When it comes to kid-friendly hikes and hiking in Winter Park, we have a few requirements.
They must:
- Be easy to access
- Be easy to escape
- Minimal to no elevation gain
- Exhaust kids, (while not exhausting their parents)
- Not involve any dangerous features, (cliffs, roaring rivers, falling rocks, etc.)
With that said we came up with the following kid-friendly hiking in Winter Park!
The Fraser River Trail:
Access Point(s): Safeway, Headwaters Trails Alliance, Rendezvous Rd. Parking Lot, Idlewild Campground, Etc.
Distance: Up to 6.3 miles
Elevation gain/loss: minimal
Stroller/Bike friendly: Yes
Dog friendly: Yes
Fun features: Forests, Fraser River, Scenic Views, Picnic Tables, Fly fishing, and more.
Wildlife: Moose, deer, beaver, waterfowl, fish, songbirds, birds of prey, fox, coyote.
Link: https://headwaterstrails.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/FraserRiver11x10.pdf
Mary’s Pond Trail:
Access Point: Rendezvous Sales Center Parking Lot (Between Winter Park and Fraser, on highway 40.)
Distance: 0.03 miles
Elevation gain/loss: none
Stroller/bike friendly: Yes (on a boardwalk)
Dog friendly: On leash
Fun Features: A scenic trail and boardwalk winding around ponds and water features. This trail can connect to the sidewalk off of Highway 40 and lead all the way to Hideaway park.
Wildlife: Waterfowl, fish, songbirds, birds of prey, etc.
Creekside, Flume Trail:
Access Point(s): Take 73 South West to the campground.
Distance: Up to 3.3 miles
Elevation gain/loss: minor/minimal
Stroller/Bike friendly: mostly yes
Dog friendly: Yes
Fun features: Forests, Water, Scenic Views, Benches.
Wildlife: Moose, fox, coyote, squirrels, chipmunks, beaver, birds of prey, owls
Link: https://headwaterstrails.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/FraserRiver11x10.pdf
Monarch Lake:
Access Point: From Granby, Colorado turn north on U.S. Highway 34, after six miles turn on County Road 6/NFSR 125, after 10 miles you will see the parking lot.
Distance: Approximately 4 miles
Elevation gain/loss: Intermediate
Stroller/bike friendly: Not advised (lots of roots and somewhat steep at times)
Dog friendly: Yes, on leash
Fun Features: Stunning drive around Lake Granby, lake views on and off throughout the hike, beach access, fishing, old steam engine.
Wildlife: Migratory birds, moose, deer, elk, etc.
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