Western Colorado summer is in full swing, which for hikers means one thing: The trails beckon. But the heat of the day can be too much for some, and with cooler fall weather approaching there’s no better time to enjoy this beautiful place we call home than to explore what Mother Nature gifted to us.

Please remember to take ample water, food and sunscreen when hiking. A good rule of thumb is to have about 1 liter of water per hour of your planned hike.

Also, it’s important to mind your manners. Stay on the trail. Remember that hikers give way to horses; and if you bring it in with you, take it out so the next person has the same pristine experience you did.

Here are some of my favorite hikes:

1. Pollack Bench

Located in Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness Area

Access trailhead from I-70 to the Highway 340 exit in Fruita (Exit 19)

Approximately 5 miles with 1,000-foot elevation change

Dogs and horses welcome; no bikes

This is my favorite trail. No matter the season or how many times I hike it, it never fails to amaze me. This trail is shaped like a lollipop. You get up onto the bench via a straight, fairly strenuous climb (the stick of the lollipop) then continue through piñon pines to a sweeping right-hand turn that takes you down to a cliff-side trail. This is where the views go from “pretty” to “Oh my God, can you believe how beautiful this is?” Look for elk and bighorn sheep in the valley below, and amazing views of wilderness canyons.

2. Liberty Cap (via Corkscrew Trail)

Located in Colorado National Monument

Access trailhead from Wildwood Drive

Approximately 4 miles with a strenuous 2,000-foot elevation change

No dogs, horses or bikes.

While the prospect of climbing to the top of Liberty Cap can be daunting, taking Corkscrew Trail doubles the distance from the trailhead through the steepest part of the climb, which decreases the steepness. At the top of Corkscrew Trail, the trail splits. Take the right fork to continue up to Liberty Cap. Take the left hand fork for Ute Canyon (see #8 on this list). Look for collared lizards, bluebirds and amazing views of the Grand Valley.

3. Rough Canyon

Located in Bangs Canyon Wilderness Area

Access from D Road/Little Park Road

Approximately 4 miles with 1,000-foot elevation change

Dogs welcome; no horses or bikes.

Descend from the parking lot into the canyon where the trail splits. Turn right for a short level walk to Mica Mine, a trail that’s great for the grandkids. Turn left at the fork for a wilderness hike that will leave you breathless. Rough Canyon Trail follows a creek bed that is usually dry except for a few weeks in wet springs. There are several waterfalls that must be down-climbed, so dogs may need help in one or two spots. At the bottom of the canyon, the trail opens up into a panoramic view that looks down toward Whitewater. In order to make this a loop, turn left at these cliffs and hike up to the Jeep trail, which you can follow using the well-marked yellow stripes on the rock. This trail brings you along the top of the cliffs you just hiked beneath, and will end up at the parking area at the Rough Canyon trailhead. Look for canyon tree frogs, golden eagles nesting in the cliffs, blue-bellied lizards and towering sandstone cliffs.

4. Flume Canyon

Located in Black Ridge Canyon Wilderness Area

Access trailhead from I-70 to the Highway 340 exit in Fruita (Exit 19)

Approximately 3.5 miles with 300-foot elevation change

Dogs and horses welcome; no bikes.

This trail starts from the Pollack Bench trailhead parking lot but stays low, skirting the bottoms of the cliffs in Flume Canyon. This is an undulating trail that has no steep sustained climbs, but stays interesting due to the varied topography. Look for bighorn sheep and towering sandstone cliffs.

5. Holy Cross to Tabeguache

Located in the Lunch Loops

Access from Monument Road

Approximately 3.5 miles with 300-foot elevation change

Dogs and horses welcome; no bikes.

The trail climbs a steep bluff to the ridge overlooking Monument Road. Then after crossing the cliff top, it dips into the next valley where it follows a streambed up into broken rock formations, eventually coming out at the high meadow from which numerous trails lead. The Tabeguache Trail will take you back down to the parking area.

6. Monument Canyon

Located in Colorado National Monument

Access from Broadway (Highway 340)

Out and back hike of up to 12 miles with elevation change of 1,500 feet

No dogs, horses or bikes.

This amazing hike takes you right past Independence Monument. After leaving the parking lot, head past a neighborhood before turning west into the canyon. A sustained climb of about 1 1/2 miles brings you an elevation gain of about 500 feet for a lovely view into the canyon. The trail generally levels out for the rest of the hike. You will pass Independence Monument, Kissing Couple and the Coke Ovens just before the trail heads up the side of the canyon to Rim Rock Road.

Look for the towering sandstone monolith, snakes, lizards and golden eagles nesting in the cliffs.

7. Peticus to Tabeguache

Located in Lunch Loops

Access from Monument Road

Approximately 1.5/3 miles with 1,000-foot elevation change

Bikes and dogs welcome; no horses.

This is a quick and easy hike. The first part of the trail looks like the surface of the moon, but after turning right to head up a dry streambed, the rocks vary and some vegetation appears. At the 1.5-mile point, the trail splits. Take the left fork for the shorter hike, or the right for an additional mile. The trail pops out on the Tabeguache Trail to head back down to the parking area. Look for sandstone rock formations, rabbits, bluebirds and lizards.

8. Ute Canyon (via corkscrew trail)

Located in Colorado National Monument

Access from Meadows Lane

Up to 14-mile out-and-back hike with 1,800-foot elevation change.

No dogs, horses or bikes

See #2 for early details. When the trail splits at the top of Corkscrew Trail, turn left to head into Ute Canyon for a smooth, rolling trail that takes you beneath towering cliffs. Passing through varied vegetation and around stunning rocky outcroppings gives the feeling of wilderness just minutes from downtown. It’s one of the quietest places I’ve ever been to. Look for rock climbers on the sandstone cliffs and bighorn sheep.

9. No Thoroughfare Canyon

Located in Colorado National Monument

Access from inside the gatehouse on Monument Road (fee area)

Up to 17-mile out-and-back hike.

No bikes, horses or dogs

Though it’s a long hike, the waterfall at 1.25 miles is worth making the trek. The elevation change to the first waterfall is 500 feet. Look for waterfalls, canyon tree frogs, collared lizards and aspen trees. A hike to the waterfall is a great hike for younger grandkids. Enjoy a snack or picnic lunch, and head back the way you came. ν