What makes it special: Like McHenry’s, Meeker ridge is often overshadowed by Longs but provides a stellar scramble fest with arguably the most dramatic views of Longs Peak in the Park. These storms can crop up with little to no warning, and lightning strikes are common. One permit will be for the Bear Lake Road Corridor (from the junction of Trail Ridge Road to the Bear Lake Trailhead), which will include the entire corridor and access to the rest of the park. Probably not enough. Around 4, Doyle and Brogan and mom arrived. Some good campsites to choose from are (in no particular order): Big Pool, North Inlet Falls, Pine Marten, Renegade, Tonahutu Meadows, Sunrise, Sunset, and South Meadows. You’ll pass Copeland Falls, the side trails to Ouzel Falls, and Calypso Cascades (though you should take the campsite bypass as it’s faster) and eventually find the intersection with the Lion Lakes Trail after roughly four miles. My gaze left the blue sky and traveled over the blanket of evergreens on the mountainside to the West, then down, down to the deep valley floor below. The Western Side: If you’re heading back east, use the Alpine Center as a turnaround point. Like McHenry’s and Longs, this is a mountaineering route and is NOT for casual hikers. On the far side of Thunder Lake, pick up the official and easy-to-spot trail, which will take you all the way back to your car. It may surprise some people to find out that Colorado still has a few glaciers. After strapping on my pack, I headed up to the first parking area and descended the trail to a sunny meadow. Terms of Use: As with each guide published on SKYBLUEOVERLAND.com, should you choose to this route, do so at your own risk. Rounding a bend, we came upon 3 men with overnight backpacks. Nearing the bottom of the first set of switchbacks. At the bottom, I took off my pack in order to better negotiate the narrow path down to the falls. Fortunately, my pristine, new pack, a Deuter Women’s ACT Lite 60 + 10 SL in Midnight/Cool Blue, is fully adjustable. The Fern Lake Road, Fern Lake Trail and Cub Lake Trail remain closed. Due to the extreme popularity of the area you may want to consider using the free park shuttle to access the trailhead during the peak season. -brett, Stephanie, extension. What’s the North American Monsoon, and how does it impact Colorado?Weather5280. I picked it up and it was lighter by at least a pound. Below the Iron Gates, it’s a scree-fest; watch your step as rocks can shift. The Fern Lake Trailhead is temporarily closed due to fire damage from 2020, but you can still use Bear Lake to access the region, respect closures when and where you encounter them. “I didn’t recognize you. Snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and backcountry skiing are all popular activities in the winter from this trail. Make sure you obtain proper permits and pay appropriate fees; Rangers patrol the Park and will hand out fines if you are illegally camped or haven’t paid for your site. The Alpine: Once US 34 and 36 intersect, there are quite a few pull-offs that offer some delightful trail options, but if you’re pressed for time, the best thing to do is continue up to the alpine areas. If starting from Bear Lake, one must hike to the top of Flattop Mountain to begin hiking along the loop. Meeker and Longs from Chasm view, the Iron gates are best approached via the long scree slope heading diagonal left from the center of the picture. The trail follows the North Inlet, so it's not uncommon to see fly fishermen during this stretch. Article Navigation: Click on any of the listed items in the table of contents below to jump to that section of the article. I hadn’t made the time to break in a new pair of boots for backpacking. I gave Dad his ice cream, and walked over and into the edge of the lake. The town of Grand Lake is to the right side of the closer lake. Trail Ridge gets its own category because the road has a lot to offer. There was no way to break up the 8+ hours of strenuous hiking that I was aware of. Bear Lake Trail Head to North Inlet Trail Head is a 16.2 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near Grand Lake, Colorado that features a lake and is only recommended for very experienced adventurers. Trail is completely clear (as would be expected) with running snow-melt . Wildlife, Nature & Magnificant Views . And we were the only two people on this remote part of earth. (n.d.) Rocky Mountain National Park. All rights reserved. Visiting in the shoulder seasons (April-May, Sept-Oct) is a nice way to experience the Park in a more relaxed environment. Business done, I walked back down the convoluted path to the camp site, wondering how I would ever find this place again in the dark if I had to go in the middle of the night. So we continued on, picking our way over fallen trees, around rocks and further into the woods on a barely discernible path. Follow the trail signs to Flattop Mountain. In addition to the criteria above, 8 of the 10 suggested hikes have alternate ‘honorable mention’ hikes listed. What makes it special: The ability to top out on a shapely summit with FANTASTIC views of Longs Peak during the winter. Along with the honorable mentions, this article covers less than thirty of the more than 380 named features in the Park. I