Once skiing is done, we in Colorado refer the next few weeks as "mud season." Like the name implies, the retreating snows leave behind a lot of muddy trails. One of my favorite early season hikes is Avalanche Creek. It works well for a few reasons. The first is its elevation. The trailhead starts at 7,400 feet, which isn't too high. By mid-April, that area is usually snow-free. The east-west orientation of the valley also works toward its favor, as it gets sun all day long by then, and dried out quickly.
Because of the seasonal closure of the Avalanche Creek road (to protect the bighorn sheep), you might need to park at the gate and walk a couple miles to the trailhead. The walk itself is pleasant enough. Crossing Bulldog Creek is easy, and the first mile of the trail past the campground ought to be dry.
In May, when higher elevation and northern-facing trails are still holding much snow, you can hike all the way past Duley Park (but not too much farther).
