Fourth of July Trailhead, where the Diamond Lake hike takes off from, is both famous and infamous for Colorado hikers. It’s famous because the scenery in this area (including Diamond Lake) is so varied with lakes, waterfalls, streams, summits, flowers, and aspens making it a little Colorado wonderland. Most of the terrain is pretty moderate too which means it’s perfect for older kiddos or parents hiking with carrier. The varied scenery and natural obstacles will keep them busy too! My kids had a blast with the waterfall crossings and watching the fish through the clear, shallow water at the lake.

This very picturesque area is also infamous for a few reasons to be aware of - parking is super limited and the road to get there is quite rough and narrow. If you can get your crew here on a weekday during the summer or on a random off-day from school, I would definitely recommend it!