Although the region is quite remote, this trail is heavily trafficked. Of course, Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado is one of the best places in the country to experience all that the Rockies have to offer. #1 - Sprague Lake Trail. 4.6 out of 5 stars . The hike itself is relatively easy but follows uneven terrain and rock so take caution with small children and older folks. Chasm Lake, located at the foot of the Diamond - Longs Peak's legendary east face where technical climbers rope up to scale the 1000ft wall - is routinely rated as one of the park's best hikes. Odessa & Fern Lakes Hike. 600′ gain. Mt. Summiting Longs Peak, the highest mountain in RMNP (14,259′) is no easy task. Gem Lake: One of the most popular hikes in the Estes Valley, the trail starts at the Lumpy Ridge Trailhead in a non-fee section of Rocky Mountain National Park north of Estes Park off Devil's Gulch Road. Photo: Gloria Wadzinski. Experience a Land of Extremes! 18m. Lighter snowfall on the east side of the park leaves low elevation trails open for hiking. best winter day hikes rocky mountain national park. Rocky Mountain National Park has more than 100 peaks with an elevation over 11,000 feet. Bierstadt Lake is 3.2 miles round trip and you can take two different trailheads, one is a more gradual incline to the lake than the other. Bear Lake ( 0.7 mi, 23 ft, 0.5-1h): The snowshoe to Bear Lake is another great introduction to winter hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park. Colorado River Trail. The most popular trail in the park any time of year is the Dream Lake /Emerald Lake hike because it is very scenic. It begins from the Moraine Park area. Photo: Eric Schuette. There will also be three amazing lakes. With fresh mountain snowmelt rushing to meet . Mills Lake Trail is an out and back trail of 5.1 miles with only 839ft of elevation gain. Best Hikes Rocky Mountain National Park: A Guide to the Park's Greatest Hiking Adventures (Regional Hiking Series) Kent Dannen. If you're seeking trails that explore deeper into the . Hiking Area Maps & Information. 700. 3.6 miles - Out and back. 6. 15. Adams Falls is a short .6 mile round-trip hike near Grand Lake, Colorado. easy (1343) Length: 0.8 mi • Est. Here are five hikes to consider for your visit: 1. Trail type: Out and Back. Best Short Hikes Emerald Lake Trail (3.5 miles, 708 ft, easy): This is one of the most popular hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park, for good reason—it gives you views of just about everything you came here to see. Day Hikes. Adams Falls was named after Jay E. Adams - a settler in the late 1800s. You'll pass through wide, expansive meadows, atmospheric woodland, and past gurgling streams, with plenty of opportunities for wildlife spotting along the way. Up and back, this 3.4-mile trail boasts some of the most . Photo: Ryan Dewane. 6. Hike the Parks: Rocky Mountain National Park: Best Day Hikes, Walks, and Sights is written by Brendan Leonard and published by The Mountaineers Books. As one of the more popular trails within the park, Cub Lake trail has mountain views, a pristine lake, and of course stunning wildflowers. Hike to Chasm Lake. Hike to Lake Helene and Two Rivers Lake. 2.3 miles. Length: 6 miles. 3. You'll visit Nymph Lake, Dream Lake, and Emerald Lake along a scenic trail that offers views of Glacier Gorge, Flattop Mountain, and Hallett Peak. Trailhead Location. Come in autumn for the best chance of . Rocky Mountain National Park's 415 square miles (265,807 acres) encompasses a spectacular range of mountain environments. The park was established in 1915 when President Woodrow Wilson signed the Rock It is for all the right reasons that the Emerald Lake trail is one of Rocky Mountain National Park's most popular hikes. Past Alberta Falls, about a half-mile further up the trail, you'll reach Mills Junction. Type of Trail: Loop. Rocky Mountain National Park. Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park . It leaps 25 feet, crashing into boulders below. Address. Hike the Ypsilon Lake Trail. 