Last Updated on January 23, 2024 by foxintheforest
Nestled in the foothills along the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway just a short drive from Boulder and Denver, Nederland is a fun mountain town which is the gateway to the incredible Indian Peaks Wilderness.
Nederland hikes feature aspen forests, alpine lakes, mountainous cirques, and more to explore.
If you’re looking for recommendations for the top hikes near Nederland, CO from a local, you’re in the right spot here.
I’ve called Colorado home for nearly 15 years now and have hiked many trails all around Nederland.
Honestly, I can’t get enough! As a local hiking expert, I’m here to help you explore the very best Nederland hikes like a local, not a tourist.
About this Guide to Nederland Hikes
Inside this local guide to Nederland hikes, you’ll find expert advice about:
- Where is Nederland located
- The best Nederland hikes, broken down by difficulty
- Where to camp near Nederland
- Additional Colorado travel planning resources
Where is Nederland?
Nederland is located at the end of Boulder Canyon, about 30 mins west of downtown Boulder and an hour northwest of Denver.
One of the best scenic drives near Denver, the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway, also runs through Nederland on the way to Rocky Mountain National Park.
Even though Nederland is easy to get to, it has a great mountain town feel, so it’s a perfect day trip from Denver.
A lot of the best Nederland hikes are in and around the popular Brainard Lake Recreation Area, and the types of hiking trails in Nederland range from easy alpine lake hikes to a challenging 13er summit.
The Best Easy Nederland Hikes
Even if you’re just looking for something easy, these Nederland, CO hikes are excellent.
1. Jean Lunning Trail & Pawnee Pass Loop
This mellow loop heads around Long Lake for a lovely stroll along the shore. It’s pretty all the time, but in the summer it’s especially beautiful when the wildflowers blossom.
Distance: 2.9 miles out & back
Elevation Gain: 180 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Time: 1 hour
Dog Friendly: Yes, on-leash
2. Aspen Alley
As you might guess from the name, Aspen Alley is a fantastic fall hike in Colorado. This short trail takes you straight through the aspen groves that are truly glorious when they turn gold.
Distance: 2.6 miles out & back
Elevation Gain: 528 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Time: 1-1.5 hours
Dog Friendly: Yes, on-leash
The Best Moderate Hikes in Nederland
Don’t miss these moderate Nederland hikes which are actually some of the best hikes in Colorado.
3. Lost Lake via Hessie Trail
For an awesome lake hike in Colorado, hike through the forest to Lost Lake via Hessie Trail.
Lost Lake is a beautiful alpine lake in the Indian Peaks Wilderness, and it’s an extremely popular Colorado lake thanks to its short and fairly easy approach, so don’t expect solitude.
Distance: 4 miles out & back
Elevation Gain: 830 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Estimated Time: 2 hours
Dog Friendly: Yes, on-leash
4. Fourth of July Mine via Arapaho Pass Trail
Explore one of the prettiest places in Colorado with a hike to Fourth of July Mine via Arapaho Pass Trail. The trail follows a creek, so you’ll encounter waterfalls on your way to the remains of an old mine.
The gorgeous mountain views make this one of the best hikes near Nederland.
Local tip: The road to Fourth of July Trailhead can be rough, so you’ll need a high-clearance 4WD to get there.
Distance: 4.1 miles out & back
Elevation Gain: 1,131 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Estimated Time: 2-3 hours
Dog Friendly: Yes, on-leash
5. Diamond Lake Trail
Another great waterfall hike in Colorado is the Diamond Lake Trail. This lovely hike features forests and meadows, which makes it an amazing wildflower hike in the summer.
You can also add on a little more mileage and continue to Upper Diamond Lake.
Distance: 5.4 miles out & back
Elevation Gain: 1,220 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Estimated Time: 3 hours
Dog Friendly: Yes, on-leash
6. Arapaho Pass & Lake Dorothy Trail
This is one of the most spectacular Nederland hikes, culminating at Lake Dorothy which sits in a stunning cirque beneath Mt. Neva.
The views above the treeline are stellar, and you can also see Caribou Lake from Arapaho Pass.
