Rocky Mountain NP

Colorado's stunning Rocky Mountain National Park has 355 miles of trails through truly spectacular Rocky Mountain scenery.

Fabulous wildlife: elk, deer, moose, mountain lions, bobcats, bears, bighorn sheep, foxes, marmots, coyote, marmots, picas, squirrels, beavers and a variety of birds.

Tourism in the Rocky Mountain National Park has (by American standards) a long history; in 1909 a luxury hotel was built to house the rich on their search for a "wild west" experience. As with many of America's natural beauties, the parks survival can largely be attributed to the work of one dedicated local conservationist - in this case, Enos Mills.

There may still be luxury accommodation on its edges, but Rocky Mountain National Park is a wild and wonderful place to walk, although you won't be alone on the well-known trails in high season. Danger is ever-present in these peaks, from the risks of ice and vertigo, through some of the highest altitudes on the Continental Divide, to the possibility of deadly lightning strikes in the afternoon.

Lonely Planet's Hiking in the Rocky Mountains provides some excellent suggestions for walks, ranging from a half day to two days in length, all of which can begin from the Bear Lake area. Access here is relatively easy, with a free shuttle bus running regularly; if you are aiming for a less popular trailhead then you may need to arrange a private drop-off.

Odessa Lake: (2 day walk, 19.9km) Walk to outstanding Odessa Lake, gaining fantabulous views of Longs Peak and The Little Matterhorn and other mountains. A longer route than Bear Lake to Fern Lake.

Bear Lake to Fern Lake: This 9 mile loop (described by National Geographic as a "slice of heaven"), ascends by rivers, enjoying classic Rockies features including waterfalls and tremendous crags and peaks high above. Enjoy high Odessa Lake in its stunning setting, then descend by further streams, rivers and falls, to Fern Lake.

Flattop Mountain: Roughly 9 mile return hike from Bear Lake Trailhead to this 12,324ft er.. flat-topped mountain. A long ascent of approximately 800m. Steady to start with, steeper in the second half.

Great views of surrounding mountains as you get higher. See more info at (http://www.rockymountainhikingtrails.com/flattop-mountain.htm)

Glacier Gorge: 9.6 miles up and back down a superb valley, with lakes and pine forest and bare, dramatic crags far above..

Longs Peak: The highest peak in the park (at about 4,340m). It has a distinctive box shape, one of the great landmarks of the Rockies. It is the most climbed 14'er in the Rockies, and can be reached in a long day walk. 4855ft altitude gain? Best times July-September. Popular - scores of visitors each Summer day.

See full page

Lawn Lake: A (relatively) easy (still 2,500ft of altitude gain to a maximum of approximately 11,000ft) 12.5 mile round trip in a gorgeous valley with forests and rocky magnificence all around. See more info at (http://www.protrails.com/trail/62/rocky-mountain-national-park-lawn-lake)

Haliett Peak: A steepish there-and-back trail (3,250ft of elevation gain) which is a continuation of The Flattop Mountain trail. See more info at (http://www.rockymountainhikingtrails.com/hallett-peak.htm)

Other Walks to think of are:

-          Mills Lake (see some info at http://www.rockymountainhikingtrails.com/mills-lake.htm)

-          Cub Lake  (see some info at http://www.rockymountainhikingtrails.com/cub-lake.htm) 

-          Nymph, Dreams and Emerald Lakes (see some info at http://www.protrails.com/trail/60/rocky-mountain-national-park-nymph-dream-emerald-lakes)

Practicalities

Early June-early October. June-August = high risk of lightning strikes in the afternoon, aim to be off high ground by noon and keep a close eye on the weather.

There is a park entry fee (cheaper if you are travelling without a car), and permits are required for all backcountry camping. (Check status before you go)

http://www.wildlandtrekking.com/adventurehikes/rockymountainnationalparkhiking.html

This page is at an early stage of development. Please help us by recommending your best walks and making suggestions and sending photos! Thank you!