The Mountain Retreat Guidebook
Hiking Trails
This is a great place to hike with beautiful mountain and city views less than 10 mins from the house. This trail is a good option for hiking, biking, and trail running. The first few miles are pretty steep and then the trail flattens out to more rolling depending on which way you would like to take at the top.
29 locals recommend
Deer Creek Canyon Park
13388 Grizzly DriveThis is a great place to hike with beautiful mountain and city views less than 10 mins from the house. This trail is a good option for hiking, biking, and trail running. The first few miles are pretty steep and then the trail flattens out to more rolling depending on which way you would like to take at the top.
This is a great easy hike with giant red rocks and offers views of the foothills and Red Rocks park. You probably passed this park on the way to the house and is less than 10 mins down the canyon. Good park for hiking, trail running, and biking.
20 locals recommend
South Valley Park
90 S Valley RdThis is a great easy hike with giant red rocks and offers views of the foothills and Red Rocks park. You probably passed this park on the way to the house and is less than 10 mins down the canyon. Good park for hiking, trail running, and biking.
This is the start of the famous Colorado trail. This is a almost flat dirt road in a canyon with no cars and there is a good chance of seeing big horn sheep in the canyon and on the road.
28 locals recommend
Waterton Canyon Trailhead
12437-12489 Waterton CanyonThis is the start of the famous Colorado trail. This is a almost flat dirt road in a canyon with no cars and there is a good chance of seeing big horn sheep in the canyon and on the road.
One of our favorite trails. The Morrison side of the trail starts of with an easy mile by the river to a castle looking house and then climbs into the mountains for the views. Good for hiking, biking, and trail running but can get very busy especially on the weekends.
108 locals recommend
Lair O' the Bear Park
22550 Colorado 74One of our favorite trails. The Morrison side of the trail starts of with an easy mile by the river to a castle looking house and then climbs into the mountains for the views. Good for hiking, biking, and trail running but can get very busy especially on the weekends.
The Beaver Brook trail is a great hiking trail that is 4.4 miles round trip to the lookout but also keeps going if you would like the hike to be longer. There are some boulder sections that are on the trail, but the trail is for hikers only so there are no mountain bikes to worry about. The lookout point has great views of the continental divide.
14 locals recommend
Windy Saddle Park
Lookout Mountain RoadThe Beaver Brook trail is a great hiking trail that is 4.4 miles round trip to the lookout but also keeps going if you would like the hike to be longer. There are some boulder sections that are on the trail, but the trail is for hikers only so there are no mountain bikes to worry about. The lookout point has great views of the continental divide.
This park is a hidden gem. The Eagles View loop is 4.5 miles hiker only trail that has a great view of Pikes Peak at the top. This park is only 20 mins from the house and far enough from Denver that it is never overcrowded. The North Fork trail is across the street and is a good option for longer trail runs or mountain biking and is 10 miles one way.
12 locals recommend
Reynolds Park Trailhead
13649 S Foxton RdThis park is a hidden gem. The Eagles View loop is 4.5 miles hiker only trail that has a great view of Pikes Peak at the top. This park is only 20 mins from the house and far enough from Denver that it is never overcrowded. The North Fork trail is across the street and is a good option for longer trail runs or mountain biking and is 10 miles one way.
Food scene
Great pizza and Italian food for a more upscale experience 15 mins from the house.
18 locals recommend
Virgilio's Pizzeria & Wine Bar
10025 W San Juan WayGreat pizza and Italian food for a more upscale experience 15 mins from the house.
This is a great way to experience Colorado pizza with the famous honey crust. They offer a buffet to try out all the different types of pizza and have a great laid back atmosphere.
104 locals recommend
Woody's Wood Fired Pizza
1305 Washington AveThis is a great way to experience Colorado pizza with the famous honey crust. They offer a buffet to try out all the different types of pizza and have a great laid back atmosphere.
