Its time for the best scenic drive in Rocky Mountain National Park. Snowshoeing to Dream Lake is a popular winter time activity, as is cross-country skiing. This part of the hike is tough as you are hiking over very rugged terrain. 3. If you want to leave the crowds behind, Twin Sisters, Mt. I think it is better to drive Trail Ridge Road in the afternoon than visit Bear Lake. If you plan to visit the park during the summer months, you will also need to reserve your timed permit in advance. Hi guys I am a big fan and lived by your Sedona hikes. The park encompasses over 400 square miles of Colorados Front Range, which juts up suddenly at the western edge of the Great Plains to create one ofthe most scenic and dramatic alpine areas in the country. No An official form of the United States government. 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. The Inn on Fall River & Fall River Cabins. Republishing this articleand/orany of its contents (text, photography, etc. You mention some hikes starting at the ranger station. The ever changing views and trail conditions really keep this hike interesting. You also have the option to purchase the Rocky Mountain National Park Annual Pass ($70) or the America the Beautiful Pass ($80 and valid for all of the national parks for one year). Once you are finished at Bear Lake, hop back into your car. To get a parking space here, plan on arriving no later than 6:30 am, but even earlier is better. 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). 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. When we were there in late August, there wasnt too much water coming down the rock scramble, but during peak run-off, you may get your shoes wet here.At 4.5 miles and 10,900 above sea level, youll finally arrive at Sky Pond. One of the best seasons for hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park is the spring. This is an essential hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. Park Access +: This permit gives you access to everything in Rocky Mountain National Park. Thanks for your comment. . I hear you thats a pretty common experience for people to feel like they dont have the friends that want to go hike. Before our trip, I purchased The Essential Guide to Hiking Rocky Mountain National Park by Erik Stensland. From Bear Lake Road, turn left onto Highway 36 and continue on to Trail Ridge Road. During the climb up, the trail gets incrementally steeper and youll be taking switchbacks for most of the way. Alberta Falls is one of the most popular waterfalls to visit in Rocky Mountain National Park. 33 places sorted by traveler favorites Clear all filters 2022 1. Snow can linger on the trails as late as July, especially for the trails at higher elevations. Summer and fall are very busy, with the highest visitation from June through September. There is never a boring moment on this trail. Distance: 0.6 miles Difficulty: Easy Length of Time: 30 minutes Location: Alpine Visitor Center on Trail Ridge Road. Along the way, you will hike through bogs and forests, past Ribbon Falls, and have a great view of Keyboard of the Winds. Easy Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park 1. 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. 2. Will have to pick one for next time Im out west. best things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park. How to Visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Odessa Lake to Lake Helene Thru Hike. Around mile six, youll come to Fern Falls, a picturesque waterfall, and over the next couple miles youll hike past two large boulders known as Arch Rocks. Reservations are made online on the recreation.gov website. Many hikes top out over 9,000 feet, with some reaching up to 13,000 and 14,000 feet. If you are not acclimated to the higher elevation, its normal to get out of breath very easily. Hey Kaeshawn! However, this is a good spot to put on a warmer layer, or even a rain jacket if you have one. Your email address will not be published. Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park 1. The biggest feature of this hike is the wildlife, such as elks, marmots, or pikas, and the incredible gardens of the alpine tundra. Keep hiking until you reach Timberline Pass, at the two-mile mark. Over 60 people have died attempting to summit Longs Peak. On the Keyhole Route, the hike ends with some serious rock scrambling and lots of exposure. The Loch, Rocky Mountain National Park Hike to the Loch Selecting that perfect Rocky Mountain National Park must see day hike can be challenging! The park has gotten so popular that in 2020 a timed entry system was put into effect. This is an essential hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. However, its a great warm-up hike for those who want to do Hallett Peak or Longs Peak and its a great hike for those who are looking for a less crowded trail that offers great views of the area. 