One of the best way to get into the forest without driving too far from the Denver metro area is to hike at Alderfer/Three Sisters Park in Evergreen. The park has 15 miles of trails -- some steep, some fairly flat.
If you're looking for a hike to take the family, consider the Hidden Fawn Trail.
The trail starts in the smaller parking lot at park (directions below). There's a bathroom here and a sign board with maps. Take a map/brochure and then look for the trail signs. There are two trails here, look for the Hidden Fawn trail.
The park brochure says the Hidden Fawn Trail is "flat, mostly open and exposed." I agree with mostly flat, but there are some sections where visitors may have to stop and catch their breath. That's OK, use that as an excuse to enjoy the scenery.
I disagree with "open and exposed." I felt like I was in the forest for this hike. The trees here are tall and beautiful. The dirt path is 2-3 people wide.
And the best part? If you're bringing the kids, bring your sense of adventure because there are lots of small rock outcroppings along the trail that the kids and the kids at heart may want to climb and explore.
The Hidden Fawn Trail is about .65 miles. At the Dedisse Trail, you can turn around and return to the parking lot, or you can make a loop out of this hike. Take a look at your map. If you turn left at the Dedisse Trail you'll loop around to the Sisters Trail. Here you can climb the steep Sisters Trail to the sisters rock formations or just continue on the Sisters Trail back down to the parking lot.
Another great family hike is Lair O The Bear and Mount Falcon (west side) to the castle. If you want more hiking ideas, check out this extensive list of hikes.
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Details: The Hidden Fawn/Three Sisters loop is about 1.2 miles with 200 feet of elevation gain. With a park map, you can create your own loop or almost any length.
Directions: From I-70, exit Evergreen Parkway/Highway 74 and go south. Take the highway about 7.6 miles, past Evergreen Lake to the town of Evergreen. As you enter town, turn right on Highway 73. Drive about 0.5 miles to the light at Buffalo Park Road and turn right. Drive about 1.6 miles to the small parking lot on your right.
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