8 Colorado Pizza Places That Locals Swear Are Worth Every Bite After A Mountain Hike
After conquering a Colorado mountain trail, nothing hits the spot quite like a piping hot slice of pizza. I learned this the hard way after my first 14er, when I practically inhaled an entire pie before even taking off my hiking boots.
Colorado’s pizza scene is legendary among locals who know exactly where to refuel after burning thousands of calories on the trails. Here are eight pizza places that’ll make your post-hike hunger disappear faster than a marmot spotting a tourist with snacks.
1. Beau Jo’s
Mountain pies with crusts thicker than your hiking socks are what Beau Jo’s does best. This Colorado institution has been feeding hungry hikers since 1973, and their signature honey-drizzled crust is practically a religious experience after a long trek.
Locals swear by the Idaho Springs location, perfectly positioned for post-hike refueling. The pizza arrives on a silver platter, loaded with toppings that practically spill over the edges.
Pro tip: order the honey on the side so you can control your crust-dunking destiny. Their mountain pies are massive, so bring your appetite or prepare for some seriously good leftovers tomorrow.
2. Secret Stash Pizza
Tucked away in Crested Butte, this quirky joint serves pies with names that’ll make you chuckle between bites. The Notorious F.I.G. pizza sounds like a rap album but tastes like heaven with its fig jam, prosciutto, and gorgonzola combo.
Every pizza comes with a ridiculous name and even more ridiculous flavor combinations that somehow work perfectly. I once ordered the Stash Dilla after hiking nearby trails, and my taste buds threw a party.
The atmosphere screams Colorado mountain town with its eclectic decor and laid-back vibe. Fair warning: you’ll want to Instagram every single pizza before devouring it shamelessly.
3. Moonlight Pizza & Brewpub
Salida’s beloved pizza spot combines two post-hike essentials: carbs and drinks. Their pizzas are cooked in a traditional pizza oven rather than a wood-fired setup, but still come out with great texture and flavor.
The brewpub atmosphere means you can wash down your slice with locally brewed drinks while swapping trail stories with fellow hikers. My personal favorite is their pepperoni situation, which uses cup-and-char style pepperoni that creates little grease pools of joy.
Grab a seat on their patio during summer months for prime people-watching. The pizza ratio here is scientifically perfect for recovery after conquering nearby peaks.
4. Tin Plate Pizza
Tin Plate is where Breckenridge hikers head when they want something a little more elevated after coming down from the high country. Forget the idea of giant New York–style slices, this spot serves artisanal whole pies made with 72-hour fermented dough and baked to perfection in a restored 1880s mining cabin.
It’s a full-service restaurant, so settle in, relax, and let your legs recover while your pizza arrives fresh from the oven. Their pies are beautifully crafted, generously topped, and exactly the kind of reward you crave after a day of burning calories above 9,000 feet.
Tin Plate closes earlier in the evening, so it’s not a late-night rescue option, but if you time it right, it’s one of the best places in Breckenridge to wind down, refuel, and actually taste your food after a long climb.
5. Rocky Mountain Pizza Co.
Glenwood Springs’ pizza champion sits right at the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, making it absurdly convenient for post-trail feasting. Their dough gets made fresh daily, and you can taste the difference in every chewy, satisfying bite.
The menu features creative Colorado-inspired pies alongside classic options for pizza purists. I’m obsessed with their green chile pizza, which adds just enough kick without overwhelming your exhausted taste buds.
Large windows offer views of the surrounding peaks you just conquered. The portions are generous enough to fuel tomorrow’s hike too, assuming you have any self-control left after today’s calorie burn.
6. Blue Moose Pizza
Beaver Creek’s favorite pizza haunt knows exactly what tired hikers and skiers crave. Their gourmet pies pack unexpected ingredient combinations that sound weird but taste absolutely incredible after burning calories in the high country.
The BBQ chicken pizza converts skeptics with every bite, and their veggie options actually satisfy carnivores. Cozy lodge vibes make you want to settle in for the evening with multiple slices and good company.
Located conveniently near popular trailheads, Blue Moose has become my go-to refueling station. The staff remembers regulars, and the portions never disappoint even the hungriest mountain adventurers stumbling through their doors.
7. Duca’s Neapolitan Pizza
Boulder’s answer to authentic Neapolitan pizza will transport your taste buds straight to Italy, minus the international flight. Their pizzas cook in a blazing hot wood-fired oven for exactly 90 seconds, emerging with leopard-spotted crusts and bubbling cheese.
The minimalist approach means fresh, quality ingredients doing all the talking. Simple margherita pizzas here taste better than fancy pies elsewhere because they nail the fundamentals perfectly.
After hiking the Flatirons, I stumbled in skeptical about the hype and left as a complete convert. The Neapolitan-style soft crust might surprise Colorado deep-dish fans, but trust the process and prepare for pizza enlightenment.
8. Brown Dog Pizza
Brown Dog Pizza is a Telluride institution, but not for the reason many assume. While legends swirl about long-fermented sourdough, the real star here is their award-winning Detroit-style pizza—thick, airy, cheesy, and crispy in all the right ways. They also offer traditional and thin-crust options, but the Detroit-style pies are what earn national recognition.
The toppings rotate and keep things interesting. What you can depend on is bold flavor, quality ingredients, and the kind of hearty pizza that feels like salvation after a quad-crushing hike.
After tackling Bridal Veil Falls for the first time, I limped into Brown Dog half-delirious and left feeling like a new human. Their pizza is exactly the kind of carb-loaded therapy Telluride hikers dream about on the descent.