Lake Isabelle has a special place in my heart because it’s the first “long” hike I ever did with my daughter when she was five. Thankfully she loved every minute and I’m pretty sure this place made her fall in love with hiking. It’s also, IMHO, one of the most gorgeous (and most accessible) hikes near the Front Range.

If you’re looking at the mileage and thinking, oh man, I don’t think I could do 6+ miles with my kid, I urge you to give it a try. While longer, the trail is mostly flat with just a few steep pitches closer to Isabelle. There is no shortage of places for your little ones to explore, and I’d encourage you to plan to spend a chunk of time here.

The trailhead starts at Brainard Lake which, in and of itself, is a great place to hang for a day - there’s a nice sandy beach and people often picnic, paddle board, and fish here. About halfway to Isabelle, you’ll hit Longs Lake. While there’s not a ton of waterfront access, it’s still a great place to take a snack break on a boulder and take in the gorgeous views around you. We’ve seen a moose nearly every time we’ve gone to this lake so keep your eyes peeled! A great thing about this hike is that if you only make it to Longs Lake, it will have been worth the trip.

Past Longs Lake, get ready to be totally wowed by the views. Waterfalls, wildflowers, and of course, Lake Isabelle, are just stunning and the trek up there will be a blast for any adventurous kiddo. This is also a favorite for out-of-town guests who want to take see awesome Colorado views but don’t necessarily want to commit to an strenuous hike.