Eldorado Canyon State Park

Eldorado Canyon State Park is a perfect spot for a new year hike. Even though there’s an intimidatingly named trail called “Rattlesnake Gulch,” the experience isn’t something to worry about. And, while hiking the Rattlesnake Gulch Trail is the equivalent of walking all the stairs in the Empire State Building, the experience is something very adventurous. The views toward the south side of Boulder are breathtaking, and the view toward the continental divide is just as awesome. Plus, you get to see some neat ruins of an old mountain hotel, as well as some mountainside train tracks that bring you back to imagining how they were built during the days of westward expansion.

What’s your favorite close-to-home hike?