8 Perfect Hike-and-Spa Experiences for Colorado Moms

It’s a Colorado bluebird day when I first step inside the Lupine Spa, a luxurious hideaway tucked inside the Viewline Resort at Snowmass. After romping through a meadow filled with the day spa’s namesake blue and purple wildflowers, I trade in my boots and backpack for a plush robe and cozy up inside the relaxation room while the tinkling music tunes my mental load. As a full-time working mom who doesn’t often get time like this to unwind, I cherish the next 15 minutes of alone time almost as much as the massage that follows.

Because here’s the thing: The memes about Colorado mamas are mostly true. We tend to like Subarus, athleisure, and practical footwear. We sling hydration and lip balm to our kids on an hourly basis, and we count days outside as the barometer of family health. We love hard and play hard—but we still need a little R&R to recover from our best adventures. Instead of gifting flowers or handmade coupon books for Mother’s Day this year, may we suggest a day of Colorado mom fun for the leading lady in your life?

We’ve scoured the state and paired some of our most beautiful Rocky Mountain hikes with indulgent spa treatments, so you can help your favorite mom spend the morning marveling at mountains majesty with her kiddos and the afternoon blissfully zoned-out beneath the experienced hands of a masseuse. After all, she already has enough Chacos.

Read More: 5 Colorado Wellness Resorts To Visit for the Ultimate Relaxing Getaway

Denver

Hike First: North Table Mountain
Spa Later: Oakwell Beer Spa

Rising above Golden, North Table Mountain is a classic trail system for Denverites who want to huff-and-puff after their work day ends, making it an easily accessible trek for your Mother’s Day adventure. The 7.3-mile Outer Rim Loop trail takes you around the mesa’s edge, showcasing vistas of the Front Range and Denver skyline. The initial ascent is notoriously steep, but it mellows out once you reach the top of the plateau. Keep an eye out for wildlife, including mule deer and red-tailed hawks and—for better or worse—rattlesnakes during the hotter summer months.

After your hike, drive approximately 20 minutes to Denver’s Five Points neighborhood to help Mom unwind at Oakwell Beer Spa. This innovative spot combines the relaxation of a day spa with the ambiance of a craft beer taproom—what more could Mama want?! Have her indulge in the signature Beer Bath Hydrotherapy (where she’ll soak in a cedar tub infused with hops, barley, and herbs), all while sipping on a locally sourced craft brew. Additional amenities include an infrared sauna and zero-gravity massage chairs, so she’s sure to unwind.

Hike First: Mt. Morrison Trail
Spa Later: The Spa at the Brown Palace

Mt. Morrison is a go-to Front Range trail for locals looking to train for bigger endeavors. With more than 2,000 vertical feet of gain in just under two miles, it’s easy to see why. The trail starts across from Red Rocks Amphitheatre and winds up the western face of the mountain, offering wide views of Denver, the plains, and the red-rock formations below. No joke: It’s a leg-burner. But the quick access and jaw-dropping summit vistas make it worth the effort—and the spa treatment that comes next.

After summiting (and carefully descending—this one’s loose and rocky), make the 25-minute drive into downtown Denver for Mom’s well-earned recovery at the Spa at the Brown Palace. Tucked inside Denver’s most iconic hotel, the spa offers plush robes, eucalyptus steam rooms, and signature treatments like the Colorado River Stone Massage. Mama Bear will feel the old-world luxury the moment she walks through the lobby’s wrought-iron atrium. It’s the kind of high-low day that only Colorado can deliver: a sweaty summit followed by cucumber water and total bliss.

Hike First: Bear Creek to Panorama Point
Spa Later: Woodhouse Spa

Beat the heat (and the crowds) by starting early at this Front Range favorite in Idledale. Instead of beginning at the wildly popular Lair o’ the Bear Park, head to the quieter Corwina Park trailhead. From there, it’s a decent 1.5 miles of gentle climbing until you arrive at Panorama Point, where you’ll be rewarded with commanding views down the canyon and across the evergreen-shrouded peaks to 14,265-foot Mt. Evans. Continue along the trail to turn the route into a loop that gradually descends back to the trailhead. From there, it’s a 30-minute commute to shed your hiking shoes before arriving at Woodhouse Spa.

Woodhouse has nine locations scattered around the metro area, from Fort Collins to Denver to Castle Pines. The Mile High City locale is a beautiful converted historic home that practically oozes charm from every nook and cranny. Pro tip: Athletic mamas with dry skin should try the Black Sand Rejuvenation Treatment that uses black sand and a pumice stone for a full-body exfoliation.

