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Details

Distance

10 miles

Elevation Gain

3000 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Nate Luebbe

Described as "the best hike in Rocky Mountain National Park," the Mt. Ida trail is a seldom-hiked gem hidden in one of the most popular National Parks. 

In the iconically beautiful Colorado summers Rocky Mountain National Park is home to a veritable swarm of daily visitors. Well maintained trails and postcard-worthy vistas make nearly every hike in the park feel like you're standing in line at the airport. I'm a bit of a glutton for solitude, and finding a hike in "The Park" where I can avoid the crowds was mandatory. Enter Mt. Ida. 

Since the hike isn't listed on any official trail maps, and even the trailhead (Milner Pass at Poudre Lake) doesn't specifically mention Mt. Ida, this beautiful climb and picturesque summit is always nearly deserted. But the Mt. Ida trail isn't for the faint of heart. Nearly 10 miles roundtrip with over 3,000 vertical feet of elevation change each direction. The trail starts at 10,700 feet and immediately climbs above treeline. The next 4 miles of hiking are across gorgeous alpine tundra, dotted with wildflowers and majestic peaks of the Never Summer mountain range as a backdrop. Overall the trail is very well maintained, and you won't have to do hardly any work into route finding until the last half mile or so. At almost the exact halfway point the trail has a very prominent fork (marked with a large rock cairn). Follow the trail to the right for Mt. Ida, the trail to the left takes you to Peak 12150.  Continue on for another mile or so to the shoulder. From there it becomes half scrambling, half rock hopping, but there is almost no opportunity to get lost. Keep going uphill until there is no more uphill, and that's the summit! 

Overall this hike is very doable for most people, but I do have some words of caution:

- This is 10 miles of hiking above 11,000 feet. Bring lots of water, some snacks, and adequate protection from the elements (rain, snow, sun etc.). 

- Keep an eye on the weather!!! You are extremely exposed in this alpine tundra, and weather conditions can change VERY fast. If a thunderstorm rolls in, you will be in a very bad place, with almost no shelter to be found. 

The pictures that accompany this article show quite a bit of low hanging clouds. These clouds were relics of high humidity, and were not remnants of a storm. All parties on this hike were seasoned hikers with years of experience reading weather patterns and we knew the risk was low. Please do not gamble on this hike. 

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