These shorter hikes will prep you for the coming season

It’s time to wake up those legs and get ready for an epic hiking season. Thirst Colorado’s staff has a few suggestions to get you back in shape for thigh-burners later in the season. The following six hikes range from Boulder to Colorado Springs. So, pack your water, lunch and sunscreen and take a hike!

Flowering cacti can be seen along the Mt. Sanitas trail. Photo - Neill Pieper

Mount Sanitas - This 1.23-mile hike follows a graveled trail up to an amazing rock outcropping with striking views of Boulder and the Flatirons. The trail also connects to Dakota Ridge Trail, East Ridge Trail and Hawthorne Trail if you want to extend your hike. History note: The trail is near the former Boulder-Colorado Sanatorium, which used to be a swanky place for people to stay and lead healthy lives.
Crags Trail - This hike is only a few miles outside of Divide. The trail leads up to rock formations known as The Crags, where the trails gets its name. The hike up to the granite dome is only two miles and is family and dog friendly. You’ll be able to check out the Rampart Range, Ute Pass and the Catamount Creeks drainage. Hiking round-trip can take less than two hours depending on the time spent at the top. If the road to the trail is temporarily closed for tree removal, Mueller State Park is accessible and has additional trails.
Black Forest Section 16 - This four-mile rectangular loop hike is an easy first step to getting back in the practice trekking through the hills. The trail is open to horses, bikers and hikers. For a more difficult hike, do the trail clockwise for maximum uphill. The trailhead can be found just northeast of Colorado Springs at Black Forest Regional Park.
Seven Falls - While this hike does have an access fee, every dollar will be worth the sights along the trail. To the main falls, the paved hike is only 0.8-mile each way but this can be added to as hikers see fit. The hike to the falls is through a steep-walled, canyon called the Pillars of Hercules. This hike can be continued with the 0.35-mile hike to Midnight Falls or the 1.5-mile round trip hike to Inspiration Point-both are worth viewing! Hiking these trails together is only a 3-mile hike total. Take the 20-minute drive out of Colorado Springs to discover some beautiful falls.

Catch a glimpse of roaming bison at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal. Photo - Neill Pieper

Rattlesnake Trail and Overlook- Located inside the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge adjacent to Commerce City, the 1.5-mile roundtrip hike takes you to an overlook just east of a popular bison-viewing area. This quick and easy hike can be rewarded with sights of bison, deer, songbirds, prairie dogs and even mule. The overlook has benches and binoculars to get better views of the wildlife. If you feel like hiking more, on the way back, take the 1.8-mile Ladora Loop around Lake Ladora.
Bear Creek Trail – The popular portion of the trail between Morrison and Lakewood follows Bear Creek and the surface is gravel at times and paved at other points. The trail connects metro Denver to the foothills through an easy tree-lined trail that many people jog, rather than walk or hike.

- Compiled by Ranay Janssen