Just had my second visit to Horsetooth! The first time following all of the spring rains mid June I…read morewas impressed by how much the landscape resembled part of Oregon I traveled through on a road trip (Lowell) This last time over Labor Day weekend however, with the water levels lower by a hundred feet, for a moment it occurred to me they decided to put a more traditional "beach" area there. The water had been up to the rocks near the parking area at the South Bay swim area. In the late summer, it had more of the expected high desert vibe. It's nice that they have a no-wake area for paddle boarders and swimmers. Although it is a reservoir, the ugly wall is not a prominent visual feature like ie: Cherry Creek reservoir. I enjoy how this one is situated in a valley surrounded by mountains. Next time, I am absolutely bringing a paddle board. This time however, I was amused and inspired by one man who was not immediately deterred by the fact that he fell off his again and again. When he finally gave up, he had the same problem with his inner tube. The bathrooms/showers were not disgusting but I wasn't so sure how sanitary those children's diapers were in the water. .

Tons of options for hiking. My only gripe is the paid parking, but that seems typical for the…read morearea. Trails around the reservoir were fun and varied from rocky beaches, to steep grades, to rocks you could boulder or climb. The trails were well kept and they were not crowded. I'll have to check it out on a warmer day. There were a few people doing photo shoots while we were there also.

The view of the mountains to the west is one of the most beautiful anywhere! This trail is next to…read morea neighborhood and a golf course, so park in the bottom lot of the golf course. It is a single track easy meandering type trail, but beware of the cacti right next to and even on the trail. There is an elevation gain to get to the top of the butte, but as it is only a 1.3 mile total loop, it is not hard. Dogs are welcome, but must be on leashes.

Close to Devils head with a few trails around the butte and great views. Rarely busy.read more

Nice hike near the town. Moderate in difficulty and shaded in some areas. Not much parking so get…read morethere early. Beautiful view of the falls at the top.

This is a great trail but the location shown here for it is wrong. The trail is in Rocky Mountain…read moreNational Park on the edge of Estes Park. This map is a small community 12 miles east of Estes Park. Please use google to find the real location of this trail!

This campground, essentially right next to Loveland, is a gem. It's clean, well maintained and…read morefairly spacious. It's a big place, but right next to the lake and hiking trails. Unfortunately, it was cold and rainy while we were there, so didn't get much of a chance to explore.

Pretty nice lake. Boating, fishing, paddle boarding, nice beach area. The water felt good. I'd…read moredefinitely go back. I like that there was enough space for paddle boarders to not have to worry about boats and jet skis.

Great area in town for hiking, running, or to connect with the Poudre River Trail that now runs…read morethrough and connects to other side of I-25. Especially pretty in fall.

Came here for the first time this week. I didn't know it was here after all my years living in…read morefort collins. If you park at the main parking lot. There are dog poop bags available and also trash cans spread along the trail. Please do bag up your pups poop and deposit it in a trash can. Saw several bags just left along side the trail. Also folks left some garbage off the trail. Please do make sure you pack out what you pack in. Dont just leave your garbage there for someone else to pick up. The good : 1. There were not a lot of people. 2. There was a mix of dirt trails and paved trails, which was nice depending on what type of excursion you would like to have. 3. There was a lot of birds out. It seems like it would be a great place for bird watching. 4. There were a lot of various places you could park to get onto a trail? not sure if this is good or not. Some off road parking, over at the harmony park n ride, the main lot - which is not super large but seemed to accomodate the number of people that were there. The not as good : 1. There are a lot of bugs out. Bring your bug spray! or spray up before you head out here. 2. There are a lot of places to park?? It was a little confusing on where the trails go and where to start at. Maybe i just needed to do more research. I thought I was meeting up with some other ladies but i went to wrong lot initially and never did find them. Overall as far as natural areas go, it was good. I prefer hikes. BUT this was good for a nice walk.

