In addition to that, you will need a car to get around. The entire hike is less than a mile in length, making it great for all ages and ability levels. Park Access: This permit gives you access to everything in Rocky Mountain National Park except for Bear Lake Road. This challenging trail is a fantastic way to get panoramic park views without attempting something quite as hard as Longs Peak. I will discuss these hikes in more detail below, or you can click over to our Best Hikes in RMNP post now to learn more (it will open in a new browser tab so you wont lose your spot here). The hike offers outstanding views of Lily Mountain, Estes Cone, as well as Mt. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. So, climb those stairs, catch your breath if you need to, and enjoy the awesome view from the top. See the top Minnesota road trip stops for outdoor adventure including State Parks, scenic drives, waterfalls, and day trips from Minneapolis. With lower crowds this time of year, there is no need to get to the Bear Lake Trailhead super early in the morning. Have you hiked this?. Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the highest national parks in the USA. There are lots of great restaurants to choose from. This was one of our favorite hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park and we highly recommend it. Emerald Lake Trail | Rocky Mountain National Park Hikes Not too long after youve past Nymph, youll find yourself at the midway point between there and Dream Lake. Past the waterfall, follow the signs to Mills Lake. 2021Outdoor Project. 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). Beginning at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead, hike in and follow the same guidance as before, where after a quarter of a mile, youll stay left at the fork and head towards Alberta Falls. This saves you time from driving into Estes Park to get lunch. To get here, you will take Devils Gulch Road to Lumpy Ridge Road. If we plan on leaving Denver around 11 and traveling the Trail Ridge road would we only need the regular park pass? This hike starts just under 12,000 feet of elevation and it is a stair climb to the top. Your email address will not be published. And dont forget to reserve your Timed Entry Permit in advance if you plan to do this itinerary between May 27 and October 10, 2022. Best for: Historic cabins and quiet trails. But once at the top, the view is very nice. Follow the trail down into a wooded area and youll quickly arrive at Jewell Lake. For the first part of the hike, you will walk the same trail as the hikers on their way to Longs Peak, the highest point in the hike. From the viewpoint, you are standing at 12,005 feet. Travelers favorites include #1 Trail Ridge Road, #2 Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and more. 2. Bear Lake. 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. Meeker and Longs Peak, the two highest peaks in Rocky Mountain National Park. Bear Lake Trailhead 390 Hiking Trails By Tempusfugit2015 Sky Pond. Alberta Falls | Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. You also have the option to add on a fifth lake, Lake Haiyaha, making this hike a total of 6.2 miles. If you have been hiking in Glacier National Park, this hike looks very similar to the Grinnell Glacier hike. The trail starts at the Bear Lake trailhead, and heads left soon after. stop to catch your breath when you need a break, The Essential Guide to Hiking Rocky Mountain National Park by Erik Stensland, DAY HIKING ESSENTIALS: THE GEAR YOU NEED TO HIT THE TRAILS, COLORADO PEAK BAGGERS: 5 BEST FOURTEENERS FOR BEGINNERS, HIKING BOOTS: HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT PAIR, 11 Minnesota Road Trip Stops for Outdoor Adventure, How to Apply for a Southbound John Muir Trail Permit in 2023, Best Section Hikes on the John Muir Trail, Orcas Island Travel Tips: Moran State Park Travel Guide, Tips for Your First Visit to Rocky Mountain National Park, https://bearfoottheory.com/tips-taking-friends-hiking-first-time/, Winter Hiking Clothes & Cold Weather Layering Basics, Best Womens Winter Boots For Outdoor Adventure, Best Heated Socks For Men & Women in 2023, Camp Cooking Kitchen Essentials for Camping & Van Life, Van Life with a Dog: Tips for Living & Traveling with Pets, Sprinter Van Conversion Tour: Custom 44 Outside Van, 16 Best National Parks to Visit in Winter, 20 Best Winter Vacation Destinations for Outdoor Adventure, 9-Day Utah National Parks Road Trip Itinerary, 16 Best National Parks to Visit in Spring, How to Train for Hiking & Backpacking: Tips for Preparing for the Trail, A Beginners Guide to Indoor Rock Climbing. Simply turn around when you are ready, the spectacular views start as soon as your feet hit the trail. 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). The good thing is that you wont want to rush by these views. So, I am confident I would agree with your information on the hikes I havent done! When you finally make it to Chasm Lake youll have a full-on view of Longs Peak, and a high alpine lake where you can rest your legs. Last month, I traveled to Orcas Island in the San Juan archipelago off the coast of Washington state. The entire hike is less than a mile in length, making it great for all ages and ability levels. This has been implemented to limit crowds at the busiest sections of the park during the peak visitation season (the summer months). Please note: From May 27-October 10, 2022, RMNP will require timed reservations to enter, which you can purchase here. back in the day. Continue for two more miles until you reach Black Lake. This is a nice hike but honestly not one of our favorites. The views from the overlooks are stunning. Just be aware that this is also the busiest time to visit Rocky Mountain National Park. Dogs: Leashed. Once youve passed the Glacier Gorge Bridge on your right it is a series of steeper uphill climbs. Located on the eastern edge of Rocky Mountain National Park, you get panoramic views of Longs Peak and Estes Park from the top of the Twin Sisters Peaks. However, if you only have the time for one hike, and the thought of a tough, 9-mile hike isnt a deal breaker, we recommend Sky Pond. Well have to put it on our to do list when we are back in the area. Nice hike list! You can also hike to Fern Lake out-and-back from either Bear Lake or Moraine Park. At 14,433 feet, Mount Elbert is the tallest 14er in Colorado and the highest peak in the entire Rocky Mountain Range. As you continue on, take a left at the Sky Pond and Andrews Glacier junction which youll hike for a couple more miles until you finally arrive at the Timberline Falls. After one final short and strenuous climb you will be standing at Chasm Lake. Distance: 3.4 miles Difficulty: Moderate Length of Time: 2 to 3 hours Location: Lumpy Ridge Trailhead. 