Lake Haiyaha, Rocky Mountain National Park Rocky Mountain National Park boasts a wide variety of attractions and wildlife in its different ecological zones, like mountains, alpine lakes, forests, and tundra. Its not a big deal but doing this will eat up some of your precious time. The elevation of the lowest sections of the park range from 5,600 to 9,500 feet. However, if you are doing well on time or only plan to do a very short hike in the morning, going into Estes Park for lunch is not a bad idea. Our website uses cookies. Elevation Gain: 1,062' Max Elevation: 10,210' Winter Skill Level: Beginner Why it rocks. Its an extra 0.8 miles to the shuttle stop on the dirt road. 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 From here, you can walk up the Alpine Ridge Trail. Rocky Mountain National Park has a few shuttle bus routes, but they are only open during peak season. 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. 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. You can still get around, but it might be on skis or snowshoes, rather than by vehicle. This is also a great place to stop for lunch, and a popular one, too. Best beginner hike in Rocky Mountain National Park: Emerald Lake. To get to Sky Pond, you will rock scramble up a waterfall, which can be refreshing when the weather is warm and downright cold in chilly conditions. Over the next half of a mile, snow and ice can remain on the trail well into June. Distance: 10.4 miles Difficulty: Strenuous Length of Time: 6 to 8 hours Location: Bear Lake Trailhead. One of the most popular hikes in all of Rocky Mountain National Park is the Nymph, Dream, & Emerald Lakes Hike. You will get occasional glimpses of Longs Peak early on during the hike, but for the most part, you will have to wait until you reach the summit for the best views. If you want to avoid the crowds, begin in the early morning as early as sunrise to have the best experience and the best lighting. If you continue beyond the Alpine Visitor Center on Trail Ridge Road, you can go all of the way to Grand Lake, if you like. If you are coming from sea level, you will feel the effects of the altitude as soon as you do anything strenuous. However, if you want to hike a lower-traffic trail that is just a short drive from Estes Park, this is a nice one to consider. Once youve passed the Glacier Gorge Bridge on your right it is a series of steeper uphill climbs. In this photo you can see the Alpine Visitor Center and Trail Ridge Road. A short hike with plenty of scenery, the Emerald Lake trail is one of the most popular hikes in the park for good reason. A steep ascent will take you up towards Flattop Mountain Trail (this is one of the most difficult climbs), which has stunning views of Longs Peak, Chiefs Head Peak, and Keyboard of the Winds. Bear Lake. Distance: 9.5 miles Difficulty: Strenuous Length of Time: 4 to 6 hours Location: Glacier Gorge Trailhead on Bear Lake Road. Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park: On a Map. Best For: Bragging rights. Will have to pick one for next time Im out west. Get all of the details on how to do this hike in our post about Fern Lake. Distance: 0.6 miles round-trip Length of Time: 30 minutes Difficulty: Easy Location: This hike starts at the Bear Lake Trailhead, located at the very end of Bear Lake Road. Longs Peak and Timber Creek Campgrounds are easier to get reservations. Trail Type: Loop Difficulty: Moderate Trailhead Location A few great hikes start and end along this road. 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 the way down, you can hand your backpack to a friend and then scoot your way down on your butt. Before our trip, I purchased The Essential Guide to Hiking Rocky Mountain National Park by Erik Stensland. 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. In 2021, Rocky Mountain National Park was the 5th most visited national park in the United States, with 4.4 million visitors. Best Things to Do in Great Sand Dunes National Park. With 415 square miles of breathtaking mountain environments and more than 300 miles of hiking trails, you will never run out of things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park. All hikes mentioned below are perfect for day hikes. Your best bet is to pack a picnic lunch. The classic hike for first-timers in Rocky Mountain National Park is a Bear Lake and Emerald Lake combo. If you have more than a few days in RMNP and need some warm-up hikes, good options are Emerald Lake, Deer Mountain, and Twin Sisters. In July, we hiked through a snowstorm on the way back from Sky Pond. Leave from Bear Lake. The entire hike is less than a mile in length, making it great for all ages and ability levels. find gorgeous views on your choice of easy routes with little to no incline, moderate trails extending 3.4 - 4.5 miles, or challenging routes recommended for experienced hikers only. To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps, click the menu button, go to Your Places, click Maps, and you will see this map on your list. Plan on going back to Black Lake and pushing for some of the higher elevation ones from there in a few weeks, Blue, Frozen, Green and Italy. Hike up to continue onto the Tombstone Ridge, where there are beautiful views of the Rockies in front of you. 3. Odessa Lake to Lake Helene Thru Hike. Plan on being at the trailhead by 7am (or earlier) if you want to park at the trailhead itself. At this time, cross country skiing and snowshoeing are the main things