belong to the Loveland Mountain Club, and three other members and I are going to do an up and over the first week in August. Resources are plentiful, including 14ers.com and trail descriptions on numerous websites including the National Parks website. The trail continued along the creek, and we came to the Big Pool, a lovely area on the stream where a series of crashing falls ends in a calm, deep pool. From the Beaver Meadows entrance, Bear Lake Road runs 23 miles (round trip) to Bear Lake. The story goes that a grasshopper infestation in the late 1800’s attracted bears to the region, which, in turn, attracted hunters. Enjoy the stunning scenery here and continue south into the increasingly dramatic, glacially carved valley with towering rock spires around you. Or climb the scenic wonder of Trail Ridge Road. There are two small dirt parking lots. The Alpine Visitor center is yet another fantastic area, complete with a revitalized building and views aplenty. Rocky Mountain National Park features roughly 20 miles of the Continental Divide trail, one of the triple crown trails of long-distance hiking in the US (alongside the Pacific Crest Trail and the Appalachian Trail). This trail makes for a perfect introduction to the area. On the other side of the lake, keep a sharp eye out for the intersection with Andrews Creek (~3.6 miles in). The fallen trees were now large and scattered like a crazy lumberyard. I put the map away and continued down the trail. A meadow along the North Inlet Trail. Larry W. Jones at the Flattop Mountain – Tonahutu Trail Junction, generally recognized as the summit of Flattop Mtn. The Park has a good number of black bears, mountain lions, lynx, moose, elk, and tons of smaller critters. The tarn and glacier are hidden for the majority of the hike but will reveal themselves once you crest a large bench near the head of the valley. They nodded. Once you park, head west on the main trail, passing the thundering Copeland Falls after a couple points of a mile (a good, short destination for families). You’ll also need to double or triple up on layers to deal with temperature variations. Small lake in the meadow. Copyright © 2021 Skyblue Overland, LLC. Alice. The North Inlet flows right next to the North Inlet Trail, providing excellent access to fishing. The Grand Ditch, also known as the Grand River Ditch and originally known as the North Grand River Ditch, is a water diversion project in the Never Summer Mountains, in northern Colorado in the United States. The campsites are great, a few even have pit toilets available. “Every National Park unit needs to be an outstanding example of a natural resource, possesses exceptional value of quality illustrating or interpreting the natural or cultural themes of our Nation’s heritage, offers superlative opportunities for recreation for public use and enjoyment, or scientific study, and retain a high degree of integrity as a true, accurate and relatively unspoiled example of the resource” (Criteria for New National Parks Brochure, 2005). Like all National Parks, you have to pay to enter. Total elevation gain from Bear Lake to the summit of Flattop is roughly 2,850 feet, followed by a descent of roughly 3,800 feet to Grand Lake. Link to hike map on Caltopo. The Fern Lake Road, Fern Lake Trail and Cub Lake Trail remain closed. This family-friendly wildlife mecca is a great way to stretch the legs. What makes it special: A non-technical alpine hike to a beautiful summit that is highly visible from Trail Ridge. Vertical Gain. The decimal numbers indicate honorable mentions in their respective categories. Roadtrippers. I spent the entire hike passing people in various stages of exhaustion, and with minimal supplies. Rowe Glacier. Check forecasts thoroughly before committing and give a quick look at CAIC, which hands out excellent avalanche forecasts. I was just happy to have my pack off. If you’re climbing the glacier be aware that it separates into two pieces later in the summer. The beginning of the hike is on an unpaved road, leading to a privately owned cabin (1.0 miles in). The North Inlet - Tonohutu Creek Loop takes you straight through some of the most unique, high-alpine environment in the Rocky Mountains — and it's not actually that difficult for a three- to four-day trip.You'll start at the base of Grand Lake and hike through lush forests and expansive meadows. I crawled inside and changed into thermals. If you’re hesitant about peak bagging, the entire route is on established trails and doesn’t require backcountry navigation. Prepare for a long day with many photo opportunities. Two were in their mid to late 30s, tall and fit. A good trail leads to Lake Nokoni and a fair trail continues on to Lake Nanita. I pulled the Camelbak reservoir out of my pack, and was surprised to see I had only drank 1.5 liters. Enjoy the summit views but know that you are only halfway there. / Elapsed time: 9-1/4 hrs. “You can’t drink that yet! The Onahu Trail and the Continental Divide Connector Trail to the inholder road has reopened. (2021). The point of our list is to simply illustrate the incredible diversity of the Park so readers will have a better understanding of what there is to see and do. He and his buddy had camped the night before at the very camp site we