Colorado Hikings-Climbings

Please run Internet searches on each of the following for detailed information. All are well documented.

RMNP area

1.  Emerald Lake (1.8 miles, 605 vertical)
Bear Lake (9475) - Nymph Lake (9700) - Deam Lake (9900) - Emerald Lake (1.8 miles, 605 vertical, 10080)
This is just in your backyards and an easy trail. Good for the first day as you will be terribly itching for a hike in Colorado air. Generally very crowded in summer.

2.  Flattop, Hallet Peak (5 miles, 3627 vertical, Strenuous)
Bear Lake TH (9475) - Flattop Mountain (4.4 miles, 3238 vertical, 12324) - Hallet Peak (5.0 miles, 12713)
Exhausting climb for anyone but it will be spectacular. I just keep it on the schedule as a standby.

3. Sky Pond (4.6 miles, 1660 vertical)
Glacier Gorge TH (9240) - Alberta Falls (9400) - North Long Peak Jct (9740) - Loch Vale Jct (1.9 miles, 9780) - The Loch (2.7 miles, 10180 - Lake of Glass (4.2 miles, 10820) - Sky Pond (4.6 miles, 10900)
For those who are young and fit. It's here just for a standby. All lakes are similar.

4. Mills Lake-Jewell Lake (Black Lake): (3 miles, 710 vertical, Black Lake-4.7 miles, 1380 vertical)
Glacier Gorge TH (9240) - Alberta Falls (9400) - North Long Peak Jct (9740) - Loch Vale Jct (1.9 miles, 9780) - Mills Lake (2.5 miles, 9940) - Jewell Lake (3 miles, 9950) - Black Lake (4.7 miles, 10620)
Good for the second day. Good for everyone up to Jewell Lake. But for those strong and fit can go all the way to Black Lake.

5. Estes Cone: (3.3 miles, 1606 vertical)
Longs Peak Ranger Station TH (9400) - Longs Peak-Storm Pass jct (9700) - Eugenia Mine Site (1.4 miles, 990) - Storm Pass (2.5 miles, 10260) - Estes Cone (3.3 miles, 11006)
This one is not "in the valley" but on the top. Good for most of you.

Outside of RMNP area but close to Estes Park

6. Lake Isabelle (Brainard Lake NRA at Ward, CO, 2 miles, 400 vertical)
Brainard Lake TH (10480) - Long Lake - Lake Isabelle (2 miles, 10868)
Good for everyone. Relatively easy and scenic. Consider for the third day.

7. Diamond Lake (Nederland Area, 2.5 mile, 800 vertical)
Fourth of July TH (10160) - Arapahoe Pass Jct (1 mile, 10850) - Diamond Lake (2.5 mile, 10960)
Good for everyone. Relatively easy and scenic. Consider for possibly third day.

Near Denver or Colorado Springs

8. Easy Hikings
8-1. Roxborough State Park (Denver): Fountain Valley Trail (2.3 miles, tiny vertical, 6100)
8-2. Garden of Gods, Red Rock Canyon Open Space, US Airforce Academy (Colorado Springs)
These will take a long driving of up to 2 hours. These are easy walks in the park and should be good for a resting day. If you plan a fourteener climb, do these the day before.

9. Mounts Evans and Spalding (Idaho Springs)
Summit Lake TH (12830) - Mount Spalding (13842) - Mount Evans (14265) - Descent on East Slope - Back to Summit Lake as a loop
To me, this is the easiest fourteener you can have. Do this one on the last day to give as much acclimatization as possible. You need early start and a long drive. Those less strong can quit at the Spalding and return back to Summit Lake and still have climbed one of the highest thirteeners.

10. Pikes Peak (14110, Colorado Springs, Closed 8-09-2015) Pikes Peak Toll Road from Cascade, CO. Park at Devils Playground, from there, 5.5 miles round trip, 1300 vertical, 3 hours.
This is another fourteener.  You need early start and a long drive to the site. If you do, do it on the last day. Those less strong can come down by car from the summit.

11. Colorado Trail Section 6 at Kenosha Pass West TH (Too far from Estes Park, 6 miles, mostly downhill walking, 3 hours)
Colorado Trail Head at Kenosha Pass (10000) - Jefferson Lake Recreation Area
A long drive. A taste of Colorado Trail. Easy hiking. You can do this on a resting day.

12. Longs Peak by Keyhole Route: (15 miles round trip, 5000 vertical)
East Longs Peak TH (9400) - Keyhole Route - Summit (14259)
I have had my eyes on it since I came to Colorado but never felt that I was ready enough to challenge this peak. Maybe, it may happen one of these days or will never happen. I guess, at my age, one has to prepare specifically for the climb of this peak a few years ahead of time. It is not included here.