Trails in the northeast section of Rocky Mountain National Park and Roosevelt National Forest

by Michael Hodges

by Jesse Speer

by Dan Gable

The northeast trails are near Estes Park and Roosevelt National Forest. Access is via US 34 or US 36.

Alberta Falls

Delightful! See for yourself - Here's a video.

Andrews Glacier

Spectacular route to the Divide via Andrews Pass. Ascend via the south side.

Balanced Rock

Bear Lake Loop

An easy walk around a high-mountain lake with peak views. Tucked into the spruce/fir forest at the base of Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain, this 0.6-mile loop is one of Rocky's most famous trails .Unlike other trails listed as accessible by the Park, Bear Lake is not... [more]

Beaver Mountain Loop

Bierstadt Lake

A level walk through forest, with Continental Divide views.

Black Canyon Trail

This trail intersects the Cow Creek Trail, and forms part of the Gem lake loop.

Black Lake

Black lake is surrounded by tall cliffs and dramatic peaks. Hike around the lake for lunch.

Boulder Brook

A beautiful babbling brook that tumbles from the tundra into the dark forest below Longs Peak.

Bridal Veil Falls

An attractive day hike to a 20' waterfall.

Chasm Falls

A favorite winter hike to icy waterfalls goes up Old Fall River Road when it's closed to vehicles.

Chasm Falls in the Winter

"From the West Alluvial Fan parking lot, hike 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the junction of Endovalley Road and Old Fall River Road. Along the way, you pass the remains of cabins used by the prison laborers who built Old Fall River Road early in the century. At the road... [more]

Cow Creek Trail

This trail extends past the Bridal Falls turnoff to intersect the Lawn Lake trail shortly below the lake.

Crystal Lake

Cub Lake

Cub Lake in the Winter

"The Cub Lake trail begins in the willow thickets along the Big Thompson River and continues upward through stands of pine and aspen. Hiking the trail, you pass through a varied landscape of moraines, cliffs, streams and ponds. Ice or deep snow sometimes makes the last mile difficult, and may... [more]

Culp-Bossier, Hallet's Peak

Culp-Bossier, Hallet's Peak, III, 5.8: The Northcutt-Carter (III, 5.7) on Hallet's has more history and is included in Steck-Roper's Fifty Classic Climbs in North America. It receives the most traffic. The Northcutt-Carter also may well have gotten more climbers lost than any other route in Colorado. Counting the number of... [more]

Deer Mountain

Deer Mountain gives a 360° view of east Rocky Mountain National Park.

Deer Mountain in the Winter

"The route up Deer Mountain begins in a stand of mature ponderosa pine and winds upward past lodgepole pine, aspen, and limber pine to the summit plateau, which offers spectacular views of the Continental Divide. While the lower trail generally has little snow, you can expect packed and drifted snow... [more]

Dream Lake

In the winter this is a good snowshoe tour to one of the most photographed lakes in the park

Emerald Lake

Most popular destination in Bear Lake area. Start early!

Fern Falls

Steep Falls among a jumble of downed timber provides a refreshing mist in the summer heat.

Fern Lake

A gorgeous lake with views of the Continental Divide. It is a heavily used area

Flattop Mountain

Easiest hike to the Continental Divide.

Forest Canyon Pass

Gem Lake

"The shallow waters of Gem Lake are cradled high among the rounded granite domes of Lumpy Ridge. Untouched by glaciation, this outcrop of 1.8 billion-year-old granite has been sculpted by wind and chemical erosion into a backbone-like ridge. Signs of these erosional forces--pillars, potholes, and balanced rocks--appear midway along the... [more]

Hallet Peak

Jewel Lake

Lake Estes

Lake Estes in the town of Estes Park is ringed by a lovely, wide, paved path that meanders through a bird sanctuary, beside a golf course, along the Big Thompson River and Fish Creek, through the lakeside picnic area and along the lakeshore. Wonderful for strolling, biking, dog walking, birding,... [more]

Lake Helene

Lake of Glass

Use caution passing the falls and be ready for wind.

Lawn Lake Trail

The Lawn Lake trail climbs to a pair of beautiful alpine lakes (Lawn Lake and Crystal Lake) along the course of the Roaring River. The river shows the massive damaged caused by a dam failure in 1982 that claimed the lives of three campers.

Mill Creek Basin

Mills Lake

This trail offers dramatic views of Glacier Gorge from the lake shore.

North Boundary Trail

Use this trail to connect to the Lost Lake trail system.

North Fork Trail

This trail begins outside of the park, and travels through the Comanche Peak Wilderness before reaching the park boundary. The trail ends at Lost Lake. It intersects the Stormy Peaks trail and North Boundary trail along the way.... [more]

Nymph Lake

Odessa Lake

Potts Puddle

Sky Pond

Snowshoe Trail

Sprague Lake

Abner Sprague homesteaded in this area more than a century ago and created a trout pond by damming a stream. Sprague also undoubtedly appreciated the breathtaking views of the Continental Divide, which are best seen from this half-mile-long trail at the far end of the lake..An accessible backcountry camping site... [more]

Spruce Lake

Stormy Peaks Trail

Stormy Peaks connects Colorado State University's Pingree Park campus in the Comanche Peak Wilderness and the North Fork Trail inside the park.

The Loch

The Pool

A large pool, surrounded by steep rock walls, in the Big Thompson River.

The Pool in the Winter

"The Pool is a turbulent water pocket formed below the confluences of Spruce and Fern Creeks with the Big Thompson River. The winter route is along a gravel road, which soon narrows to a trail at the Fern Lake Trailhead. While hiking this relatively flat trail along the Big Thompson... [more]

Timberline Falls

One of the most beautiful falls in the park.

Tombstone Ridge

An easy tundra walk with stunning views.

Two Rivers Lake

Explore!

[Printable version] [Add to my travel notebook] [Add a picture, video or comments!]