Rocky Mountain National Park Guide: Hiking and Backpacking
Rocky Mountain National Park Highlights
- Rocky Mountain National Park administers 269 backcountry campsites. Each is unique and only available by paid reservation through the park's backcountry office. You will find everything from individual sites with views of Ypsilon Mountain to small group sites bordering a mountain meadow.
- The aforementioned view of Ypsilon Mountain is available at the Upper Chipmunk campsite or the Ypsilon Mountain campsite. It is a lung-busting uphill climb to get there, but highly recommended.
- A great backpacking site for first-timers or families is the Old Forest Inn Campsite. The access from Fern Lake is full of surprises, including a lot of water and unique arches. The old Forest Inn Campsite is in the very spot that an inn of the same name drew visitors in the early days of the park.
- Anyone who enjoys high-altitude fishing should try the Ouzel Lake campsite. The cirque of peaks across the lake will keep your attention if the fish aren't biting. Check out the tree damage in the flat area a mile before you get to camp. Lighting, fires, and winter winds have ravaged the ridge top.
- Eat dinner along Lake Verna's shore below camp and cast a line. The water's reflection of the sunset and the subsequent alpenglow of the surrounding peaks is incredible. Lake Verna is much larger than most local lakes at this altitude. Try to start hiking in the morning and watch for moose in the meadows. The Lake Verna Trailhead is on the west side of the park.
By Travel Expert:
Kim Lipker
- Summit hikes are plentiful in the park, and they vary in difficulty. One of the best is the Lily Mountain hike, which is interesting enough for seasoned hikers and moderate enough for novices. It's outside the main park entrance and is usually not as crowded. Providing views of Estes Park and Longs Peak, you travel through forest and end at the summit.
- For a lake destination, another favorite is Gem Lake. Like Lily Mountain, the trailhead is outside the main entrance. Hike a moderate uphill for a few miles, then sit by the lake and eat lunch. It's a small lake with a gem-like reflection. The Gem Lake Trail continues for many miles past Gem Lake if you desire a longer outing.
- If it's springtime, go to the Wild Basin Trailhead and take the trail to Ouzel Lake. This is a waterfall hike in the first degree. The raging streams and thundering cascades will jam-pack your camera's memory card in no time.
- Hiking above tree line is a treat, but it usually takes some miles to get there. Since you will probably drive Trail Ridge Road while visiting, access one of the higher trailheads. Milner Pass trailhead will get you above tree line quickly. Look for Bighorn sheep and elk in the summer.
- Hike along the headwaters of the famous Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, where it's a small creek most of the year. Beside the river to Lulu City, the hike on what is called the Colorado River Trail is easy and ends at a mountain meadow. The trail's official entrance and trailhead are on the west side of the park, accessed through Grand Lake or by traveling over Trail Ridge Road on the east side.
- Looking for moose? Your best bets are the trailheads near the Kawuneeche Visitor Center on the west side of the park. Meadows in the valley are where you will find these majestic animals, and they are curiously absent on the east side of the park. It's a rare treat to see a moose lumbering along without a care in the world.
By Travel Expert:
Kim Lipker
- The only combination of trails that allows hikers to travel between the east and west sides of the park starts at Bear Lake and ends at the Green Mountain trailhead. This is a difficult hike that takes you over Flattop Mountain, through Bighorn Flats, and down into the moose-filled meadows of the west side. This is a 15-mile hike, so grab a backpacking permit for one of the campsites.
- Also spectacular is a big loop entirely on the west side of the park. Start at the North Inlet trailhead, camp in one of the sites in the upper part of the trail, and go to the top of Flattop Mountain. Take a left at the top, and descend 11 miles to the Green Mountain trailhead. Beautiful peaks, alpine lakes and streams, and plenty of wildlife will keep your attention.
- Longs Peak is the most famous of all treks in this area. It consists of 17 difficult miles, and many people start at 4:00 a.m. because it is a good idea to be off of the 14,000-foot summit before afternoon lightning storms hit. Standard hiking skills are adequate up to the "keyhole," which is a popular turnaround spot. After that point, you will be scrambling over rocks and traversing exposed ledges.
- Some great treks on the lesser-used side of the park (accessed via Fort Collins and Highway 14) start from the Corral Creek trailhead. Maximum solitude exists here, and options include campsites near the Poudre River headwaters, or through hikes to Trail Ridge Road or over Storm Pass. Trails in this area are well-marked but not as perfectly maintained as most in Rocky Mountain National Park.
By Travel Expert:
Kim Lipker
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