With its alpine terrain, jagged mountain peaks, abundant wildlife and plant life, and spectacular water features, there are hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park for everyone. There are about 355 miles of hiking trails within Rocky Mountain, so the biggest challenge is choosing which trail to take.
For all the details on planning a trip to Rocky Mountain, check out The Complete Guide to Rocky Mountain National Park.
Easy / Short Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park
Alpine Ridge Trail
Starting Location: Alpine Visitor Center
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 0.6 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 209 feet
Type of Trail: Out and back
This hike packs a lot of elevation gain into a short distance. Alpine Ridge Trail starts above tree line and rewards hikers with breathtaking views of mountain vistas and even the plains of Wyoming on a clear day. Keep in mind that Trail Ridge Road is closed during the winter, so this hike is only accessible seasonally.
Adam’s Falls
Starting Location: East Inlet Trailhead
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 0.6 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 79 feet
Type of Trail: Out and back
Adam’s Falls is a popular short hike that ends at a small waterfall, complete with a valley and river. This is also a good location to spot wildlife – moose and other animals are occasionally spotted in this area. Depending on the season, wildflowers are abundant in the valley.
Bear Lake
Starting Location: Bear Lake Trailhead
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 0.5 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 20 feet
Type of Trail: Loop
No list of hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park is complete without mentioning Bear Lake. Bear Lake is one of the most popular hikes in the park for good reason. It’s a short loop around a gorgeous lake, and also provides mountain views and plenty of pine trees. This trail is excellent any time of year, though you may want spikes or snowshoes depending on conditions.
Copeland Falls to Calypso Cascades
Starting Location: Wild Basin Trailhead
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 3.5 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 610 feet
Type of Trail: Out and back
This trail provides some of the best views of the park’s water features. Copeland Falls is a little over a quarter mile along the trail, but keep going to discover more of Rocky Mountain’s iconic waterfalls. Spring and early summer will have the most dramatic flows as snowmelt cascades down the rocks.
Sprague Lake Loop
Starting Location: Sprague Lake Trailhead
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 0.5 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 10 feet
Type of Trail: Loop
Sprague Lake is a quick, easy loop that is great any time of year. Expect to see stunning views of the lake, as well as mountain peaks and the Continental Divide in the distance. This is also an excellent area for spotting wildlife.
Moderate Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park
Gem Lake to Balanced Rock
Starting Location: Lumpy Ridge Trailhead
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 7.0 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 1,696 feet
Type of Trail: Out and back
The highlight of this hike, Gem Lake, is a shallow lake without inlet or outlet streams. Most hikers turn around once they hit Gem Lake, making the total distance only 4.0 miles round trip. However, it’s worth continuing on to Balanced Rock for views of the interesting rock formations. This trail can be done year round, but snow gets deep in the winter, so bring snowshoes or spikes.
The Loch
Starting Location: Glacier Gorge Trailhead
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 5.4 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 940 feet
Type of Trail: Out and back
Along this trail, you’ll pass Alberta Falls and Icy Brook before arriving at The Loch. The Loch is a subalpine lake framed by Taylor Peak, Taylor Glacier, Thatchtop Mountain, and The Sharkstooth. Note that you’ll find the closest parking at Glacier Gorge Trailhead, but Bear Lake Trailhead is also an option. Keep in mind that parking at Bear Lake will add a short distance to the hike.
Nymph Lake, Dream Lake, and Emerald Lake
Starting Location: Bear Lake Trailhead
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 4.1 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 744 feet
Type of Trail: Out and back
One of the park’s most popular hikes, this trail passes by Nymph Lake and Dream Lake, among others, before arriving at the end point: Emerald Lake. As you hike through the lush groves of aspen and ponderosa pines, expect to see awe-inspiring jagged mountains that perfectly frame the lakes.
Ouzel Falls
Starting Location: Wild Basin Trailhead
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 5.4 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 950 feet
Type of Trail: Out and back
This trail goes past Copeland Falls and Calypso Cascades, and ends at the remarkable Ouzel Falls. Ouzel Falls comes in at over 40 feet tall and is one of the most beautiful waterfalls within Rocky Mountain.
Challenging / Long Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park
Chasm Lake
Starting Location: Long’s Peak Trailhead
Difficulty: Strenuous
Distance: 8.6 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 2,456 feet
Type of Trail: Out and back
Chasm Lake is another of Rocky Mountain’s famous alpine lakes. The trail passes through thick woods with streams, sub-alpine terrain dotted with wildflowers, and ends at a high altitude lake with glassy water.
Mount Ida
Starting Location: Poudre Lake Trailhead
Difficulty: Strenuous
Distance: 9.6 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 2,465 feet
Type of Trail: Out and back
Mount Ida is definitely a challenging hike, but at the end you’ll be rewarded with sweeping panoramic views of the park in all directions. Look for the Never Summer Mountains, Mummy Range, Terra Tomah Mountain, Mt. Julian, Cracktop Mountain, Longs Peak, Kawuneeche Valley, Julian Lake, Big Meadows, and Shadow Mountain Lake. Below are also views of Azure Lake and Inkwell Lake.
Sky Pond
Starting Location: Glacier Gorge Trailhead
Difficulty: Strenuous
Distance: 9.0 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 1,780 feet
Type of Trail: Out and back
The hike to Sky Pond includes views of several of Rocky Mountain’s most notable features. Expect to see views of Taylor Peak, Taylor Glacier, Thatchtop Mountain, The Sharkstooth, and Powell Peak. You’ll also pass Glacier Creek, Alberta Falls, Icy Brook, The Loch, Timberline Falls, and Lake of Glass. Sky Pond is a gorgeous alpine lake, surrounded on three sides by dramatic sheer cliff walls. This challenging hike is well worth the effort.
Have you been to Rocky Mountain yet? If you’ve been, what are your favorite hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park?
