Unearth The Voyage
Colorado’s wild canyons and pine-shadowed foothills are breathtaking – and they’re also prime cougar country. While encounters are rare, experts warn that hiking solo increases the risk and reduces your options. This guide spotlights places where you should bring a buddy, make noise, and stay alert. Read on to learn where caution matters most and how to hike smarter without sacrificing the adventure.
1. Boulder’s Flatirons and Shadow Canyon
The iconic Flatirons and the steep folds of Shadow Canyon are beautiful yet perfect for ambush predators like cougars. Dense ponderosa, rocky outcrops, and winding switchbacks create blind corners where surprise encounters happen. Hike in groups, talk loudly, and stash headphones so you can hear wildlife and other hikers. Keep dogs leashed; pets can attract lions and escalate interactions.
Avoid dawn and dusk, when activity spikes, and scan for tracks or scat along shaded drainages. If you meet a lion, stand your ground, appear larger, and back away slowly. Never run. If attacked, fight back, targeting the head and neck.
2. Golden Gate Canyon State Park Backcountry Loops
Golden Gate Canyon’s quieter loops – Black Bear, Horseshoe, and Burro – wind through thick timber and secluded meadows favored by deer, natural prey for cougars. Solitude here is sublime, but it’s why you shouldn’t hike alone. Travel in a group, clap or talk around turns, and keep children close.
Daylight hours are safer than crepuscular windows. Watch for paw prints, cached prey, and scat along creek corridors. Leash pets and avoid letting dogs run ahead. If a lion appears, maintain eye contact, raise your arms, and speak firmly. Back away deliberately without turning. Should it attack, use rocks, sticks, or trekking poles.
3. Horsetooth Mountain Open Space Rimrock Areas
Rimrock and shrub-dotted draws above Horsetooth Reservoir offer excellent stalking cover for cougars. Trails like Wathen, Spring Creek, and Stout feature blind corners and brushy transitions where deer bed.
Go with partners, keep voices up, and avoid twilight missions. Leash dogs to your side, not on long leads. Scan ahead for movement and listen for warning bird calls. If you encounter a lion, don’t crouch or run; stand tall, open your jacket, and make yourself big. Back away slowly while facing it. If it charges, defend yourself aggressively, aiming strikes at the eyes and throat until it disengages.
4. Jefferson County’s Mount Falcon Park’s Wooded Spurs
Mount Falcon’s forested spurs and shadowed drainages provide cougars quiet paths near suburban edges. Deer activity around Parmalee and Turkey Trot trails attracts predators. Avoid solo ventures on low-visibility segments; hike with a friend and talk as you go. Keep pets leashed and kids within arm’s reach.
Skip dawn and dusk outings. Stay alert for scat, tracks, or scraped duff under trees. If a lion appears, stand your ground, raise trekking poles overhead, and speak firmly. Do not run. Back away steadily while facing the animal. If attacked, fight back with focused strikes to the face and neck.
5. Poudre Canyon’s Greyrock and Secluded Spurs
Greyrock’s granite domes and forested approach trails intersect wildlife corridors where cougars roam. The mix of talus, brush, and creekside cover reduces visibility, especially in evening light. Hike in a pair or group, keep your voice up, and avoid headphones. Leash pets and keep them close.
Scan for fresh tracks in sandy washes and be cautious around bends. If you encounter a lion, maintain eye contact, look larger, and speak loudly. Retreat slowly without turning your back. If it advances, throw rocks and stand your ground. In an attack, target the head and throat with anything you can wield.
6. Cheyenne Mountain and North Cheyenne Cañon Ravines
Colorado Springs’ steep canyons and shaded ravines concentrate deer and, in turn, cougars. Trails like Seven Bridges and Captain Jack’s feature tight corners, overhanging pines, and rushing water noise that masks movement. Go with partners, speak up around bends, and keep dogs leashed short.
Choose full daylight hours over crepuscular periods. Watch for tracks in damp soil and avoid investigating carcasses. If a lion appears, stand tall, spread your jacket, and maintain eye contact. Back away slowly. Should it attack, fight decisively using sticks, rocks, or bikes – aiming for sensitive areas – to end the encounter as quickly as possible.
7. Deer Creek Canyon and Waterton Foothills
Southwest of Denver, Deer Creek Canyon and the Waterton foothills weave through oak brush, ponderosa, and rocky gullies frequented by cougars. Solitary runners on Plymouth Creek at dawn increase risk. Instead, hike with partners, keep conversation going, and avoid low-light hours.
Leash pets and don’t let them roam. Be alert for tracks crossing sandy turns and for freshly covered caches. If you encounter a lion, don’t run or crouch. Face it, raise your arms, and speak firmly. Back away slowly. If attacked, fight back aggressively with poles, rocks, or your fists, focusing blows on eyes and throat.
8. Roxborough State Park’s Hogback Corridors
Roxborough’s dramatic red hogbacks funnel wildlife through tight corridors, making stealthy movement easy for cougars. Trails like Willow Creek and South Rim include brushy transitions and blind curves.
Visit with a partner, talk often, and keep pets at home or strictly leashed where allowed. Stick to daylight hours and scan for tracks in soft sandstone dust. If you see a lion, meet its gaze, look larger, and create distance slowly without turning.
Throw rocks if it approaches. If attacked, fight with everything available – trekking poles, hands, and feet – aiming strikes at the head and neck until it retreats.
9. Black Canyon of the Gunnison Rim and Side Canyons
Beyond the viewpoints, the rim trails and side canyons harbor quiet pockets where cougars patrol for mule deer. The rugged terrain, deep shade, and echoing walls can hide movement until you’re close.
Never hike remote segments alone; go in a group and make consistent noise. Keep pets leashed and within arm’s reach. Avoid dawn and dusk traverses. Watch for tracks near springs and game trails.
If a lion appears, hold eye contact, raise your arms, and speak loudly. Back away slowly. If attacked, fight ferociously with rocks or sticks, targeting sensitive areas until the animal disengages.
10. San Isabel National Forest
San Isabel National Forest is an expansive wilderness where cougars often roam. The forest’s lush canopy and dense underbrush provide perfect cover for these stealthy predators.
Its remote trails are less traveled, enhancing the solitude but also increasing potential encounters with wildlife. Here, the air is crisp, and the sounds of nature envelop you.
Locals often share stories of sightings, adding a layer of intrigue. Whether it’s the whisper of the wind or the distant call of wildlife, the forest keeps you on your toes. Hiking in pairs or groups is highly recommended for safety.
11. Uncompahgre Wilderness
The rugged terrain of the Uncompahgre Wilderness offers both beauty and danger. This area is known for its stark, dramatic landscapes that are home to a healthy cougar population.
Hiking here means being vigilant, as the rocky outcrops and sparse vegetation can conceal big cats. The silence is only broken by the occasional call of a bird of prey.
Adventure seekers find this area alluring, yet its challenges are not to be underestimated. Always stay aware of your surroundings and consider the buddy system for a safer journey through this wild expanse.
12. Lost Creek Wilderness
Lost Creek Wilderness is a place of serene beauty and hidden dangers. With its winding creeks and abundant wildlife, cougars find this habitat ideal.
Hikers often come across tracks, a reminder of the unseen presence nearby. The landscape’s tranquility can be deceptive, so staying alert is essential.
This wilderness is as unpredictable as it is captivating, offering both challenge and charm. Group hikes are encouraged, allowing you to share the journey and enjoy the breathtaking views while keeping each other safe.
