Best Day Hikes in the Dillon Colorado Area

Just less than 70 miles from Denver, Dillon, Colorado and the surrounding cities of Frisco and Silverthorne are located just off Interstate 70 and provide plentiful hiking opportunities for hikers of all ages. The day hikes outlined below provide amazing scenery of Lake Dillon, Rocky Mountains and other beautiful scenery found in Summit County, Colorado.

A nice hike to start the day off is the Old Lake Dillon trail. Located between Dillon and Frisco just off Dillon Dam Road and close to Heaton Bay Campground, the trailhead is easy to find. The trailhead features plenty of parking.

A great day hike for any time of year, the Old Lake Dillon Trail is nicely maintained and easy to follow. If hiking in the summer months, hikers enjoy views of wildflowers, Aspen as well as breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains. The hike gains only 150 feet and is only .75 miles round trip makes it a perfect warm-up for other hiking in the area or for getting young children out to explore the outdoors.

At the top of the trailhead, hikers enjoy wonderful views of Lake Dillon, Gore Range and 10 mile. After taking in all the scenery, hikers return on the same trail back to the parking lot.

Another family friendly day hike to explore near Dillon Colorado is the Lily Pad Trail. Longer than the Old Lake Dillon Trail, Lily Pad Trail covers 3.2 miles roundtrip and is an easy hike for all ages. The trailhead is located in Silverthorne, Colorado just down the road from Dillon on Highway 9.

The trailhead is located at the end loop of Wildernest Road/Ryan Gulch Road and has a parking area leading to the trail head. This day hike offers hikers a great mix of wildlife, scenery and beaver ponds. Animals that have been spotted on this trail include elk and moose, so be sure to keep your hiking group close by, especially children.

The trail is easy to follow and features a variety of gentle ups and downs along the way. If walking the trail in summer, bug spray may come in handy as a few marshy spots can attract mosquitoes. The trail takes hikers to Lower Lily Pad which features yellow pond lilies in mid-summer and then past Upper Lily Pad Lake.

A final easy day hike to explore near Dillon, Colorado is the Ptarmigan Trail. A beautiful hike, the Ptarmigan Trail is 4.2 miles round trip and is located in Silverthorne off of Route 9. Take a right on Rainbow Drive and then right on 2021. The trailhead parking lot is just a mile ahead and located on the right hand side.

The golden aspen in the fall make this hike a must in the fall season, but the hike is beautiful any time of year. The hike climbs gently along a well maintained trail of mulch and pine needles. As the trail gains in elevation, hikers can take in amazing views of Lake Dillon, Buffalo Mountain, Red Peak and the Gore Range can be enjoyed. The trail takes hikers to a lookout offering breathtaking views of the area.

Hikers can continue onto Ptarmigan Peak which is at an elevation of 12, 500 feet located approximately 2.4 miles from the lookout. This portion of the trail is more difficult as the elevation gain is 2,100 feet.

Day hikes are plentiful in the Dillon, Colorado area. Just a short drive from Denver, Summit County offers breathtaking views and wonderful hikes for hikers of all ages. So get out and enjoy the outdoors with one of these great family hikes.

Sources:
www.summitcountyexplorer.com