The Green Mountain Trail to Big Meadows ended up being a great hike for me on my last day at Rocky…read moreMountain National Park. This loop trail can either be accessed from the Kawuneeche Visitor Center or Green Mountain Trailhead. I decided last minute to do this hike from the Green Mountain Trailhead. The parking lot isn't large, but does have a restroom near the start of the trail. Sadly, the trees on the hike burned during the East Troublesome Fire of 2020. I saw pictures of how pretty the trees were before they caught fire. But there were lots of pretty flowers along the way to look at and enjoy. It is nice knowing that this area is showing signs of life again. The hike to Big Meadows is around four miles roundtrip. There is some elevation gain at the beginning of the hike that made it a little challenging. I enjoyed the lush, marshy Big Meadow area once I got there. I had some rainfall on the way back which added some adventure to my hike.

A great place to stop to see the scenery just after you pass the hairpin curve going up. the view…read moreis spectacular. There is also a place where you can climb up and get an even better view.

After a full day of driving on Old Falls River Road and Trail Ridge Road, this was a nice stop to…read moremake to look back and recap my day. I drove the full loop around this park and made several stops along the way. Here at Many Parks Curve, you get a full panoramic overview of Rocky Mountain National Park. It is a very beautiful view. I had some cloud coverage which always makes photos look better. They call it "Many Parks" because Moraine Park, Upper Beaver Meadows and Horseshoe Park are all visible at this viewpoint with Deer Mountain and Longs Peak in the background. I could even see parts of Estes Park. It is such a breathtaking view and one of my favorite viewpoints. I stood here for some time and took it all in. There is parking near the viewpoint and an overflow lot on the other side of the road. The viewpoint itself is located at a sharp turn on Trail Ridge Road. There is a long platform to walk on that has a guardrail. Keep an eye out for cars going around the curve as you cross the road.

You will feel like you are dreaming when you reach Dream Lake! After hiking around Bear Lake, and…read morepassing by the beautiful Nymph Lake, you're greeted by the cool waters of Dream Lake. Loads of people stopped by here for water and snacks to appreciate the view, as the trail gets steeper after Nymph Lake and so this is a great time for a pit stop and for a photo break The water reflecting the surrounding steep cliffs and peaks is so unique. Since it's an alpine lake, there's not much vegetation to cloud the clear reflection. As always, make sure that you have appropriate hiking footwear, a hat, plenty of water, and some snacks. There are no toilets at this lake, so also make sure you use the washroom at the trailhead. Pace yourself on this hike since the air is thinner due to elevation.

After starting my day off exploring Bear Lake, I decided to do the 3.6-mile roundtrip hike to…read moreEmerald Lake. While on hike, I passed by Nymph Lake and Dream Lake. Nymph Lake is a charming lake that is about half a mile into the hike and has pond lilies floating on the water. Dream Lake is another half mile after that. I took a little time to enjoy this lake because it was so pretty. The hike to Dream Lake begins at the start of the Bear Lake trailhead. It is a steady climb through aspen groves and ponderosa pine. From here, you can continue on to Emerald Lake. It is considered a moderately challenging hike because of the elevation gain. It is also one of the most photographed lakes because it is surrounded by steep cliffs. You can see Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain in the background. Dream Lake is a peaceful area to relax at and enjoy.

This is a really lovely part of the park, generally not too busy as it is an offshoot from Bear…read moreLake road (and there isn't a ton of parking). You can take some really nice hikes through the Hollowell meadows and continue on to more strenuous hikes as you wish. They also have some really great picnic spots here, and I don't know about you, but for me a picnic in a beautiful place just cannot be beat!

Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) is home to hundreds of hiking trails, several of which have…read morebecome nearly as famous as the park itself. Bear Lake and Bierstadt Lake, in particular, attract hikers and nature enthusiasts from around the world. The well-known trails are gorgeous (mere adjectives cannot describe the awesome grandeur of RMNP), but I'm partial to the obscure trails scattered throughout the park. Hollowell Park Trail -- my favorite by far -- is hidden behind two gender-neutral bathrooms* at the end of an unmarked road. It may not be as famous as other trails, but it's every bit as scenic and serene. I'm directionally challenged, but I will attempt to describe how to find it. Approximately one quarter mile past the east entrance of RMNP (the one facing Estes Park), turn left on Bear Lake Road, drive approximately one mile, and then turn left onto a road heading towards the two aforementioned bathrooms. Hollowell is not a strenuous trail, but parts of it are rocky (these *are* the Rockies) and a bit steep, so take your time and be mindful of your footing. The air is noticeably thin in the mountains, so you might be short of breath until your lungs adapt and adjust to the high elevation. I consider myself to be in excellent physical condition, but even my respiratory system works harder than usual in the Rockies. Bring water, rest when you feel fatigued, breathe deeply, and walk at a pace you find comfortable. A hike on the Hollowell Park Trail is like a lesson on the ecology of RMNP. Over the course of a leisurely three-mile hike, I spotted many plants common to the Rockies, such as yellow rabbitbrush, juniper, and arctostaphylos uva-ussi (aka the more phonetically interesting "kinnikinnick"). Kinnikinnick is notable not only for its rounded leaves and tiny, bell-shaped flowers but also for its appeal to black bears and grizzlies. Bears consume the shrub in late fall, which leads to constipation and prevents them from defecating during winter hibernation. See, aren't you glad you follow The Mysterious Ryan M.? Where else on Yelp would you learn about the opportunistic eating habits and gastrointestinal systems of grizzlies and black bears? Yes, bears are common throughout RMNP, so exercise caution and common sense, especially if you find yourself alone on a seldom-traveled trail such as Hollowell. The signs posted prominently at the beginning of the trail advise hikers to stand their ground if confronted and to fight back when necessary. I propose an addendum to the signage: "When fighting back fails, poke the bear in the eye with your bleeding stump." Hollowell Trailhead was not listed on Yelp, so I performed my civic duty and added it myself. I can't think of a better way to spend an afternoon in the Rocky Mountains. The sentimental part of me wants to keep Hollowell my little secret, but the larger, narcissistic part of me wants credit for exposing Yelp to such a gorgeous, seldom-seen part of the Rockies. *When you check in on Yelp, you can answer "yes" in response to the question, "Are there gender-neutral bathrooms?" Yelpers are dying to know. The Hollowell Park Trailhead does not offer karaoke. Kosher options refer only to Orthodox Jewish hikers consumed by wildlife.