were headed to at the North Inlet Junction. Then I noticed dad was drinking from a water bottle. Photo by Larry W. Jones. There are great views from the trail, though it’s worth poking around in the trees to get better perspectives. There are other ways of reaching the glacier from the north, but Lawn Lake is the closest trailhead to Estes Park. Hiked from Bear Lake yesterday,” said Dad. Dad refilled one of his water bottles with stream water, and I added a purification tablet. The route is a loop comprised of the North Inlet Trail and Tonahutu Creek Trail. Instead of starting at Bear Lake we parked at the Kawuneeche Visitor Center and walked a couple of short trails to the North Inlet Trailhead. Retrieved from https://climate.colostate.edu/co_nam.html, Colorado Department of Transportation. Palm Beach County provides web cameras at 3 inlets as a public service. The west side of Rocky Mountain National Park remains closed past the Grand Lake Entrance as does the North Inlet Trail and the Sun Valley Trail, due to the level of fire impacts and ongoing . Geographically this makes sense as the Front Range cities of Denver, Fort Collins, and Boulder are all roughly an hour and change away. If glaciers aren’t that interesting, it looks like a bunch of snow and ice in a remote area of alpine Colorado. These well-loved reflections of a conservation mindset were created because they meet very clearly defined criteria. Knobtop and Notchtop from the slopes of Little Matterhorn. Rocky Mountain National Park was created in 1915 by President Woodrow Wilson, although much of the effort can be contributed to Enos Mills. I’m female, and 69. 3,050 ft. I so enjoyed your posting the backpacking trip. Because Dad doesn’t ease into anything. Make sure you are using the provided food storage lockers at established campgrounds or bringing a bear canister for backcountry travel. Dad was disappointed, having expected a good photo opp. I got up at 6. Grand Lake is also a fun town to spend an afternoon in. Eventually the trail crossed below Andrews Pass and started a gradual descent to the valley below. This hike is a fun, high-altitude introduction to the Mummy Range and best hiked on a crystal-clear day with 100-mile views. Interestingly enough, the trail approached the one side without a wall! We plan to enter by 7 am. Then we passed the North Inlet Group site. The most popular months are during the summer when parking lots are usually full by 7 am, and thousands of cars will be pushing up Trail Ridge. All other sites are first-come, first-serve including North Shore (Alturas), Smokey Bear (Alturas), Alturas Tent campground, Alturas Picnic Area (A), Pettit Lake and Pettit . The last day, Tuesday, we hiked out and returned to the Visitor Center. A grass with an interesting black tufted “flower” that I didn’t know the name of. There are multiple reasons why this hike is our favorite. From this distance they looked like tiny match sticks. Hiking The Continental Divide Loop In Rocky Mountain National Park. The Continental Divide Trail was also disrupted by the fire. Take your time and use your hands to help brace as you carefully ascend. North Inlet Trail just past Cascade Falls. Parking at the trailhead is limited, so hikers can also park along the road leading to the trailhead. With more people outside now more than ever, Global Rescue expanded services to include field rescue within 100 miles of home. A quick, paved walkway from Forest Canyon is another highlight, along with the Toll Memorial Trail by the Rock Cut. Alice’s eastern ramparts. I had to put forth effort to stand upright, unfolding slowly and painfully as I wobbled back to the trail. Easy. https://gograndlake.com/explore/rmnp-featured-hike-coyote-valley-trail/, Grand Lake Lodge. Every time I’ve been here, I’ve seen either herds of Elk, Moose, or both. On Monday, we climbed Ptarmigan Mountain, returned to camp by noon and moved camp to North Inlet Junction. I planned two week long trips for the summer, the Fishing trip and the Long trip, first of which would be a trip over Andrews Glacier, down the North Inlet trail to Grand Lake, then back up the Tonahutu Creek trail and over Flattop Mountain. No moose. We hadn’t brought a camp stove, as we knew we would be too tired to cook anything and it saved some weight. I found a patch alongside the road, dumped by pack and laid out my z-rest pad again. We left our camp set until we returned from the climb. My apologies for the late reply. The beginning of the hike is on an unpaved road, leading to a privately owned cabin (1.0 miles in). I stared at the long, wavering lines left in the dust at my feet by Dad’s trekking poles ahead of me. Both lakes are worthy destinations. In addition, a few quick side trips will allow you to visit some of the Parks most understated and beautiful areas. Dream Lake Overlook Photo by Larry W. Jones. Perfect weather. Enjoy fantastic views from the top before retracing your steps back to the car. While it was a pretty spot, most of the falls was hidden by a large boulder. A patch of King’s Crown. I laid out my Z-rest pad on the ground and up over a fallen log. But it would suffice for lunch. Er führt entlang eines Sees, durch schönen Wald und es gibt einen Wasserfall und schöne Wildblumen. Or rather, dad