Outdoor Project may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers. From here it takes an hour and a half to drive to Estes Park, the gateway into Rocky Mountain National Park. If you want low crowds and dont mind cold temperatures and snow, plan your visit from November through May. 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. When you get to the end, take the trail all the way out to the farthest left end of the lake. As it goes with all of the destinations shared on Bearfoot Theory, please remember to Leave No Trace. If you do not have a reservation, you will not be allowed to enter the park. This is an essential hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. Backpack the California Hiking and Riding Trail. This part of the hike is tough as you are hiking over very rugged terrain. 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. During the 15+ miles of hiking, you will ascend more that 5,000 feet. Dream Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park is definitely one of the best day hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park - you can see three lakes in about two miles! This hike starts at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead. Note: All distances are round-trip. Yes, the views from the summit are beautiful, but this hike is a bit boring at times since it is a constant uphill climb through a forest. CCY Route (Chapin-Chiqiuta-Ypsilon route) Bluebird Lake. View from the Alpine Ridge Trail | Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. This is a nice hike but honestly not one of our favorites. But once at the top, the view is very nice. Guide to the Best Day Hikes in the US National Parks. 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. Green Mountain Trail to Big Meadow A river running through Big Meadow, which is, in fact, a big meadow Length: 3.6 miles Elevation Gain: 600 ft. If this sounds like a hike you would like to do, it will take some planning and patience. Plan on going back to Black Lake and pushing for some of the higher elevation ones from there in a few weeks, Blue, Frozen, Green and Italy. This very highly rated property offers two-bedroom apartments that can accommodate up to six people. Distance: 0.6 miles Difficulty: Easy Length of Time: 30 minutes Location: Alpine Visitor Center on Trail Ridge Road. On our most recent visit we stayed in The Residences at #402 and it was wonderful. Have updates, photos, alerts, or just want to leave a comment? The Shuttle arrives at Fern Lake every 30 minutes. For the final mile of this hike, you are treated to breathtaking views of Longs Peak, Columbine Falls, Peacock Pond, and finally Chasm Lake. The best path up the scramble is to follow the crushed and broken rocks, indicating a footpath worn in by previous hikers. On the hike to Mt. With its short distance and manageable elevation gain, it is a great first hike in the park, as you acclimate to the higher elevation (if you havent already spent some time in the Rocky Mountains). You will also pass the trailhead for the Ute Trail to Tombstone Ridge. NATIONAL PARKS IN COLORADO: In our guide to the National Parks in Colorado, learn about all 4 national parks: Rocky Mountain, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Great Sand Dunes, and Mesa Verde. Best hike for lake views 9.2 miles, 5 hours, moderate This day hike is a ranger favorite and is known for its diverse scenery. Enjoy the magnificent views. This has been corrected in the article . Youll get to pass by Alberta Falls (one of the most popular and beautiful waterfalls) or stop for a quick break and take in the views. As you get closer to the visitor center, keep an eye out for bighorn sheep. 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. The most popular hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. Distance: 5.5 miles. This is a great hike for almost all ages and ability levels. SCENIC DRIVES IN COLORADO: Pikes Peak, the Million Dollar Highway, and the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway is just a short list of the scenic drives you can do in Colorado. The way up to here is known to have snow and icy conditions at about 3.8 miles in, which doesnt melt until mid or even late June. 15 Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park We divided this guide into three sections: easy, moderate, and challenging. This hike is 8.2 miles long and tops out at 11,800 feet. Bear Lake Trailhead 390 Hiking Trails By Tempusfugit2015 The vast majority of these people visited the park between Memorial Day and Labor Day. If you get here late and there are no more parking spaces, you will have to drive back down Bear Lake Road to the Park and Ride and then ride the free park shuttle back to Bear Lake. This hike starts just under 12,000 feet of elevation and it is a stair climb to the top. We frequently see them near the Tundra Communities trailhead. PRO TRAVEL TIP: It can be 20 to 30 degrees cooler on the alpine tundra than in Estes Park or Grand Lake. Make sure you bring extra layers, even during the summer months. Are we only allowed to be on the trail ridge road until 3? All-inclusive trips, expert guides, Top-rated hiking company on Trip Advisor! The hiking trails will still be open, but you will need to wear snowshoes or traction devices. Elevation: 49 feet / 15 meters. 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. During the remainder of the year it is closed due to snow. This is one of our favorite hikes in RMNP and we highly recommend it if you want unforgettable high alpine views. 1. One way to check off some of the best hikes in RMNP is by linking them on a multi-day backpacking trip. 