Hike to Lily Mountain

After winding up the side of the mountain by car, you finally arrive at the trailhead which is really just a pull off to the side of the road. We were there after Labor Day, and it was still full of cars so I assume it's even busier in the summer. Also, it's just a ten minute drive from downtown Estes Park!

Elevation starts at 8780 feet, and ends at 9786 feet for a total of 1180 feet for a 2 mile hike (one-way). The trail is very easy to follow the whole way up, with viewpoints at a few places along the way. However, once we got to the rock scramble at the top it took us a few tries to get to the right place that took us to the very top. This hike ended up being probably one of the best hikes around for what it is because it had such amazing views at the top. Truly 360 degree views, and on a clear day you can see for miles! Probably the best hike I have ever done.

The highlight of this hike for us is that we were able to bring our dog with us. Many parks don't let you bring your dog so our options were severely limited, but Lily Mountain did not disappoint! Also, if you put a backpack on your dog like we did, they get tired faster than usual and you don't have to carry your own water :) Our dog still seemed to have lots of energy even after descending so we might need to choose a longer hike next time.