Distance: 7.1 miles out & back
Elevation Gain: 1,942 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Estimated Time: 4 hours
Dog Friendly: Yes, on-leash
7. Jasper Lake Trail
Get a cool perspective looking out over Nederland from Jasper Lake. This trail features many other lakes in the Indian Peaks Wilderness along the way as well.
You can also take the Devils Thumb Bypass Trail to Devils Thumb Lake from this trail.
Distance: 9.8 miles out & back
Elevation Gain: 1,942 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Estimated Time: 5 hours
Dog Friendly: Yes, on-leash
8. Isabelle Glacier Trail
The full loop of the Isabelle Glacier Trail is a great way to explore an incredibly cool Colorado glacier along with a number of alpine lakes.
If you don’t have the time to go all the way to the glacier, you can just hike to Lake Isabelle via Pawnee Pass Loop, which is still one of the best Nederland hikes.
Local Tip: PSST. This is one of my favorite winter hikes in Colorado.
Distance: 8.4 miles loop
Elevation Gain: 1,660 feet
Difficulty: Moderate/Challenging
Estimated Time: 4-5 hours
Dog Friendly: Yes, on-leash
The Best Challenging Nederland Hikes
For a full day of adventure, try one of these especially epic Nederland hikes.
9. King Lake Trail
The King Lake Trail makes for a fun choose-your-own-adventure experience with side trips and spurs you can add on to make this the longest trail in Nederland.
King Lake itself is a beautiful alpine lake, and you can also take a short detour to Betty and Bob Lakes along the way.
After you reach King Lake, you can also add on another half a mile or so up a ridge to the Continental Divide for excellent views..
Distance: 12.2 miles out & back
Elevation Gain: 2,542 feet
Difficulty: Challenging
Estimated Time: 6-7 hours
Dog Friendly: Yes, on-leash
10. South Arapaho Peak via Arapaho Glacier Trail
Head to the summit of South Arapaho Peak, one of the best 13ers near Denver, along the Arapaho Glacier Trail.
Though this trail is tough, the views are simply incredible and worth every leg-burning step and scree scrambling to reach the summit.
The panoramic views from the summit of the Front Range and Longs Peak and Pikes Peak are truly something special.
Distance: 13.0 miles out & back
Elevation Gain: 3,638 feet
Difficulty: Challenging
Estimated Time: 7-8 hours
Dog Friendly: Yes, on-leash
Where to Stay Near Nederland
You have several options for camping near Nederland, but the area is very popular, so campsites fill up way in advance.
Pawnee Campground in Brainard Lake Recreation Area has 47 campsites which can be reserved via Recreation.gov.
Kelly Dahl Campground is located south of Nederland along the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway and has 46 sites – 20 of which are first-come/first served.
You can also get a backcountry permit to camp in the Indian Peaks Wilderness and turn one of these Nederland hikes into a backpacking trip.
What to Pack
Be sure to take the essentials with this ultimate Colorado hiking packing list.
What to wear:
- Sunshirt
- Noncotton socks
- Hiking footwear with good traction that you are comfortable wearing all day.
- Non-cotton shorts for hiking
- Or non-cotton, pants for hiking. Convertible pants are great too!
- Non-cotton shirt for hiking
What to pack:
- Hiking day pack. I love the REI Flash 22 for an affordable day pack.
- Water and snacks for the car – it’s always nice to have a treat at the end!
- Sunscreen, sunhat, sunglasses
- First Aid Kit
- Electrolyte powder – optional but nice to have!
- A water bladder capable of carrying at least 2 liters of water.
- Camera
- Camera clip to strap to your back
- Beanie
- Glove liners
- Fleece layer
- Puffy layer
- Hiking poles (optional)
- A toilet kit: shovel, WAG Bag (if you plan to travel above treeline), hand sanitizer, TP/baby wipes, a small plastic baggy to pack out TP and sanitary items
- Pee funnel – optional
- Pee rag – optional.
- Headlamp
- GPS navigation
- emergency communication device
- Wind/rain layer
- Pocket knife