I don't know what it is about Southeast (Alaska), but their trail maintenance is impeccable!…read more My partner took me to Ketch for the weekend to celebrate my 40th, so we only had time for one hike, and we chose this one. The trail is steep but very well-graded, with lots of switchbacks. The first, maybe 1.75 miles are in a lush temperate rainforest: big trees, dripping rocks, creeks flowing in/out/on/around the trail. In late March, we hit snow at about 2,100 ft. If you do this trail before June, you will have to navigate snow. Depending on conditions, you could need snowshoes/skis, microspikes, or both. We only had microspikes, but definitely needed snowshoes/skis. The final quarter mile to the summit was grueling snow-wallowing through knee-to-chest deep snow. There were lots of sketch cornices near the summit area. If you don't have experience with snow travel, I'd recommend NOT going to the true summit if you see conditions like this. (the two of us do quite a bit of mountaineering, even in the winter so....while it was unpleasant, we knew how to navigate it relatively safely) Views from the summit were amazing...for a few seconds, then the clouds rolled in. Such is life hiking in a rainforest! It took us about 4 hours to reach the summit. This was largely because of the snow though. It took us only 1 hr to get from the summit to the brewery, which is the place you need to go to treat yourself post-summit!

Sweet fun trail hike it run it , great views up top . Tons of options of going furtherread more

Twin sisters is a 7.5 mile 2500 feet elevation gain round trip hike. From end of may to mid…read moreoctober you will need a time reservation permit if arriving between 9 am to 3 pm. The parking lot is small. Lily lake is across the road and that also has a small lot. You can park up the road a bit closer to the TH on the right hand side of the road but there is also not a ton of parking on the road side. If you are in decent shape i would call this to be more moderate. It is a steady incline. The first stretch is in the shade. Once you get above treeline you get some really amazing views. Also above treeline the trail is very rocky. Be sure to wear good shoes. The views at the top are stunning, definitely worth it. The only sad part of this trail, and only reason i will not be back anytime soon is because no dogs are allowed.

Great trail! Definitely steep and difficult in some parts and moderate in others. The parking lot…read morewas surprisingly not full around 9 am on a Saturday. Beautiful views and nice trail for all the people but not too crowded. There are lots of bugs so definitely recommend bug spray at this time even though there isn't any water on the trail. Some shade but can get hot so wear lots of sunscreen.

This area in Rocky National Mountain Park is really pretty. I like that it is a little less crowded…read morethan the other areas of the park. The road to Upper Beaver Meadows is over a mile long and can be a little rough because it is mostly dirt road and a little uneven. The Upper Beaver Meadows Trailhead is a loop and can be started in any direction. It is only about a mile and considered an easy trail. You can continue on beyond the loop trail if you want to make this hike a longer more challenging hike. Upper Beaver Meadows is near Moraine Park. I didn't see any wildlife, but I have read that you can spot elk out in the meadow area. It is a good bird-watching spot. Beaver Brook runs through the meadow. When I was here, it started to rain when I did the loop trail. This added a little adventure to my hike. The meadow is a gorgeous area to explore with the mountains in the background.

Gorgeous area (like the rest of the park) but a little bit less busy than other areas. They have a…read morelovely picnic area where you get expansive views of the valley and mountains; nicely shaded and well-kept. There are some nice hikes that leave from the area and further down the UBM road, most starting with a calm walk through the meadow and then picking up as you ascend the nearby vistas. You cannot go wrong!

We came in late to Estes Park and wanted to fit in a hike before dark. One of the locals…read morerecommended this trail, and after some research, saw it was highly rated for the area. It's a pretty easy hike, be warned it can be steep at times, but if you're mostly fit, you'll be able to do it. There were a few icy patches at times, but I was fine in regular boots. The views going up just keep getting better and better, they were all so beautiful. You HAVE to check out the bathroom near the top as that might be one of the best views the whole hike! The small lake at the top was pretty, especially iced over, but nothing compared to the views on the actual hike. It was a really awesome, cool trail in the middle of Estes park without having to pay to get into the Rocky Mountain National Park, and it was super easy to get to. I would highly recommend.

This was a beautiful hike we did with our twin boys who are 12. It was a bit longer than we…read morethought, we are fairly fit but from Texas so we were easily winded and took breaks. It is a pretty easy hike BUT there is a lot of steep parts, lots of steep steps. There were a few icy patches as it was winter when we were there. The views are amazing on this trail. The lake is small but still pretty at the end! Going down is always easier haha. We enjoyed this one since Hollowell Park in RMNP was closed.