Depending on how much time you have, a hike on Golden's North Table Mountain can be as short as 1.5 miles or as long as 7.7. Medium-difficult — there's a steep, switchback-filled climb to get atop the mesa — these well-marked North Table loops make for a good lunch-break option or post-work trek, and there are two trailheads with ample parking to choose from. At sunset, the hills of the Hogback come alive, and the panoramic views also include White Ranch Park, the surrounding Front Range and the town of Golden itself. Other payoffs include the intermittent fields of wildflowers in season and the occasional sighting of the golden eagles or red-tailed hawks that call this home. But keep an eye out for rattlesnakes, which are famously abundant here.
Readers' Choice: Buffalo Bill Trail