best day hikes in rocky mountain national park

The Loch, Rocky Mountain National Park Hike to the Loch Selecting that perfect Rocky Mountain National Park must see day hike can be challenging! For the ultimate hiking experience in Rocky Mountain National Park, Before you go, get updated trail conditions on the, If this is part of a bigger road trip through the USA, visit our, for more inspiration and travel planning tips. Julie Last updated: February 23, 2023 United States 8 Comments. 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. Grab your trekking poles and take it slow. However, snow is possible at both times at higher . One of the best seasons for hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park is the spring. Longs Peak, at 14,259 feet, is the only fourteener in the park. If you are looking for a short, family-friendly hike, and dont mind a bit of a stair climb at times, this is a good hike to add to your to-do list. Distance: 3.6 miles Difficulty: Easy to moderate Length of Time: 2 to 3 hours Location: Bear Lake Trailhead, at the end of Bear Lake Road, Emerald Lake | Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park, Dream Lake | Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park is a much different experience in the winter than the summer months. Best for: Historic cabins and quiet trails. Due to the popularity of the trail, this is a great time to use the shuttle. If this sounds like a hike you would like to do, it will take some planning and patience. 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. The entire hike is less than a mile in length, making it great for all ages and ability levels. Very nice list, Sky Pond is my favorite, as well as Black Lake. If you are acclimated to the elevation, Sky Pond is an awesome hike. 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. Alberta Falls. After one final short and strenuous climb you will be standing at Chasm Lake. One of the most popular hikes in all of Rocky Mountain National Park is the Nymph, Dream, & Emerald Lakes Hike. This saves you time from driving into Estes Park to get lunch. Julie Last updated: January 17, 2023 United States 9 Comments. Which travel agency can book it for me? Continue on until you reach Chasm Meadows with its flowing streams and beautiful green grass. For the next mile or so, youll hike up a series of switchbacks until mile 2.4 where youll finally break through the treeline. If the parking lot is full, park in the large parking lot at the end of Bear Lake Road. 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. The Best Easy Day Hikes series are handy, pocket-size guides for day hikers in America's most popular outdoor destinations. Chasm Lake | Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. Its nearby neighbors of Bear Lake, Emerald Lake, and Dream Lake get a lot more visitors, so if you are looking for a relatively uncrowded trail with the chance to visit multiple alpine lakes, this is a nice hike to consider. The word gets overused but CO is awesome. But the whole reason to do this hike is for the view of Sky Pond, one of the most spectacular lakes in the park. During the climb up, the trail gets incrementally steeper and youll be taking switchbacks for most of the way. Ida, so you will really feel the altitude. Reservations are made online on the recreation.gov website. This summer itinerary works best from Memorial Day through mid-October, when Trail Ridge Road is open. It includes Bear Lake Road and the hikes that start here (Bear Lake, Emerald and Dream Lakes, Alberta Falls, Sky Pond, Hallett Peak, and Sprague Lake). 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. How to Visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison. For very little effort, the views you get are unbelievable. This hike is much different than many other hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. Expect lots of wind and cold temperatures, even during the summer months. This one comes in multiple colors and three different sizes and has a carabiner to attach to your pack. From short, easy strolls around lakes, to ridgeline trails with panoramic views, to challenging but epic climbs to the tallest mountain peaks, there truly is something here for everyone. Its about protecting what sustains us. On day 2, you will need the Park Access + pass to visit Bear Lake. It is the tallest waterfall in Rocky Mountain National Park. Cheers, Julie. But don't be intimidated by its height. Enjoy hand-curated trail maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you. LEARN MORE: How to Hike to Odessa Lake and Fern Lake. Here is the list and our recommendations. This challenging trail is a fantastic way to get panoramic park views without attempting something quite as hard as Longs Peak. About a half of a mile past the falls, youll come to North Longs Peak Trail Junction. In July, we hiked through a snowstorm on the way back from Sky Pond. This is a great hike for almost all ages and ability levels. You can add on Lake Haiyaha for a total distance of 6.2 miles. If you plan to visit Rocky Mountain National Park in the summer, afternoon thunderstorms occur quite frequently. Here, we found a nice place to sit below the outlet of Sky Pond to enjoy lunch with a view. 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. Best beginner hike in Rocky Mountain National Park: Emerald 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. Wonderful post highlighting day hikes that are exemplary, and truly offer the opportunity to view nature in its stunning glory. Chasm Lake sits at 11,760 feet and puts you right at the base of Longs Peak, RMNPs tallest mountain. Before our trip, I purchased The Essential Guide to Hiking Rocky Mountain National Park by Erik Stensland. 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. However, this property gets rave reviews. 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. You need to stay hydrated on the trail, and being prepared is a necessity. So, we all could be making a lot of trips out to Colorado over the next few years, depending on Tylers decision. Sky Pond is awesome, Chasm Lake is also great but its a little more challenging, and Emerald and Dream Lakes are also favorites of many park visitors. If you're after something moderate but rewarding a visit to The Loch, an iconic subalpine lake framed epicly by the Sharktooth (12,530') and Mt. Make a left turn to follow the road all the way to the trailhead and parking lot. But this trail gets much less foot traffic than Emerald and Dream Lakes so if you want a quieter hike, this is one to consider. Its a very short hike (just over a half-mile round trip), but it will literally take your breath away. As you hike in, youll start to get views of Longs Head Peak and Chiefs Head Peak in the distance. This hike is much different than many other hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. This hike feels tough, a combination of the high elevation with the long stair climb. As you head down into the gorge towards Odessa Lake and Little Matterhorn can be seen directly ahead. Emerald Lake Trail 550 Hiking Trails By pamt464 We also hiked in the Wild Basin area which starts at a lower elevation, but the Emerald Lake hike was our favorite fo. Day Hikes In Grand Teton National Park includes a thorough selection of 89 day hikes throughout this national park . evolving backdrop of beautiful pine forests into the aspen groves, so be aware that due to its popularity it can get crowded. Last month, I traveled to Orcas Island in the San Juan archipelago off the coast of Washington state. View from the Alpine Ridge Trail | Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. The vast majority of these people visited the park between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The best path up the scramble is to follow the crushed and broken rocks, indicating a footpath worn in by previous hikers. In 2021, Rocky Mountain National Park was the 5th most visited national park in the United States, with 4.4 million visitors. Located in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Jasper National Park was officially established in 1907, after a group of Canadian Pacific Railway . Through this post, I have come to know a lot more about these adventurous hiking trails in Rockey Mountain National Park. During the remainder of the year it is closed due to snow. 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. For families with young kids and for those who dont like to do a lot of hiking, I recommend the easy stroll around Bear Lake plus the hike to Alberta Falls. That means picking up any trash you see on the trail, practicing good trail etiquette, and being respectful to other hikers. 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. 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. Please advise, You can try to reserve it now. You are now standing at 12,718 feet, with 360 views, which makes this one of the best hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. , the views you get are unbelievable of the best seasons for hiking in Rocky National! Quite as hard as Longs Peak, at 14,259 feet, is the tallest waterfall in Rocky Mountain Park... 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