8. That is, you'll hike past several crystal clear alpine lakes and some of RMNP's most famous peaks. Visit Alberta Falls. Hike to Sky Pond. Difficulty level: Moderate. Photo: Eric Schuette. The views from the summit are simply epic. Flattop Mountain Trail. Create Date February 12, 2019. Emerald Lake. From meadows found in the montane life zone to the glistening lakes in the subalpine zone and to the mountain peaks located in the alpine zone, there is something for everyone to discover. Rating: Moderate. Although the terrain becomes fairly rugged on the final leg to the summit, you'll have very little exposure to steep drop-offs. The panoramic views all the way up are absolutely stunning. 4. Difficulty : Hard. Adams Falls in Rocky Mountain National Park. The Fern Falls is a beautiful 60-foot waterfall that plunges down Fern Creek. Ida: Rocky Mt. Up and back, this 3.4-mile trail boasts some of the most . Ida Flattop Mountain & Hallett Peak Longs Peak Experience a Land of Extremes! Moderate. Type: Out and Back. "Best" can be very subjective and I would say is also weather dependant. Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. Hike the Ypsilon Lake Trail. The trail to Adams Falls can be considered one of the easiest Rocky Mountain National Park hikes. You'll be surrounded by beautiful lakes . Explore the full Adams Falls hike profile below for trail map, driving directions, and all the details you . Moraine Park is another popular area that sees quite a bit of traffic too. Photo: Kyle Frost. Hike Flattop Mountain and Hallett Peak. With 355 miles of hiking trails, there are plenty to choose from. Bluebird Lake. Because the Wild Basin Entrance is about a 30-minute drive south of Estes Park on the park's east side, most of the park's visitors never even see the Wild Basin area. It provides spectacular views of Longs Peak and the Estes Park valley. Winter brings deep snows to Rocky Mountain National Park west of the Continental Divide. So it's wild that you don't need a permit to tackle the world-class, 28-mile Four Pass Loop, which circles the wilderness' famous twin fourteeners. This challenging trail is a fantastic way to get panoramic park views without attempting something quite as hard as Longs Peak. Testimonials. Park at the Fern Lake trailhead and take the shuttle to Bear Lake to begin the trek. 4 - Boulder Brook: Rocky Mt. Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park Bear Lake Alberta Falls Alpine Ridge Trail Gem Lake Ute Trail to Tombstone Ridge Nymph, Dream & Emerald Lakes Deer Mountain Twin Sisters Odessa Lake & Fern Lake Mills Lake & Black Lake Sky Pond Chasm Lake Continental Ridge Trail to Mt. It is a great family hike in Rocky Mountain National Park and a popular one as well. No list of hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park is complete without mentioning Bear Lake. It's like a tour of amazing mountain lakes. Longs Peak (Keyhole Route) I hesitate to put this trail on the list as if can be considered more of a mountain climb than a hike. Alpine Ridge Hike (0.7 miles) Mills Lake Hike (5.4 miles) The Loch Hike (5.4 miles) Upper Beaver Meadows (1.1 miles) Sky Pond Hike (9.4 miles) Chasm Lake Hike (8.8 miles) Tombstone Ridge Hike (5.6 miles) Regardless of the trail you choose, it's hard to find a bad hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. 6. Located just north of Estes Park, this (extremely) well-marked trail is a steep climb that's well-worth your efforts. We list the top hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park later in this guide. Elevation Gain: 20 feet. 3. Lily Lake - The Lily Lake Loop is another easy hike, suitable for the entire family. Rocky Mountain National Park's 415 square miles (265,807 acres) encompasses a spectacular range of mountain environments. 540. Gem Lake: One of the most popular hikes in the Estes Valley, the trail starts at the Lumpy Ridge Trailhead in a non-fee section of Rocky Mountain National Park north of Estes Park off Devil's Gulch Road. Rocky Mountain National Park moderate (4711) Length: 3.1 mi • Est. Longs Peak ranks as Rocky Mountain National Park's lone 14er, and its shear rock Diamond face is popular material for picture postcards and Instagram posts, particularly when illuminated by the morning sun. Ida: Hands down this is the best hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. Although located in the park, this great hike begins before the park's main entrance. 