Atlas Coffee
11757 W Ken Caryl AveLocal coffee shop with great drinks.
Los Dos Potrillos
10065 W San Juan WayGreat local mexican food only 15 mins from home.
Great burgers/pub food and atmosphere. This is a true local mountain spot.
37 locals recommend
Brooks Place Tavern
25577 Conifer RdGreat burgers/pub food and atmosphere. This is a true local mountain spot.
This is where the locals go. Snowpack has a great selection of beer, delicious pizza, and a laid back atmosphere.
38 locals recommend
Snowpack Taproom & Kitchen
11863 Springs RdThis is where the locals go. Snowpack has a great selection of beer, delicious pizza, and a laid back atmosphere.
Nice spot with views of the mountains, a great atmosphere, and good selection of pizza and beer. There also is a lunch pizza special worth checking out.
Homegrown Tap & Dough
12622 West Ken Caryl AvenueNice spot with views of the mountains, a great atmosphere, and good selection of pizza and beer. There also is a lunch pizza special worth checking out.
HiLo An American Eatery
10125 West San Juan WayGood variety of food and nice indoor and outdoor eating space.
Sightseeing
Whether you are going to visit or going to a show this is an iconic place to check out. Red Rocks offers views of Denver, has a restaurant that is open daily, a museum, and hiking trails for all abilities. This is free during the day to check out and if you go in the morning/early afternoon you can go inside the amphitheater and even on the stage. There is also a great museum on the history and bands that have played there that is open daily along with the trading post gift shop.
1973 locals recommend
Red Rocks amphitheater
18300 West Alameda ParkwayWhether you are going to visit or going to a show this is an iconic place to check out. Red Rocks offers views of Denver, has a restaurant that is open daily, a museum, and hiking trails for all abilities. This is free during the day to check out and if you go in the morning/early afternoon you can go inside the amphitheater and even on the stage. There is also a great museum on the history and bands that have played there that is open daily along with the trading post gift shop.
Golden is a cute town 30 mins from here. This is the home of Coors Brewery and offers many activities from tubing down clear creek to great restaurants and shopping. Golden is lined in history dating back to the gold rush and being the original capital of Colorado.
384 locals recommend
Golden
Golden is a cute town 30 mins from here. This is the home of Coors Brewery and offers many activities from tubing down clear creek to great restaurants and shopping. Golden is lined in history dating back to the gold rush and being the original capital of Colorado.
Breckenridge is one of our favorite close by ski towns. It is about an hour and a half drive from the house. This town has great food and shopping, excellent views and trails. We are happy to provide more recommendations if you are looking to go here, just ask.
596 locals recommend
Breckenridge
Breckenridge is one of our favorite close by ski towns. It is about an hour and a half drive from the house. This town has great food and shopping, excellent views and trails. We are happy to provide more recommendations if you are looking to go here, just ask.
Boulder is about an hour drive from the house. If you go here, we recommend visiting the iconic flat irons for a 3 mile loop hike to see all the flat irons up close or the more difficult 5 mile climb to royal arch, which is listed as one of the best hikes in Colorado. Avery, Upslope, Left Hand, and Oskar Blues are great choices for breweries in this area. You can also take a walk down Pearl St. Mall for shopping and dining.
414 locals recommend
Boulder
Boulder is about an hour drive from the house. If you go here, we recommend visiting the iconic flat irons for a 3 mile loop hike to see all the flat irons up close or the more difficult 5 mile climb to royal arch, which is listed as one of the best hikes in Colorado. Avery, Upslope, Left Hand, and Oskar Blues are great choices for breweries in this area. You can also take a walk down Pearl St. Mall for shopping and dining.
Colorado Springs is about an hour and a half drive from the house. If you go down a few things we recommend checking out are:
Seeing the Garden of the Gods (you can drive or hike this)
Hiking up the Manitou Incline in nearby Manitou Springs (you will have to make a free reservation online)
Driving to the top of Pikes Peak or taking the cog railway to the top
Visiting the Olympic training center
Visiting the Cheyenne Zoo
Seeing The Broadmoor - a famous hotel that has beautiful grounds to tour
Seeing the famous seven falls (this is a price per person entry at the gate that is run and managed by The Broadmoor.)
