Vista Verde offers hikes for every interest. Your choices range from mild, wildflower walks to all-day challenging adventures above the timberline. As with all our activities, our guides will tailor the experience to your desires.

Our backyard is laced with terrific hiking trails. Located in the Routt National Forest close to the Zirkel Wilderness Area, Vista Verde is only a hoot and a holler from a host of trailheads that lead to extraordinary hiking.

As the direct benefit of our champagne powder snow of winter, the Zirkel Wilderness just to the east is transformed into a lush and spectacular watershed in summer. To the north, the Hahns Peak/Columbine area offers many joyous hikes as well. Our hikes may follow flowing creeks that tease us with rushing water, climb up to panoramic splendor, meander through a wealth of wildflowers or stay in the enchantment of an evergreen or aspen canopy. The sounds of dancing streams and mountain chickadees, the visual splendor of colorful Columbine and Indian paint brush, the sights of snow capped peaks and pristine alpine lakes, and soothing smell of pine and fir trees all create a special sensory experience. Breathe in the freshest air on the planet and enjoy with us the serenity and speciousness only a mountain hike can provide.

Families and fun are the major focus of summer at Vista Verde. The goals of family fun hikes are to give the entire family a fun-filled experience. One such outing is to Gilpin Falls, a short duration, low intensity, and mild terrain type hike. Wish a spectacular waterfall, lots of rocks to climb on, refreshing wading pools and plenty of stones to throw, this is a youngster's paradise. This is an old mining site, and there is a lot of history and turn-of-the-century gold mining equipment to examine and ponder. How did they get that gear up here?!

We want the youngsters to have a great experience and develop a joy of being active in nature. Such an experience translates to fun-filled memories. There are plenty of snacks in our backpacks to munch, plenty of family photo opps and plenty of mountain air to help digest the magic.

For those of you looking for moderate intensity, moderate terrain hike with a fabulous panoramic view of Elk River Valley, try the Enchanted Forest hike. We gain most of the elevation by Suburban, park, and then descend through elk and deer habitat on game trails. This is a quite secluded area with little human activity, and can provide a great chance to spot wildlife, particularly early in the morning. At mid-hike, we come to a perfect photo stop with a Zirkel Wilderness as out backdrop. The Enchanted Forest is a good example of the Mountain Zone and the flora and fauna that calls this elevation (7,000-9,000 ft.) home. We are picked up and driven back to the ranch just in time for lunch.

Hands down (or should we say Hanhn's Down) the quickest way to get to the best views of Northwest Colorado and Southern Wyoming is to climb Hahn's Peak.

A moderate to challenging hike that summits the 10,880 ft. conical shaped mountain, it offers a number of starting points depending on your fitness level.

Regardless where we begin, we are treated to magnificent views. Should we summit (weather permitting), a wonderful 360 degree panorama will leave you inspired by the grandeur of Mother Nature.

Hahn's Peak was mined at the turn of the century, and traces and remnants are abundant. A perennial favorite of our guests, Hahn's Peak will indeed put you on a high!

Seeing is believing, so let's do it. But morning only! The lightning potential of the afternoon is some of Mother Nature?s handiwork we do not want to sample.

As the Crow flies, Vista Verde Ranch is only a few miles west of the Continental Divide. Several trails access our most challenging hiking in the Zirkel Wilderness and up the Divide. These hikes are all day challenges for those guests with hardy attitudes, moderate to high levels of fitness, and high levels of endurance. For those who attempt these hikes, the rewards are pristine alpine lakes, vast expanses of grass, tundra and wildflowers above the tree line, 100-miles vistas and a sense of being on top of the world. These hikes are the ultimate in alpine day hiking with much of the time spent above tree line at 11,000ft. or so. By the way, all hikes are fully guided by enthusiastic, informative and caring staff.