20 Best Colorado Hikes for a Surprise Proposal

It’s no wonder so many people get engaged in this GORGEOUS state but if you’re struggling with where to pop the question - look no further!

Below you’ll find some of my favorite quintessential Colorado hikes that are the perfect “yes!” spots. If you have just gone over how to propose to your significant other, consider these places for that perfect-stunning-can’t-be-anywhere-but-Colorado backdrop.

And if you want to pick up a locally made engagement ring, we’ve got those too.

Let’s start it off! In no particular order…

Saint Marys Glacier

Saint Marys glacier is one of the easiest alpine lakes to get to if you are looking for something close to Denver. Only about a 45 to 60 minute drive to the trail head, the trail is around 500 feet of elevation gain and a couple of miles round-trip.

Saint Marys glacier is so quintessentially Colorado because at any time of year you will see people packing out their skis and snowboards to ski the glacier. It is also a popular place for cliff diving if you want to try your hand at swimming in an alpine lake (although TBH cliff diving is such a dangerous way to swim in an alpine lake - just jump in from the shore so the cold doesnt shock you!).

Pro tip: Saint Marys Glacier is windy every season, every time of year - BRING LAYERS!

Chief Mountain

Chief Mountain is one of the closest hikes to Denver if you are looking for a 360° view. The trail takes about 45 to 60 minutes and climbs up about 1000 feet of elevation gain. When I first did this trail over a decade ago, you could sometimes miss the trail head because it's just a pulloff on the side of the road. Nowadays, chief Mountain is well known as being a great hike, close to the city and you can't miss the parking for the trail head because there will be so many cars.

While the trail head is busy and well-known now, there are plenty of spots at the summit, that you can get away from the crowds and other people to have more privacy and a moment to yourselves.

Pro tip: Hike Chief mountain in the morning and aim to get to the summit by sunrise. You'll have way less people and most likely, the summit to yourselves.

Hanging Lake

Hanging lake is another one of the most well-known hikes in Colorado and in the last decade, they implemented a reservation and shuttle system. The shuttle picks you up at Glenwood Springs and takes you to the trail head. The trail itself is around a mile with 1000 feet of elevation gain to the top. While it is a popular hike- because of the reservation system, you'll find less people on the trail, especially on weekdays.

Pro Tip: Be sure to check out the short detours to the other waterfalls at the top!

Dream Lake

Dream Lake is one of many alpine lakes you can hike to in Rocky Mountain National Park, and probably the most popular (with good reason). You start the hike at Bear Lake, pass Nymph Lake, and then arrive at Dream Lake with just a couple hundred feet of elevation gain over a mile or two. Because the trail is so busy, it is accessible year-round (bring microspikes in the winter for better traction!).

The shoreline of Dream Lake is also quite large, so there are plenty of places where you can get away from the crowds - just keep walking past the first overlook you see!

Pro Tip: Lake Haiyaha and Emerald Lake are also worth the detour here!

Radium Hot Springs

Radium Hot spring in the summer is party central. But if you're up for a winter hike, you can likely have this spot all to yourselves! It is just a short hike from the trail head, about a mile, and it's all relatively flat until you get to the canyon edge where you climb down just a couple of feet to get to the river.

Pro Tip: The hot spring doesn’t get sun until the evening in the winter, so plan accordingly!

Lake Isabelle

Lake Isabelle is another incredible alpine lake that is easily accessible and close to downtown Denver. As of 2025, you do need a timed entry reservation for the Long Lake Trailhead parking lot - which are released two weeks ahead of time. The hike is incredible and relatively easy, following flatly along Long Lake until it begins to ascend up the last bit to Lake Isabelle.

This is another place that because of reservation systems, you can sometimes have the place all to yourselves depending on the time and day.

Pro Tip: Hit this spot earlier in the summer season as by the time Fall comes around, they begin to empty the lake so it isn’t quite as full.

If the proposal goes well, Brainard Lake is also one of the four spots in my all-inclusive elopement package. Just saying.

Great Sand Dunes National Park

Kinda self explanatory. Such an incredible and unique landscape that exists about 3 1/2 to 4 hours from Denver. The Sand Dunes are also dog friendly in certain spots, including a good portion of the dunes, so you can bring your best friend along as well :)

The Sand Dunes are one of those places where you want to be extra prepared. Mornings are best in summer before the sand gets too hot, insect repellent can come in handy, and bring plenty of water and layers!

Pro Tip: Grab a sand sled/board from the nearby trading post so you can sled down the hills. 10/10 takes you back to childhood fun.

Rainbow Lakes

Rainbow Lakes is a cute easy and relatively flat hike outside of Nederland that takes you to some lakes with mountains in the background. If you’re wanting to see some wildlife (moose!), this can be a really great spot to propose!

Pro Tip: Parking is limited so be sure to arrive early!

Naylor Lake Overlook

This is actually just a spot on another hike, but it is a nice short walk to access! It's also pretty easily accessible any time of year the hike might just be longer in the winter from lack of access to the summer trail head (in which case you’ll want microspikes for the steep road up to the trailhead!).

You can also continue your hike and head all the way to Silver Dollar Lake.

Pro Tip: You’ll likely have this spot all to yourselves for sunrise on weekday mornings.

Evergreen Lake

Evergreen lake is about 30 minutes from Denver and has free parking and is free to access. In the summer you can rent paddle boards and kayaks to go out on the lake, and winter access includes a skating rink! Pack a picnic or grab some food in downtown Evergreen and have a lakeside picnic while you soak up the high altitude sun!