I enjoyed seeing this incredible mountain during my time here at Rocky Mountain National Park. At…read more14,259 feet, Longs Peak is the highest point in Rocky Mountain National Park. This flat-topped monarch can be seen from almost anywhere in the park. It is popular for its 15-mile hike that takes between 10 and 15 hours to complete. It is a complicated and challenging hike to do. I did drive up to the trailhead to get a feel for a future hike someday. Longs Peak Trailhead is about a 9 mile drive west of Highway 7. When weather conditions are favorable, many climb to Longs Peak's summit via the Keyhole Route. Here you will experience steep cliffs, narrow ledges and loose rock. There are other more technical climbs on Longs Peak in addition to the the Keyhole Route. The East Face of the mountain is steep and is known as "The Diamond" because of it shape. It is world-famous for its Alpine climb. Deaths on Longs Peak are an annual occurrence. This hike is definitely not for beginner hikers. Longs Peak is near another high mountain called Mount Meeker. The two mountains are sometimes referred to as the Twin Peaks. If you do not want to do the challenge to the summit, there are some less-involved hikes on the peak that are easier. If you just want a nice view of Longs Peak from afar, there are some pullouts on scenic Highway 7 that give you great views of this incredible mountain. There are a couple of full campgrounds near Meeker Park if you want to camp overnight. Popular nature photographer Ansel Adams photographed this mountain in 1941. Longs Peak is named for explorer Stephen Harriman Long who claims to be the first to discover this mountain.

Longs peak is notorious for being the most fatal 14er due to the exposure and risk of fatal falls…read more That being said, it was much easier than I thought-this was the most well maintained and well marked trail from start to finish that I've ever been on. Now this review is coming from a seasoned hiker. I'm crazy about 14ers and on my journey to do them all. I've recently moved onto to some of the harder peaks, with this being my 39th summit. I took all of the precautions recommended: I packed lots of food & water, started at 2am, checked the weather etc. I felt that I could have started later as it was only 8 hours of hiking at a brisk pace. I hiked under a full moon and watched the sunrise as I ascended the keyhole. The only part where you have to route find is the Boulder field and it was quite manageable, even in the dark. The rocks are large and stable and a nice perk is the bathrooms that have a great view. There also happens to be a storm shelter to the left of the keyhole if you find yourself in a pinch. The narrows and class 3 sections were actually very fun. You have a decent amount of climbing but there are nice little yellow & red dots on the rocks to guide you. The exposure is considerable so do what you can not to fall. I noticed lots of hikers without a helmet on which surprised me...it's a long way down so I would highly recommend wearing one for the last few sections and especially for the last climb up the rock wall. The summit is beautiful and catching the sunrise on my way made the lack of sleep and hours hiking in the dark worth every minute. The summit is HUGE! Lots of areas to explore and take in the vistas. Round trip was only 5K elevation and 15.5 miles. It sounds like a lot, but up until the Boulder field is quite easy and gradual. The park rangers at the trail head were lovely and more nice bathrooms await. I appreciated the smooth drive up the the parking lot and had no problem finding parking at 2am on a Wednesday. You don't need a park pass or timed entry if you go before 9am (?) and you should definitely start before then!

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.

Emerald lake is one of the stars of RMNP. Its a stunning place to hike to year round, and it's…read morepretty moderate as a hike so it's accessible to most people. I personally prefer the lake in winter when it's frozen; there's something about the towering peaks covered in snow when you can walk right up to where the flat surface of the lake meets the bank. It's just stunning! It is very slipper when there's that much snow though so come prepared -- crampons/shoe chains are very helpful, and snow shoes can also be helpful. There are areas of the trail that get buried pretty deep in snow. Watch your step! Even in summer there are a lot of steps so you can slide on rocks etc. But it is a truly beautiful hike, all the time. You pass nymph and dream lake on the way out to emerald and they are also absolutely stunning - actually I prefer dream in summer when it's defrosted :)

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.