Bear Lake is the signature trail to do at Rocky Mountain National Park, and for this very reason,…read moreit's extremely crowded! I opted to eat a light, quick breakfast, and hit the road early in the morning to beat out the crowds. That way, I could enjoy lunch back in town in Estes Park too. To help manage crowding, if you're planning a visit you might need a timed entry + bear lake road reservation depending on the season you're visiting. This is not something you want to do on the fly unless you want to risk not being able to visit. This stroll isn't very long and it gives amazing views of forests, mountain peaks, and of course Bear Lake. Continue on the trail to Nymph, Dream & Emerald Lakes. I would say that these hikes are definitely worth the effort!

Bear Lake is located on the eastern side of Rocky Mountain National Park, in the popular Bear Lake…read moreRoad Corridor. It was absolutely beautiful, with the lake surrounded by dramatic mountain peaks and a peaceful alpine setting. We spotted adorable chipmunks and beautiful blue-feathered birds along the way, which made the experience even more memorable. The roughly half-mile walk around the lake was manageable with our baby in a stroller and was a wonderful family-friendly way to experience the park. A beautiful and easy-to-enjoy stop that I would definitely recommend when visiting Rocky Mountain National Park!

Nymph Lake is absolutely stunning. Trees surround it, and it was full of lily pads and lily flowers…read moreblooming. I could easily imagine nymphs and faeries darting around in such a scenic area. It's a unique view in a beautiful location. This is the second lake after Bear Lake if you're following the trail. I would say that Bear Lake is very accessible, but if you have the endurance to make the hike up to Nymph Lake, it's very rewarding! The rest of the lakes (Dream & Emerald Lakes) are also very pretty, but they're far steeper and longer away. This is the sweet spot if you are short on time or don't want to do the entire hike. 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.

If you're hiking to Emerald Lake, Nymph Lake is the first of 3 lakes you will encounter on the…read moretrail. A moderate 0.5 mile hike, Nymph Lake is nice - but comparing it to what you'll experience further along the trail, Nymph is like a "starter lake" - they keep getting grander the farther along you go. If you don't want to go farther than Nymph Lake, it's still a pretty spot to stop and enjoy. The worst part of the hike for me was that first 0.5 miles. Was still a bit rough the entire way, but it didn't compare to that beginning. Located on the Bear Lake Road, you will need separate reservations to access the road in addition to the reservations to enter the park. The trailhead of Nymph Lake is at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead at the end of Bear Lake Road. It is a large parking lot, but some of Bear Lake's best hikes are all accessible from this parking lot. If it's full, they do have a park & ride location and the shuttle will bring you into the lot. It does get hot and there is not shade throughout the trail. So make sure to bring plenty of water, a hat, some sunscreen, and (of course) some food. But don't forget to pack in and pack out! Highly recommend hiking to Nymph Lake and all the way to Emerald Lake if you can.

Couldn't do a check in while i was up there today. But air condition was REALLY smokey! The air…read morewas almost like it was during the eclipse a couple of years back. It had a weird haze and it definitely was a struggle to breathe. Only saw a few other people up there on a Sunday. I find this hike to be quite lovely. I do hear there is a spring if you keep going on the hike. We did make it to 3.12 miles into the hike today but then had to turn around just because of all the smoke it was getting to be too much. The rock formations around 2.5 miles are still cool and then after you hit mile marker 3 you hit a lot of aspens that are starting to turn. The trail is going to be QUITE lovely in a couple of weeks. looking forward to going back.

Loved it! A little incline but very pretty views. We didn't last too long cause we have a baby with…read moreus but totally will be back. Some car noise but not for long until you hike about 20 Minutes in

Great hike that starts in an open grassy area. If you're lucky, there's a harem of cows with a bull…read moremoose guarding them nearby. The bugling echoes off the rocks in a unique, almost hair-raising way. Then, you enter a valley and climb up. There's a grove of beautiful aspen that you go through, which almost makes a tunnel. I went during the autumn, and so it was a beautiful golden cover. Cub Lake itself is pretty. It has some vegetation growing in the lake to interrupt its still surface, but otherwise it's pretty clear. 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 or at the trailhead, so before you enter the area be sure to make a pit stop if needed. Pace yourself on this hike since the air is thinner due to elevation.

I actually didn't have enough time to complete this trail but nonetheless - my short hike in…read moreNovember down this snow covered path was very dreamy. Be aware that when it's been snowing, you need proper hiking boots and even spikes because the snow is SLIPPERY! But even despite this we had a nice 20 minute walk down the path before having to turn back as it was getting too dark. This path was one of the only ones short/clear enough to go with a car that didn't have all wheel drive or chains after a pretty heavy snowstorm - so plan ahead! It's easy enough to find though, you can even type it into your GPS and get directions. The view at the base is stunning - I'm sure that is also the case at the end of the trail! I absolutely plan to go back next fall a little earlier, ideally before the snow gets heavy to catch some changing colors. Would absolutely rec a trip to anyone :)

It's always a pleasant surprise when you're able to experience the most gorgeous views without the…read moreexertion found with a typical hike. But that's exactly what we experience at Coyote Valley Trail - it's more of a leisurely walk that really showcases all of the beauty held within Rocky Mountain National Park. Your hike will take you through the valley, and you'll see boundless greenery and plenty of trees with the Colorado River running to the side. While we didn't see many animals, we did read that this is a great place for animal sightings. We did catch some moose tracks, though. About 2 miles roundtrip, there's plenty of info plaques, benches, and little scenic stops to enjoy as you meander. While there are some good mud puddles and dips toward the end of the hike, at least the first half would be easily done with a stroller - perfect for families. Lots of mosquitos in the parking lot and at the beginning of the trail - highly recommend you bring some bug spray. While many people enter the park through the Beaver Meadows entrance, Coyote Valley is actually close to the Grand Lakes entrance. This trail was not busy (nor was this entrance) during our visit. So it's possible not as many people come this way, and this beautiful hike is a bit more of a hidden gem.

This is such a pretty area. The short one mile nature trail offers sweeping views of the Kawuneeche…read moreValley and the Never Summer Mountains. Even though I didn't see any, there are all sorts of wildlife in this grassy area. Moose and elk are common in Coyote Valley. If you want to sit and enjoy this area, there are picnic tables and benches along the trail. The Coyote Valley Trailhead is located about five miles north of the Grand Lake Entrance. The Colorado River runs along this trail. The source of the Colorado River begins at La Poudre Pass Lake in the northern part of Rocky Mountain National Park and is not too far from here. It was cool to see this little stream and know that it travels all the way to the Gulf of California and is the same waters that carved out the Grand Canyon.

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!

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.

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!