I like to park on the south west side of the lake and then walk up and over to the south east side where there is more grass to hang out in.

Pro Tip: Theres a really cute bridge that could be the perfect proposal spot on the south side of the lake.

The Welcome to Colorful Colorado State Line Sign

Ignore my obnoxious pose in this photo but who doesn’t love a good state line sign! Here’s the thing, with state line signs, you’re already likely taking your camera or phone out to snap a photo so that also makes it the PERFECT moment to propose! Mid road trip? Propose! Headed home for the holidays? Propose!

Pro Tip: I like this one on highway 159 at the New Mexico border because the road isn’t too busy. It’s a great stop on the way to Taos!

Echo Lake

Echo Lake is at the entrance to the road up to Mount Blue Sky and while its typically a busy area, you can find some privacy if you’re willing to walk away from the trailhead and parking area! Echo lake is also an incredible spot to propose at any time of year because it is accessible year round, and the trails are typically packed down enough in the winter that you don’t need snowshoes.

Pro Tip: Head up after a recent snow so all of the pine trees still have their white snow fluffs on the bristles and it feels like a magical wonderland.

Echo Lake is also on my list of elopement locations you can drive to, in case you want to come back and get married here too.

Calypso Cascade Waterfall

This is a not well known waterfall at the Wild Basin entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. It’s a short easy hike to this specific waterfall, but there are also plenty of others you can stop at either on the way, or continue on to. If you’re looking for something that feels very PNW - this is the spot.

And thanks to the reservation system, this area is not very busy.

Pro Tip: May and June are the best months for waterfalls in Colorado because of the snowmelt!

Old Aspen Groves

Yeah this is technically a really generic location but there are so many aspen groves in Colorado that you can so easily find! Some of my favorites are Kenosha Pass, Kebler Pass, Golden Gate Canyon State Park, Guanella Pass. Literally they’re everywhere. This particular grove is at the Ruby Anthracite Trailhead in Crested Butte.

Pro Tip: Aspens are gorgeous any time of year but typically start getting leaves around June, and then start turning around mid to late September.

Mayflower Gulch

Just south of Copper Mountain off Highway 91, an old mining road climbs about a mile and a half to the leftover cabins of the Boston Mine, with the Tenmile Range wrapped around the whole basin. It feels like a movie set, and the cabins give you the perfect excuse to stop, wander around, and "look at something" while you get the ring out of your pocket. The grade is gentle enough that nobody arrives at their proposal out of breath.

Pro Tip: This one's great in winter too. It's a popular snowshoe, so a snowy proposal in front of the cabins is very doable. Just bring microspikes or snowshoes and extra layers.

Old Dillon Reservoir

The move if your partner would get suspicious about a "random hike." It's short and easy, between Dillon and Frisco, and ends at a little reservoir with Lake Dillon and the mountains stacked up behind it. Low effort, huge view, zero chance they figure out why you were so insistent about going.

Pro Tip: It's quick enough to do right before dinner, so time it for sunset and have reservations in Frisco or Dillon to celebrate right after.

The Loch, Rocky Mountain National Park

From the Glacier Gorge trailhead, it's about 5.5 miles round trip and roughly 1,000 feet of gain, passing Alberta Falls on the way up. The lake sits in a deep valley with peaks rising straight out of the far shore, and the shoreline is long and rocky, so you can walk a little way down and find a spot that feels like it's just yours. It's enough of a hike to feel like an adventure, not so much that you're wrecked by the time you get down on one knee.

Pro Tip: The Glacier Gorge lot fills up absurdly early, and you'll need a timed entry reservation in the summer, so plan ahead and start at sunrise. If you're both feeling good after, keep going to Timberline Falls and Sky Pond for the celebration.

Slater Lake

Short, quiet, and way less known than the lakes around it. With a 4x4 and an open road, you can drive to Lower Chinns Lake and hike about 2 miles round trip and 300 feet of gain from there. When the gate is closed, add a couple of miles and roughly 1,000 feet from the winter lot. If the idea of proposing in front of strangers makes you sweat, this one's a good bet.

Pro Tip: Pack a warm layer for both of you. Getting down on one knee while shivering is great for the photos, less great for you.

Tomichi Point, Black Canyon of the Gunnison

One of the first overlooks on the South Rim, a short walk from the car, and then the canyon just drops away below you. The walls are so steep and dark that it barely looks real. I've photographed proposals here and it never gets old watching someone turn around from that view to find their person on one knee.

Pro Tip: Go on a weekday or in the spring, when the park is quiet and it's usually warm enough to hang out at the overlook after.

South Valley Park

About half an hour from downtown Denver, and it looks like someone dropped a mini Red Rocks in a meadow. Huge slanted red rock fins stick straight up out of the grass, and the trails loop right between them. They're short and mostly flat, so this one works even if your partner's idea of a hike is the walk from the car to the brewery.

Pro Tip: Go at sunrise or sunset when the rocks light up red. And watch the trail in summer, because the foothills have rattlesnakes and nobody wants that to be the story of the proposal.

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Check out this guide for more information on how to propose.

If you want candid, behind-the-scenes photos of your proposal, ask me! I can also suggest nearby spots to celebrate. Or bring a bottle of champagne to pop after they say yes!

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