Distance is one measure of a hike. Elevation gain is the one that decides how your legs feel the next morning. We pulled every trail in Colorado with a measurable elevation-gain tag — out of the 17,956 entries OutsideAtlas tracks here — and ranked them by total vertical. The result is a roster of climbs that punch above their mileage.
Colorado is the highest-elevation US state — 58 peaks above 14,000 feet, deep glacial valleys, and the Continental Divide running its full length. Class 1 fourteeners like Bierstadt and Quandary gain 3,000+ ft in 3-4 miles — short by distance but punishing by air. Lightning above treeline is the leading hazard — plan to be off summits by noon. Altitude sickness hits hikers from sea level on any 12,000+ ft outing.
Our rankings here are data-driven — pulled from the 17,956 mapped entries OutsideAtlas tracks in Colorado — but the data has limits worth being honest about. Elevation-gain figures depend on the surveyor and the digital-elevation model used. Some trails are missing this tag entirely and are excluded from the list. Treat numbers as approximate but directionally reliable.
The Ranking
Ranked from #1 to #10. Click through any entry for the full trail page — map, elevation profile, weather forecast, and direct OpenStreetMap source link.
#1. Barker Reservoir Trail
Barker Reservoir Trail leads the elevation rankings with 27,021 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 27,021 ft of gain, unpaved surface on a forgiving grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. A paved surface makes this one of the more accessible options on the list — good for strollers, mobility aids, and wet-weather days. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Barker Reservoir Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#2. Barker Reservoir Trail
Barker Reservoir Trail comes in at #2 with 27,021 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 27,021 ft of gain, unpaved surface on a forgiving grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. A paved surface makes this one of the more accessible options on the list — good for strollers, mobility aids, and wet-weather days. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Barker Reservoir Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#3. Barker Reservoir Trail
Barker Reservoir Trail comes in at #3 with 27,021 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 27,021 ft of gain, unpaved surface on a forgiving grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. A paved surface makes this one of the more accessible options on the list — good for strollers, mobility aids, and wet-weather days. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Barker Reservoir Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#4. Barr Trail
Barr Trail comes in at #4 with 7,251 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 7,251 ft of gain on a forgiving grade. Compared to similar trails in Colorado, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Barr Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#5. Legion Park Trail
Legion Park Trail comes in at #5 with 5,349 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 5,349 ft of gain, dirt surface on a forgiving grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Legion Park Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#6. Grey Copper Trail
Grey Copper Trail comes in at #6 with 5,249 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 5,249 ft of gain, ground surface on a forgiving grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Grey Copper Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#7. Albany Loop Trail
Albany Loop Trail comes in at #7 with 3,937 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 3,937 ft of gain, ground surface on a forgiving grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Albany Loop Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#8. The Incline
The Incline comes in at #8 with 2,011 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 2,011 ft of gain on a forgiving grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the The Incline trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#9. Hendrick Gulch Spur
Hendrick Gulch Spur comes in at #9 with 1,312 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 1,312 ft of gain, ground surface on a forgiving grade. Compared to similar trails in Colorado, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Hendrick Gulch Spur trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#10. Mears Trail
Mears Trail comes in at #10 with 984 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 984 ft of gain, ground surface on a forgiving grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Mears Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.Planning your Colorado trip
A few pieces of context are worth keeping in mind specifically for Colorado. Summer (mid-June through September) is the practical window for high routes; afternoon thunderstorms are reliable July-August. Lightning above treeline is the leading hazard — plan to be off summits by noon. Altitude sickness hits hikers from sea level on any 12,000+ ft outing.
Always cross-reference the official land-manager page before driving out — closures, fire restrictions, and seasonal road access can change quickly. Our trail pages link directly back to the OpenStreetMap source so you can see the tags we're working from.
If you're new to hiking generally, our beginner's guide covers footwear, layering, and the day-pack basics. For safety planning on bigger objectives, the ten essentials guide is worth twenty minutes of reading.
More Colorado hiking guides
If you found this useful, the rest of our Colorado coverage continues below.
- Top 10 longest trails in Colorado — Multi-day routes and through-hikes ranked by distance.
- Best beginner hikes in Colorado — Easy, well-marked trails for first-time hikers.
- Most challenging hikes in Colorado — Expert-rated routes for experienced hikers only.
- Best national parks in Colorado — Federal parks and recreation areas ranked.
- Best waterfall hikes in Colorado — Trails leading to named falls, ranked by accessibility.
- Best dog-friendly hikes in Colorado — Where leashed dogs are explicitly welcome.
- Best family hikes in Colorado — Short, easy trails sized for kids and grandparents.
Rankings like this are starting points, not verdicts. Trail conditions change, new routes get tagged, and what was the toughest trail in Colorado last year might not be next year. We refresh these articles when the underlying data shifts meaningfully.
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