The Flattop Trail crosses the Continental Divide between Estes Park
Village on the east and Grand Lake Village on the west. The 16-mile trip
may be made on horseback or on foot in 1 day, but it takes a seasoned
trail traveler to do it with pleasure. The trail starts at Bear Lake,
where horses may be rented, and climbs Bierstadt Moraine. It emerges
above timberline, overlooking Emerald Lake and Tyndall Glacier, and
commands spectacular views of Longs Peak and other mountains, both in
the park and in distant ranges. The grassy slopes above timberline,
bedecked with exquisite alpine flowers, afford good summer grazing for
elk and mountain sheep.
After descending to timberline on the western slope, the trail leads
through evergreen forests, along the North Inlet to Grand Lake.