8 Colorado Mountain Trails That Tourists Have Overrun

Colorado’s breathtaking mountain trails draw millions of visitors each year seeking natural beauty and outdoor adventure. But this popularity comes with a price. Many once-peaceful paths have become packed with tourists, leading to environmental damage, safety concerns, and new reservation systems.

These trails showcase how Colorado’s wilderness hotspots are managing the challenges of being loved a little too much.

1. Hanging Lake: Paradise With Permits

Once a hidden gem, this turquoise alpine lake in Glenwood Canyon now requires year-round timed-entry permits after years of unsustainable visitation. The fragile ecosystem suffered when tourists ignored rules against swimming and walking on the travertine formations.

Park rangers implemented the permit system after witnessing dangerous parking situations along Interstate 70 and trail degradation from heavy foot traffic. The restoration efforts have helped protect this natural wonder while still allowing visitors to experience its crystal-clear waters and lush surroundings.

2. Maroon Bells: The Most Photographed Mountains

The iconic twin peaks reflected in Maroon Lake create Colorado’s most photographed landscape—and its most visitor-stressed trail system. During peak seasons, personal vehicles are banned entirely in favor of mandatory shuttles from Aspen Highlands.

Without reservations, you’ll likely be turned away disappointed. The surrounding Crater Lake trails face similar pressures with eroded paths and wildlife disturbances becoming increasingly common. Forest Service officials implemented these restrictions after counting thousands of daily visitors in an area designed for hundreds.

3. Quandary Peak: The Beginner’s 14er Nightmare

Summit County’s most accessible fourteener draws an estimated 50,000 hikers annually. The relatively straightforward trail makes it appealing for first-time mountain climbers, creating a perfect storm of inexperienced hikers on a challenging mountain.

Parking chaos forced officials to implement a reservation system after cars regularly blocked emergency access routes. The shuttle program now manages the flow of eager peak-baggers. Despite these measures, summer weekends still resemble a parade line to the 14,265-foot summit, with hikers sometimes waiting in queues at steeper sections.

4. Mount Bierstadt: The Front Range Fourteener Factory

Mount Bierstadt’s proximity to Denver makes it an irresistible target for weekend warriors. The parking lot at Guanella Pass frequently fills before sunrise, pushing desperate hikers to create dangerous roadside parking situations that block emergency access.

Rangers now actively enforce strict no-parking zones along the highway. The relatively gentle grade of this fourteener makes it perfect for beginners, which paradoxically creates its biggest problem. On summer weekends, hundreds of hikers crowd the trail, creating bottlenecks at stream crossings and steep sections.

5. Grays and Torreys: The Twofer Traffic Jam

These neighboring fourteeners offer the alluring opportunity to bag two 14,000-foot peaks in a single day. The promise of this efficient achievement attracts crowds that would make a city sidewalk seem peaceful by comparison.

The rough access road forces many vehicles to park miles from the actual trailhead, creating an unofficial extension that adds significant distance. Weekend warriors often find themselves in a conga line of hikers stretching from the parking area to both summits. The narrow saddle between peaks becomes particularly congested during peak hours.

6. Emerald Lake Trail: Rocky Mountain National Park’s Jewel

Rocky Mountain National Park implemented timed entry permits after visitation exploded in recent years. The Emerald Lake Trail, with its three stunning alpine lakes and mountain views, bears the brunt of this popularity.

Starting from the already busy Bear Lake area, this trail offers spectacular scenery with minimal effort, a recipe for extreme crowding. Summer days transform the path into a virtual highway of tourists. Rangers frequently remind visitors to stay on trail as social paths and erosion damage the fragile alpine ecosystem surrounding these pristine mountain lakes.

7. Chautauqua Flatirons: Boulder’s Backyard Burden

The dramatic sandstone slabs rising above Boulder provide an irresistible backdrop for locals and visitors alike. Parking at the Chautauqua Trailhead has become so problematic that the city implemented a shuttle system and paid parking program to manage the chaos.

The network of trails facing the Flatirons experiences intense usage year-round. Weekends bring hundreds of hikers, climbers, and sightseers to paths designed for far fewer feet. Trail widening and erosion continue despite conservation efforts, as Instagram-inspired visitors seek the perfect Flatirons selfie regardless of environmental impact.

8. St. Mary’s Glacier: The Accessible Alpine Experience

This relatively short hike delivers big alpine scenery with minimal effort, a combination that attracts overwhelming crowds. Located just an hour from Denver, St. Mary’s offers year-round snow and spectacular views that social media can’t resist showcasing.

Years of trash problems and parking chaos forced local authorities to implement steep parking fees and strict enforcement. Even with these measures, summer weekends transform the trail into a congested pathway. The fragile alpine environment shows visible wear from thousands of feet venturing off-trail for photos, while impromptu sledding parties create additional erosion on the glacier itself.