It starts on the east side of the park, on Highway 7 south of Estes Park. Not only do you get to visit a pretty lake but you also get sweeping views of Estes Park with Longs Peak in the distance. Lily Lake - The Lily Lake Loop is another easy hike that's suitable for the entire family. From the Bear Lake Trailhead, the hike is just over 2 miles round-trip and will take about an hour and a half. Meeker and Longs Peak, the two highest peaks in Rocky Mountain National Park. Snow can linger on the trails as late as July, especially for the trails at higher elevations. You can add on Lake Haiyaha for a total distance of 6.2 miles. Driving distances and times to nearby destinations: If you are on a road trip through Colorado, I recommend driving the Peak to Peak Scenic By-way, either before or after your visit to Rocky Mountain National Park. Taylor (13,651'), won't disappoint. stop to catch your breath when you need a break, The Essential Guide to Hiking Rocky Mountain National Park by Erik Stensland, DAY HIKING ESSENTIALS: THE GEAR YOU NEED TO HIT THE TRAILS, COLORADO PEAK BAGGERS: 5 BEST FOURTEENERS FOR BEGINNERS, HIKING BOOTS: HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT PAIR, 11 Minnesota Road Trip Stops for Outdoor Adventure, How to Apply for a Southbound John Muir Trail Permit in 2023, Best Section Hikes on the John Muir Trail, Orcas Island Travel Tips: Moran State Park Travel Guide, Tips for Your First Visit to Rocky Mountain National Park, https://bearfoottheory.com/tips-taking-friends-hiking-first-time/, Winter Hiking Clothes & Cold Weather Layering Basics, Best Womens Winter Boots For Outdoor Adventure, Best Heated Socks For Men & Women in 2023, Camp Cooking Kitchen Essentials for Camping & Van Life, Van Life with a Dog: Tips for Living & Traveling with Pets, Sprinter Van Conversion Tour: Custom 44 Outside Van, 16 Best National Parks to Visit in Winter, 20 Best Winter Vacation Destinations for Outdoor Adventure, 9-Day Utah National Parks Road Trip Itinerary, 16 Best National Parks to Visit in Spring, How to Train for Hiking & Backpacking: Tips for Preparing for the Trail, A Beginners Guide to Indoor Rock Climbing. The biggest feature of this hike is the wildlife, such as elks, marmots, or pikas, and the incredible gardens of the alpine tundra. Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you get to the end, take the trail all the way out to the farthest left end of the lake. Aspenglen, Moraine Park, and Glacier Basin are the most popular campgrounds and these get reserved well in advance. The word gets overused but CO is awesome. This is a wonderful hike to add onto your drive along Trail Ridge Road, and from the trailhead, it is just a 15-minute drive to the Alpine Visitor Center. For more tips for your first visit to RMNP, check out this blog post. Hello Matt. Spring is one of our favorite times of year to visit Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. Its a very short hike (just over a half-mile round trip), but it will literally take your breath away. Ive always wanted to go hiking , Love the adventure just didnt have the friends or resourcefulness to survive out there. I also purchased the National Geographic Rocky Mountain National Park hiking map. If you have been hiking in Glacier National Park, this hike looks very similar to the Grinnell Glacier hike. or a FWD is also fine? Guide to the Best Day Hikes in the US National Parks. Past the waterfall, follow the signs to Mills Lake. Sign up for access to our free Member-only resources, packing lists, and itineraries. Distance: 0.6 miles round-trip Length of Time: 30 minutes Difficulty: Easy Location: This hike starts at the Bear Lake Trailhead, located at the very end of Bear Lake Road. Wherever you decide to turn around, make sure you catch a view of the Tyndall Glacier while youre there and enjoy this unique vantage point from the top. Read our article about the 15 Best National Parks, where we narrow down the long list into 15 must-see parks. I love how you outlined which hikes to do, based on what you are looking for. Drive Trail Ridge Road (late spring through early fall). The views across the park are incredible. However, if you are doing well on time or only plan to do a very short hike in the morning, going into Estes Park for lunch is not a bad idea. Its important to be prepared, check the forecast ahead of time, and pack extra hiking layers to keep you warm. Distance: 10.4 miles Difficulty: Strenuous Length of Time: 6 to 8 hours Location: Bear Lake Trailhead. Rocky Mountain National Park made our list of the best national parks for kids. 11. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you. Keep hiking until you reach Timberline Pass, at the two-mile mark. There are plenty of great hikes you can choose from that dont climb high into the mountains. If you do not have a reservation, you will not be allowed to enter the park. While in Rocky Mountain National Park, please practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace: plan ahead, stay on the trails, pack out what you bring to the hiking trails, properly dispose of waste, leave areas as you found them, minimize campfire impacts, be considerate of other hikers, and do not approach or feed wildlife. All of these day hikes are centrally located, so that you can spend less time driving, with many of them accessible via Rocky Mountain National Parks free shuttle. Julie Last updated: January 17, 2023 United States 9 Comments. Alberta Falls is one of the most popular waterfalls to visit in Rocky Mountain National Park. Elevation: 49 feet / 15 meters. This summer itinerary works best from Memorial Day through mid-October, when Trail Ridge Road is open. Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. if you want a quieter hike, this is one to consider. Im a hiking obsessed, half-time van lifer who is happiest in the mountains. If you have more than a few days in RMNP and need some warm-up hikes, good options are Emerald Lake, Deer Mountain, and Twin Sisters. This hike has a little bit of everythingwaterfalls, alpine lakes, high mountain views, and fun river and stream crossings. Your email address will not be published. The ever changing views and trail conditions really keep this hike interesting. This is an essential hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. Chasm Lake | Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. Continue on until you reach Chasm Meadows with its flowing streams and beautiful green grass. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. Jasper Skyline Trail. Many of the best hiking trails are situated within Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). Rocky MountainNational Park Travel Guide. Nymph and Dream Lakes are beautiful, so you will have a wonderful hike if you choose to turn around at Dream Lake. In this photo you can see the Alpine Visitor Center and Trail Ridge Road. You can also see, More Information About the US National Parks. Alberta Falls is one of the most popular waterfalls to visit in Rocky Mountain National Park. Happy hiking! Before you go, get updated trail conditions on the National Park Service website. During the climb up, the trail gets incrementally steeper and youll be taking switchbacks for most of the way. Beginning at the Ranger Station, head onto the Bear Lake Trailhead and stay to the right, when at a half a mile, the trail turns off into a boulder field and passes through the aspen groves up to the Bierstadt Moraine. This is where the views really start to open up and you can see across the valley towards Longs Peak. Here in the heart of the Rockies, it's not hard to see why this is one of the best hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. Starting at the Alpine Visitor Center (the highest visitor center in the United States) you simply hike up a long staircase to a viewpoint. The Bear Lake trail is handicap accessible and offers something for everyone. Our favorites are Rainbow Curve Overlook, Forest Canyon Overlook, and Gore Range Overlook. Although the terrain becomes fairly rugged on the final leg to the summit, you'll have very little exposure to steep drop-offs. From Bear Lake Road, turn left onto Highway 36 and continue on to Trail Ridge Road. If you love mountains, this is the place for you. How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest. Odessa Lake & Fern Lake. Youll be glad you did. You are now standing at 12,718 feet, with 360 views, which makes this one of the best hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. From the Glacier Gorge parking lot, is a mostly uphill walk to get to Alberta Falls, but it is not too strenuous. How crowded does Rocky Mountain National Park get? This hike is just under 10 miles and tops out at 10,880 feet. Begin at Bear Lake Trailhead, and take the Bear Lake Trail through a forested area full of aspens past Bear Lake. It's hard to narrow it down, but here are a few ideal day hikes that will give you a great introduction to Rocky Mountain National Park. I have been to RMNP in March when there was very little snow on the ground and I was able to go hiking without any special gear. For families with older kids or for those who like the idea of hiking to several beautiful, iconic lakes, hike to Emerald and Dream Lakes and either do the easy stroll around Bear Lake or hike to Alberta Falls. If you want to avoid the crowds, begin in the early morning as early as sunrise to have the best experience and the best lighting. 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. You spend very little time below the tree line, so the views are incredible for most of the hike. This is an essential hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. Phone +1 970-586-1206. To help you plan your trip, we also have articles about the best things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park, the best hikes in the park, and how to plan the perfect itinerary. This is our favorite short, easy hike in the park. How to get there:Some of the Rocky Mountain National Parks best hikes are easily accessible by the parks shuttle system. Its about building relationships with the outdoors and each other. Gem Lake is a short but strenuous hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. To get to the peak, its an almost constant uphill walk through an evergreen forest. Our favorite hikes are Sky Pond (super fun hike to a beautiful alpine lake), Mt. For the full list, read our article about the Best Scenic Drives in Colorado. Will have to pick one for next time Im out west. As you continue, the trail turns into a narrow boardwalk to carry you through the marshlands, and then into a forested area where there are remnants of downed trees from a devastating storm. Gem Lake | Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. Maligne