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. It is 4 miles round-trip and great for kids. How to get there: The most direct route is to take Highway 36, from Estes Park, to Bear Lake Road. We hiked Emerald Lake Trail in time for the sunset (not the best for photography at the lake) but the colors were pretty during our descent, and there were fewer people on the way down.It starts off at Bear Lake Trailhead, where youll hike past Nymph Lake within the first half of a mile, with views of Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain in the distance. Views of Peacock Pond with the massive, rocky mountains that form the backdrop, waterfalls, and the chance to see wildlife, almost gave us a sense of dj vu, like we were back in Glacier National Park again. The hike to Deer Mountain is one of the more popular fall hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. If you have been hiking in Glacier National Park, this hike looks very similar to the Grinnell Glacier hike. For the entire hike, you are walking along the alpine tundra, with unobstructed views of Longs Peak, Forest Canyon, and the Continental Divide. GREAT HIKES IN THE NATIONAL PARKS: From hikes to the tallest peaks to beautiful coast trails, read our Guide to the Best Day Hikes in the US National Parks. When we did this, we saw lots of elk, some of them males with enormous antlers. The trail ends at the summit of Hallett Peak. An AWD and FWD vehicle is fine for Rocky Mountain National Park. Required fields are marked *. Less than a mile in, youll arrive at Alberta Falls. Best Easy Day Hikes Rocky Mountain National Park (Best Easy Day Hikes Series) Kent Dannen 105 Paperback 30 offers from $9.05 Rocky Mountain National Park (National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map) Trails Illustrated Maps 629 Map 15 offers from $11.16 Rocky Mountain National Park: The Complete Guide: (Color Travel Guide) James Kaiser 30 Paperback A few great hikes start and end along this road. Tim and Tyler hiked Odessa and Fern Lakes on our first day in the park and we came right from sea level (we live on the east coast of the USA). Rocky Mountain National Park is best seen from a hiking trail. From the summit of Deer Mountain, enjoy views over Moraine Valley and out to Longs Peak and the surrounding mountains. Watch your step and take it slow. This is a much longer hike, coming in at 10.7 miles. 3.1 miles (5 km). MORE GREAT HIKES IN THE NATIONAL PARKS: From hikes to the tallest peaks to beautiful coast trails, read our Guide to the Best Day Hikes in the US National Parks. We promise not to annoy you, but if you wish, you may unsubscribe at any time. 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. Bear Lake is a well-marked trail and is one of the easiest hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. 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. This summer itinerary works best from Memorial Day through mid-October, when Trail Ridge Road is open. Each guidebook provides twenty of the best hikes in the area they represent . After that date, it only runs during the weekends through October 20. Skirt around the eastern side of the lake and onto a rocky area that juts out over the water to get a spectacular look at Mills Lake from a different angle. Grand Teton National Park may be one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring parks of the Rocky Mountains. Features a wide variety of hikes, from family-and wheelchair-friendly to challenging and strenuous options for hardier trekkers. Thank you! LEARN MORE: How to Hike the Ute Trail to Tombstone Ridge. Julie Last updated: January 17, 2023 United States 9 Comments. Longs Peak, at 14,259 feet, is the only fourteener in the park. 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. Beyond the Emerald Lake overlook you will reach the summit of Flattop Mountain. Begin at Bear Lake Trailhead, and take the Bear Lake Trail through a forested area full of aspens past Bear Lake. If this is part of a bigger road trip through the USA, visit our, for more inspiration and travel planning tips. 7 best winter hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park By Julia Clarke published November 23, 2022 Crunch through the snow surrounded by dazzling peaks on some of the best winter hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park To get here, you will take Devils Gulch Road to Lumpy Ridge Road. There are lots of great restaurants to choose from. Ive always wanted to go hiking , Love the adventure just didnt have the friends or resourcefulness to survive out there. Leave from Bear Lake. 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. This book was released on 2020-04-01 with total page 256 pages. Get There Early: There are two important reasons to begin your hikes early in the morning in Rocky Mountain National 1)The trail head parking lots fill up early, and 2) in the . Trailhead - Glacier Gorge Trailhead. A water bottle is as essential as it gets. Day 2 - Get a good workout on the Bear Lake Trail (6+ miles), see very different scenery at Lumpy Ridge, and . This loop trail is 0.7 miles in length and can be busy at times. All hikes mentioned below are perfect for day hikes. As you head down into the gorge towards Odessa Lake and Little Matterhorn can be seen directly ahead. 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. The entire hike is less than a mile in length, making it great for all ages and ability levels. Ill send this to my buddies for review before our trip! To get here, take Highway 7 south from Estes Park. Tyler starts college later this year and UC at Boulder is #1 on his list. Each guide describes approximately 20-30 easy-to-follow, scenic trails in and around national parks, cities and urban areas, and popular outdoor destinations across America. On day 2, you will need the Park Access + pass to visit Bear Lake. Grab your trekking poles and take it slow. In the summertime youll be surrounded by wildflowers. 27. This is our favorite short, easy hike in RMNP. On the way down, you can hand your backpack to a friend and then scoot your way down on your butt. 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