134 locals recommend
Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs is about an hour and a half drive from the house. If you go down a few things we recommend checking out are:
Seeing the Garden of the Gods (you can drive or hike this)
Hiking up the Manitou Incline in nearby Manitou Springs (you will have to make a free reservation online)
Driving to the top of Pikes Peak or taking the cog railway to the top
Visiting the Olympic training center
Visiting the Cheyenne Zoo
Seeing The Broadmoor - a famous hotel that has beautiful grounds to tour
Seeing the famous seven falls (this is a price per person entry at the gate that is run and managed by The Broadmoor.)
If you want to go check out the mile-high city we recommend taking a walk down the 16th St. Mall. The aquarium, art and history museums, Denver coin mint, and zoo are great places to check out too. Our favorite breweries are Denver Beer Co. and Great Divide. There are a bunch of great food options on historic Larimer St. as well as a comedy club. If you are looking for specific ideas, just reach out and we can help.
168 locals recommend
Denver
If you want to go check out the mile-high city we recommend taking a walk down the 16th St. Mall. The aquarium, art and history museums, Denver coin mint, and zoo are great places to check out too. Our favorite breweries are Denver Beer Co. and Great Divide. There are a bunch of great food options on historic Larimer St. as well as a comedy club. If you are looking for specific ideas, just reach out and we can help.
Beautiful drive up from Golden or from I-70 that can make it a loop. Spectacular views of Denver from the top. Also, Buffalo Bill's grave and museum are on the mountain as well as a Lookout Nature Center. There is a great trail and lookout point from the windy saddle trailhead on the Golden side that has views of the continental divide.
245 locals recommend
Lookout Mountain
Beautiful drive up from Golden or from I-70 that can make it a loop. Spectacular views of Denver from the top. Also, Buffalo Bill's grave and museum are on the mountain as well as a Lookout Nature Center. There is a great trail and lookout point from the windy saddle trailhead on the Golden side that has views of the continental divide.
Breweries
This brewery is one of the best around. They have great beer and a welcoming atmosphere. Located right on the backside of South Table mountain near Golden, there are great views and several trails nearby.
101 locals recommend
New Terrain Brewing Company
16401 Table Mountain PkwyThis brewery is one of the best around. They have great beer and a welcoming atmosphere. Located right on the backside of South Table mountain near Golden, there are great views and several trails nearby.
This brewery has a great outside area with bean bags and fire pits. You can even schedule a brewery tour here. If you are looking for a good meal and good beer, this is the place to check out.
124 locals recommend
Breckenridge Brewery
2920 Brewery LnThis brewery has a great outside area with bean bags and fire pits. You can even schedule a brewery tour here. If you are looking for a good meal and good beer, this is the place to check out.
One of our favorite breweries in the area. Great beer and you can sit inside or outside. They also usually have a food truck on site for food.
7 locals recommend
Living The Dream Brewing Company
9150 N Dumont WayOne of our favorite breweries in the area. Great beer and you can sit inside or outside. They also usually have a food truck on site for food.
Activities
This park offers a reservoir with a swim beach and boat launch, stand up paddle board rentals, and horse back riding and is only 15 mins from the house. There are both single track and paved trails around the reservoir.
83 locals recommend
Chatfield State Park
Chatfield State ParkThis park offers a reservoir with a swim beach and boat launch, stand up paddle board rentals, and horse back riding and is only 15 mins from the house. There are both single track and paved trails around the reservoir.
One of the two 14,000 ft mountains that you can drive to the top of in Colorado. You need to get a reservation ahead of time. Beautiful drive only 45 mins from the house that passes alpine lakes and has beautiful views and mountain goats at the top.
259 locals recommend
Mount Evans
One of the two 14,000 ft mountains that you can drive to the top of in Colorado. You need to get a reservation ahead of time. Beautiful drive only 45 mins from the house that passes alpine lakes and has beautiful views and mountain goats at the top.