Where to find hikes accessible in November and reachable by public transport from Denver?

Question

I will be in Denver in a couple of weeks on business and have two days free. I'd like to go into the mountains and take a hike, but I'm having trouble finding the right information. (It's my first time in the US, so part of it is that I don't really know what to expect in terms of signage, population density, etc.) I have found many websites that describe hikes but either they are all extremely short (1 mile), or they don't have GPX files / maps, or they don't specify whether the hike is accessible in autumn / winter, or it is not clear if you can get there by public transport, ... Because I have so little time there, I want to plan as much as possible in advance, i.e. I don't want to have to go to the tourist office when I'm there.

Is there a website or organization that collects information like this? Or a limited number of reliable sources that I can easily combine? Of course, I only need 2 hikes, so I don't need a website with all these features. If you can recommend anything, that would be very helpful as well!

The most important requirements are:

• Accessible in end of November without special equipment (no snow shoes, rock climbing gear or anything like that)
• Reachable from Denver by public transport
• Feasible in a day (including transport) with moderate fitness, say no more than 10 miles but probably shorter depending on elevation gain

Answer 1

I don't have a specific resource to point to, but I do have a personal recommendation: the foothills adjacent to Boulder, CO.

As far as public transport, Boulder is a bright spot in a region whose public transit is otherwise not so great. The Flatiron Flyer bus has frequent express service between downtown Denver (Union Station) and downtown Boulder, taking about 45 minutes. There are trailheads within walking distance of the downtown Boulder bus station, such as the Boulder Canyon Trail.

Or, you can transfer to a local Boulder bus, such as the SKIP which runs every 5-10 minutes all day, and serves some of the Boulder Open Space and Mountain Park trailheads along Lehigh St. and Greenbriar Blvd. The OMSP area offers an extensive network of trails, ranging from flat to very steep, so you should be able to choose something that suits you. The peaks have great views.

This area is at relatively low elevation by Colorado standards; the flat parts are around 5500 feet (say 1700 m), and the peaks around 8500 feet (say 2600 m). This will be nicer for your altitude acclimatization, and also more likely to be snow free. The higher mountains above 10000 feet (3000 meters) are already snow covered.

Snow can fall in every part of Colorado in November, not only in the mountains, and it is entirely possible that there will be days when you can't really hike anywhere without snowshoes. But your chances are reasonably good.

Downtown Boulder also has lots of nice cafes, restaurants and breweries if you want to relax after your hike before returning to Denver.

Answer 2

A word of caution. People die when hiking in Colorado regularly due to adverse weather events - especially during the winter months. Snow can come suddenly and hit hard. I recommend following the advice in the answer by @Nate Eldredge as this limits your elevation to much safer levels.

If you really, really want to go up into the mountains, please consider taking public transport to one of the ski communities and experience the elevation and scenery from safer surroundings. Without adequate gear - and that means extremely well prepared - it's not a good idea to go out hiking in the mountains during winter on your own at higher elevations.

By adequate gear, I mean a winter rated tent, clothing, sleeping bag plus food and fuel for the entire trip plus backup communication gear.

Specific areas to visit would include Rocky Mountain National Park - it has some winter accessible trails such as Nymph Lake, Dream Lake, and Emerald Lake trail per this site:

Nymph Lake, Dream Lake, and Emerald Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park Featuring one of Colorado’s most beautiful alpine lakes, this 3.6-mile out-and-back trail features incredible high-alpine beauty.

Continue on another half mile to Lake Haiayaha, one of the most beautiful vistas in Rocky Mountain National Park. Bonus point if you catch Lake Haiayaha for sunrise.

Distance: 3.6 miles Elevation: 846 feet Difficulty: Easy Red Tape and Local Tips: No dogs. Be aware of avalanche terrain. There are two distinct spots, one before Emerald Lake and one right after on the way to Haiayaha making this an excellent spot to practice avalanche awareness.

The Bear Lake parking area fills up by 8 am, even in winter, so plan on arriving early or take a shuttle.

Make it a day with these amazing hikes in Estes Park you can’t miss.

It has some other great recommendations as well. There is a bus that runs from Union Station in Denver to the park discussed here.

The same "20 best ..." page also mentions a good hike in Crested Butte:

Located a stone’s throw away from downtown Crested Butte, this easy winter hiking trail in Colorado skirts the backside of Mount Crested Butte. You’ll get plenty of sweet mountain and valley views with this relaxing hike.

Distance: 4.8 miles Elevation: 374 feet Difficulty: Easy Red Tape and Local Tips: None. Dogs can use this trail.

There is a daily bus from Denver to Crested Butte listed here operated by Alpine Express. It departs Union Station at 1:50 PM local and arrives in Crested Butte about six hours later.

This page mentions the Strawberry Hot Springs near Steamboat Springs (item 7):

Why you should go: A magically snowy hike through a forest to a gorgeous hot spring.

Nearest town: Steamboat Springs Distance: 6.2 miles Difficulty: Intermediate Elevation gain: 900 feet What could be more rewarding than a long soak in a hot spring after a chilly winter hike through the snow? Strawberry Park Hot Springs offers a remote and romantic atmosphere tucked into the forest above the town of Steamboat Springs.

Most people who visit these popular hot springs in Steamboat Springs either drive or take the shuttle. However, if you want a fun adventure, consider hiking to the back way to the hot spring. The trail is generally pretty gradual and do-able (though traction devices are sometimes helpful). There’s just one small, rocky section in the middle, but hey, it’s winter hiking in Colorado – nothing is too easy. You can always take the shuttle back if you don’t want to hike both ways.

Once you reach the hot spring, pay the entry fee and treat yourself to a long soak in the pools. It’s always magical in the winter, but it’s especially nice if there’s a but of light snow falling around you.

There are multiple options for transit from Denver to Steamboat Springs - Greyhound runs buses frequently and there are also shuttles as shown here. The trip is about 4 hours.