With the mandatory timed entry to Bear Lake Road, we got lucky to secure a time to explore this…read morearea of Rocky Mountain National Park. This was our first stop on our hike heading into the forrest and it was an easy climb. These falls are loud and proud plus incredibly pretty. The falls thunder down Glacier Creek due to the heavy snowmelt. It's definitely a favorite spot for many people as it's only 1.6 miles so it's easy to access. Remember to pace yourself due to the altitude. I witnessed lots of huffing and puffing from people having to stop and catch their breath. We stayed long enough to take some pics and watch the falls and then moved on. Plenty of seating all around the falls for everyone. It's great short hike for those that just want to feel like they are "out there". Views are truly epic as is the entire park. Parking earlier in the day can be challenging. I recomment arriving very early or come later in the afternoon to secure a spot. Remember to pack in, pack out and LEAVE NO TRACE.

We picked this hike on our 1 day visit to RMNP and it was a great choice. It's a short 2 mile…read moreround trip from the Bear Lake parking area. This was our first time in park and we came in late May so did not expect all the snow and the slush on the trail so that was really awesome. Lots of elevation change as you climb up and down the trail and several small bridges that traverse all the small mountain springs. We saw a few blooming flowers, blue jays,chipmunks, and we spotted a baby rainbow trout hiding in a little pool in one of the springs. Incredible views of the Rocky Mountains and one you get to the falls it's a nice place to take a nice relaxing break in the many rock formations. Great hike.

Rocky Mountain National Park is absolutely beautiful, but it's important to know before you go that…read moreit is not pet-friendly on the trails. Dogs are only allowed in developed areas like parking lots and campgrounds. We visited shortly after a major wildfire, and it was heartbreaking to see how much of the forest had burned. It really puts into perspective how powerful nature can be. One of the most interesting things we learned from a park ranger was that moose are considered one of the biggest wildlife concerns around dogs, even service animals. I never would have guessed that! The ranger explained that dogs can make wildlife feel threatened, which is one of the reasons the park has such strict dog regulations. If you're visiting with a service animal, I'd recommend checking with a ranger about recent wildlife sightings before heading out. That's just my personal opinion--you don't want to put yourself, your dog, or the wildlife in a dangerous situation. One unexpected highlight was spotting a beaver right along the side of the road while driving through the park! We completed three easy trails: * Coyote Valley Trail - About 1 mile round trip, completely flat with little to no elevation gain. Limited parking. * Holzwarth Historic Site - Around 1 mile round trip with very little incline. The trail leads to several historic cabins and buildings. Decent-sized parking lot. * Colorado River Trailhead - Our favorite of the three. It's also about 1 mile round trip and has the most elevation gain, although I'd still consider it an easy hike. Large parking area. Overall, Rocky Mountain National Park is an incredible place to visit with amazing scenery and wildlife. Just be sure to plan ahead if you're traveling with a dog and understand the pet restrictions before you arrive.

We drove up from our place in Glendale where we were staying. Traffic was light so it took just…read moreover an hour. Our first stop was the Beaver meadows Visitor Center. The Rangers gave us a map and a wealth of information about what to see. The Park has a new system where you have to get a special visitor pass to enter the park before 2:00 pm. After that you can enter with a regular pass. It was shortly before 2:00 so we dove out to the entrance. We showed our Senior Pass and Driver ID and we were off. We had 4 hours to see everything we wanted to see. Since we saw most areas when were were here last time we wanted to go out to the Alpine Visitor Center and enjoy the 12,000 ft elevation. We were surprised to see very little snow on the mountains compared to our last visit. I heard someone say there was a very dry winter here with small amounts of snow. This is one of the most beautiful of all the National Parks we've visited and one of the oldest. It is a must visit if you are in the area.

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.

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.

We had so much fun strolling about the lake looking for moose and yay saw two. It made our day. We…read morespotted a lizard in the water which was also very special.

I enjoyed visiting Lily Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. Not only is it a pretty lake, it is a…read moregreat spot for bird watching and to see wildlife up close. The ground squirrels were fun and entertaining to watch. Because they are used to people feeding them, they come right up to you and beg. The short trail around the lake is easy and level. It is about 0.8 miles round trip and offers great views of Longs Peak, Mount Meeker and Twin Sisters. If you want something more challenging, you can jump on the Storm Pass Trail from here. Rocky Mountain Park requires a online timed entry reservation made in advance during peak season.

Nice place to fish, get cooled down and for me hammock and read! My husband caught a handful of…read morefish near the power plant.

Beautiful lake in Estes park! There are lots of outdoor tables making this a great picnic spot…read more Also a great place for water sports on a warm day. It's even nice just to drive by and see the wildlife.

This is a beautiful hike!…read more Full disclosure: Im not a hiker...not even close, but my colorado fam is always up for a good hike, and every time I end up obliging them. This 4 mile trek, with a relatively smooth and scenic terrain, is beautiful and tranquil, but oh man, I swear I almost had an asthma attack on this trail, and I don't even have asthma! The elevation alone will get the average "low lander" (as Im described by them), but its totally worth it. The sense of accomplishment, as well as the welcomed caloric burn, are great motivating factors for me, the non hiker. At the very top of kruger rock is a panoramic 360 degree view of estes park, and its absolutely breath taking and serene...so much so, we had to strike some yoga poses just capture the tranquility at the top. The trail itself is safe and easy for the non hiker, but as always, stay hydrated and take breaks when necessary. Overall, highly recommend..and you can bring the pooches!!

Thai was a beautiful hike and area. I would definitely go back. The hike was doable for people who…read morearen't overly fit, and the view was so pretty.

This lake has a nice scenic trail around it. The hike itself is half a mile long and easy to walk…read moreon. Sprague Lake is located off Bear Lake Road and has plenty of parking. It is a quiet peaceful lake to enjoy and is wheelchair accessible. Sprague Lake is one of the most popular places to fish at in Rocky Mountain National Park because it has an abundance of trout. I swung by here after spending most of my day at Bear Lake and enjoyed a nice walk around the lake after a long day. Sprague Lake is named after Abner E. Sprague who created this man-made lake. He once had a home here and opened a lodge for hunting and fishing. Sprague then added cabins to the property and made it a hotel in the early 1900's. This area eventually became a part of Rocky Mountain National Park.

A beautiful lake and easy hike around the lake that's well worth the stop. It's less crowded and…read moremore beautiful than Bear Lake. If you're staying at the Glacier Creek Campground, you can hike there from the campground.