14 Great Spring Hikes for Cannabis Adventures (Plus 5 National Forest Hikes to Check Out Without Cannabis)

Cannabis + Adventure = CannaVenture. After doing a Fall hiking guide, it seemed natural to also do a Spring hiking guide. Colorado has great a Fall season, with beautiful changing leaves and evergreen pines, but its Spring season is just as beautiful when plants start to bloom and the environment comes alive with wildflowers and animals. And after two years of planning hikes and campouts, scouring resources for the best options with (hopefully) the least risk for CannaVenture® events, I’ve compiled a majority of these findings into an easy-to-use reference guide for great outdoor hikes for the Spring, especially those that aren’t on federal lands. The following is a list of hikes that I have either been on personally or are on my to-do list based on recommendations I’ve received. Feel free to drop your favorite trails in the comments.

Without further ado, here are 14 awesome hikes I’d recommend for your own personal CannaVenture’s in Colorado. While these are not on Federal land, they are still public parks and public consumption is technically illegal. But, unlike federal lands, possession of cannabis alone won’t land you in court.

Spring Hikes For CannaVenture’s

Willow Creek Trail

Where: Roxborough State Park
Distance: 1.5 Miles
Difficulty: Easy
Drive Time from Denver: 1 Hour
Notes: No Dogs are allowed at Roxborough State Park. Shitty, but it’s the rules.
Photo Credit: AllTrails

Fossil Creek Trail

Where: Cathy Fromme Prairie Natural Area
Distance: 5 Miles
Difficulty: Easy
Drive Time from Denver: 1-1.5 Hours
Photo Credit: AllTrails

Goose Creek Trail

Where: Lost Creek Wilderness
Distance: 7.7 Miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Drive Time from Denver: 3 Hours
Photo Credit: AllTrails

Alderfer Three Sisters Trail

Where: Alderfer Three Sisters Park in Evergreen- 40 min away
Distance: 0.2-10 miles (round-trip)
Difficulty: Easy
Drive Time from Denver: 40 Minutes
Photo Credit: AllTrails

South Rim Loop

Where: Roxborough State Park
Distance: 3 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Drive Time from Denver: 1 Hour
Notes: No Dogs are allowed at Roxborough State Park. Shitty, but it’s the rules.
Photo Credit: AllTrails

White Ranch Sunset Loop

Where: White Ranch Park
Distance: 4.6 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Drive Time from Denver: 30 Minutes
Photo Credit: AllTrails

Mount Sanitas and Sanitas Valley Loop Trail

Where: Mount Sanitas in Boulder
Distance: 3.3 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Drive Time from Denver: 45 Minutes
Photo Credit: AllTrails

Spruce Mountain Trail

Where: Spruce Mountain Near Larkspur
Distance: 5.5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Drive Time from Denver: 50 Minutes
Photo Credit: Alltrails

Davis Ponds Loop

Where: Staunton State Park
Distance: 1.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Drive Time from Denver: 45-60 Minutes
Photo Credit: Alltrails

Enchanted Mesa

Where: Chautauqua Park
Distance: 2 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Drive Time from Denver: 40 Minutes
Photo Credit: AllTrails

Red Rocks Trail

Where: Red Rocks Park/Winter Park in Morrison
Distance: 6.3 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Drive Time from Denver: 25 Minutes
Photo Credit: AllTrails

South Valley Park Trail

Where: Littleton
Distance: 2.1 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Drive Time from Denver: 30 Minutes
Photo Credit: AllTrails

Waterton Canyon Trail

Where: Chatfield State Park
Distance: 2-12 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Drive Time from Denver: 30 Minutes
Photo Credit: AllTrails

Well Gulch Trail

Where: Charles A Lory State Park
Distance: 1.8 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Drive Time from Denver: 1.75 Hours
Photo Credit: AllTrails

BONUS: 5 Great Springs Hikes that you should leave the cannabis at home for. National Forests are subject to federal laws, which means the simple possession of your state-legal cannabis qualifies as possession of a federally controlled substance. Consume at your own risk (illegally), or choose to consume (legally) before/after the following hikes:

Spring National Forest Hikes:

East Inlet Trail

Where: Rocky Mountain National Park
Distance: 10.3 Miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Drive Time from Denver: 2-2.5 Hours
Notes: No Dogs.
Photo Credit: AllTrails

Trail 403

Where: Crested Butte
Distance: 7.8 Miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Drive Time from Denver: 4.5-5 Hours
Photo Credit: AllTrails

Three Island Lake

Where: Mount Zirkel Wilderness
Distance: 7.1 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Drive Time from Denver: 3.5-4 Hours
Photo Credit: Alltrails

Bighorn Creek Trail

Where: Eagles Nest Wilderness
Distance: 6.4 Miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Drive Time from Denver: 1.5 Hours
Photo Credit: AllTrails

Rabbits Ear Mesa Trail

Where: Rabbit Valley Recreation Area
Distance: 5.9 Miles
Difficulty: Easy
Drive Time from Denver: 6 Hours
Photo Credit: AllTrails

Note: Cannabis is still a Schedule I substance according to Federal Law. Do not bring any cannabis or cannabis products on federal lands as it is just as illegal as any other state. Public consumption is illegal per Colorado State Law. While this guide proposes multiple places for comfortable outdoor enjoyment, do so at your own risk. In many cases, choosing an edible for your hike or outing is the most discrete way to consume outdoors. Nothing in this article should be taken as legal advice.

14 Great Spring Hikes for Cannabis Adventures (Plus 5 National Forest Hikes to Check Out Without Cannabis)