Aurora

Hike First: Jewell Wetlands Loop
Spa Later: Simply Amazing Spa

For the birding mom, you’ll do no better than the loop that meanders through 50-acre Jewell Wetlands on the corner of Potomac and Jewell Avenue. It’s a flat, mile-long loop (concrete, gravel, and boardwalk surfaces) with incredible access to marshlands. Ornithologists will delight in the variety of feathered friends you can spot along the way, including sora birds, Virginia rails, and maybe an American bittern if you’re lucky.

Once she’s had her fill of marsh wrens, help Mom ditch the binoculars and head to Simply Amazing Spa for a Coffee and Brown Sugar Wrap (which is a treatment, not a tasty treat). Not only will the coffee and sugar crystals exfoliate her skin to leave her glowy and energized, but the spa wraps the layers in heated thermal blankets. It’s a java jolt in every sense.

Boulder

Hike First: Bear Peak
Spa Later: St. Julien Hotel & Spa

Bear Peak is a rite of passage that every Denverite should do at least once. Launching from the South Mesa trailhead near Eldorado Springs, this 7.4-mile round-trip hike ascends a whopping 2,800 feet on the approach as it climbs through the verdant Shadow Canyon before dumping you onto the saddle between Bear and South Boulder Peaks—two of the high points on the Boulder horizon. From there, scramble to the 8,459-foot summit where you’re rewarded with full-send views of the Front Range.

With quads sore from the big morning, dip into the parking garage just east of the St Julien, the only AAA Four Diamond lodging in Boulder, in downtown to catch Mom’s spa appointment. Spoiled mamas will love the Alpine Recovery, a 50-minute Swedish massage with cooling Arnica oil to melt away aches and pains from the morning’s adventure. Tell her to wrap up her reset with the latest issue of 5280 and an herbal tea in the spa lobby where a chaise lounger is calling her name.

Fort Collins

Hike First: Horsetooth Falls
Spa Later: Living Arts Wellness

Begin with the short-yet-classic hike to Horsetooth Falls, a popular 2.5-mile jaunt that is great for families or mamas who want scenic views without having to go full-send. Park at the trailhead, which got a facelift and an additional vault toilet recently, then meander through meadows dotting the Horsetooth Mountain Open Space before dropping into a canyon where you’ll find the cascade. If you time it right, the grassy meadows may be starting to pop with colorful wildflowers, so bring your camera—and pack a lunch. Enjoying a sammie while you wade into the water pooling beneath the falls may be the highlight of your day.

Until you get to Living Arts Wellness, of course. This holistic health spa specializes in personalized massage therapy, so their expert masseuses can tackle your mom’s particular aches and pains. If she spends a lot of time on her feet (what mom doesn’t?), consider booking the spa’s unique Ionic Foot Bath for her. She’ll dip her feet in a tub of warm water while positive and negative ions draw out toxins.

Steamboat Springs

Hike First: Hot Springs Trail
Spa Later: Strawberry Park Hot Springs

Snowshoeing and hot springs? Yes, please. Most Coloradans have heard of Strawberry Park Hot Springs, the gorgeous natural bubbler north of town, but did you know you can hike there? Begin the day at the Mad Creek trailhead, which usually dries out by summer. (This May, plan on snowshoeing.) Head back the way you came about a quarter-mile along the road. There, you’ll see a sign for the Hot Springs Trail, a three-mile path that winds through tall grasses and shady woods before terminating at Strawberry Park.

Once you’ve arrived at the hot springs, we recommend a Watsu massage, a type of hydrotherapy that takes place in water. At Strawberry Park, the therapists use one of the private pools to stretch and massage Mom into glorious oblivion surrounded by the sumptuous warm waters. Note: Don’t forget to book your hot springs reservations in advance, even if you opt against the massage.

Leadville

Hike First: Mt. Massive via Fish Hatchery
Spa Later: Blue Earth Yoga & Salon

For the mama who wants to go big and tackle a fourteener on her day, consider the winter route up 14,429-foot Mt. Massive. On backcountry skis or snowshoes, start early at the Fish Hatchery trailhead because you’ve got a big day ahead: 13 miles round-trip with close to 5,000 feet of elevation gain. While your quads will burn as you ascend the Highline Trail through conifer woods, your lungs may feel it worse as you break through the treeline and tackle the east ridge to the summit (always check conditions before heading out, and pack avy gear for this one). The bird’s-eye view over the Centennial State is grand even from the ridge, so turn around and retrace your steps if anything looks spicy.

Safely scamper back to your car and head into town for your leading lady’s appointment at Blue Earth Yoga & Salon. This small local spot offers a 75-minute hot stone massage, which will feel killer after she comes down from her alpine high.