You also have the option to add on a fifth lake, Lake Haiyaha, making this hike a total of 6.2 miles. From the Glacier Gorge parking lot, is a mostly uphill walk to get to Alberta Falls, but it is not too strenuous. Estes Park is the bigger of the two gateway cities to Rocky Mountain National Park, and is also closer to the major sites and attractions in the park. Park Access: This permit gives you access to everything in Rocky Mountain National Park except for Bear Lake Road. Bearfoot Theory is one of the leading hiking, camping, and van life blogs powered by an all-female team. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Note: This post contains affiliate links. This is a great hike for newbie hikers who want to summit a mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park. It might be brief, but this short hike to Emerald Lake brings big rewards. This is our favorite short, easy hike in the park. 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. Ida, you really feel like you are walking on top of the world. Middle Taylor Creek. Pause here to layer on an insulated jacket or windbreaker before entering into the exposed tundra ahead. If this is part of a bigger road trip through the USA, visit our United States Travel Guide for more inspiration and travel planning tips. Distance: 10 miles Difficulty: Moderate Length of Time: 5 to 7 hours Location: Glacier Gorge Trailhead on Bear Lake Road, Mills Lake | Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. Several great hikes start at the Bear Lake Trailhead. Its time for the best scenic drive in Rocky Mountain National Park. Rocky Mountain National Park is best seen from a hiking trail. On our most recent visit we stayed in The Residences at #402 and it was wonderful. At approximately 1.9 miles in, youll reach Lightning Bridge, a footbridge thats bookended by two signs warning hikers about lightening risk. There are sixty mountain peaks over 12,000 feet and many of these top out over 13,000 feet. This challenging trail is a fantastic way to get panoramic park views without attempting something quite as hard as Longs Peak. Learn more about the shuttle here. To see fall colors and the elk mating season, plan your visit from mid-September through mid-October. Fortunately, there are hikes for all ages and ability levels. The Residences are one, two, three, and four bedroom houses that come equipped with a full kitchen. Forest Canyon Overlook. The official National Park Service website lists when the permits become available and has more information about the permits. This trailhead is located just north of Estes Park. Motorcycle - $30.00 Valid for seven consecutive days (including date of purchase). Nymph, Dream, & Emerald Lakes. 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). 15 Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park We divided this guide into three sections: easy, moderate, and challenging. With just a day in the Rocky Mountain National Park, this is one of the best hikes you could do. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. Features a wide variety of hikes, from family-and wheelchair-friendly to challenging and strenuous options for hardier trekkers. 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. Ida, so you will really feel the altitude. Maybe you should say Longs Peak ranger station, or Longs Peak trailhead instead. The Best Easy Day Hikes series are handy, pocket-size guides for day hikers in America's most popular outdoor destinations. After about half a mile, youll notice that there are tombstone-shaped rocks that dot the ridgeline in the distance, hence the name of the Tombstone Trail. Snow can linger on the trails as late as July, especially for the trails at higher elevations. Since the trail isnt as well maintained here, allow yourself some extra time to get through this section. Im a map geek, and this map helps give you the full picture of how the Park is laid out and how the trail system works.<br /> amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0";<br /> amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "bearftheor-20";<br /> amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual";<br /> amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart";<br /> amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon";<br /> amzn_assoc_region = "US";<br /> amzn_assoc_linkid = "bd7b4890a7917396fd1ad9f8e9480912";<br /> amzn_assoc_design = "in_content";<br /> amzn_assoc_asins = "0996962689,1566953421";<br /> <br>
