Hiking near Longmont? (Fort Collins, Boulder, Mead: live, parks, area)

[Tim Rankin]

I'm curious as to how far west you'd have to drive out of Longmont to get some decent hiking.

When we lived in ABQ, we were about 10 min. from several trailheads with decent vertical ascents. Currently in MD, we're about 15-25 min. from several trails that offer semi-good hiking, although without the vertical challenge of the Sandias.

I'm aware of the hiking opportunities in RMNP, but it seems to be about a 1 hr. drive to the trailheads. Do the foothills & smaller mtns east of the mountains offer o.k. hiking? Say, within a 20-25 min. drive of old town Longmont?

Thanks in advance for any input.

[Shuffler]

Go West on Hwy 66 toward Lyons...you have Rabbit Mtn open space, Hall Ranch, Heil Valley Ranch...all within 10minutes/10miles of town.

Boulder County Parks & Open Space

[Boredinohio]

Rabbit mountain is ok.Its pretty close to Longmont.

[Lupulin]

Boulder trailheads are only about 15-20 minutes from Longmont (depending on what part of town you're driving from). Mesa Trail goes all the way from Boulder to Eldorado Springs. Dozens of trails spur off Mesa and head to higher ground. Chautauqua seems to be the heart.

Literally blocks from downtown Boulder there are trailheads that start at the base of Flagstaff Mountain, or Red Rocks at Settler's Park (Canyon & Pearl), or Mt. Sanitas off Mapleton (Sunshine Canyon).

Sanitas' ridge will net you about 1,400 vertical feet in just 1.5-2 miles.

Bear Peak sits 3,000 feet over Boulder, and trailheads for it are just on the edge of town. There's also Green Mountain, Flagstaff Mountain, South Boulder Peak ...

Then ... St. Vrain Canyon has hiking ... and halfway to RMNP is Button Rock ... Elk Meadows, too, though I haven't explored there.

Take Lefthand Canyon to the Brainard Lake area (probably 45 minutes from Longmont) for PLENTY of hiking. Lots of vertical gain options, too. Mt. Audubon is a good under-3,000-foot climb to just over 13k.

Drive a half hour north to Fort Collins and head west to Horsetooth for good, easy-access hiking.

Believe me, there's a lifetime's worth within a half hour of Longmont. And if that doesn't satisfy, extend it to an hour or two away and you'll have 10 lifetime's worth.

[DressageRider]

If you are open to driving 20-35 minutes (rather than 20-25, as you stated), you'll have tons of possibilities. Plus you can drive 45 minutes to an hour into the mountains and there are endless trailheads.

[chilaili]

Has anyone taken the new trail that starts just past the intersection of Broadway and Hwy 36 north to Lyons? It heads due west into the foothills and I was curious as to where it comes out.

[Tim Rankin]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I figured there must be hiking nearby but judging from the responses and advice, it's better than I expected.