8. Day Hikes. This trail will for sure have snow on it in April so you will need either snowshoes or traction devices depending on how packed the snow is. Top trails ( 25) Sprague Lake Trail. Difficulty: Easy. Lily Ridge ( 1.2 mi, 160 ft, 1h) Lily Ridge Trail is a popular snowshoe that offers an amazing view . Hike to . The trail is located on the Deer Ridge Junction, 3 miles west of the Beaver Meadows entrance. 4. Flattop Mountain Trail. The Digital and eTextbook ISBNs for Hike the Parks: Rocky Mountain National Park are 9781680512991, 1680512994 and the print ISBNs are 9781680512984, 1680512986. Elevation gain :1000 feet. 3 - Bear Lake: Rocky Mt. Difficulty: Moderate. Bear Lake Trailhead 387 Hiking Trails By Steve5863 . 2 - Alluvial Fan Hike: Rocky Mt. The one-way hike from Bear Lake to Fern Lake is possible using the national park's convenient shuttle system. This vast park spans 415 square miles, is home to several different biomes, including tundra, and has trails for hikers of all experience levels. One of the most beloved summit hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park is the Flattop Mountain and Hallett Peak hike, which spans just over 10 miles and 3,293 feet of elevation gain. Emerald Lake. The park was established in 1915 when President Woodrow Wilson signed the Rock Plan Your Trip to Rocky Mountain National Park Access the park through four entrances, three You'll pass through wide, expansive meadows, atmospheric woodland, and past gurgling streams, with plenty of opportunities for wildlife spotting along the way. If you love lakes you'll like this hike. Alberta Falls in Rocky Mountain National Park. Day Hikes. During the busy summer and fall seasons, parking will fill up before 5 am. Rocky Mountain National Park is also teeming with animals . The stunning 40 ft tall Ouzel Falls is the most famous waterfall trail in the park. It is the tallest waterfall in Rocky Mountain National Park. Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park . It's a sweet spot before the crowds arrive in June, when the trails are less crowded, the weather is . Photo: Kyle Frost. 2021 2. Amazon has all your favorite products including the Rocky Mountain National Park Colorado USA Vintage Rocky Mountain National Park Colorado Hike Camp Outdoors Throw Pillow, 18x18, Multicolor from . Chasm Lake features all the spectacular scenery of the peak without the risk and arduous ascent. Trails below 8,700 feet (2,700 m) offer diverse opportunities to those who wish to travel without the aid of skis or snow shoes. This trail is rated as a moderate hike but doable thanks to its short distance, this trail will take you to a 30-foot waterfall, a rare sight in Colorado! The trail, only a little over three-quarters of a mile round trip, offers incredible views of Rocky Mountain's tallest mountains, Longs Peak and Mount Meeker. "And the potential to see moose," she says. This is a guide to planning a hiking adventure in Rocky's best trails for adventurers. 1h 42m The beautiful trail leading up to Gem Lake features amazing views of Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. 11 Best Rocky Mountain National Park Day Hikes. Emphasis on efforts—although this trail is . Here are the top hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park right now! Photo by Brian Hamilton. Estes Park, CO 80517, USA. This is a hike that we did on our first trip to Rocky Mountain National Park a few years ago, and we retraced our steps on our latest trip en route to Sky Pond (more on that in a second). Distance: 0.5 miles round trip. Photo: Breanne McNitt. Photo: Ryan Dewane. Hike from Bear Lake to Fern Lake Trailhead. At a glance: 5.2 miles roundtrip, + >700 ft. What makes it special: The hike to Fern Falls begins from the Fern Lake Trailhead in Moraine Park area of Rocky Mountain National Park, located near Estes Park, Colorado . 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