North Table Mountain is one of two prominent mesas between Denver and Golden (its counterpart is South Table Mountain). They are the eroded remnants of large lava flows, evidenced by vertical basalt cliffs making the sides of the mesa. On top is an island of nature in the city, where wildflowers pop in early summer, and mule deer graze open grasslands. Trails crisscross a broad, mostly flat summit and grant views over the metro area, plus mountains and plains beyond.

Mount Falcon Park has some intimidating trails that climb high into the hills, but Turkey Trot is the friendliest of them. It takes a more gradual and shaded route to the same views as its neighbor Castle Trail. Also, Turkey Trot is a hiker-only trail, meaning it’s not shared with mountain bikers. You can hike an out-and-back on Turkey Trot or the loop with Castle Trail, mapped here. Either way, you’ll earn elevated views over Red Rocks Amphitheater, the town of Morrison, and beyond to downtown.

Despite the huge number of people hiking or running up this local favorite, the 3.4-mile loop route is well worth hitting up when visiting Boulder, CO. The hike is located just at the edge of the city, making it easy to get to even during an extended lunch break.

The Rampart Range is a sub-range of the Rockies southwest of Denver. The mountains here are not especially tall, but they’re very craggy, studded with cliffs and boulders of coarse stone. Devil’s Head is the tallest and perhaps most rugged peak of the range. The Forest Service forged a trail to its summit and built a lookout tower on top, at 9,748 feet elevation, in order to spot wildfires in the surrounding national forest. That was 100 years ago, and the lookout has been maintained ever since.

Mount Evans (14,265 feet) has a paved road to the top, but there is also a trail that takes a different route to the summit. If you want to really earn the lofty view from this 14er, take the hike instead of the drive.

Imagine the quintessential image of an alpine lake in Colorado: a shimmering pool surrounded by deep green conifers, against a backdrop of snow-capped peaks. Lost Lake is exactly that. It’s a picture-perfect sample of the Rockies, but you don’t have to enter Rocky Mountain National Park or make a staggering hike to reach it. It’s a straightforward day hike in the national forest near Nederland, Colorado.