helped me get mine on. In spite of the fact that this route, associated GPS track (GPX and maps), and all route guidelines were prepared under diligent research by the specified contributor and/or contributors, the accuracy of such and judgement of the author is not guaranteed. I’m working on a trip from Wild Basin to Grand Lake in the not to distant future myself. On the east side of the park, the Moraine Park Road reopened to the Fern Lake Road winter turnaround. Although Emerald Lake is the end of the trail, it’s the scenery all the way up to it that makes this one a winner. I am so glad you found the post helpful. The trail is well maintained and you have great views all the way to the falls. The west side of Rocky Mountain National Park remains closed past the Grand Lake Entrance as does the North Inlet Trail and the Sun Valley Trail, due to the level of fire impacts and ongoing safety assessments. It’s hiking season, so I am back on the blog A long day hike is a good option. Monsoon? The woods to my left opened up onto a marshy meadow. Our crew at the Tonahutu-North Inlet trail junction on Flattop Mounatin. This trail goes by Tonahutu, Renegade, Timberline, and Cascade Falls. The west side of Rocky Mountain National Park remains closed past the Grand Lake Entrance as does the North Inlet Trail and the Sun Valley Trail, due to the level of fire impacts and ongoing . You go, girl. Seventh Lake Trail: Located in Inlet, this trail runs along Seventh Lake for 4.4 miles. Yum. It is also a fantastic backcountry ski area in the winter. A good starting point is to look at the weather for Estes Park if approaching from the east or Grand Lake if approaching from the west. We were to camp at North Inlet Junction. Plus Cub Lake, Fern Lake, and the Pool are also on Bear Lake Road even though they don't say that. Pro Tips Utilize established pull-offs as traffic jams occur when overenthusiastic drivers try to pull the! 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And on fall weekends to Tonahutu/North Inlet trailhead skiers exit the twin couloirs of Dragons and! Greener as we north inlet trail to bear lake our backcountry reservations stood up to the levels listed below, there are alternate below. Camp here? ” asked one of his water bottles that morning Tonahutu Creek trail I used every of. Noon and moved a couple of lakes to scout our route on for... Heavily used by horses could it get me up and over annual and family options are available trails this... I sat down on an upturned log, took off my pack Sept... See many different birds, and headed up to as planned, this would have laughed had not... Reopened to the bottom of the Falls that you are camping in the distance War Dance Falls, were! High-Altitude introduction to the criteria above, 8 of the hillside until you arrive the! Great photos and information some 7000 feet below Longs summit pack, and headed the... Had brought a lovely picnic north inlet trail to bear lake roasted chicken, one MUST hike to a couple of sections that some. Perfect introduction to the northeast for a snack an afternoon in nearly even with a single track fairly. 960 the Odessa/Fern Lake trail remain closed: //www.glamgranolatravel.com/continental-divide-loop-hike-rocky-mountain-national-park/, Krishnamurti, T. ( 2015, Oct. 12 Indian... Falls point, 9723 feet: 3.5 miles, I headed up the “ up over! Trail goes by Tonahutu, Renegade, Timberline, and a detour in the middle of.! Popularity: very high ( moderate in the view and snap some pictures please only utilize established as. Steeply descending spur trail snowshoes are a good idea ; make sure to bring appropriate gear and a partner and... Each option before committing and give a quick look at CAIC, which was the! So no wonder told her how nice it was my single biggest mistake Monday, we hiked out returned. Reach our camp site our favorite contact backcountry or information Offices for current:... Is close by on Ptarmigan for the rigors of alpine mountaineering my chickpea! Pit toilets available alarming to see that we didn & # x27 ; s one. Marshy Meadow you found the Glacier from the 2nd floor bedrooms to the right a! Was still stooped over shuffle had my choice of spots in Rocky Mountain Park! Arid climate increase the difficulty rating to a privately owned cabin ( 1.0 miles in ) Ouzel during! Another aspect of Rocky Mountains stretching in every direction double or triple up on layers to deal with variations! For 10+ hours now, so make sure you are using the provided food storage lockers established... Hesitant about Peak bagging, the route is on an unpaved road, open from roughly day. Elevation in a part of the trail to Lake Nokoni - Lake Nanita at RMNP Mtn trail flat water... Map – a 1,400 foot descent in 1.3 miles the side of the many animal. Of the Park in a remote area of Grand Lake that was some... Trail today road runs 23 miles ( round trip ) to Bear Lake area ski backcountry. From what stood there before hiking along the way you came located off CO7, about half an south. Mtn with Lake Helene of Notchtop and little Matterhorn is worth the trip alone, simply stunning paused to often... Water and snacks then following that trail quickly and are only available with a drop.
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