There are more than 360 miles of trails within Rocky Mountain National Park. Hiking guides, maps, and advice are available at the Visitor Centers and at Rocky Mountain Nature Association Book Corners in the Park. The Park also offers self-guiding trails; trail guides are found at the trailheads.
Backpacking
A permit is required for all overnight stays in the backcountry. Day-of-trip permits may be obtained in person. Reservations for backcountry sites may be made in advance. For information write to the backcountry office at the Park's address, or call 970-586-1242.
Hiked
Check our personal notes for detailed descriptions of these trails:
| Adams Falls Trail |
| Distance: |
0.3 miles one way |
Rating: |
Easy |
| Elevation: |
8,391 to 8,470 feet |
Total Ascent: |
N/A |
| Trailhead: |
East Inlet Trailhead |
| Description: |
The trail visits a roaring waterfall. See the Kawuneeche Valley Trails Map. |
| Alpine Ridge Trail |
| Distance: |
0.5 miles one way |
Rating: |
Easy to Moderate |
| Elevation: |
11,796 to 13,005 feet |
Total Ascent: |
N/A |
| Trailhead: |
Alpine Visitor Center |
| Description: |
Ascends a series of 108 log steps to a 360 degree view of the Rocky Mountains. |
| Bear Lake Nature Trail |
| Distance: |
0.6 mile loop |
Rating: |
Easy |
| Elevation: |
~ 9,500 feet |
Total Ascent: |
N/A |
| Trailhead: |
Bear Lake Area Trailhead. |
| Description: |
A guidebook is available. See the Bear Lake Corridor Trails Map. |
| Chasm Falls Trail |
| Distance: |
1.4 miles one way |
Rating: |
N/A |
| Elevation: |
8,588 to 9,040 feet |
Total Ascent: |
N/A |
| Trailhead: |
Endovalley picnic area. |
| Description: |
See the Fall River Trails Map. |
| Colorado River Trail |
| Distance: |
9 miles round trip to Little Yellowstone |
Rating: |
Easy to Moderate |
| Elevation: |
9,010 to 10,000 feet |
Total Ascent: |
N/A |
| Trailhead: |
Colorado River Trailhead. |
| Description: |
Ascends steeply at first, then levels off. See Shipler's Cabin (2.3 miles), Lulu City (3.7 miles), Little Yellowstone (4.5 miles). See the Kawuneeche Valley Trails Map. |
| Holzwarth Trout Lodge Historic Site Trail |
| Distance: |
0.5 miles one way |
Rating: |
Easy |
| Elevation: |
~9,000 feet |
Total Ascent: |
N/A |
| Trailhead: |
Holzwarth Historic Site parking area. |
| Description: |
An easy walk along a level gravel road through a meadow, across the Colorado River, to preserved buildings of an historic resort. See the Kawuneeche Valley Trails Map. |
Not Hiked
Some of the more popular trails include:
- Agnes Vaille Shelter Trail
- Alberta Falls Trail
- Alpine Ridge Trail
- Andrews Glacier Trail
- Andrews Peak Trail
- Baker Gulch Loop Trail
- Baker Mountain Trail
- Bierstadt Lake Trail
- Big Meadows Trail
- Black Lake Trail
- Bluebird Lake Trail
- Calypso Cascades Trail
- Cascade Falls Trail
- Chasm Lake Trail
- Chaquita Lake Trail
- Copeland Falls Trail
- Coyote Valley Trail
- Cub Lake Trail
- Crystal Lakes Trail
- Deer Mountain Trail
- Deer Ridge Junction Trail
- Dream Lake Trail
- Emerald Lake Trail
- Estes Cone Trail
- Eugenia Mine Site Trail
- Fairchild Mountain Trail
- Fern Falls Trail
- Fern Lake Trail
- Finch Lake Trail
- Flattop Mountain Trail
- Forest Canyon Overlook Trail
- Gem Lake Trail
- Grand Ditch Trail
- Granite Falls Trail
- Granite Pass Trail
- Green Mountain / Big Meadows Loop Trail
- Hagues Peak Trail
- Hallet Peak Trail
- Haynach Lakes Trail
- Hollowell Park Trail
- Lake Haiyaha Trail
- Lake Helene Trial
- Lake Nokoni / Lake Nanita Trail
- Lake of Glass Trail
- Lake of the Clouds Trail
- Lake Verna Trail
- Lawn Lake Trail
- La Poudre Pass Trail
- Lily Lake Trail
- Lily Mountain Trail
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- Lion Lake No. 1 Trail
- Lone Pine Lake Trail
- Long Meadows Trail
- Longs Peak Trail
- Lost Lake Trail
- Lulu City-Colorado River Trail
- Lumpy Ridge Loop Trail
- Mills Lake Trail
- Moraine Park Nature Trail
- Mount Alice Trail
- Mount Chapin Trail
- Mount Chaquita Trail
- Mount Ida Trail
- Mount Orton Trail
- Mount Richardson Trail
- Mount Richthofen Trail
- Never Summer Ranch Trail
- Nymph Lake Trail
- Odessa Lake Trail
- Ouzel Falls Trail
- Ouzel Lake Trail
- Pear Lake Trail
- Poudre River Trail
- Ribbon Falls Trail
- Sandbeach Lake Trail
- Second Meadow Trail
- Shadow Mountain Lookout Trail
- Sky Pond Trail
- Spectacle Lakes Trail
- Spirit Lake Trail
- Spruce Lake Trail
- Sprague Lake Nature Trail
- Storm Pass Trail
- Sun Valley Loop Trail
- Taylor Peak Trail
- The Crater Trail
- The Loch Trail
- The Pool Trail
- Thunder Lake Trail
- Thunder Pass Trail
- Timber Lake Trail
- Timberline Falls Trail
- Tundra Communities Trail
- Twin Sisters Peaks Trail
- Tyndall Glacier Trail
- Upper Beaver Meadows Trail
- Ute Trail
- Ypsilon Lake Trail
- Ypsilon Mountain Trail
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