to do in the park. Along the way, you will hike through bogs and forests, past Ribbon Falls, and have a great view of Keyboard of the Winds. Wonderful post highlighting day hikes that are exemplary, and truly offer the opportunity to view nature in its stunning glory. The trail starts to climb higher, eventually taking you up rock steps then down to Emerald Lake. This historic hotel is one of the top places to stay in Estes Park. I think it is better to drive Trail Ridge Road in the afternoon than visit Bear Lake. Continue on until you reach Chasm Meadows with its flowing streams and beautiful green grass. You can arrive mid-morning, hike one of the trails that start at Bear Lake, and then spend the afternoon and evening at Estes Park. For the next mile or so, youll hike up a series of switchbacks until mile 2.4 where youll finally break through the treeline. You dont even have to hike the entire 4 miles. The timed entry permit system covers ALL areas of the park, including outlying areas like Lily Lake, Longs Peak, Lumpy Ridge, and Wild Basin. The elevation here is about 11,600, so take your time and stop to catch your breath when you need a break. For the entire hike, you are walking along the alpine tundra, with unobstructed views of Longs Peak, Forest Canyon, and the Continental Divide. Trip at a Glance: Day 1 - Start with a scenic road trip and then hike the Wild Basin trail (1-6 mile options), drive Trail Ridge Road, and end with a 2.5 hour hike to Moraine Lake with chances to see wildlife.Spend the night in Estes Park. View from Deer Mountain | Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. At approximately 1.9 miles in, youll reach Lightning Bridge, a footbridge thats bookended by two signs warning hikers about lightening risk. Meeker and Longs Peak, the two highest peaks in Rocky Mountain National Park. Theres a series of gentle climbs up and small descents, with some threat of mud and rough rocky terrain to be aware of on the trail. Travelers favorites include #1 Trail Ridge Road, #2 Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and more. 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. 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. For most of this hike you are entirely within a pine forest, so the views are rather lackluster for much of the hike. 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. You will pass Nymph Lake and Dream Lake on your way to Emerald. best things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park. Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the highest national parks in the USA. However, this property gets rave reviews. Numerous trails start right from this spot, so if you only have one day in Rocky Mountain National Park, this is a great place to visit. Grand Teton National Park may be one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring parks of the Rocky Mountains. Please note: From May 27-October 10, 2022, RMNP will require timed reservations to enter, which you can purchase here. Discover the best things to do at Lake Como in Montana including the top hikes, where to camp, & more! It gets even better once you reach the summit of Mt. 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. The Ute Trail to Tombstone Ridge is a nice trail with a lot of opportunities to spot wildlife and take in the views. To get to the peak, its an almost constant uphill walk through an evergreen forest. For very little effort, the views you get are unbelievable. Your email address will not be published. Guide to the Best Day Hikes in the US National Parks. The waterfall borders Rocky Mountain National Park and its trail begins at the same trailhead for the East Inlet Trail. Parking in the lot at the end of Bear Lake Road adds roughly .4 miles to the hiking distance above. Finally, always wear sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses, as ultraviolet light is very strong in the mountains. Not only is this a scenic walk around a lake, but this also can be a learning experience. From the Bear Lake Trailhead, the hike is just over 2 miles round-trip and will take about an hour and a half. Beyond the Emerald Lake overlook you will reach the summit of Flattop Mountain. There is a large parking lot here but it can fill up by 9 am, so get here early, not only to get a parking spot, but to also avoid the large crowds on the trail. Sometimes, we just need to start small and do simple walks with our friends to get them stoked on doing more outside. Nymph, Dream, & Emerald Lakes. For hikers, I recommend Dream and Emerald Lakes if you are not acclimated to the higher elevation. Always pack rain gear and be alert, even on a clear day. Julie Last updated: February 23, 2023 United States 8 Comments. For the first part of the hike, you will share the trail with hikers on their way to Longs Peak. Lily Lake - The Lily Lake Loop is another easy hike that's suitable for the entire family. However, it only runs daily from May 25-September 13. Make a left turn to follow the road all the way to the trailhead and parking lot. The hike up Deer Mountain is one of the easier hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park that offers high mountain views. If you have any questions about the permit, let us know in the comment section below. Several great hikes start at the Bear Lake Trailhead. The wildlife here is abundant and commonly spotted, and there is a spectacular view around every corner. 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