Rocky Mountain National Park
This itinerary is for a group of friends or family wanting to see the most out of the park in a weeks span, doing day hikes, visiting the surrounding towns, camping near one of the most sought after spots in Rocky Mountain National Park. Our time here was unforgettable with endless amounts of fields filled with Wildflowers, wildlife, and swimming spots!
Our First stay was at an Airbnb in Grand Lake, CO. This is on the west side of the National Park, a more secluded area compared to Estes Park. We stayed in Grand Lake for three nights and completed three-day hikes! Grand Lake feels and looks like an old western town next to a gorgeous lake and surrounded by mountains. There are plenty of restaurants and shops to browse and try out in this small town, and with ease of access to the National Park you’ll never be bored. Down below are the three hikes we did on the western side of the park.
*all titles are linked to All Trails website for easy access
This trail was a very easy hike that led us to a roaring waterfall! The trail itself is only .8 miles out and back but it gives off some great views of Grand Lake along the way. This is a great spot for sunsets as you are looking west out towards the lake. This is the more touristy hike in the area as it’s a 5 minute drive from town.
Timber Lake Trail
This is my favorite hike in Rocky Mountain National Park! It’s a 10.2 mile out & back trail 30 minutes outside of Grand Lake, CO. We arrived early in the morning alone in the parking lot eager to start or venture. The trek to the lake was very peaceful as we passed many streams and waterfalls along the way. About 2.5 miles into our hike, you will begin to see some open prairies filled with wildflowers and mountains tops above the tree line. It was picturesque! As you head out of the tree line a lake appears surrounded by mountain faces. A perfect place to have our lunch and enjoy a family of Moose across the Lake. It wasn’t until about an hour later where we had our first human interaction. I highly recommend waking up early to have the hike to yourself! Not only did I love the hike because of the wildlife and views but because it wasn’t a tourist attraction, I felt as if we were alone!
Peak 12150 Via Ute and Mount Idea Trail
Peak 12150 Trail is a cold and windy 5.6 mile out & back hike. For the first mile you are protected by the tree line from the brutal wind whipping down the mountain. You also will start to see the great views as you reach the tundra. I highly recommend warm clothing, and this must include a wind breaker! Once out of the forest you will hit the tundra which was filled with all sorts of wildlife including, deer, marmots, and mountain goats. The hike through the tundra offers some great views from all angles including the end of the hike where you must visit the other side of the mountain. It’s a little confusing on All Trails but there is a stopping point on the hike where it’s not specified on the trail itself. There is a small path that has seemed to be made that will lead you to the other side where you will see lakes and Trail Ridge Road!
This completed our stay on the western side of the park, and we made our way to our campground (Glacier Basin Campground). The only way to get there though is by taking one of the more scenic roads I’ve ever been on! Its Trail Ridge Road, its 48 miles in length and has unforgettable views along the way. I recommend stopping at all the pull offs as they are very informational and will tell you all about the rock formation and other interesting facts along the way. A must stop will be the Alpine Visitor Center where you can learn about snowfall and all the native animals that live there year around. The drive took up most of our day and it was well worth it!
We were lucky enough to book Glacier Basin Campground a week before our trip, this was huge because this gave us permits for Bear Lake and hikes around it. It’s a sought-after location in Rocky Mountain National Park, filled with many tails that lead to some unimaginable views in the park. This area does become rather crowded in the summer months which is why I enjoyed Timber Lake Trail so much this time of year. The Campground was perfect though, plenty of bathrooms with running water, bear lockers, trails nearby, endless views at what seemed to be all the camp sites. The best part was being just 20 minutes from Bear Lake!
Bear, Nymph, Dream and Emerald Lake Trail
Lake Haiyaha
All these hikes are do-able in a one day. I believe the total is right around 6 miles as you will have to back track on one of the hikes. Once arriving to the heavily trafficked area of Bear Lake, you are already welcomed with a gorgeous scene. This is the most popular hike in the park and that’s the reason why you need a pass for timed entry. This normally only occurs during busy season. The hike starts at bear lake and along the way you are welcomed with unreal view of these gorgeous lakes. Because of how heavily populated the trail is you probably won’t see much wildlife on the trail. The views are worth it thought. Emerald Lake and Lake Haiyaha are the favorites and are great lakes to take a dip in during the warm months! Lake Haiyaha is without a doubt one of the more interesting lakes you might ever see with famous turquoise coloring to cliffs above make it very unique. We stayed at Lake Haiyaha for a good while as we had lunch and went for a swim in the brutally cold water.
Estes Park
On our last day we went into Estes Park where it becomes very touristy but is still a must! The town is packed with people and unlike Grand Lake being more secluded the town does feel more commercialized. There are plenty of restaurants and gifts shops plus the odds of seeing elk wandering about is very high.
