The Mount Falcon trail has all the hallmarks of a great family hike: leisurely, not-too-steep strolls through long-grassed meadows, impressive views of Denver and the Red Rocks Mountains, and even the ruins of a castle crumbling away some three miles uphill from the car park. Even better, it’s only a 25-minute drive from Denver. Make sure to factor in time to scramble to the top of the Fire Tower for even better vistas over the dramatic scenery.

The Table Mountain trail is one of Colorado’s signature hikes. The flat-topped mesa is one of the mountainous skyline’s most prominent natural skyscrapers, and reaching the top promises brilliant views, snaggle-toothed rock formations and even deer and elk grazing on the higher ground. Don’t forget your water bottle as you ascend – this is an exposed climb and as such offers little in the way of shade.

It’s a white-knuckle drive to White Ranch Park. The road is scribbled along the side of Golden Gate Canyon and is the domain of daredevil bikers who race along its dizzying twists and turns. The hiking itself is mercifully less precipitous. There are 20 miles of routes to choose from, all of which meander through rocky fields and meadows at a gentle incline. It’s often fairly busy with families on a summery weekend.

The Red Rocks Amphitheatre is, according to Rolling Stone, the best outdoor concert venue in the world. Everyone from Bruce Springsteen to The Beatles have played to these red stones, but to enjoy a different type of rock, take to the surrounding hiking territory. Here, you’ll loop through terracotta paths, burnt orange monoliths and caves etched out of the ancient sandstone. Avoid melting in the Colorado sun by completing this trail in the morning.

The best part of this mountainous trail is its summit that sits a cool 8,000ft (2,438m) above sea level. To get here, though, it’s a tough six-mile hike through steep terrain that only more advanced hikers should attempt as the altitude can make things tricky. Still, the lower environs are heaving with photo-ready scenery, including wind-teased ancient pines and tall whispering grasses.

The hike to Crystal Mill is hard. Nine miles of narrow, uphill terrain trickle past stomach-lurching drops and, at an elevation of 1000ft (305m), the altitude can be sickening. Crystal Mill itself, however, is spellbinding. The creaky boards of the hundred-year-old abandoned mill are stacked atop a rocky precipice hidden deep in the depths of Crystal Cascade and surrounded by lush, green forests.

This subalpine lake is nothing short of jaw-dropping. Sitting in the shadows of Echo Mountain, its picture-perfect waters are surrounded by dense spruce and fir trees, and there are a number of relatively straightforward hiking trails, too. To eat, either bring your own picnic and munch in the cobblestoned 1930s picnic shelter, or opt for some good ol’ fashioned American comfort food at rustic-chic Echo Lake Lodge. Try the freshly caught trout; it’s divine.

You’ll start and end this eight-mile circular trail at its eponymous rickety white cabin. The Walker Ranch was built by one James Walker in the 1860s, and he and his family lived and worked on the surrounding land for the next few hundred years. The scenery has remained virtually untouched ever since; you half expect to see Walker himself joining you in clambering across meadows, mountains and even a waterfall.