At 14,259 feet, the only fourteener on this list, the trek up Longs Peak is one of the most epic hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. To continue to Hallett Peak, follow the rocky, somewhat faint trail. Chasm lake is at 11,800 ft, you start at 9,400 ft. Weve done the trail, please look it up online so you can correct your article. If you have been hiking in Glacier National Park, this hike looks very similar to the Grinnell Glacier hike. Bear Lake | Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. I absolutely loved it. Note: This post contains affiliate links. Its a one-way hike that utilizes the Parks free shuttle system to get you back to your car after youre done with the hike. 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. Required fields are marked *. This hike does not start at Bear Lake. Republishing this articleand/orany of its contents (text, photography, etc. Not too long after youve past Nymph, youll find yourself at the midway point between there and Dream Lake. NATIONAL PARKS: In our Guide to the US National Parks, get the full list of national parks with important travel planning information, such as things to do in the parks and sample itineraries. Expect lots of wind and cold temperatures, even during the summer months. Rocky Mountain National Park Elle Ossello Lake Haiyaha Hike Rocky Mountain National Park Elle Ossello Nymph, Dream + Emerald Lakes Hike Rocky Mountain National Park Elle Ossello Bear Lake Loop Hike Rocky Mountain National Park Elle Ossello Gem Lake Hike via Lumpy Ridge Trailhead Rocky Mountain National Park Elle Ossello Lily Mountain Hike Required fields are marked *. For a big chunk of the year Trail Ridge Road is closed (from mid-autumn through late spring), making part of the park inaccessible, at least by car. Distance: 3.4 miles Difficulty: Moderate Length of Time: 2 to 3 hours Location: Lumpy Ridge Trailhead. This is a great hike for newbie hikers who want to summit a mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park. Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park 1. Dont worry, its just a couple of moves and there are good handholds. The view from Alpine Ridge Trail. And you can also visit the Alpine Visitor Center, the highest visitor center in the USA. If you want, you can choose to hike around the well-marked nature trail around Bear Lake. What should you not miss in Rocky Mountain National Park? BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON: In our article How to Visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison, we cover the best things to do on the North and South Rims and include several itineraries to help you plan your visit. While it is certainly a touristy town (and has the kitschy shops and prices to show for it), it's certainly beautiful (the mountains!) Hallett Peak is a good warm-up hike for those who plan to summit Longs Peak. For hikers, I recommend Dream and Emerald Lakes if you are not acclimated to the higher elevation. Despite the impressive stats, the peak is generally considered to be one of the easiest 14ers to summit, and the standard Northeast Ridge route . A few great hikes start and end along this road. Cross over to the outlet and boulder hop your way to the right side of the lake to find a private spot to sit and take it all in. I hear you thats a pretty common experience for people to feel like they dont have the friends that want to go hike. With elevations ranging from 7,860 feet to 14,259 feet . Make sure you bring extra layers, even during the summer months. Black Lake looks similar to Chasm Lake, as both of these alpine lakes are surrounded by jagged mountain peaks. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Its indeed the rocky mountain, I never been to hiking over mountains, usually in a forest but definitely it worth trying the experience, what would be your suggestion? Longs Peak, at 14,259 feet, is the only fourteener in the park. For the next mile or so, youll hike up a series of switchbacks until mile 2.4 where youll finally break through the treeline. 700 feet (213 m) elevation gain. To get to the peak, its an almost constant uphill walk through an evergreen forest. We promise not to annoy you, but if you wish, you may unsubscribe at any time. From the Bear Lake Trailhead, the hike is just over 2 miles round-trip and will take about an hour and a half. 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. 