Loved this trail! Have lived in colorado for over 40 years now and i did not know this trail…read moreexisted. Crosier mountain trail is around 40 minutes from fort collins. Go up highway 34 and then towards drake. There is a small dirt parking lot with what looks like a locked gate. there are no signs that this is a trail. However if you go through the gate and walk up the hill a bit then you will see the trail sign. The trail round trip is 10.2 miles. We only did 5.5 miles today because of time constraints, but definitely want to go back. The trail starts off in the open and then gets you back into a wooded area. The views are pretty stunning and there were some fall colors popping in various parts of the hike. There is a lot of elevation gain. I believe i saw the trail has over 3000 feet of elevation gain from start to finish. In the first 2.5 miles we did 1500 feet of elevation gain. Parts are fairly rocky. But the trail is clear and well worn. Dogs are allowed but need to be leashed. It says that mountain bikers are also able to use the trail as well. The sign did say that rattle snakes can still be in this area so be on the look out if you go up. I loved that we were out for a couple of hours and didn't run into a soul. that is my kind of hiking experience.

If you are in Denver you have to come here. Had opportunity to visit other National Parks and they…read moreall have their charm and personality. RMNP is no exception and this is incredible and breathtaking. We came in late May and surprisingly plenty of snow left so you get this winter yet spring vibe. Weather report cold yet with the sun just perfect temperature for hiking. Plan ahead as they have time entry restrictions and even with those park is really busy but big enough to be able to get away from crowds. They have shuttles and the town of Estes is close enough for any amenities such as food that the park may not have. Can't wait to come back and explore other parts of the park.

This place is absolutely stunning!! You have to go if you are in the Colorado area!!…read more We got in around noon and went to Bear lake and Alberta falls! Both were incredible. We also drove around a bit and it was just dream like! There are sooo many elk! Drive slow and watch for wild life!! Hiking can be difficult even on the well maintained paths. Make sure you wear solid footwear! Take lots of pictures and know your cell phone service may not work inside the park. Always remember to carry out what you carry in! That includes things like banana peels and orange rinds! Don't leave anything behind! Enjoy this absolutely gorgeous national park!!

8.12.2025 I arrived at 7am on the dot to hike gem lake. I'm so thankful that I arrived early to…read moreavoid the crowds, and when I arrived to the lake I had the place to myself, the water was like glass and the sun was still not high in the sky which provided the most beautiful reflections off the lake which made for some wonderful photos. In all I enjoyed this hike very much, everything about it was very enjoyable. On the hike down I encountered a lot of people headed up at the 8 o'clock hour. So I feel I timed my hike perfectly.

Gem Lake Trail is a relatively short hike at 3.4 miles round trip. The parking lot allows for…read moreplenty of parking. This hike has a 830 feet elevation gain meaning that the 1.7 miles up the trail has a steady incline. The 1.7 miles down is all downhill. Once you reach the top, you will see Gem Lake. The last bit leading up to Gem Lake is a little steeper than the rest of the trail. Gem Lake is a rather small lake, although beautiful. There is also a bathroom near the top, although can't comment on the restroom since I didn't use it. The views are gorgeous. We went around 2:30pm and there is always a chance of showers around that time in June. I would recommend going earlier in the day if possible to capture the reflection in the lake more and to avoid possibly getting rained on. Highly recommend this trail.

Super easy hike with some decent views. I wanted more of a challenge, but still had a good time…read more There is a lot of traffic on these trails and a lot of kids were there...not an issue, but it was busier than a lot of the hikes I do. Parking is $10 though!

Make it a destination when in NoCo....the place is just a beautiful place, close to town, and…read morestands out as must not miss !! Great place for a short hike, or use their amenities to start your longer adventure.

When you start this hike from the parking lot know that you're starting at the Roosevelt side where…read moreyou can bring your four legged buddy. Watch for the sign that tells you you are entering RMNP the first sign is a No Travel Zone. This is where your four legged buddy can't go any further. No dogs allowed anywhere in RMNP. Starting June 1 or 4th? Day Hikers are required to get a permit. As far as I know this is temporary just to ease the amount of visitors for obvious reasons. Length: 18.4 miles RT Elevation Gain: 3,330 ft Route: Out & Back Lost Lake is rated as moderate in AllTrails. I don't think so. For day hikers without a heavy backpack maybe. But the length of the hike and add downed trees and snow covered trail and off trail adventure it really turns out a difficult trail. I've been here about four times and I'm making this my last time. This is a 9.2 miles fairly isolated lake. This past weekend we were the only souls that was determined to reach the lake. Runners and say hikers turned around because of the reasons mentioned above. Rain was a constant this weekend. Heavy downpours. At this point sometimes I wonder why don't I just stop doing this? It's very hard on your body and even harder when the backpacking food that we chosen to bring with us failed miserably! But we love backpacking. Can't stop. Won't stop. We've seen incredible sunrise, awe inspiring sunsets and jaw dropping frozen lakes and so much more! No frozen lake this trip but still pretty. Lots of grey clouds.

