First, you will pass lovely Alberta Falls. 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. If you are looking for a short, easy hike, How to Hike the Ute Trail to Tombstone Ridge, How to Hike to Nymph, Dream & Emerald Lakes (+ Add on Bear Lake and Lake Haiyaha), panoramic views of Longs Peak and Estes Park, How to Hike the Continental Divide Trail to Mt Ida. For those with restriction of time, mobility or skills a simple trek around a lake or meadow will suffice quite nicely. Whether you are walking around a peaceful lake trail or climbing a 14er, this park has something for you! Keep your eye out for signs and cairns that will mark the trail in places and keep trekking the view is worth it! This makes it a challenging hike for beginners, but the views along the way and at the top are well worth the challenge! Andrews Tarn & Andrews Glacier:This frigid, glacier-fed lake resides at over 11,000 feet. There is never a boring moment on this trail. This park does close in the winter due to seasonal moose and deer migrations. What a great place to live! Enjoy! If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Guide to the Best Day Hikes in the US National Parks. Lodging for 2 nights in Estes park in mid May, The Ridgeline Hotel Estes ParkR, Ascend Hotel Collection. Check out theGuided Excursionssection to read more about guided hikes, fishing expeditions, snowshoeing, climbing, backcountry exploration and more. There are plenty of amazing options inside the national park - more than 300 miles of trails, in fact. Summit elevation 10,013' (gain of 1083'). Stay on US 34 as it becomes Trail Ridge Road to enjoy a spectacular tour of the parks incredible landscapes. popular lakes inside the park, Sprague Lake via the Adams Tunnel East Portal Essential Hiking Gear: What Should You Bring on a Day Hike? More popular among rock climbers than hikers, this trail is a lightly traveled local secret. distance fool you, the climb to the top of Mt. Once at the waterfall, you can explore the short trails along Glacier Creek to find your favorite view of the waterfall. It follows a wooden trail in the southernmost part of RMNP. Major construction has begun at the Fall River Entrance with only one lane available to enter. This is a great hike for newbie hikers who want to summit a mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park. This Rocky Mountain National Park hike climbs steadily the whole way with a steeper trail over the last quarter mile. bikers, and walkers. Whether you live in Estes Park year-round or you just came for a breath of fresh mountain air, theres a good chance youll find yourself on a trail at some point during your stay. As part of the Hermit Park 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. This out-and-back Rocky Mountain National Park trail is one of the best in the park. Rocky Mountain National Park has 355 miles of hiking trails. Ida, so you will really feel the altitude. This is a great hike for almost all ages and ability levels. This is our favorite short, easy hike in the park. This trail is quite shady and great for hot summer days. This gain brings you high into the Rockies and provides vast 360-degree views of Rocky Mountain National Park, Big Thompson Canyon, the Cache La Poudre Canyon, and the meadows below. Why you should go: Earn these epic views and summit the rightfully named Lookout Mountain! Depending on conditions, technical equipment is typically recommended for safe climbing. Beginning at Lumpy Ridge Trailhead, the Gem Lake Trail covers some of Rocky Mountain National Parks most interesting sights, astounding views and compelling history. The Ute Trail to Tombstone Ridge is a wonderful, short, easy hike to do in Rocky Mountain National Park. During the 15+ miles of hiking, you will ascend more that 5,000 feet. LEARN MORE: How to Hike the Ute Trail to Tombstone Ridge. Sign up for Weekend Wanderer and join thousands of readers getting epic travel ideas weekly. This is a great hike for almost all ages and ability levels. We know there are so many jaw-dropping Estes Park hikes, that we couldnt list them all. Youll know youve reached the eight-mile mark when you pass through Arch Rocks, two house-sized rocks that landed here years ago. In Rocky Mountain National Park, hiking is the number-one activity. offers rewarding views at the top. Each of these hikes is a day hike, so they can all be completed in one day. Try some of the favored ventures below to roam the Estes Valley without strenuous effort, but with great reward. Fine views, pleasant hiking and a picnic on top make this trip a hiking favorite. The national forest allows hiking with your leashed dog and can be accessed in a number of areas around Estes Park. 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. 