2. However, this is a good spot to put on a warmer layer, or even a rain jacket if you have one. Trail Type: Loop Difficulty: Moderate Trailhead Location From the summit of Deer Mountain, enjoy views over Moraine Valley and out to Longs Peak and the surrounding mountains. What a fantastic list of RMNP hikes! At approximately 1.9 miles in, youll reach Lightning Bridge, a footbridge thats bookended by two signs warning hikers about lightening risk. Practice your rock bouldering skills at one of the many climbing sites. There are plenty of great hikes you can choose from that dont climb high into the mountains. Backpacking in Rocky Mountain National Park offers the visitor a tremendously unique perspective and experience because a majority of the park's visitors only have time for single-day outings. There are sixty mountain peaks over 12,000 feet and many of these top out over 13,000 feet. In the winter months, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing top the list. If this is part of a bigger road trip through the USA, visit our, for more inspiration and travel planning tips. Easy Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park 1. Grand Lake and the western side of the park will also be accessible but with more to do on the east side, and its easy access from Boulder and Denver, I think this is the better place to put your time if you only have one day in Rocky Mountain National Park. Through this post, I have come to know a lot more about these adventurous hiking trails in Rockey Mountain National Park. From here, at 1.7 miles, you will arrive at Dream Lake Overlook and can also see down into the turquoise waters of Dream Lake from above. Here in the heart of the Rockies, its not hard to see why this is one of the best hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. Its a flat, beautiful easy walk in the parkliterally. We are afraid we wont get one of those 195 tickets. Elevation Gain: 1,062' Max Elevation: 10,210' Winter Skill Level: Beginner Why it rocks. All of the products we recommend we stand behind, and we appreciate your support! Beyond the Emerald Lake overlook you will reach the summit of Flattop Mountain. The entire hike is less than a mile in length, making it great for all ages and ability levels. Its a very short hike (just over a half-mile round trip), but it will literally take your breath away. Visit our Colorado Travel Guide for more things to do in Colorado. Explore one of 39 easy hiking trails in Estes Park or discover kid-friendly routes for your next family trip. When we did this, we saw lots of elk, some of them males with enormous antlers. This is our favorite short, easy hike in RMNP. 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. Once at the waterfall, you can explore the short trails along Glacier Creek to find your favorite view of the waterfall. CCY Route (Chapin-Chiqiuta-Ypsilon route) Bluebird Lake. Best for: Historic cabins and quiet trails. Before you go, get updated trail conditions on the National Park Service website. Rainbow Curve Overlook, Forest Canyon Overlook. Hike up to continue onto the Tombstone Ridge, where there are beautiful views of the Rockies in front of you. Typically, trails at higher elevations are still covered in snow until late-April. As it goes with all of the destinations shared on Bearfoot Theory, please remember to Leave No Trace. For more tips for your first visit to RMNP, check out this blog post. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. But the whole reason to do this hike is for the view of Sky Pond, one of the most spectacular lakes in the park. Way to answer the call and end up in a better place. 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. Maligne Canyon Ice Walk . Make a right turn here, pass the turnoff at Mills Junction, and hike straight ahead to the Loch Vale Trail. We hiked to Odessa Lake and Fern Lake as an out-and-back hike from Bear Lake. The hike to Deer Mountain is one of the more popular fall hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. Chasm Lake sits at 11,760 feet and puts you right at the base of Longs Peak, RMNPs tallest mountain. Along the trail, there are viewpoints over Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. No, we havent done that hikehavent even heard of it. Follow the trail down into a wooded area and youll quickly arrive at Jewell Lake. Distance: 6.2 miles Difficulty: Moderate Length of Time: 3 to 4 hours Location: The Deer Mountain Trailhead is located on Trail Ridge Road, 3 miles west of the Beaver Meadows entrance. During the 15+ miles of hiking, you will ascend more that 5,000 feet. The Bear Lake trail is handicap accessible and offers something for everyone. Dig in and hike the rest of the way to the summit of Flattop Mountain, where it is more of a plateau rather than a peak, but nevertheless, offers panoramic views of nearby mountain ranges like Mummy Range and Notchtop Mountain in the distance. See the top Minnesota road trip stops for outdoor adventure including State Parks, scenic drives, waterfalls, and day trips from Minneapolis. 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