Snowshoe Trails in Colorado

The Brainard Lake snowshoeing trail takes you to a beautiful alpine lake with panoramic views of the Continental Divide and Indian Peaks. This is a stunning trip for a clear winter day. You can spend the rest of the day enjoying other activities in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area.

A winter hike or snowshoe along Lake Isabelle trail not only takes you to a beautiful alpine lake with views of Isabelle Glacier but will often lead you to find yourself in solitude, breaking trail, and spotting an abundance of wildlife.

A snowshoe to Dream Lake will take you to a gorgeous alpine lake nestled in the Rocky Mountains with Hallett Peak (3,875 m) dominating the background.

The winter hike to Mirror Lake, below Lone Eagle Peak, takes you on a long but beautiful hike deep into the Indian Peaks Wilderness. The views of Lone Eagle Peak from Mirror Lake are spectacular.

Snowshoeing to Emerald Lake is a fantastic trip in the backcountry of RMNP. This trail takes you to a beautiful alpine lake nestled in a panoramic mountain cirque at the base of Hallett Peak (3,875 m).

The snowshoe to Lake Haiyaha takes you to another awe-inspiring alpine lake with crystal blue waves carved out by an ancient glacier. The winter snowshoe to Lake Haiyaha is unbelievably beautiful, and the sight of the beautiful crystal blue Lake Haiyaha frozen in place is truly one to behold.

Hessie Trail is a moderately easy winter hike that begins at the historic Hessie Townsite; an old mining town high in the Rocky Mountains. The Hessie Trail winter hike offers a lot of bang for your buck, so to speak, giving way to great mountain views without much effort.

The snowshoe to Chasm Lake should be on every list for anyone in RMNP. Chasm Lake trail takes you to a high alpine lake that sits below the towering ‘Diamond’ on the famed Longs Peak.

The snowshoe or winter hike to Lost Lake is not as daunting as the name suggests. Lost Lake is a very popular, family-friendly winter hike but that does not mean it is not worth checking out if you are not towing behind a kid or two. It offers great mountain views along with some mining history at both the trailhead and the destination!

The snowshoe up to Sky Pond is a favourite among locals. It is an epic snowshoe to a high alpine lake at the base of The Sharkstooth! The Sky Pond snowshoe in RMNP is often described as challenging but it is definitely worth the trek.

Caribou Hill is a secluded winter hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing destination in the historic ghost town of Caribou City. It is a great place to check out for anyone new to winter hiking - the elevation is minimal, while the winter scenery is worthwhile!

The Loch is a large alpine lake at the intersection between Andrews Glacier and Taylor Glacier. The snowshoe to the Loch is serene and scenic and the Loch itself boasts many vantage points to take in the full beauty of RMNP.

Dot Trail is a family-friendly, easy winter hike around a scenic overview of Indian Peaks. The trail is relatively short with little elevation gain but it is truly a secret gem, offering a wonderfully scenic hike in a quiet wilderness setting.

The snowshoe to Ouzel Lake really adds meaning to the sentiment: “It’s all about the journey, not the destination”. Ouzel Lake, located in Wild Basin, offers amazing panoramic views of RMNP and Longs Peak, however, the many waterfalls along the way are what truly make this snowshoe spectacular!

Mud Lake is a mountain park located off the Peak to Peak Hwy, it is excellent for beginner cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, winter hiking and fat biking. There are several trails in the area taking you to different overlooks and around Mud Lake, which makes for a really fun, choose your own adventure style day out!

If you are new to snowshoeing or winter hiking, the trail to Nymph Lake is a great introduction. Nymph Lake is a beautiful alpine lake located not too far from the trailhead. If you get here and are feeling comfortable in the snow, keep on going to Dream or Emerald Lake!

The snowshoe around Bear Lake is another great introduction to winter trails in RMNP. The trail around Bear Lake is short, but definitely has some sweet scenery to check out as you make the loop!

Barker Reservoir is nestled in the mountains at the end of Boulder Canyon. A winter hike or snowshoe takes you to views of a picturesque landscape with the small mountain town of Nederland, Colorado in the background.

Sourdough Trail is a popular cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trail, conveniently off of the Peak to Peak Hwy. It is a beautiful out and back climb through Roosevelt National Forest!

Lily Ridge Trail is a popular trail that offers an amazing view of the Diamond on Longs Peak (4,346 m) while overlooking Lily Lake. Lily Ridge Trail is popular with young families.