Best for: Bear Lake hikers who want to escape the crowds
Anglers and hikers who don’t mind sweating for their views, take notice. Though this journey begins at the popular Bear Lake Trailhead, it quickly departs from the more-trammeled Emerald Lake circuit and climbs roughly 1,900 feet through towering pines, and glacially-polished granite, delivering epic views of Longs Peak and Chiefs Head Peak. At Odessa, pause for a snack break and take in the sight of Notchtop Mountain, sitting just beyond the lake.
Chasm Lake
Distance: 8.4 miles
Best for: Longs Peak hikers who love alpine lakes
Want to trek way above the tree line—and marvel at a gorgeous alpine lake while you’re at it? Chasm Lake, which sits perched at a lofty 11,760 feet, is an adventurous day hike for fit trekkers who want to experience the granite moonscape that mountaineers revel in. Begin in a subalpine forest at the Longs Peak Trailhead, then take your time ascending 2,390 feet to the lake itself, which is ringed with imposing cliffs. Along the way, be on the lookout for alpine cuties like pikas and marmots.
Flattop Mountain
Distance: 8.8 miles
Best for: Summiting a trail-accessible and scenic 12,000-footer
The name of this trail is misleading, because there’s nothing flat about the unrelenting 2,850-foot climb to the top of Flattop Mountain. This hike begins and ends at the ever-popular Bear Lake Trailhead, and it switchbacks through mature pine groves, subalpine forests, and fragile tundra ecosystems before popping hikers onto the summit at a breath-stealing 12,324-feet above sea level. Enjoy fabulous views of Longs Peak and Keyboard of the Winds on the ascent, and if 8.8 miles isn’t enough, you can extend this trip to Hallett Peak or Tyndall Glacier.
Sky Pond
Distance: 9 miles
Best for: Fantastic waterfalls, scrambling, and uncrowded lake access
Beginning along the same route as The Loch, which also made our list, the trip up to Sky Pond is longer and really ups the ante, skirting the edge of Loch Vale before opening up to enchanting views of Timberline Falls. Veer right here and ascend a steep 100-foot scramble (and yes, this is the official route if you start to wonder), passing the brilliantly-turquoise Lake of Glass before reaching the glittering water and surrounding toothy spires of Sky Pond. Treat yourself to a goosebump-inducing cold plunge before heading back down.