best day hikes in rocky mountain national park

But this is a tough hike. You will also pass the trailhead for the Ute Trail to Tombstone Ridge. Colorado, USA. This is the hotel that inspired Stephen King to write The Shining. Starting at the Alpine Visitor Center (the highest visitor center in the United States) you simply hike up a long staircase to a viewpoint. Ive always wanted to go hiking , Love the adventure just didnt have the friends or resourcefulness to survive out there. Once the trail splits, the hike gets a little easier and you are treated to breathtaking views of Longs Peak, Columbine Falls, and Peacock Pond. I dont know of a travel agency to recommend. Distance: 3.4 miles Difficulty: Moderate Length of Time: 2 to 3 hours Location: Lumpy Ridge Trailhead. Sky Pond via Glacier Gorge is without a doubt one of the best Rocky Mountain National park hikes. We are afraid we wont get one of those 195 tickets. Take advantage of the shuttle and park at the Park and Ride, and then shuttle up to the start at Bear Lake. A vacuum style bottle, like this one from Day 1 Fitness can keep your water icy cold for hours into your hike. If you want to check them out for yourself, youre in luck because they both leave from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead. Our website uses cookies. This hike is much different than many other hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. As you ascend higher, the trees disappear, as you enter the subalpine region. Cheers, Julie. The answer to this question depends on several factorsthe time of year you plan to visit Rocky Mountain National Park, if you are traveling with children, how much you like to hike, and if you are acclimated to the higher elevation. Emerald Lake Trail The hike to the Emerald Lake is one of the easiest hikes in Rocky Mountains National Park Length: 3.2 miles | Elevation gain: 698 feet | Guide This challenging hike starts at Bear Lake and rapidly gains elevation once you are on the Flattop Mountain Trail. As you drive west on Trail Ridge Road, there are numerous overlooks. Pause here to layer on an insulated jacket or windbreaker before entering into the exposed tundra ahead. Thanks for sharing!!! By: The Outbound Collective+ Save to a List It's no surprise that Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most popular parks in the country. Heralded as Colorado's most popular park, Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) is a wealth of natural wonder, with alpine meadows, craggy mountain summits, lush forests, and babbling rivers. If you plan to visit Rocky Mountain National Park in the summer, afternoon thunderstorms occur quite frequently. The hike offers outstanding views of Lily Mountain, Estes Cone, as well as Mt. The trails in these areas get you into the high alpine quicker than the West side of the Park and give you some amazing panoramic views. Views of Peacock Pond with the massive, rocky mountains that form the backdrop, waterfalls, and the chance to see wildlife, almost gave us a sense of dj vu, like we were back in Glacier National Park again. There is never a boring moment on this trail. PRO TRAVEL TIP: For the hikes that start on Bear Lake Road (Bear Lake, Alberta Falls, Mills & Black Lake, Sky Pond, Fern Lake, Hallett Peak) consider either arriving very early in the day (by 7 am) or taking the free park shuttle. We believe good things come from people spending time outside. Snowshoeing to Dream Lake is a popular winter time activity, as is cross-country skiing. At just over a half of a mile, round trip, this hike sounds easy. or a FWD is also fine? Distance: 5.5 miles. In the winter months, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing top the list. Snow can linger on the trails as late as July, especially for the trails at higher elevations. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. You can arrive mid-morning, hike one of the trails that start at Bear Lake, and then spend the afternoon and evening at Estes Park. Summer and fall are very busy, with the highest visitation from June through September. Thanks for all you do! From here, you can walk up the Alpine Ridge Trail. However, this is a good spot to put on a warmer layer, or even a rain jacket if you have one. If you continue beyond the Alpine Visitor Center on Trail Ridge Road, you can go all of the way to Grand Lake, if you like. ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK: For an overview of Rocky Mountain National Park and links to all of our RMNP articles, take a look at our Rocky MountainNational Park Travel Guide. The sweet spot months are from late May until mid-June and from early September after Labor Day until mid-October. To get here, take Highway 7 south from Estes Park. A well-graded trail circles around the lake. This hike is 8.2 miles long and tops out at 11,800 feet. Alberta Falls is one of the most popular waterfalls to visit in Rocky Mountain National Park. If you are acclimated to the elevation, the hike to Chasm Lake is another one of our favorites in Rocky Mountain National Park. Elevation Gain - 1,761 Feet. After a mile and a half, youll come to the end of Dream Lake. The Emerald Lake hike is a family friendly hike and it also makes a great intro to hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park. This hike starts at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead. My team and I are here to show you its never too late to get your start and accomplish your goals in the outdoors. Along the way, you will hike through bogs and forests, past Ribbon Falls, and have a great view of Keyboard of the Winds. TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY: For more information about the camera gear we carry, check out our Travel Photography Gear Guide. Its a scenic waterfall thats easily accessible, so be aware that due to its popularity it can get crowded. Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most popular natural parks featuring 76 mountains each over 10 thousand feet high. The waterfall borders Rocky Mountain National Park and its trail begins at the same trailhead for the East Inlet Trail. And you can also visit the Alpine Visitor Center, the highest visitor center in the USA. Important! Hi Deanna, thank you so much for pointing that out and for being here! For more tips for your first visit to RMNP, check out this blog post. The summit at just over 10,000 feet, provides commanding 360-degree views of Estes Park, Moraine Park, the Mummy Range, Longs Peak . On the hike to Mt. Find the right trail for any skill level. Mt. 3.1 miles (5 km). Beyond the Emerald Lake overlook you will reach the summit of Flattop Mountain. Thanks for that feedback, Emily! If you only have one day in Rocky Mountain National Park, what should you do? Required fields are marked *. Dogs: Leashed. Whether you're getting ready to hike, bike, trail run, or explore other outdoor activities, AllTrails has 190 scenic trails in the Estes Park area. The elevation here is about 11,600, so take your time and stop to catch your breath when you need a break. Julie Last updated: January 17, 2023 United States 9 Comments. Get info on JMT starting trailheads, trail quotas, lottery dates & more. 27. Chasm Lake | Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. Its nearby neighbors of Bear Lake, Emerald Lake, and Dream Lake get a lot more visitors, so if you are looking for a relatively uncrowded trail with the chance to visit multiple alpine lakes, this is a nice hike to consider. Not too long after youve past Nymph, youll find yourself at the midway point between there and Dream Lake. This is exactly the information I needed about each hike! The entire hike is less than a mile in length, making it great for all ages and ability levels. This is your spot to turn around and descend back to Ute Crossing. Bear Lake Trail Image by Wendy Harrison Lawrence via Alltrails Distance: 0.7-mile loop Elevation: 49 feet Difficulty Rating: Easy With numerous hotels and restaurants, and a great location near the heart of Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park is a great place to stay. Cheers, Julie. The vast majority of these people visited the park between Memorial Day and Labor Day. It is 4.2 miles round trip. Parking in the lot at the end of Bear Lake Road adds roughly .4 miles to the hiking distance above. After that date, it only runs during the weekends through October 20. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. You also have the option to add on a fifth lake, Lake Haiyaha, making this hike a total of 6.2 miles. If you plan to visit the park during the summer months, you will also need to reserve your timed permit in advance. We wanted to do this, but it was incredibly windy and much colder above the treeline than in the parking lot. Leave from Bear Lake. But even the most fit, acclimated hikers can feel winded and out-of-breath on this short hike. When we did this, we saw lots of elk, some of them males with enormous antlers. In 2021, Rocky Mountain National Park was the 5th most visited national park in the United States, with 4.4 million visitors. How to get there: The most direct route is to take Highway 36, from Estes Park, to Bear Lake Road. Thank you, Hello Minal. Denver International Airport is the closest major airport. A short hike with plenty of scenery, the Emerald Lake trail is one of the most popular hikes in the park for good reason. To get here, you will take Devils Gulch Road to Lumpy Ridge Road. ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK: For an overview of Rocky Mountain National Park and links to all of our RMNP articles, take a look at our Rocky MountainNational Park Travel Guide. You dont even have to hike the entire 4 miles. Look out for cairns here and head directly through the meadow up towards the spot where you can see a waterfall coming out of the rocks from Chasm Lake. Wonderful post highlighting day hikes that are exemplary, and truly offer the opportunity to view nature in its stunning glory. https://bearfoottheory.com/tips-taking-friends-hiking-first-time/. Its one of the best hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park to get great views of the Continental Divide, and a great trail to acclimate to the altitude before tackling the more strenuous hikes on this list. If you want a short, easy hike, we recommend Tombstone Ridge (this makes a great add-on to your scenic drive along Trail Ridge Road) or Nymph, Dream, and Emerald Lakes. Last month, I traveled to Orcas Island in the San Juan archipelago off the coast of Washington state. Hi guys I am a big fan and lived by your Sedona hikes. Chasm Lake. 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