~20mi hike within a couple hours of Denver

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I need to take one of my sons on a 20mi hike for a merit badge, this is a day trip and not an overnighter. This has nothing to do with hunting and mainly a chance to explore new scenery/places but needs to appease a 13-14yr old. Strenuous is okay but death hike is out, doesn't sound like he wants to tag a 14r or such in the endeavor. I could drive further for other areas but there is alot around the radius of Den that I've skipped over that this could be a good excuse to see.

I'm considering stringing together some trails in Kenosha Mountains or Lost Creek Wilderness. But figured I might as well ask if there are any other recommendations to consider? Realistically there are a ton of options so mainly wondering if someone knows of a standout hike that meets the criteria.

 

[Dos Perros]

20 miles in one day is no joke, right?

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

20 miles in one day is no joke, right?

Its the requirement, haha. It'll just be light day packs so unless the terrain is stout should be able to move reasobably but still probably talking 8-9hr factoring in some breaks and a long lunch for example. He had a 10mi required too, we did ~12mi in 4hrs but it was fairly low key trail.

 

[Mojave]

Look at OnX on the hiking side.

 

[strousek]

Pick something along the Colorado Trail. There are plenty of sections where you might be able to get dropped off and picked up along main roadways. This way you don't have to do 10 miles in and back the same trail 10 miles out. There are several maps on the Colorado trail sections that give accurate mileage and elevation gain.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

To be clear I've looked at maps (onx, all trails, etc.) and there are TONS of options and at the moment I was leaning towards Kenosha or Lost Creek Wilderness. I was mainly asking if folks had other strong suggestions to consider.

 

[Dos Perros]

Its the requirement, haha. It'll just be light day packs so unless the terrain is stout should be able to move reasobably but still probably talking 8-9hr factoring in some breaks and a long lunch for example. He had a 10mi required too, we did ~12mi in 4hrs but it was fairly low key trail.

Colorado, especially the stuff near Denver, is steep. I'm sure there is stuff but dang 20 miles is a poke. I think I've done 17 in a day hunting and it eats me up. I like where your head is at but if'n it were me I'd look at lower country in a cooler month. Something like Apishapa State Wildlife Area or similar.

 

[justinspicher]

Waterton canyon, segment one of the Colorado trail. The trail head is in Littleton. Out ten miles and back. Done and done.

Waterton Canyon · Featured Route

Kicking off the Colorado Trail Segment 1, Waterton Canyon Trail is a wide and flat service road through a rich corridor of wildlife just outside Denver. You may encounter numerous bighorn sheep, mule deer, smaller mammals, over 40 species of birds, and more. The trail passes by six picnic areas...

trails.colorado.gov

 

[mlevimadden]

Lost creek wilderness loop is a beautiful hike if you haven't done it. The first few and last few miles are boring but it's pretty amazing scenery the rest of the time. The elevation gain wasn't too bad either. I backpacked it with my wife with one overnight stop, but if I remember right, it's closer to 30 miles than 20.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Waterton canyon, segment one of the Colorado trail. The trail head is in Littleton. Out ten miles and back. Done and done.

Waterton Canyon · Featured Route

Kicking off the Colorado Trail Segment 1, Waterton Canyon Trail is a wide and flat service road through a rich corridor of wildlife just outside Denver. You may encounter numerous bighorn sheep, mule deer, smaller mammals, over 40 species of birds, and more. The trail passes by six picnic areas...

trails.colorado.gov

We went out 6mi and back on that one for the 10mi check box, some a couple ewe big horn. Flat and little elevation so easy miles.

Lost creek wilderness loop is a beautiful hike if you haven't done it. The first few and last few miles are boring but it's pretty amazing scenery the rest of the time. The elevation gain wasn't too bad either. I backpacked it with my wife with one overnight stop, but if I remember right, it's closer to 30 miles than 20.

Yeah its 28mi I believe I was looking at it. There is a cut across that takes it down to 20ish but some were saying its adventurous and I don't want to spook off my son even though I'd do it. Doing an out and back in one direction or the other is what I was thinking if going there.

 

[mlevimadden]

Yeah its 28mi I believe I was looking at it. There is a cut across that takes it down to 20ish but some were saying its adventurous and I don't want to spook off my son even though I'd do it. Doing an out and back in one direction or the other is what I was thinking if going there.

Not a bad strategy. I'd definitely go counter-clockwise on the loop for an out-and-back. The coolest spots on the hike are between Bison and McCurdy, so you'd get that doing a 10 mi out-and-back. If you went the opposite way the last 4 miles of the hike was easy walking but the most boring of the whole hike, so you'd be in that for almost half your hike.

 

[RS_Non-Res]

I'm not recommending this route, but here's a tool to explore routes and distances.
TrailRouter.com

 

[sndmn11]

I'd fumble around Roxborough, connect to Waterton, up to the dam and back. Does it all need to be on dirt or is concrete ok?

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I'd fumble around Roxborough, connect to Waterton, up to the dam and back. Does it all need to be on dirt or is concrete ok?

Concrete is probably okay for the requirements but not necessarily my preference, that alot of miles on a unforgiving surface.

 

[sndmn11]

Concrete is probably okay for the requirements but not necessarily my preference, that alot of miles on a unforgiving surface.

More so in the event my suggestion had sidewalk to connect Roxborough park to Waterton. I'm 90% certain there are dirt trails though.

 

[fngTony]

Edit, I just mapped it and it’s probably death march territory to hit twenty miles even if you back track the easier sections.
Berthoud pass area. Several 13ers but at least it’s not hot. Also you could string together Mt Flora to Breckenridge peak and down into the maze of trails around St. Mary’s. Plus you could stage a car at one end so you don’t have to regain all the elevation.

 

[06 SB]

What about having someone drop you off at the top of Mount Evans then hike out? Mostly downhill or this that cheating...

 

[fngTony]

What about having someone drop you off at the top of Mount Evans then hike out? Mostly downhill or this that cheating...

Road access is closed this year but Pikes Peak could work

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

What about having someone drop you off at the top of Mount Evans then hike out? Mostly downhill or this that cheating...

No not cheating and some folks have down stuff similar like starting high and hiking down to Golden or such. If we wanted easy/convenient we could just run over to Barr Lake and walk around it a couple times. But I figure if I'm pushing into somewhere 10mi we could see some new terrain and stuff like the above mentioned lost creek look profile doesn't look like a much vertical.

Plus you could stage a car at one end so you don’t have to regain all the elevation.

Its a possibility but then we need to coordinate that too.

 

[Balderdash]

Indian Peaks. Haven't been there in a few years, but my brother and I back packed and climbed all over in there. Lost tribe lakes has to be close to 20 miles round trip, IIRC..