Top 6 Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park!
We have hiked almost all the hikes there are to hike in Rocky Mountain National Park, some of them many times. Through all of this hiking we have definitely developed some favorites or “must see” places if you will. If you have never visited RMNP this is the perfect place for you to start your hiking research. We have created a small list of day hikes with varying distances, so you won’t be overwhelmed with the hundreds of different options that this Park has available (here is the link to our favorite and most complete RMNP hiking guide). I will preface that some of these hikes have become very popular over the years (for good reason), so the trails might be a little busy depending on the time of year you go. Remember, the earlier you start the better and to always bring water and snacks! Who doesn’t love snacks?
1. Sky Pond
If you are looking for a moderate hike that will offer endless views with beautiful destinations along the way, then Sky Pond is a must hike! The hike can be started from Glacier Gorge or Bear Lake with Glacier Gorge being the ideal starting location because it is half a mile shorter. The first destination is only a short .8 miles (when starting from Glacier Gorge) into the hike - Alberta Falls. The Loch comes next and is a great spot to stop for a snack! After passing The Loch comes the toughest section of the hike, which leads up to Timberline Falls. Scaling the side of the waterfall is required to continue on but is fairly manageable as long as you are careful with your footing. The view looking back over the valley from this point is worth a well-deserved break to truly enjoy. A short stretch after reaching the waterfall and Lake of Glass will come into view. Finding the trail from here can be a little more difficult, but make sure you stay to the right of Lake of Glass as you continue on. Finally, after Lake of Glass is Sky Pond. The rock features surrounding the area are truly unique and dramatic. Sky Pond is an 8.8 mile round trip hike with 1,720 feet of elevation gain. Sky Pond sits at an elevation of 10,900 ft and snow can linger on parts of the trail until mid to late summer
Timberline Falls - the waterfall you scale before Lake of Glass.
2. Lake Helene Loop
This is one of the most scenic loop hikes in the park. Turning a hike into a loop instead of an out-and-back style hike allows for seeing more destinations without retracing your steps. This hike is best started from the Bear Lake Trailhead and ends at the Fern Lake Trailhead. It will also require either two vehicles, one at each trailhead, or using the park's free shuttle system. This is definitely the downside to completing a hike in a loop. From the Bear Lake trailhead, take the trail heading up Flattop Mountain. The trail starts off on the steeper side but thankfully starting the hike from Bear Lake reduces the amount of uphill throughout the hike. Keep following the trail heading for Flattop until the trail branches off to the right, taking you towards Lake Helene and Odessa Lake. Once you reach Lake Helene it's all downhill from that point on! The views of Odessa Lake are stunning as the trail continues to lose elevation as it approaches the lake. Fern Lake and Fern Falls are the next two stops along the trail with The Pool and Arch Rocks rounding out this wonderful hike. After reaching the Fern Lake Trailhead, if you are taking the shuttle back to Bear Lake, walk .8 miles to the Fern Lake Shuttle Bus Stop as the shuttle does not go all the way to the Fern Lake Trailhead. Be sure read our post here that has information on the Park’s shuttle system. Total mileage is 8.9 miles with about 1,200 feet of elevation gain if you don’t have to add the extra .8 miles to ride the shuttle.
Fern Lake on a beautiful sunny day.
3. Chasm Lake
The dramatic views of the diamond on Longs Peak make this hike one of our favorites! Much of this trail is above tree line and feels like a totally different world. As the trail nears the lake, there are some skinnier portions that overlook Peacock Pool and may not be the most enjoyable for those that don’t enjoy heights. This area can also hold snow until late June. It is also generally less trafficked as you do not access it from the main portions of the park. This hike starts from the Longs Peak Trailhead off of highway 7, south of Estes Park, and with the parking lot being much smaller than others in the park it can be difficult to get a spot. Busy summer days usually have cars parked parallel alongside the road leading up to the parking lot for quite a distance. The hike is 4.2 miles one way and has 2,380ft of elevation gain. This is a moderate-difficult hike but is so worth the payoff at the end!
Amazing view of Long’s Peak on the way to Chasm Lake.
4. Black Lake
Black Lake is one of the most underrated and untalked about lakes in the park. The trail passes one of the most picturesque lakes in the park - Mills Lake. This hike can either be started from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead or the Bear Lake Trailhead, but Glacier Gorge is the more ideal starting location as it cuts off half a mile each way. Only .8 miles from the trailhead is the iconic Alberta Falls, one of the most photographed waterfalls in the park. Mills Lake and Jewel Lake are next on this trek and Jewel is easy to pass if you aren't looking for it. It sits just past Mills Lake and nearly connects to it, and along with its much smaller size makes it easy to miss. Black Lake is next and is so worth the effort to get there! The hike is 4.9 miles one way from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead and has 1,440ft of elevation gain. If you want to avoid snow, the later summer months are the ideal time to complete this hike.
Black Lake in a snowy early June.
5. Emerald Lake
If you’re looking for a shorter, easier, yet beautiful hike, then Emerald Lake is for you! In only 1.8 miles from the trailhead and only 650 feet of elevation gain, you will get to experience 4 lakes. That’s almost a lake every half mile! This hike starts from the Bear Lake Trailhead (be sure and read up on our post about the timed entry system here) and the first lake only 100 yards from the parking lot is Bear Lake. Next will be Nymph, Dream and finally Emerald Lake! This is a must do if you are limited on time or just want to hit a highlight hike. This is also one of the most trafficked hikes in the park, so expect it to be crowded.
A windy November day at Emerald Lake.
6. Twin Sisters
Twin Sisters is one of our favorite summit hikes. The views are unmatched and offer 360 degree views of the main portions of the park. On a clear day, sunlight reflecting off buildings in Denver can sometimes be seen! This hike starts from the Twin Sisters Trailhead off of Highway 7, and only offers limited parking space. The trail crosses a large landslide area from the 2013 flood and is quite impressive to see the impact from that up close. The last stretch leading to the summit is open above treeline and can be pretty toasty during the afternoon on summer days. There is also a very good chance of seeing Big Horn Sheep and Marmots above the treeline. The hike to the summit is 3.4 miles one way and has 2,268ft of elevation gain. There are two summits (hence the name Twin Sisters) with the East summit being the taller of the two by 15 feet.
View of Long’s Peak along the trail of Twin Sisters.
We hope these recommendations help you with your hiking research. Rocky Mountain National Park is such a special and beautiful place, and you really can’t pick a bad hike. We recommend always checking trail conditions at the visitors center or the RMNP website so you are prepared for what to expect before you hit the trail. Reading our post about the timed entry system in RMNP (click here) will also help you navigate your visit smoothly. As always, if you have any further questions about these trails, or any others, feel free to reach out in the comments, our contact page, or DM us on Instagram.
-The Mings
