Our goal was to hike to Emerald Lake, and let me tell you... It was 100% worth it. On this 3.6 mile…read moreroundtrip hike, you'll also encounter Nymph Lake and Dream Lake. While they're both beautiful in their own right, neither one of them compare to the sheer beauty of Emerald Lake with the snowy mountains as a backdrop. As I said, it is a moderate hike. We started around 930am - would've been nicer to start earlier, but it still beat the full heat of the noon sun. There will be intermittent shade, but make sure you bring a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water. We visited in mid June. Once we neared Dream Lake, we started encountering snow on the ground. I used hiking sandals, and I was able to do it in those - just be careful. That being said, with the amount of snow that was on the trail to Lake Haiyaha was completely un-doable in my shoes. Once you reach Emerald Lake, find a place to sit and just take it all in. I could've sat there all afternoon, just being at peace with nature. Absolutely gorgeous. To get to Emerald Lake, you'll need access to Bear Lake Road. Just be aware that Bear Lake Road requires a reservation SEPARATE from the reservation to the national park. There's a big lot at the trailhead, but it gets filled up. They do have a park & ride a few miles away with plenty of shuttles ready to bring you in. If you're able to make the hike, hiking to Emerald Lake is wonderful. The hike itself is gorgeous, and the final lake is beautiful. Plan it in your schedule, and you will not be disappointed.

After spending a part of my morning at Bear Lake, I decided to do this hike to Emerald Lake the…read moresecond part of the day. This hike starts at the beginning of the Bear Lake trailhead and is 1.8 miles one way (3.6 miles RT). I would say that it is a moderate hike that has some elevation climb to it. You will pass both Nymph Lake and Dream Lake along way. The views along the way are spectacular. Emerald Lake is nestled in between some mountains at an elevation of 10,111 feet. You can see Hallett Peak and the jagged spires of Flattop Mountain across this iconic alpine lake. In between the two mountains is the Tyndall Gorge. There were some small ripples in the water caused but a slight wind. Several people that hiked here jumped in and swam in the water. I ended up relaxing on a large rock and eating my lunch while enjoying the view. Emerald Lake starts at the beginning of the Bear Lake Trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park. To reach this trail, you must drive ten miles on Bear Lake Road after entering through the Beaver Meadows Entrance. There is a separate timed entry reservation that is required to access Bear Lake Road. If you are unable to find parking at the Bear Lake Trailhead, there is a free shuttle that you can ride to the trailhead.

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.

Super easy hike with some decent views. I wanted more of a challenge, but still had a good time…read more There is a lot of traffic on these trails and a lot of kids were there...not an issue, but it was busier than a lot of the hikes I do. Parking is $10 though!

Make it a destination when in NoCo....the place is just a beautiful place, close to town, and…read morestands out as must not miss !! Great place for a short hike, or use their amenities to start your longer adventure.

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.

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.

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!

This a beautiful small town located at the foot of the Rocky Mountain National Park. There is a…read morefree trolly that will take you around town and stop at various places to let you off to tour around and then you can get back on when you want to. There are small stops everywhere that are fun to shop around in at your leisure.

While visiting Rocky Mountain National Park, I spent some time in Estes Park after each day in the…read morepark. You have to go through this town to get to a couple of the park entrances. I grabbed dinner at a few restaurants and spent some time in Stanley Park. The view of Lake Estes from the park is stunning. The downtown area in Estes Park has a number of restaurants and retail stores. For activities, there is an Aerial Tramway to Prospect Mountain's summit or you can jump on a jeep tour. If you love outdoor activities, this is a great place to visit. Sadly, there was a huge wildfire going on when I was here that caused a lot of smoke. But overall, Estes Park is a great town to visit and has lots to do.