ELDORADO NATIONAL FOREST

Activities to Do

Hiking

Eldorado National Forest is filled with miles of scenic trails, many of them winding past glittering lakes, fields of wildflowers, cascading waterfalls, lush forests, and rocky alpine terrain. Take a romantic afternoon stroll with your sweetheart and enjoy the view! Some not-to-be-missed routes include Caples Creek Trail, Granite Lake Trail, and Thunder Mountain. Check out the Eldorado National Forest hiking map to see a complete list of trails and where they are located.

Fishing

With 611 miles of fishable streams and 297 lakes and reservoirs, the fishing experience of a lifetime awaits you here. The lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams are stocked full of rainbow, brown, and brook trout. Find an intimate spot by the water, cast your lines, and enjoy one another’s company in the great outdoors. Fishing is allowed in the lakes year-round, while the rivers are open from late April through mid-November.

Rock Climbing

There’s nothing like a little adventure to reignite the spark in your relationship, and a climb up the 600-foot vertical granite wall at Lovers Leap is sure to take your breath away! There are more than 250 developed rock-climbing routes, but some of the most popular are The Hogsback, Lower Buttress, and Dear John Buttress. The climbs range from moderate to difficult, and most of the sport climbing is 5.10+ YDS or harder.

Mountain Biking

If you really want to get your adrenaline rushing, race each other down the mountain via bike! With steep inclines and fun downhill plunges, Fleming Meadow Loop is one of the most popular cycling trails. You will get a good workout on this one, but the path is well-marked and very smooth. Then, pedal over to Sly Park Lake and ride side-by-side along the water. The views are absolutely breathtaking!

Picnicking

Numerous developed day use areas are found along both Highways 50 and 88.  Not only providing great picnic spots, many of the areas also have access to fishing, kayaking, and trails.   Out for a day, try Crystal Basin, Silver Lake or the Georgetown area for a variety of activities.

Other Outdoor Activities

The Eldorado National Forest weather ranges from warm, dry summers to cold, wet winters. During the summer months, it is an ideal place for swimming, boating, waterskiing, windsurfing, or picnicking. In the wintertime, visitors can enjoy skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, sledding, tubing, or snowmobiling. No matter what time of year you visit, there are endless ways to get out and explore!

Places to Visit

Map