5 Fabulous Fall Hikes in Summit County, Colorado
There is something about fall in the Rocky Mountains. It is a short season – starting in mid-September, usually peaking in late September, and often slipping away by early October. But those fleeting weeks are nothing short of magical.
Just driving around in Summit County in the early fall is breathtaking. But if you have time to stay for a few days, and break out the hiking boots, you won’t regret it.
As in all of our hiking posts, we highly recommend you download the free AllTrails app for driving directions, trail maps, descriptions, and lots of reviews that will reveal the recent condition of the trails. Click on the title of any hike we’ve listed below, and it will take you to the All Trails information.
These five hikes are wonderful year-round (when accessible). But in the early fall, they are an unforgettable experience. All of these are moderate hikes, taking three hours or less, including lots of time to stop and take photos. They are listed in ascending order of difficulty (in our opinion). All are equally spectacular.
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Ice Rink to Aspen Alley (Breckenridge)
We actually do this hike backward from the All Trails directions. We start at the ice rink (where there is a ton of parking). It’s also nice because you go uphill first, then downhill, which is our preference.
If you’re staying on the south end of Breckenridge, you can easily walk to the ice rink and skip a car altogether.
As a bonus, you can take a two-minute detour at the beginning or end, (just follow the signs) and pay a visit to Isak Heartstone.
This easy/moderate hike begins with an ascent overlooking Highway 9. From the ice rink parking lot, follow signs to the Illinois Creek Upper Trail with a slightly steep slope through a dense forest with lovely mountain views. Then you’ll reach the Breckenridge Sawmill Museum, a self-guided outdoor display of historic mining camp operations, worthy of a few minutes of your time to wander through. There is another (much smaller) parking lot there where you can start the hike if you want it to be shorter.
Rainbow Lake w/ Peak’s Trail and Miner’s Creek– (Frisco)
These are really two connecting hikes. The first part, to Rainbow Lake, is a great short hike for a first day, or if you are hiking with younger kids, or if you just don’t have a lot of energy. It is easy, but does have some ups and downs, and the trail is quite rocky. In the fall, you are hiking through the Aspen, but can also see swaths of them in the surrounding mountains. Your destination is the lovely Rainbow Lake which makes for a nice resting spot.
If you choose to continue, follow the signs to Miner’s Trail (going left after the lake, rather than up and to the right). You’ll come to a place where the trail splits with one going more up and one staying flat. They both end in the same place, but if you take the upper trail, it is a little shorter.
You’ll hook up with the main part of Miner’s Trail and follow Miner’s Creek the whole way. You can hear it most of the time, and there are little inlets where you can walk in and see it, giving plenty of opportunities for water breaks if you’re with a pup. You follow a 4WD road, but in the numerous times I’ve done the hike, I’ve only ever encountered one vehicle. It’s a rough road! The ascent is gradual the whole way. On the hike back down you’re treated to beautiful views of Frisco.
North Tenmile Creek – (Frisco)
At peak leaf time, the Aspens on North Tenmile Creek burst with color in every direction. It is a sight to behold! Add in cool pine forests, scenic mountain views, and a chattering creek, this hike checks all the boxes.
Easily accessible from Main Street in Frisco, the trailhead is located underneath I-70. But within a couple of minutes of hiking, the interstate is a world away.
The All Trails description for this hike lists 6+ miles, but few people go the whole way. There is no big feature to seek at the end; it’s delightful the whole time.
Just walk as far as you wish and then turn around. The first .75 miles have several short but significant inclines. After that, the trail is fairly flat.
You’ll follow Tenmile Creek the whole way, and there are great mountain views in both directions. There are numerous inlets to the creek, with the first one being at about .9 miles, where you can relax, wade in the water, and let your pup have a nice cool drink.
If you visit the area in the winter, this is also a good snowshoeing trail.
Tenderfoot to Oro Trail Loop – (Dillon)
One of the biggest challenges of this hike is to just keep hiking and stop taking photos! There is a somewhat steep part at the beginning of the trail (as is so often the case!), but after that the inclines are gentle. You can choose to do this loop clockwise or counterclockwise. I prefer the former, as the jaw-dropping views of Lake Dillon are preserved for the downhill portion of the hike while you are facing the lake, rather than hiking away from it. But either way is great.
Going clockwise, you head into a stunning Aspen forest with every shade of yellow and orange. There are peek-a-boo views of the mountain range and Lake Dillon. When you start heading downhill, you get a full-on view of the mountains, and the Aspen all the way down to the lake. Be careful to watch where you’re walking as you’re taking in the view!
Ptarmigan Trail – (Silverthorne)
This hike is absolutely grand in the late spring and summer, and is listed on our favorite summer hikes in this post. It’s just that it’s somehow even better in the fall! This is the hardest hike on this list due to the punishingly steep terrain for the first .6 mile or so in full sun. (Don’t forget to turn around and admire the view and snap some photos as you’re climbing. It is a good excuse to catch your breath and gulp down some water.)
But after that, it flattens out and rewards you with a fairly easy, shaded trail through beautiful forests showing off yellow and orange Aspen leaves. At the top, there are endless views of the fall foliage. Handily, there are also two benches to sit and admire the trees, mountain peaks, and Lake Dillon.
Are you hungry after all that hiking? We have some ideas! Where to Eat in Breck. Looking for more hikes in the area? Check out our Favorite Hikes Around Breckenridge!
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