Nice hike near the town. Moderate in difficulty and shaded in some areas. Not much parking so get…read morethere early. Beautiful view of the falls at the top.

This is a great trail but the location shown here for it is wrong. The trail is in Rocky Mountain…read moreNational Park on the edge of Estes Park. This map is a small community 12 miles east of Estes Park. Please use google to find the real location of this trail!

Things are changing here after 100 years. Chautauqua Auditorium is being renovated and winterized…read more It had been needed before this as another concert venue in Boulder would have been appreciated sooner but once Boulder won Sundance it became a necessity. But when you come in the summer it will still look the same. A removable heated tent will be erected inside and heated by geothermal heat from underneath that will be transferred underground from the dining hall kitchen's surplus stored energy. So modern in such an old structure. So when you visit this spring there is a lot of truck traffic and digging and detours around the building but you can see from the last picture, the green and the view of the Flatirons are undisturbed.

I have been bringing my child here since she was old enough to crawl. We love Chautauqua Park. I…read morelove coming here and just running the trails of course very carefully and I've taught my daughter to run the trails of course very carefully. Today was especially fun because we brought her friend Vincent. My daughter has grown up in Colorado hiking skiing doing all the Colorado things and it's just so emotional seeing her finally making it up to the royal arch for the very first time . We've done Sequoia national Park trails and Yosemite trails but royal arch has so many different parts to it hike it is a lot shorter than a lot of national park trails but it's more challenging in. There are a lot of boulders to crawl up and down from and a lot of tight squeeze places to get to the most amazing view you have ever seen. Very worth it please come ! Unfortunately, this hike is not for unexperienced hikers to go alone please bring a friend who has done it before or has hiking experience. I would not recommend taking your very small children up here or elderly that are not athletic. They simply won't enjoy their time again. It's very challenging for a lot of people. Please do not let this discourage young adult adults that are healthy and whole. If you have never hiked before, but are an avid runner you will be able to make it up here. Just make sure you bring a snack and whatever you bring up bring down. Do not leave trash anywhere.

With the mandatory timed entry to Bear Lake Road, we got lucky to secure a time to explore this…read morearea of Rocky Mountain National Park. This was our first stop on our hike heading into the forrest and it was an easy climb. These falls are loud and proud plus incredibly pretty. The falls thunder down Glacier Creek due to the heavy snowmelt. It's definitely a favorite spot for many people as it's only 1.6 miles so it's easy to access. Remember to pace yourself due to the altitude. I witnessed lots of huffing and puffing from people having to stop and catch their breath. We stayed long enough to take some pics and watch the falls and then moved on. Plenty of seating all around the falls for everyone. It's great short hike for those that just want to feel like they are "out there". Views are truly epic as is the entire park. Parking earlier in the day can be challenging. I recomment arriving very early or come later in the afternoon to secure a spot. Remember to pack in, pack out and LEAVE NO TRACE.

We picked this hike on our 1 day visit to RMNP and it was a great choice. It's a short 2 mile…read moreround trip from the Bear Lake parking area. This was our first time in park and we came in late May so did not expect all the snow and the slush on the trail so that was really awesome. Lots of elevation change as you climb up and down the trail and several small bridges that traverse all the small mountain springs. We saw a few blooming flowers, blue jays,chipmunks, and we spotted a baby rainbow trout hiding in a little pool in one of the springs. Incredible views of the Rocky Mountains and one you get to the falls it's a nice place to take a nice relaxing break in the many rock formations. Great hike.

This is one of the best easy trails in RMNP; off the beaten path, scenic, easy, with a great…read moredestination!! Access the trailhead at the very end of the road in Morraine Park. The trail is about 1.7 miles of easy sandy hiking along the headwaters of the Big Thompson river. Many folk hike in to fish here! There are aspen, big giant boulders (look up! They have fallen from 1000' up- scary!!), a babbling brooks, pine trees, and finally at the end, The Pool! We usually see an elk or deer along this path. The hike to the pool does not disappoint!!