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. The Glacier Gorge Trailhead is one of the most popular in the park, so if youre arriving after 8 a.m. you may want to consider parking elsewhere and using the free park shuttle to access the trailhead. Today I hiked CCY Chapin to Chiquita to Ypres and summited on Chiquita. Unlike other parts of Rocky Mountain National Park that are consistently busy and packed with people, the Lumpy Ridge area does not immediately connect with any trails that are popular among National Park hikers. Before you go, get updated trail conditions on the National Park Service website. You can also replay recent newscasts and find videos on demand of our top stories, local politics, investigations and Colorado specific features. While we will spend at least one day in RMNP, we want to do some more hiking but hopefully without the crowds in the park. Park along Wonderview Avenue, across from the Stanley Hotel to access this trail. LEARN MORE: How to Hike the Twin Sister Peak Trail. Tyler starts college later this year and UC at Boulder is #1 on his list. Dogs are allowed (on leash) on this trail. This hike feels tough, a combination of the high elevation with the long stair climb. On the Keyhole Route, the hike ends with some serious rock scrambling and lots of exposure. As we know, weather in Colorado can fluctuate rapidly, even in the span of a few hours. Distance: 3.4 miles Difficulty: Moderate Length of Time: 2 to 3 hours Location: Lumpy Ridge Trailhead. To get here, take Highway 7 south from Estes Park. Recreate responsibly. There is a small entrance fee you will have to pay, and dogs are allowed in the park on leash. Thanks for sharing!!! This hike is much different than many other hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. Whatever your plans, be sure to take a ride on the Estes Park Aerial Tramway up to the summit of Prospect Mountain for stunning views over the valley. This hike starts at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead. Seen in: Colorado, Colorado Hiking, Hike, Rockies. 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. Bierstadt Lake is the perfect spot to enjoy a picnic or afternoon snack before your hike back. Book a weekend stay in one of these unique vacation rentals, and you'll quickly see how Montana earned its nickname of the Big Sky State. This is one of the easier lake hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. Our website uses cookies. You can also hike to Fern Lake out-and-back from either Bear Lake or Moraine Park. From the summit of Deer Mountain, enjoy views over Moraine Valley and out to Longs Peak and the surrounding mountains. Not looking for strenuous hiking - just trails with beautiful views. towering over Sprague Lake. 1000 US Hwy 36 Heres the thing: this hike starts just under 12,000 feet of elevation. The trail also connects to the downtown Riverwalk and the Estes Valley trails system that takes you through Stanley Park, near the fairgrounds, and farther south along Fish Creek Road. If you don't want to bother with getting timed entry reservations to park there, check out some of these other hikes. This is an essential hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. Hiking WebTimber Creek Chalets With Hot Tubs by Rocky Mountain Resorts puts you just a 5-minute drive from Rocky Mountain National Park. Scenic drives for leaf-peeping, fall colors in Colorado terrain ending with spectacular views of Notchtop and Little Matterhorn. Due to elevation changes, stretches of steep climbing and a rock scramble before reaching the lake, this hike is usually rated between moderate and strenuous. A 20 percent chance of showers after 3pm. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. A 20 Reply Report inappropriate content 3 replies to this topic 1-3 of 3 Along the way, youll also pass the historic MacGregor Ranch, views of Longs Peak, and Paul Bunyans Boot, a huge boot-shaped rock with a hole through it. Where hikers tread, so do runners. Instead, it Climb through aspen open space, the hike to Kruger Rock is spectacular and one of our favorite http://www.protrails.com/area/5/indian-peaks-wilderness-area-james-peak-wilderness-area, This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Estes Park not RMNP | List | AllTrails the shoreline, providing panoramic mountain views. 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. section the most challenging part of the hike. Fortunately, there are hikes for all ages and ability levels. 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. This challenging hike starts at Bear Lake and rapidly gains elevation once you are on the Flattop Mountain Trail. But this trail will make you sweat! Estes Park: the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park is a small mountain town packed with history and charm. Sprague Lake:A second wheelchair accessible, looped trail to explore is the Sprague Lake Nature Trail. 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. After guiding several trips through the Western Slope Desert, Daniell fell in love with climbing desert towers and overnight canoe trips down the Colorado River. Mount Olympus. Honorable mention No. If youre not aware of Alltrails.com, its a great site to research trails. We write about local events & home inspiration. If this sounds like a hike you would like to do, it will take some planning and patience. Loop the lake or head To help you plan your trip, we also have articles about the best things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park and how to plan the perfect itinerary. There is also a Colorado specific site that is great for maps but doesnt have as many trail reports as Alltrails. If the parking lot is full, park in the large parking lot at the end of Bear Lake Road. Kruger Rock. Continental Divide, including Hallett Peak, Taylor Peak, and Flattop Mountain 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 trailhead is located just north of Estes Park. This infamous hotel is said to have inspired Stephen Kings The Shining, and is one of the top places to visit during your stay in Estes Park. Since this trail does take you into Rocky Mountain National Park, you will have to follow Park rules. But the whole reason to do this hike is for the view of Sky Pond, one of the most spectacular lakes in the park.