You are urged to take at least one trail trip, for only on the trails
can you experience the real essence of the mountains. Everyone has his
favorite trail; you can make your own selection. The first decision is
whether to hike or ride a horse--or to try both methods. In any case,
leave your car behind for at least 1 day of your visit.
[Illustration: Although Grand Lake is outside the park, an excellent
view of it can be obtained from within the park.]
Certain rules covering trails should be observed:
_To avoid getting lost stay on designated trails. Repeated short cuts
damage the trails, necessitating repairs._
_If you are hiking, yield right-of-way to horses by standing quietly
off the trail as the riders pass._
_Deposit trash in receptacles; keep trails free of litter._
_If you plan to cook out, obtain a fire permit from a park ranger.
This is a fire-protection regulation._
_Leave dogs behind. Their presence on trails disturbs wildlife._
With some 200 miles of trails in the park, beginning at a dozen
different points and ending at scores of destinations, you may have
difficulty planning your trail trips before you arrive. Information on
the various trail trips is best obtained after you get to the park. The
park rangers, the museum attendants, the naturalists, and the
saddle-horse operators can help you outline trips.
[Illustration: A short hike from Bear Lake takes you to Dream Lake,
with its matchless view up Tyndall Gorge.]
A brief description of a few of the popular trips follows:
_Trails from Bear Lake._
One of the trail hubs of the park is Bear Lake. A "must" is the 1-mile
hike to Dream Lake, near the foot of Hallett Peak. From Dream Lake you
can take a primitive trail another mile to Emerald Lake in Tyndall Gorge
or a developed trail to Lake Haiyaha in Chaos Canyon. Each trip is an
excellent half-day hike. You may want to go along the big moraine to
Bierstadt Lake, or to the top of Flattop Mountain from Bear Lake--a
long, uphill climb, with a reward of marvelous views. The splendid
all-day hike to Odessa and Fern Lakes begins here, too. This can be a
loop trip, via Cub Lake, returning to Bear Lake; or, if you can arrange
to be met in Moraine Park, an excellent 9-mile "through" hike with a
minimum of uphill walking is possible.
_Glacier Gorge Trails._
A mile below Bear Lake is a parking area from which trails lead in
several directions. Two short hikes--about 4 hours each--are possible
from here to Lake Mills in Glacier Gorge (at the foot of Longs Peak) and
to The Loch, a lovely mountain lake. From these lakes, dim "fishermen's"
tracks lead on to higher and more remote lakes. From The Loch a
primitive path leads to Andrews Glacier. These latter tracks are not
really trails and, although easily followed, usually require some local
specific information. There is also a seldom-used, constructed trail
from Glacier Gorge parking area up to Boulderfield near the top of Longs
Peak. This makes a good horseback trip but is not popular with hikers
because the destination is so much more easily reached by the shorter
trail from Longs Peak Campground. A spur from this trail leads, via
Storm Pass, to Tahosa Valley.
[Illustration: Only by trail can you reach such high-country lakes
as this.]
_Fern Lake Trail._
At the end of the Moraine Park Road is a picnic area. A trail begins
here which follows Big Thompson River, past beaver dams and The Pool, to
Fern Falls and Fern Lake. From Fern Lake the trail continues to Odessa
Lake and on to Bear Lake. Many people leave Bear Lake, reaching Moraine
Park by this trail. The trip is about 9 miles; 6 hours gives ample time
for a leisurely pace.
_Wild Basin Trails._
Many persons consider Wild Basin the finest wilderness area in the park.
Trails begin here at the road's end and lead up the branches of North
St. Vrain Creek to many beautiful lakes. One popular hike (about 4
hours) is to Ouzel Falls, via Calypso Cascades, and return. Most of the
other trips in Wild Basin are longer and make more suitable all-day
hikes. Thunder Lake is one of these spots. Ouzel and Bluebird Lakes make
another 1-day trip combination. There is no trail across the range here,
but some fine, back-country hiking possibilities exist for the sturdy,
seasoned hiker.
_Western Slope Trails._
Many people hike or ride horseback from Bear Lake over Flattop Mountain
to Grand Lake via either Big Meadows or North Inlet. This takes all day
as compared with 2 or 3 hours by road. However, the trail trip is
through much splendid scenic country which is not seen by the highway
traveler between these two points. Hikes in the Grand Lake vicinity
include one to Shadow Mountain Fire Lookout, with matchless panoramic
views, and the interesting "trail to nowhere," up Columbine Creek. The
trail distances to major points of interest on the west slope are longer
than on the east side of the park, and many people prefer to use horses.
By riding, trips to Lake Verna in East Inlet and Lakes Nokoni and Nanita
in North Inlet can be made in 1 day. A number of spectacular horseback
trips in Never Summer Range are possible. Saddle-horse operators can
help you plan such trips in this vicinity.
_Trails in the Estes Park Vicinity._
Several interesting trail trips near Estes Park village and in the lower
altitudes of the park are available. These are especially pleasant early
or late in the season when many of the higher trails are snow-blocked.
Gem Lake is reached by a 2-mile trail (3 hours or so) which begins about
1 mile from town on the Devils Gulch Road. This trip presents
interesting rock formations and fine panoramic views. Twin Sisters is a
high, isolated mountain south of Estes Park, reached by a trail
beginning on State Route 7. A good hike for about 7 hours takes one to
the top of this mountain and back in a leisurely manner. The view of the
plains from Twin Sisters is extensive, and treeline flowers add color to
the trip. There are several other hiking trails in this area.
_Trails near Trail Ridge Road._
At Deer Ridge, a trail leads to the commanding summit of Deer Mountain,
which is a fine, early-season hike although dry in midsummer. On the
tundra, a trail leads from Rock Cut on the road to the Memorial
Peakfinder. A trail also leads from Iceberg Lake to Fall River Pass. At
Milner Pass a trail leaves the highway, passes through an especially
beautiful forest, and reaches the top of Specimen Mountain. This hike
affords matchless scenic views, particularly of the Never Summer Range,
fine displays of wildflowers, and possible glimpses of bighorn. Near the
spot where Trail Ridge Road begins the ascent of the western slope, a
trail leads up the Colorado River to the ghost town of Lulu City, and
branches continue to Poudre Pass, Thunder Pass, and beyond.
Many of these trails--and others--can be covered by visitors on summer
trips with the park ranger-naturalists. These escorted hikes help you to
get your bearings in the park, as well as understand the natural
features encountered along the route. If you are interested in hiking,
you should join a few of these naturalist trips. In this way, you
quickly realize the possibilities for your unescorted hikes, if you
prefer to travel on your own. The park ranger-naturalists will help you
plan other hikes and will do all they can to make your trail trips safe,
interesting, and enjoyable.
This outline of trail-trip possibilities is only a beginning. There are
also trips to Lawn Lake, Tyndall Glacier, Windy Gulch, the North Fork of
the Thompson River, and Chasm Lake. Information on the far more
difficult mountaintop trips is not included here. If you expect to
ascend such mountains as Longs Peak or McHenry's Peak, be sure to
consult the park ranger at the nearest ranger station or go to the chief
ranger's office in Estes Park village. Routes to be followed may vary
from week to week because of changes in snow conditions; ask park
rangers for up-to-date information. Remember to get a fire permit if you
plan to camp out on the trail.