One of the most iconic of outdoor activities that one can partake in here in Colorado is that of hiking. Whether you crave a historic trail that leads you to a deserted place, a hike with out-of-this-world views, or something a little more short and sweet, you are guaranteed to find it here! What you may not realize, however, is that in addition to these more popular hikes, the Centennial State is also home to a super unique opportunity, which is that of hiking a volcano:

Located in the small Western Slope town of Dotsero lies the namesake Dotsero volcano, which—as you can see by the picture—is not your traditional lava-spewing volcano, but is considered to be active nevertheless.
Flickr/Loco Steve
Spanning 2,300 feet wide and 1,300 feet deep, Dotsero first erupted some 4,200 years ago, leaving behind 2-mile-long lava remains that can still be made out today.
Wikimedia Commons

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Made up of mostly of small scoria cones and old wood pieces, the volcano boasts one of the youngest explosions in the country, with some experts predicting it could explode again, as volcanoes less than 10,000-years-old are likely to re-activate.
Flickr/Adam Simmons
Now that you have the lowdown on the history of Dotsero, it is time to get to the fun part: the hike! The Dotsero volcano hike is approximately 1.25 miles round-trip and can be easily followed via a pre-designated trail.
YouTube/Ian Broussard
The hike to Dotsero can be accessed by taking I-70 to Exit 133, turning left onto the I-70 Frontage Road, turning left onto an unmarked street (with a prominent NO OUTLET sign, just past the Dotsero Bridge), and following it a half-mile down to the Dotsero MHP sign.
Flickr/Matthew Ragan

For even more historic hikes, check out These 5 Trails Around Denver Will Lead You To Extraordinary Ancient Ruins.

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