. Elevation Gain: 1,062' Max Elevation: 10,210' Winter Skill Level: Beginner Why it rocks. 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. This 3.5-mile roundtrip hike fits in a ton of incredible scenery in a short distance. Trailhead - Glacier Gorge Trailhead. As it goes with all of the destinations shared on Bearfoot Theory, please remember to Leave No Trace. There are plenty of great hikes you can choose from that dont climb high into the mountains. Distance: 15 miles Difficulty: Extremely difficult Length of Time: 10 to 15 hours Location: Longs Peak Trailhead is located at the end of Longs Peak Road. Longs Peak, at 14,259 feet, is the only fourteener in the park. You can either hike to Fern Lakes and Odessa Lake as a point-to-point hike, starting at Bear Lake and ending at Moraine Park (or vice versa). Rocky MountainNational Park Travel Guide. If they are sold out, then you will need to be ready to purchase your permit right at 5 pm the day before. Much of this hike is above the treeline, so its imperative to get an early start to beat any afternoon thunderstorms. That book is pure gold. 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. But this is a tough hike. find gorgeous views on your choice of easy routes with little to no incline, moderate trails extending 3.4 - 4.5 miles, or challenging routes recommended for experienced hikers only. This is exactly the information I needed about each hike! Finally, always wear sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses, as ultraviolet light is very strong in the mountains. The best time to visit Rocky Mountain National Park without the summer crowds, an open Trail Ridge Road, and a good chance of pleasant weather is in late spring or in the fall. Stick to the maintained trail, and whenever possible, step on rocks instead of vegetation. Odessa Lake & Fern Lake. Distance: 5 miles round trip (from Wild Basin Winter trailhead which adds about 1.5 miles round trip) Difficulty: Easy Located in the stunning but less-frequented southeast corner of Rocky Mountain National Park, this hike delivers not just gorgeous views at the end, but glimpses of various waterfalls throughout the journey. This trail is a great way to see many of the Rocky Mountain National Parks lakes all in the same hike. We have not been inside of this caf so I do not know what kind of food is served. Will have to pick one for next time Im out west. Best Rocky Mountain National Park Hikes: Easy Tundra Hikes. On this hike, you get to see four very pretty alpine lakes (Bear Lake, Nymph Lake, Dream Lake, and Emerald Lake) over a relatively short distance. There are three routes: the Bear Lake route, Hiker Express Route, and Moraine Park route. 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. Alternatively, the best way to access the trailhead is by using the shuttle to avoid crowds and creating traffic. You will also pass the trailhead for the Ute Trail to Tombstone Ridge. 3. Here is the list and our recommendations. If we plan on leaving Denver around 11 and traveling the Trail Ridge road would we only need the regular park pass? Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure. Award-winning Colorado Hiking Tours: Inn-based Snowshoe Tour! Do we have to wait to reserve it the day before on Sunday at 5? Practice your rock bouldering skills at one of the many climbing sites. However, it only runs daily from May 25-September 13. This is a very pretty hike, but there are several other lake hikes that we would recommend first, before putting this hike on your list. 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. Today I hiked CCY Chapin to Chiquita to Ypres and summited on Chiquita. Although the terrain becomes fairly rugged on the final leg to the summit, you'll have very little exposure to steep drop-offs. Taylor (13,651'), won't disappoint. Thank you! You can still get around, but it might be on skis or snowshoes, rather than by vehicle. This is another great spot to take a break and appreciate the views before heading on just remember not to break trail to protect the alpine vegetation. . Thanks for all the tips on your other articles, really helpful. Happy hiking!! Phone +1 970-586-1206. This hike is much different than many other hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. There will be people. For about $1, you can purchase the interpretive guide at the trailhead, which takes you through 30 marked spots along the trail that teaches you about the Bear Lake area. Alternatively, if you are driving over Trail Ridge Road and want to stretch your legs, this is a fantastic place to do it. Enjoy the magnificent views. Continue for two more miles until you reach Black Lake. On the way down, you can hand your backpack to a friend and then scoot your way down on your butt. Watch your step and take it slow. The Complete Guide to the US National Parks, 15 Great Hikes to do in Big Bend National Park, The Complete Guide to Hiking the Zion Narrows, 14 Best Things to do in Acadia National Park, The Perfect Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary, One Perfect Day in Rocky Mountain National Park, 10 Best Things to Do in Rocky Mountain National Park, Nymph, Dream & Emerald Lake Hike (+ How to Add on Bear Lake & Lake Haiyaha). Way to see fall colors and the elk mating season, plan your visit from mid-September through.. By vehicle its imperative to get to Alberta Falls, but this short hike to Emerald Lake big... Crowds and creating traffic from a hiking trail we plan on leaving Denver around 11 and the. Our favorite short, easy hike in the Residences are one, two three. Than by vehicle to get through this section ton of incredible scenery a. Tombstone Ridge you reach Black Lake Black Lake t disappoint climbing sites high the... 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