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: 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. To get here, take Highway 7 south from Estes Park. How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest. Best For: Bragging rights. The fairly easy trail is beautiful in the summer, fall or winter. Bear Lake. This hike is just under 10 miles and tops out at 10,880 feet. Here, we found a nice place to sit below the outlet of Sky Pond to enjoy lunch with a view. After one final short and strenuous climb you will be standing at Chasm Lake. All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. I dont know of a travel agency to recommend. So, we all could be making a lot of trips out to Colorado over the next few years, depending on Tylers decision. See the top Minnesota road trip stops for outdoor adventure including State Parks, scenic drives, waterfalls, and day trips from Minneapolis. Best Time to Visit Rocky Mountain National Park Rocky Mountain National Park is open year-round, weather permitting, although the weather can change quickly in the mountains during fall, winter, and spring. Adams Falls is a short .6-mile round-trip hike near Grand Lake, Colorado. Find the best Rocky Mountain National Park trails for summer and fall hikes. 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. If this sounds like a hike you would like to do, it will take some planning and patience. Ida. Required fields are marked *. You will pass Nymph Lake and Dream Lake on your way to Emerald. The sweet spot months are from late May until mid-June and from early September after Labor Day until mid-October. Please note: From May 27-October 10, 2022, RMNP will require timed reservations to enter, which you can purchase here. I absolutely loved it. 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. SCENIC DRIVES IN COLORADO: Pikes Peak, the Million Dollar Highway, and the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway is just a short list of the scenic drives you can do in Colorado. On the Keyhole Route, the hike ends with some serious rock scrambling and lots of exposure. From the Bear Lake Trailhead, the hike is just over 2 miles round-trip and will take about an hour and a half. The Aspire rooms are higher-end, modernly decorated rooms but many people state that they are overpriced for what you get. We have not been inside of this caf so I do not know what kind of food is served. That book is pure gold. However, this property gets rave reviews. 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. For those with an interest in historical sites, make sure you visit the Holzwarth Historical Site and learn more about the life of Colorado homesteaders. The Best Easy Day Hikes series are handy, pocket-size guides for day hikers in America's most popular outdoor destinations. Park Access +: This permit gives you access to everything in Rocky Mountain National Park. Those looking for a shorter, easier hike can turn around at this point. The views from the summit are simply epic. For more tips for your first visit to RMNP, check out this blog post. 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. LEARN MORE: How to Hike the Twin Sister Peak Trail. The view from Alpine Ridge Trail. This is our favorite short, easy hike in the park. These are two hikes on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park that are worth a stop if you're driving through the park. From here, at an elevation of 12,899 feet, the entire park stretches out before you. Here are 15 of the best hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. There will be people. You can stay in a cozy cabin with a river view or a well-decorated suite. 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. Cheers, Julie. The permit is in effect from 9 am to 2 pm. This is a great hike for newbie hikers who want to summit a mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park. 1,400 feet (426 m)of elevation gain. Along the way, there is a good chance that you will spot bighorn sheep and elk. After a mile and a half, youll come to the end of Dream Lake. 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. Finish at Fern Lake Trailhead. Black Lake and Mills Lake are often labeled as two of the prettiest lakes in Rocky Mountain National Park. As you drive west on Trail Ridge Road, there are numerous overlooks. in advance if you plan to do this itinerary between May 27 and October 10, 2022. Can you please suggest me about how can I plan my solo visit to rocky mountain national park and where I can get best itinerary for same. Continue hiking past Alberta Falls and turn left at Mills Junction until you reach Mills Lake. Learn how to combine them all together into one epic road trip in our 10 Day Colorado Itinerary. On an early morning in July, it was only 34 degrees at the Alpine Visitor Center during our visit. Happy hiking! Have you hiked this?. 7.4 miles (12 km). evolving backdrop of beautiful pine forests into the aspen groves, so be aware that due to its popularity it can get crowded. This helps control crowd levels on the roads and hiking trails. Moraine Park is another popular area that sees quite a bit of traffic too. Visit our. The good thing is that you wont want to rush by these views. The permit is in effect from 5 am to 6 pm. If you want to leave the crowds behind, Twin Sisters, Mt. The most notable differences was we found Black Lake to be less crowded and slightly easier overall. Once youve passed the Glacier Gorge Bridge on your right it is a series of steeper uphill climbs. RMNP has more than one ranger station. 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. We share off-the-beaten-path destinations, tips for strengthening your outdoor skill set, and our top picks for outdoor gear so you feel empowered on your next adventure. Rocky Mountain National Park is a massive and spectacularly beautiful area spanning 400 square miles. Bearfoot Theory is one of the leading hiking, camping, and van life blogs powered by an all-female team. But the whole reason to do this hike is for the view of Sky Pond, one of the most spectacular lakes in the park. 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