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.

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

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.

Sprague Lake is located on the eastern side of Rocky Mountain National Park, along the scenic Bear…read moreLake Road Corridor. The lake sits at about 8,700 feet, with beautiful views of the surrounding peaks and the Continental Divide. The 0.7-0.8 mile loop around the lake is peaceful, scenic, and especially family-friendly. The trail is stroller accessible, which made it perfect for exploring with our baby. We loved the reflections on the water, the mountain backdrop, and the peaceful alpine setting. A wonderful, easygoing stop in Rocky Mountain National Park--especially if you're traveling with little ones and want beautiful scenery without a strenuous hike.

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.

Absolutely stunning views. The 3 lakes prior to these are also beautiful. A lovely couple of hours…read morein RMNP is one of my favorite things to do!

This was one of our favorite hikes. You can combine trails and take in all the lakes on this…read morecorridor. But this lake is off a regular hiking trail and you have to climb rocks to get to see it. And wow! It is breathtakingly beautiful. Once you get there sit back and take in all the beauty.

Rocky Mountain National Park: Fantastic One-Day Visit…read more We only had one day to explore Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), so we made the most of it by hiking the Bear Lake Corridor and visiting Bear Lake, Nymph Lake, Dream Lake, and Emerald Lake. Getting an Early Start We reserved timed entry for both RMNP and the Bear Lake Corridor with a 5:00 AM entry time and entered through the Fall River Entrance. After talking with several Colorado locals, we were advised to arrive at the Bear Lake Trailhead before 5:00 AM to secure parking. We arrived around 4:30 AM, and that proved to be excellent advice. The early start rewarded us with peaceful trails, beautiful lighting, and very few people around. Hiking the Bear Lake Corridor Bear Lake is an easy, family-friendly hike of about 0.7 miles. The hike to Emerald Lake is more challenging, with approximately 1.6 miles of uphill climbing. The route passes Nymph Lake and Dream Lake before reaching Emerald Lake, and the scenery becomes more impressive with every step. The views and serenity were unmatched in the early morning hours. As we were leaving the Bear Lake area, the parking lots were completely full, and shuttle buses were already operating. Scenic Driving After the hike, we drove Old Fall River Road, a seasonal one-way dirt road that offers spectacular views and a unique driving experience. We also visited: Alpine Visitor Center Trail Ridge Cafe & Gift Shop. From there, we drove Trail Ridge Road back toward Estes Park. Along the way, we were fortunate to see: Elk Moose Bighorn sheep Seeing all three species in a single day was a highlight of our trip. Tips for Future Visitors: I highly recommend bringing: A cooler with drinks and snacks Sandwiches or a packed lunch Bug spray Sunscreen A sun hat At least one liter of water per person per hour hike. The AllTrails app (download maps in advance for navigation) The Trail Ridge Café can be crowded and expensive, so having your own food and drinks can save both time and money. Final Thoughts: Although we wished we had more than one day in Rocky Mountain National Park, we were touring Colorado for the week and had limited time. Even so, this was one of the highlights of our trip. With an early start, a little planning, and a willingness to explore beyond the main attractions, it's possible to experience some of the very best that RMNP has to offer in a single day.

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.

What a great place for hiking! I'm from near Boulder, so getting in the car and driving an hour up…read morethe front range just to hike,we'll, we have hiking here too. But I was very impressed with the size and scope of this mountain park! Sitting right next to Lory State Park, you can really get a lot of distance done on these trails. It's a nominal fee to park, and there's maps and bathrooms at the trailhead. I found there to be parking much of the day. However, the waterfall attracts many folks on weekends. I would start with an ascent of Horsetooth Mountain, if you feel able. Even if you can't get all the way up, the views get better and better. There's lots of side trails to customize your adventure. However, don't get lost! The final few steps on the peak are a big rock scramble, so be careful! It's worth it though. I then went down to the cove and had a nice private lunch. Plenty of bikers use the trails on the lower half, so be aware. I found hiking before 10 am was best, and encountered few bikers out that early. This was a fantastic place to hike, and I got nearly 15 miles down. There's a beautiful section on the Stout Trail, and it leads down to a cool waterfall, so I'd definitely at least recommend that section!

An amazing and challenging outdoors experience not too far from town. A harder hike with a bit of a…read morechallenge to get up to the peak of horsetooth, but definitely doable with amazing views ! Parking: We went on Monday morning and there was plenty of parking. That being said, I can see how the parking lot would be full on a busier day or the weekend. Facilities: There are toilets and water fountains in the parking lot, as well as maps and a covered picnic table. There is a apy station at the entry to the hike as well. There is a bug posted map as well as some paler maps for you to take. Hikes: There seemed to be 2 major hikes according to the posted map. You can hike to the falls but make sure to check if they have water ahead of time. Since there wasn't water when we went, we opted for only doing the hike up to horse tooth itself. The trails are very clearly marked which is really appreciated! Each trail is marked by a color and there are colored arrows showing you which way to go on your chosen path. The hike up to horsetooth itself can be strenuous! Not being used to the elevation should definitely be something taken into consideration if you're new to the area. It's consistently uphill for the first half (and downhill for the 2nd half of course). The views are absolutely amazing the whole way with a great look over the huge reservoir! You may also run into some wildlife - we passed by some very calm deer right on the trail and met some very cute chipmunks who came right to us. There's also some benches along the trail to take a break and take in the views. Once you get to the top of the trail, you can climb to the top of horse tooth - and I mean climb! You definitely don't have to have rock climbing experience but you do need to be ready to use hands and feet to get up there. This trail is dog friendly and you will run into people with dogs. Leashes are required.

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.