Canyon Ice Walk . Sign up to receive our newsletter packed with the best adventure guides, travel ideas, news, and articles. Despite the impressive stats, the peak is generally considered to be one of the easiest 14ers to summit, and the standard Northeast Ridge route . Have saved for later when we can go again. This challenging trail is a fantastic way to get panoramic park views without attempting something quite as hard as Longs Peak. It also makes a nice acclimatization hike if you just arrived in Colorado and want to warm up your legs and cardio system, before tackling hikes like Chasm Lake, Flattop Mountain, or Mt. Thanks Dave! This is a nice hike but honestly not one of our favorites. Bear Lake. The sweet spot months are from late May until mid-June and from early September after Labor Day until mid-October. And you can also visit the Alpine Visitor Center, the highest visitor center in the USA. Best day hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park While there are tons of hiking opportunities in the park, we've narrowed down our top picks for the best hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park to add to your itinerary. For the entire hike, you are walking along the alpine tundra, with unobstructed views of Longs Peak, Forest Canyon, and the Continental Divide. 800-715-HIKE (4453) (9-4:30 Every Day) They are also all under 10 miles, well-signed, and easily done within a day. For restaurant recommendations, check out our guide to Estes Park. Alternatively, the best way to access the trailhead is by using the shuttle to avoid crowds and creating traffic. If you are coming from Estes Park, this drive takes 30 minutes. Spend several days in the park, hiking the other trails, to acclimate yourself to the higher elevation. The classic hike for first-timers in Rocky Mountain National Park is a Bear Lake and Emerald Lake combo. I hear you thats a pretty common experience for people to feel like they dont have the friends that want to go hike. The permit is in effect from 9 am to 2 pm. While it is certainly a touristy town (and has the kitschy shops and prices to show for it), it's certainly beautiful (the mountains!) document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest. We believe good things come from people spending time outside. There are numerous hikes for all fitness levels and ages, and a variety of scenic vistas. Yup. This is the hotel that inspired Stephen King to write The Shining. Ida, you really feel like you are walking on top of the world. Its best to hike in the morning and to be below the tree line by 1 pm. If you dont get a ticket, you can still enter the park after 3 pm but you will not be allowed to drive down Bear Lake Road. Honestly, this is not the most exciting hike on the list. For the final mile of this hike, you are treated to breathtaking views of Longs Peak, Columbine Falls, Peacock Pond, and finally Chasm Lake. There are fantastic hiking options in the valleytrails at elevations of 8,000 to 9,500 feet. Bearfoot Theory participates in affiliate programs with a variety of retailers and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies, including Amazon, REI, Backcountry and others. 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. The hike to Deer Mountain is one of the more popular fall hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. Chasm Lake is one of the best hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. Located in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Jasper National Park was officially established in 1907, after a group of Canadian Pacific Railway . As you head down into the gorge towards Odessa Lake and Little Matterhorn can be seen directly ahead. Your email address will not be published. In fact, hikers will enjoy outstanding panoramic views along much of the route. To get here, you will take Devils Gulch Road to Lumpy Ridge Road. 2. If you have more than a few days in RMNP and need some warm-up hikes. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Make a left turn to follow the road all the way to the trailhead and parking lot. It includes Bear Lake Road and the hikes that start here (Bear Lake, Emerald and Dream Lakes, Alberta Falls, Sky Pond, Hallett Peak, and Sprague Lake). This is exactly the information I needed about each hike! Provided by Touchpoints Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Love Rocky Mountain National Park! Practice your rock bouldering skills at one of the many climbing sites. To get here, take Highway 7 south from Estes Park. Wonderful post highlighting day hikes that are exemplary, and truly offer the opportunity to view nature in its stunning glory. Grab your trekking poles and take it slow. At mile three, theres an unmarked junction that veers off towards Lake Helene, which is worth the extra stop. I think it is better to drive Trail Ridge Road in the afternoon than visit Bear Lake. From the summit of Deer Mountain, enjoy views over Moraine Valley and out to Longs Peak and the surrounding mountains. It starts at 10,800 feet and tops out at 12,899 on Mt. Finally, Trail Ridge Road, the main road the cuts across the park, is open from Memorial Day to mid-October.

Servmart San Diego, Stop Lying Huntsman Tell The Truth Darius, The Forbidden Experiment Psychology 1944, Operational Definition Of Sleep, Why Is Double Dwarfism Fatal, Articles B