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. None of them will disappoint. Taylor (13,651'), won't disappoint. For much of the hike you are walking along the Continental Divide. With just a day in the Rocky Mountain National Park, this is one of the best hikes you could do. Note: All distances are round-trip. 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. best things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park. Finally, Trail Ridge Road, the main road the cuts across the park, is open from Memorial Day to mid-October. Make sure you bring extra layers, even during the summer months. Emerald Lake Trail The hike to the Emerald Lake is one of the easiest hikes in Rocky Mountains National Park Length: 3.2 miles | Elevation gain: 698 feet | Guide 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 is something here for everyone, ranging from easy, lakeside strolls to short hikes to waterfalls to challenging hikes up the tallest peaks. See what else made the list! Top 10 Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. To get to the peak, its an almost constant uphill walk through an evergreen forest. Much of this hike is above the treeline, so its imperative to get an early start to beat any afternoon thunderstorms. At just over a half of a mile, round trip, this hike sounds easy. In the summertime youll be surrounded by wildflowers. From the Bear Lake Trailhead, follow signs to Alberta Falls. Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park For Spring 1| Ouzel Falls Length: 5.4 miles (8.7 km) Location: Wild Basin Trailhead Key features: Waterfalls The stunning 40 ft tall Ouzel Falls is the most famous waterfall trail in the park. Ida), Chasm Lake (another gorgeous lake hike), and Tombstone Ridge (its short, its easy, the views are amazing, and most people can handle this hike). That means picking up any trash you see on the trail, practicing good trail etiquette, and being respectful to other hikers. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you. For the full list, read our article about the Best Scenic Drives in Colorado. Its not a big deal but doing this will eat up some of your precious time. Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park Colorado on a summer day (Image credit: Roschetzkylstockphoto) Distance: 14.8 miles Difficulty: Extremely difficult. Provided by Touchpoints 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. The buses run from around 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. for Bear Lake and Moraine Park but run from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. CALYPSO CASCADES. The classic hike for first-timers in Rocky Mountain National Park is a Bear Lake and Emerald Lake combo. With one day in Rocky Mountain National Park during the summer and early fall, you have enough time to hike one of the trails, drive the legendary Trail Ridge Road, and visit the top sights in the park. All of the products we recommend we stand behind, and we appreciate your support! From the summit of Deer Mountain, enjoy views over Moraine Valley and out to Longs Peak and the surrounding mountains. There are three ways to hike to Fern Lake. Black Lake Trail and Sky Pond are tied for my second favorite trail, since they both have all the features youd want (waterfall, scenic vistas, and an alpine meadow) from one of Rocky Mountain National Parks best hikes. Required fields are marked *. You are now standing at 12,718 feet, with 360 views, which makes this one of the best hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. In July, we hiked through a snowstorm on the way back from Sky Pond. Each of these hikes is a day hike, so they can all be completed in one day. In the summer months, it is best to hike in the morning, in order to avoid the afternoon thunderstorms. For very little effort, the views you get are unbelievable. Hike Further: Be sure to hike and additional approx 1.25 mile (one-way) to Timberline Falls to see one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Rocky Mountain National Park. Enjoy panoramic views of the park, as well as spectacular views from the overlooks of Dream Lake and Emerald Lake. 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? How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest. How crowded does Rocky Mountain National Park get? 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. Despite the impressive stats, the peak is generally considered to be one of the easiest 14ers to summit, and the standard Northeast Ridge route . Elevation: 49 feet / 15 meters. The hike to Deer Mountain is one of the more popular fall hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. An AWD and FWD vehicle is fine for Rocky Mountain National Park. The Ute Trail to Tombstone Ridge is a nice trail with a lot of opportunities to spot wildlife and take in the views. Black Lake and Mills Lake are often labeled as two of the prettiest lakes in Rocky Mountain National Park. Plan on getting here no later than 7:30 am to make sure you get a spot. Due to the popularity of the trail, this is a great time to use the shuttle. During the 15+ miles of hiking, you will ascend more that 5,000 feet. 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