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. We even have great hikes for kids.

A Few of Our Hikes

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.

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.

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.

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