Want a low-key hike or to see the top of the world?
Grand County and Rocky Mountain National Park have hiking galore! 

You’ll realize on your very first Winter Park hike that there simply is nothing like summer in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.  Winter Park’s top of the world hiking is second to none with over 442,000 acres of public land in Grand County open for you to explore.  With over 600 miles of trails, there are enough hiking trails near Winter Park to accommodate all levels of fitness and outdoor expertise.  Get yourself a good guidebook, stop into a local outfitter’s shop and pick their brains.  There are so many good spots to hike near Winter Park, we had a hard time choosing, but listed below are a few hikes to get you started.  So get out there and enjoy one of our favorite Winter Park summer activities.

Byers Peak – This peak is one of the most prominent mountains around, located just west of Fraser in southern Grand County and it’s the highest point in the Byers Peak Wilderness Area.  It’s a great spot that doesn’t get s a huge amount of attention due to the fact that it’s under 14,000 feet, but the awesome views of all the peaks in the Vasquez Mountain Range, the Never Summer Range, Indian Peaks, Rocky Mountain National Park, Williams Fork Range, and the Gore Range, coupled with the many possible routes and loops to hike in the area make it an awesome spot.

Devils Thumb – This hike takes you through beautiful and peaceful forests, countless streams and waterfalls, meadows that flow in the wind and are covered in amazingly bright wildflowers making this a great introduction to the Indian Peaks' pristine high country.

The Never Summer Wilderness – These 14,100 acres became a wilderness area by act of Congress in 1980.  There are quite a few awesome trails in this area making it one of the coolest and most unique around with everything from Alpine wetlands to the old mines from the early 1900s still being visible. There’s an extensive network of trails in this area, including the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.

Before you go keep in mind that mountain weather is ever-changing.  Thunderstorms are common later in the day during the summer months; so bring a windbreaker or sweatshirt, even on warm days and avoid high mountain tops in the afternoon.  It never hurts to be prepared, even if you’re only planning on being out for the day make sure you have some essentials such as, a map, a compass, sunscreen, and plenty of water. Dehydration can set on quickly especially when you’re hiking at high altitudes.