Best Family Friendly Hikes Near Estes Park
Estes Park is snuggled within the Rocky Mountains and your jumping off point for the eastern side of Rocky Mountain National Park. This high alpine terrain is not to be taken lightly… but as one of the top five visited national parks in the country, where do you begin?
Look no further! I’ve been hiking and traveling through the Rocky Mountains as an avid outdoors person, photographer and lover of nature. Let me take the trouble out of finding your next family friendly hike!
DREAM LAKE
No family friendly hike near Estes Park or within Rocky Mountain National Park would be complete without the iconic Dream Lake. Not only one of the most photographed locations in RMNP, it is also easily accessible, with most of the trail being paved. The lake is especially picturesque at sunrise, when Hallet Peak glows a bright red as the sun rises from behind you.
Details:
Location: trailhead starts at Bear Lake Trail Head. Be aware, roughly May-September requires a permit for the Bear Lake corridor.
Distance: just under 2 miles and 500 feet of elevation gain, with a mostly paved trail
Rating: moderate (dont under estimate hiking at elevation!)
Expert tips: Dream lake is accessible year around and is especially beautiful during the winter, with snow capped peaks and frozen ripples of water. Don’t forget your micro spikes and trekking poles, this hike can get serious quick in the winter months. Dream Lake is an excellent jumping off point to explore many other lakes, including Emerald Lake, Nymph Lake, and Bear lake
SPRAGUE LAKE
Sprague Lake, RMNP during sunset in early spring, photo by Joshua Raines Photography
Another great option located along the Bear Lake corridor is Sprague Lake. This high alpine lake looks up to Hallet Peak and the rockies beyond. Beautiful at sunset as the the sun dips behind the distant peaks, but also worth your while for an early morning stroll as moose and other wildlife frequent this lake.
Details:
Location: located along the bear lake corridor with the trail named after the lake itself
Details: just under 1 mile around the lake, with plenty of benches to stop and take in the breathtaking scenery. The hike is nearly completely flat, making it great for little ones and strollers.
Rating: easy
Expert Tips: bring a lunch and enjoy a beautiful day in nature, picnic tables are located near the trail head. For the more adventurous, try to make sunrise as moose frequent this lake early in the morning.
Bierstadt Lake
Taken just below Bierstadt Lake on an early fall day, photo by Joshua Raines Photography
For those looking for a quad buster, Bierstadt Lake may push your limits, but is well worth the effort. Also located on the bear lake corridor, this uphill hike ends in a beautiful high alpine lake. During the fall, this trail is a favorite for taking in the changing aspens.
Details:
Location: Bierstadt Lake Trailhead, located on the Bear Lake Corridor
Details: This trail gains nearly 700 feet elevation in roughly 1.5 miles, making it quite the start! The good news, it is an out and back hike so its all downhill to finish a roughly 3 mile hike.
Rating: strenuous
Expert Tips: Although beautiful anytime of year, the aspens along this uphill hike provide a beautiful frame for the distant Longs Peak.
OTHER IDEAS:
Alberta Falls: roughly a 1.6 mile hike off the Glacier Gorge Trail Head ends in one of the parks biggest waterfalls. Beautiful aspen groves make this hike a fall classic!
Ouzel Falls: a little longer, though a much more gradual incline, this five mile and change hike takes you to a gushing waterfall. Even better, this hike starts at the Wild Basin entrance, which is less travelled and has more lenient permit requirements.
East Inlet Trail: for those who want to explore Trail Ridge Road and the west side of the park, East Inlet Trail is a great starting point for families! Although the entire trail goes for over 18 miles, it is an out and back with a beautiful stream and high alpine lakes nestled throughout. Another great early morning hike for those looking to find some wildlife!
Less than 2 miles in to East Inlet Trail, this overlook is a great spot to catch the sunrise. If you look closely, you can see the moose in the distance
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For question or a more detailed itinerary built for your specific needs, please email joshuarainesphotos@gmail.com