, only hikers are allowed. This mixed-use design allows for easier flow of traffic, less stopping, and fewer accidents. Check the web site for all the details before heading out.
In the summer months after calving season, this park offers a truly back country experience. The loop into the back country is 12 miles! There is no overnight camping, so if you head out on this trail into the back country, be prepared with a LOT of water, food and emergency provisions. This hike isn’t for beginners.
The last time I did Centennial Cone was with my family and we stopped for lunch and enjoyed a spectacular view of the Divide. Some people gauge a hike by how quickly they get done… I like to measure a hike by how desperately I don’t want it to end. This one will make you want to linger.
GPS Locator: 32447 US Highway 6, Golden, CO 80403
Managed by: Jefferson County Open Space
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.
