Top Five Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park

Top 5 Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park
High altitude warning: be sure to acclimate as early as possible before heading into high country. If you have a headache, shortness of breath, and/or rapid heartbeat, don’t climb higher; go lower. Prior to hiking, drink plenty of fluids, don’t drink alcohol, eat and sleep well.

1. Longs Peak, 14,259 feet; the highest in the park and most famous. 8 miles one way from the Longs Peak Ranger Station. Elevation gain is 4,885 feet and the trail is rated very difficult. Leave plenty of time and bring extra food and warm clothes.
2. Mt Ida accessed from Milner Pass and Poudre Lake. 10 miles.
3. Bierstadt Lake at the Bear lake Trailhead is a 3 mile hike round trip from the Bierstadt Lake Trailhead. Named after the famous landscape painter from the 19th century, the lake offers views of the Front Range.  
4. Colorado River Trail to LuLu City. Just past the west entrance, there is a great little hike starting at the Colorado River Trailhead. Hike 3.1 miles to The Lulu City site for a moderate hike passing old cabins and views of the Never Summer Wilderness.
5. Who doesn’t love a waterfall? Adams Falls is a popular .3 mile hike just past the town of Grand Lake on the west side of the park; you will probably see a moose. 

Rocky Mountain National Park Overview

Located in northwestern Colorado, this 265,770 acre park has two entrances. The west entrance is accessed via Grand Lake and Route 34. The Grand Lake side is the “quiet side” of the park with less visitors. The eastern entrance is located 60 miles from Denver and Denver International Airports. Estes Park is a summer hub of activities including hiking, horseback riding, fishing, and rafting.

Trail Ridge Road is Route 34. It begins west of Rocky Mountain National Park and heads east into Grand Lake and into the park. The highest point is 12,183 feet and then descends into Estes Park. The highway continues to Loveland. The road closes in the winter however on both sides there are several year round recreational opportunities including free ranger-led walks, snowshoeing, and, cross country skiing. Snowmobiling is a popular activity in the southwest area of the park closest to Grand Lake. The road crosses the Continental Divide at Milner Pass 10,758 ft.

The park has five visitor centers. The park headquarters, Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, is a National Historic Landmark, designed by the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture at Taliesin West. Stop at the Alpine Visitors Center for a warm drink and browse the selection of books and souvenirs about Colorado.

Bikers may only travel on the paved main road. As of this writing, mountain bikes are not permitted on trails. Due to weather, try to start biking as early as possible due to weather. Storms tend to come in during the early afternoon. Most days the weather at the highest point in the park is windy and rainy no matter what the weather is like at main entrances gates.

Kids can sign up for the "Rocky's Junior Ranger Program": 5 to 12 years old. The programs emphasizes preservation and education about the outdoor world. Kids earn a badge upon completion of the program. There is a wonderful kid-centric exhibit at the Moraine Park Museum.

There are many types of wildlife in Rocky Mountain National Park including elk (look in meadows), bighorn sheep, moose (along the Colorado River), otter, mule deer, bat, marmot, and pikas. Look up for golden eagle, prairie falcon, and white-tailed ptarmigans.

Cost: Cars $20 good for one week. Bicycles, motorcycles and mopeds $10 good for one week.
Dogs are allowed in the park but not on trails (not even on leash) so it’s best just to leave them at home.

For more information visit: www.nps.gov/romo

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