Best Challenging Day Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park
BLUEBIRD LAKE, WILD BASIN WILDERNESS
Bluebird Lake located in the Wild Basin Wilderness of Rocky Mountain National Park, taken by Joshua Raines photography
Starting off the list with a classic, Bluebird Lake is located in the Wild Basin Wilderness. Perks of this area are easier to obtain permits and often less travelled trails. This hike culminates in a beautiful high alpine lake, but the distance and elevation gain will certainly make you earn it.
Details:
Location: Wild Basin Trail System
Distance: roughly 14 miles with nearly 3k feet of elevation gain
Difficulty: strenuous, with alltrails showing an average completion time of over 7 hours
Expert Tip: Given the high elevation, snow often remains late into July. It is never a bad idea to carry trekking poles and micro spikes year around. Parking is also limited at the trailhead, so on busy weekend days, make sure to arrive early!
SKY POND, BEAR LAKE CORRIDOR:
Loch Vale, located just below Sky Pond in Rocky Mountain National Park, taken by Joshua Raines Photography
Sky Pond, located along the Bear Lake Corridor, has many potential routes. The easiest route, although with limited parking, starts at the glacier gorge trailhead. Loch Vale is a beautiful lake that is a great spot to stop for lunch, or capture a sunset on your way down. This hike is unique, in that the last mile you scale up and through a waterfall to reach Sky Pond. Don’t forget to look at the mountain range to the right of Sky Pond, often described as the “sharks fin” for is distinct appearance.
DETAILS:
Location: Bear Lake Corridor with the dominant route starting at glacier gorge trailhead.
Duration: just under 9 miles and 2k feet of elevation gain, this is is one of the “easier” strenuous hikes on this list.
Difficulty: difficult to strenuous
Expert Tips: Make sure to snag your bear corridor permit prior to trying to climb this iconic trail during the summer. If Glacier Gorge parking is filled (which often happens early in the morning), there is a shuttle system before Bierstadt Lake Trailhead. Bring waterproof hiking boots as the last segment climbs up and over a waterfall. In the winter months, make sure to bring traction devices and an ice axe.
TWO RIVERS LAKE LOOP, BEAR LAKE CORRIDOR
Two Rivers Lake with Notchtop Mountain in the distance, located in Rocky Mountain National Park along the Bear Lake Corridor. Taken By Joshua Raines Photography
Although Two Rivers Lake Loop is along the Bear Lake Corridor and does require a Bear Lake permit, this trail system is much less traveled than Dream, Nymph and Emerald Lake. This hike is not short on high alpine lakes and after leaving Bear Lake, you really begin to feel like you have the entire park to yourself. This hike also displays some of the more rugged, unique peaks in RMNP, with Notchtop shown above.
DETAILS:
Location: Bear Lake Trailhead
Distance: the entire loop is just under 13 miles and 3,300 feet of elevation gain
Difficulty: Strenuous
Expert Tip: the first series of lakes, Two Rivers Lake and Lake Helene offer a great turning around point if you feel like you’ve gotten in over your head. Another way to split up the hike is to camp in the several backcountry sites. I enjoy the sourdough campsite, though permits are required for overnight stays and can be hard to come by last minute.
CHASM LAKE, LONGS PEAK TRAIL SYSTEM
Chasm lake sits just below the iconic Longs Peak. This area of RMNP often has some of the harshest weather, with snowfall late into spring, gusts of wind, and frigid temperatures. Don’t take this hike lightly. For the bold who complete the hike, the reward is a nearly 360 degree mountain range surrounding an idyllic high alpine lake.
DETAILS:
Location: located at the longs peak trailhead
Distance: all trails has this hike listed as 8 miles, but my GPS clocked in at closer to 11. Roughly 2,500 feet of elevation gain happen mostly in the first 2-3 miles.
Difficulty: strenuous
Expert Tip: Bring a wind breaker. This high alpine environment is often extremely windy. Also remember micro spikes and trekking poles. Even late into the summer hiking season there is often a small snowfield with a moderate amount of exposure. A fall here could be deadly, take caution. On your way down, stop to watch the sunset as the dipping light illuminates the Twin Sister Peaks.
EAST INLET TRAIL:
East Inlet Trail of Rocky Mountain National Park. Located Near Grand Lake, CO. Image captured by Joshua Raines Photography
Located on the west edge of Rocky Mountain National Park, near Grand Lake, CO, East Inlet Trail offers a little something for everyone. This out and back trail system can be as easy or hard as you want. The first few miles of the trail offer a relatively flat exploration of the winding stream, even a waterfall in your first mile. However, things get serious after that, with a series of high alpine lakes ending in Fifth Lake, roughly 9 miles out and 3k feet up
DETAILS:
Location: near Grand Lake, CO located on the western edge of Rocky Mountain National Park.
Duration: an out and back trail where the last high alpine lake is roughly 9 miles out. The good news, its all downhill on the way back.
Difficulty: strenuous, 18 total miles.
Expert Tips: There are several back country camping spots along the way, though a permit is required. Split this hike up in to two days and grab an overnight camping spot.
THE KEYHOLE AND LONGS PEAK
Fine art edit of this classic Colorado 14er, Longs Peak, RMNP. Image by Joshua Raines Photography
No challenging day hikes of Rocky Mountain National Park would be complete without the iconic Keyhole route to Longs Peak. At 14,259 feet, this towering mountain is visible even from Denver. If the elevation gain and distance don’t scare you, the rapidly changing environment should. Experienced climbers such as Tommy Caldwell and Alex Honnold have even succumbed to the power of Longs and spent cold, sleepless nights at elevation.
DETAILS:
Location: Longs Peak Trailhead.
Distance: Over 13 miles and just under 5,000 feet of elevation gain, topping at an elevation above 14k feet.
Difficulty: strenuous, with areas of significant exposure. The Keyhole route is a class 3 climb.
Expert Tip: You will want to be off the mountain early in the afternoon as thunderstorms often roll in and can be life threatening. If you are stuck above the treeline, there are several rock huts that may provide emergency shelter. For those looking to break up the hike, the boulder field has backcountry camping sites. Finally, for those looking to see Longs Peak upclose, but with a slightly easier ascent, consider summiting Mt. Lady Washington. This is a particularly fantastic spot to watch the sunrise as the warm glow from early morning illuminates “the diamond” a deep red.
Honorable Mentions:
Thunder Lake trail is a beautiful high alpine lake located off the Wild Basin Trail System. Finally, Mt Ida is a great hike off trail ridge road and provides a beautiful overlook of Grand lake.
For in depth hiking guides, photography tips and discounts to fine art prints, subscribe to my newsletter below!