Hiking
Rocky Mountain National Park
Estes Park · 3 days · Moderate
About This Trip
Three days in one of America's crown jewels — alpine lakes, elk meadows, and tundra above treeline. The park sees 4.5M visitors a year but most never venture past Bear Lake. Get up early, go long, and you'll have the wilderness to yourself.
Highlights
- Chasm Lake beneath Longs Peak
- Trail Ridge Road tundra walk
- Glacier Gorge and the Loch
- Wild Basin waterfalls
- Elk rut (September) or wildflower bloom (July)
Day-by-Day Plan
Day 1
Glacier Gorge — Alberta Falls to the Loch
- Continue to Sky Pond for the full day (11 mi, 1,800 ft gain)
- Alberta Falls only — easy 1.7 mi for a warm-up day
Day 2
Chasm Lake via Longs Peak Trailhead (4am start)
- Full Longs Peak summit (14,259 ft) — permit not required but 15+ hours
- Chasm Lake only — still spectacular, much more reasonable at 8.4 mi
Day 3
Trail Ridge Road + Tundra Communities Walk
- Ute Trail from Forest Canyon Overlook — 4 miles of open tundra
- Beaver Meadows Visitor Center area — flatter, easier, good for wildlife spotting