Panorama Point - An Underrated Hike Near Denver

Are you looking for jaw-dropping views without driving too far? Well, if you live in or around Denver, then this short hike is for you. For an added bonus, it’s only a 3 mile hike! Just long enough to break a sweat, but not wipe you out for the rest of the day. Here’s what you need to know.

The Panorama Point trailhead is located along Bear Creek Rd. in Corwina Park, between Kittredge and Idledale, Colorado. There are multiple access points to the trail, with one of them starting Lair O’ the Bear Park, but the route I took was via Panorama Point and Bear Creek trail (the shortest option). Follow the directions linked in the AllTrails description and it will take you to a small parking lot on the left hand side of the road where the trailhead begins. Keep in mind, this lot only holds about 8 cars, so get there early or be prepared to park at another spot and have a back up option ready.

This trail is ranked as moderate on AllTrails, but I thought it was relatively easy. Although the incline is steady, it’s pretty gradual the whole way. The trail is 3.1 miles long with roughly 646 ft. of elevation gain, taking most people an hour and a half to complete. When I went in early March, microspikes were required as most of the trail was frozen over. Like any hike, always wear appropriate footwear and bring plenty of water and snacks. Just because it’s short, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared.

There are so many things I loved about this hike. First, nearly the entirety of the trails is shaded, lined with tall pine trees that keep Colorado’s intense sunlight at bay. The beginning of the trail also follows a babbling creek, which drowns out the noise of the nearby highway. Then, of course, the look out point at the peak was breathtaking - overlooking Kittredge, the foothills, and the Rockies in the distance. The layers create a picturesque backdrop to take a moment and admire. Make sure you budget time at the top to sit down, maybe eat a few snacks or journal, before the descent.

This hike is perfect if you’re looking for a quick outdoor excursion or an easy casual hike with friends and family. It is definitely one of the lesser challenging hikes in Colorado and is a great spot to soak up all of Colorado’s beauty. Thanks for reading and I hope you can check out Panorama Point this year!

Stay safe, respect nature, and have fun.