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With over 350 miles of trails, Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park is a hiker’s paradise. There are nearly too many alpine lakes and mountaintop vistas to select from, so we curated our favorites to ensure a memorable journey to this iconic Colorado vacation spot. The paths on this checklist vary from a 0.7-mile stroller-friendly loop to a 30-mile backcountry journey Whether or not you’re a seasoned backcountry explorer, a dayhike aficionado or a household with younger youngsters, we’ve received the proper path for you. Learn on to search out our picks for the ten finest hikes in Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park.
Flattop Mountain
Begin: Bear Lake Trailhead
Type: Out-and-back
Distance: 8.5 miles
If summiting Longs Peak (a day-long endeavor that requires scrambling expertise) isn’t on the menu, however you’ve nonetheless received a longing for a tricky alpine ascent, Flattop Mountain is a good alternative. Climb almost 2,900 ft in elevation to achieve the summit, and revel in views of Dream Lake and Hallet Peak.
Sprague Lake Loop Path
Begin: Sprague Lake Trailhead
Type: Loop
Distance: 0.7 miles
This flat path consisting of boardwalks is stroller-friendly and ideal for younger youngsters simply beginning to get snug within the open air. The entire household can stroll across the lake and see peaks on the Continental Divide within the distance. It’s widespread to identify wildlife—together with beaver and moose—on this path.
Cub Lake Path
Begin: Cub Lake Trailhead
Type: Out-and-back
Distance: 4.6 miles
Households with older youngsters who’ve their sea legs will love Cub Lake Path. With simply 540 ft of elevation achieve, the 4.6-mile path is comparatively accessible and shouldn’t take various hours. For these visiting within the fall and in search of photo-worthy foliage, this path is broadly often called top-of-the-line hikes in Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park for leaf-peeping.
Fern Lake Path
Begin: Fern Lake Trailhead
Type: Out-and-back
Distance: 7.6 miles to 10.5 miles
Fern Lake Path is likely one of the park’s finest choose-your-own journey choices. Hike the usual 7.6 miles to Fern Lake, add the 0.9 spur path to Spruce Lake or add one other 2 miles to achieve Odessa Lake. The views at Fern are onerous to beat: You’ll see Notchtop Mountain, Little Matterhorn, Knobtop Mountain, and The Gable, peaks all standing over 11,000 ft. The path, which runs alongside the Huge Thompson River, can also be widespread with individuals trying to fish.
Continental Divide Loop
Begin: Inexperienced Mountain Trailhead
Type: Loop
Distance: 30 miles (varies barely based mostly on campsites chosen)
Should you’re trying to get a real style of the backcountry, the Continental Divide Loop ought to be in your tick-list. This loop covers a lot of the Continental Divide Nationwide Scenic Path that passes by the park. Observe the Inexperienced Mountain, Tonahutu and North Inlet trails for a distant wilderness expertise. Hikers will see Granite Falls, Mount Patterson, Snowdrift Peak, Flattop Mountain, and Cascade Falls. In a single day stays require a allow, which can be found at recreation.gov after which have to be picked up in individual.
Sky Pond
Begin: Glacier Gorge Trailhead
Type: Out-and-back
Distance: 8.6 miles
Should you’ve solely received at some point within the park and wish to get essentially the most out of your time, this path is a wonderful possibility. Its 8.6 miles will convey you to most of the park’s highlights, together with Alberta Falls, Timberline Falls, Lake of Glass and Sky Pond, with views of Taylor Peak and Powell Peak to accompany you.
Bluebird Lake Path
Begin: Wild Basin Trailhead
Type: Out-and-back
Distance: 13.3
At simply over 13 miles, this path is a good candidate for a straightforward in a single day backpacking journey. There are a number of wilderness campgrounds alongside the path, together with Higher Ouzel Creek, Ouzel Creek, and Tahosa. Along with Bluebird Lake, hikers may also see Copeland Falls, Ouzel Falls, and Ouzel Lake for a real smorgasbord of the most effective the park has to supply.
Lake Haiyaha
Begin: Bear Lake Trailhead
Type: Out-and-back
Distance: 4.2
With simply 745 ft of elevation achieve, the path to Lake Haiyaha is likely one of the finest average trails within the park. Hikers get a few of RMNP’s signature components, together with views of Bear, Nymph, and Bierstadt lakes, with out the steep, troublesome ascents widespread in different components the park. It’s doable so as to add on one other mile to see Alberta Falls, and thereby flip the path right into a loop.
East Inlet Path
Begin: East Inlet Trailhead
Type: Out-and-back
Distance: 0.6 to 18 miles
The East Inlet Path is one other nice path with quite a lot of choices. Journey simply 0.6 miles out-and-back to see the charming Adams Falls, or go all the way in which to Fifth Lake and full the complete 18 miles. It’s straightforward to separate up the path, with Lone Pine Lake, Lake Verna, Spirit Lake and Fourth Lake spaced out evenly alongside the path. Should you’re visiting within the spring, this space is likely one of the finest hikes in Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park for viewing wildflowers.
Black Canyon Path
Begin: Lumpy Ridge Trailhead
Type: Out-and-back
Distance: 17 miles
Anybody who’s been in Estes Park in June is aware of that the park may be completely slammed with guests in the summertime. Should you’re trying to escape the crowds, embark on this path, which tends to be much less widespread however equally as beautiful because the marquee hikes. Truthful warning: With over 4,000 ft of elevation achieve, solely skilled hikers ought to try this path.
What to Know About Mountaineering in Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park
Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park makes use of timed entry reservations in the course of the busiest a part of the season. In 2025, it’ll require guests who plan to return between 9 a.m. and a couple of p.m. day by day from Might 23 to October 13 to guide upfront. Reservations are available in two flavors, Timed Entry, which permits guests to entry all areas apart from the favored Bear Lake hall, and Timed Entry+, which opens up your complete park. Regardless of which you may have, you’ll have a two-hour window to enter. Backpackers with a allow don’t want a timed entry reservation. Campers with a reservation may also enter and not using a allow, although which areas you may have entry to depends upon the place you’re staying.
Climate modifications rapidly in Rocky. At higher-elevation locations like Longs Peak or Path Ridge Highway, it will possibly snow in all months of the 12 months. Throughout a lot of the summer time, thunderstorms—a major hazard above treeline—are almost a day by day occasion. Carry an insulating layer and a lightweight shell in your daypack even in summer time, and preserve a detailed eye on the climate forecast earlier than you embark (test with a camp host or ranger station when you can’t get reception).
Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park is a good place to see wildlife—some doubtlessly hazardous. A number of dozen black bears name the park dwelling, and the park requires anybody staying in a single day within the backcountry to hold a bear canister. Don’t underestimate the moose or elk, each of that are very massive and recurrently come into battle with uninformed vacationers in close by Estes Park, both.
