Best Trails in Estes Park
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Top trails (170)
- Emerald Lake TrailThis scenic hiking trail through the Tyndall Gorge to Emerald Lake is an extremely popular route in Rocky Mountain National Park. Starting from the Bear Lake Trailhead, hikers will walk through pine forests, past pristine alpine lakes including Nymph Lake and Dream Lakes, and be treated to beautiful vistas of rocky peaks. Throughout your trip you’ll come across incredible views of Flattop Mountain, Hallett Peak, Glacier Gorge, and Tyndall Glacier. This is a great hike for photographers to...
- Sky Pond via Glacier Gorge TrailThis hike to Sky Pond features some of the best views in Rocky Mountain National Park. The trek begins at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead along Bear Lake Road. You'll also stop by several other sought-after spots including Alberta Falls, The Loch (also known as Loch Vale), Lake of Glass, and Timberline Falls. You can also add on a side trip to Andrew's Tarn on your way back. Shortly after setting off along the Glacier Gorge Trail, you’ll come to Alberta Falls. For much of the climb, you’ll...
- Lake HaiyahaLake Haiyaha is a very popular destination within Rocky Mountain National Park. It is known for its clear, beautiful water where trout are often visible. The lake is surrounded by boulders and beautiful rock formations. In 2022, the lake changed color to a milky turquoise due to landslides above the lake in Chaos Canyon. This route goes by several gorgeous high-altitude lakes and has intermittent views of Long’s Peak. It starts at the Bear Lake Trailhead and much of the way to Nymph Lake...
- Nymph, Dream, Emerald, and Haiyaha Lakes via Nymph Lake TrailModerate•4.9(4756)#4 - Nymph, Dream, Emerald, and Haiyaha Lakes via Nymph Lake TrailLength: 5.0 mi•Est. 2h 34mThis route takes you to several gorgeous and popular high-altitude lakes and has intermittent views of Long’s Peak. It starts at the Bear Lake Trailhead, taking you first to Nymph Lake. Nymph lake is known for the lily pads that often fill the lake during the summer months. There is a great place to see fields of wildflowers during the summertime between Nymph and Dream Lake. From Dream Lake to Lake Haiyaha there is a steep wooded section and some boulders to wind through. The route flattens...
- Gem Lake TrailThe beautiful trail leading up to Gem Lake features interesting rock formations and amazing views of Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. Although located in the park, this great hike begins before the park’s main entrance. You can find the Lumpy Ridge Trailhead just off Devils Gulch Road in Estes Park. This hike begins in a relatively lower elevation zone of the park and climbs almost 1,000 feet. The breathtaking views on your way up make every step worth it. After a short distance...
- Dream Lake TrailGet ready for a trip to the incredibly scenic Dream Lake! The trail is clearly marked and easy to follow. The alpine lake water is so clear that you can often see cutthroat trout swimming by. You'll also visit Nymph Lake, which is filled with lily pads in the summer months. This hike is often lined with gorgeous wildflowers during the summer. You'll start at the Bear Lake trailhead parking lot in Glacier Gorge. This trailhead is popular. The parking lot usually fills up early during the...
- The Loch via Glacier Gorge TrailModerate•4.8(4478)#7 - The Loch via Glacier Gorge TrailLength: 5.4 mi•Est. 2h 40mThe trek to the Loch (aka Loch Vale) from Glacier Gorge Trailhead is an incredible route that features amazing views of the Eastern Glacier Knobs, Taylor Glacier, and several surrounding peaks You’ll start out on a rather gentle incline and pass Alberta Falls before making your way around the Eastern Glacier Knobs. Between the West and East Glacier Knobs, you’ll come to a trail junction that leads north to the gorgeous Lake Haiyaha. At this same trail intersection, you’ll also have the...
- Mills Lake via Glacier Gorge TrailModerate•4.8(3359)#8 - Mills Lake via Glacier Gorge TrailLength: 5.2 mi•Est. 2h 21mIconic Mills Lake sits at the top of Glacier Gorge. This route takes you past several popular Rocky Mountain National Park destinations to the serene Mills Lake. You'll pass Alberta Falls and Glacier Falls before reaching the lake. The boulders around the lake are great spots to take a break before heading back to the trailhead. This is a very popular hike, especially during the summer months. There is limited parking at the trailhead. You can also consider beginning this trail from the...
- Chasm LakeChasm Lake is a classic, must-do Colorado hike. You’ll get incredible views while traversing the subalpine forest up to the alpine tundra. The lake sits below the spectacular Long’s Peak, the highest peak in the park. You’ll start at Long’s Peak Trailhead and hike along the Long’s Peak Trail. This trailhead is very popular and becomes full early in the morning. Weather conditions on this route can change to severe, storming, or wintery at any time (even in the middle of the summer)....
- Bear, Nymph, Dream, and Emerald Lake via Bear Lake and Nymph Lake TrailModerate•4.8(2499)#10 - Bear, Nymph, Dream, and Emerald Lake via Bear Lake and Nymph Lake TrailLength: 3.8 mi•Est. 1h 52mThis route takes you to many of the popular, sought-after lake destinations within the Bear Lake area. You'll take a tour around Bear Lake before heading off to Nymph Lake (known for its yellow-flowered lily pads during summer), Dream Lake, and Emerald Lake. You'll head back to the Bear Lake trailhead on the Nymph Lake Trail. The Bear Lake trailhead area is extremely popular. The parking lot often fills up early during the summer months and on weekends. This hike is also popular in the...
Showing results 1 - 10 of 170
Helpful reviews of trails in Estes Park
Apr 14. 2 PM start. Packed snow throughout the trail. Spikes are a must have. Didn’t use poles much. All lakes save for a small portion of Dream Lake are still walkable.
The first third was rather busy. The Lake Haiyaha portion was peaceful. Watch where your step to avoid sinking into soft snow mere foot away from the path.
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Frequently asked trail questions about Estes Park
What are the different types of hiking trails in Estes Park?
There are plenty of things to do on Estes Park's hiking trails. On AllTrails.com, you'll find 157 hiking trails, 60 running trails, 56 backpacking trails, and more.
What is the longest trail in Estes Park?
According to AllTrails.com, the longest trail in Estes Park is Lake Nanita and Nokoni via Flattop Mountain and North Inlet Trail. This trail is estimated to be 25.7 mi long.
Which trail has the most elevation gain in Estes Park?
Estes Park: With an ascent of 7,519 ft, Lake Nanita and Nokoni via Flattop Mountain and North Inlet Trail has the most elevation gain of all of the trails in the area. The next highest ascent trail is Longs Peak via Storm Pass and Longs Peak Trail with 7,112 ft of elevation gain.
What is the most popular and difficult trail in Estes Park?
The most popular and difficult trail in Estes Park is Sky Pond via Glacier Gorge Trail with a 4.9-star rating from 12,522 reviews.
Are there camping trails available in Estes Park?
According to AllTrails.com, there are 57 camping trails in Estes Park and the most popular is Sky Pond via Glacier Gorge Trail with an average 4.9 star rating from 12,522 community reviews.
Are there running trails available in Estes Park?
According to AllTrails.com, there are 60 running trails in Estes Park and the most popular is The Loch via Glacier Gorge Trail with an average 4.8 star rating from 4,478 community reviews.
Are there biking trails available in Estes Park?
According to AllTrails.com, there are 9 biking trails in Estes Park and the most popular is Lake Estes Trail with an average 4.4 star rating from 2,152 community reviews.