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Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Looking for the best hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Rocky Mountain National Park. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Hiking Spots in and near Rocky Mountain National Park

  • Walden, Colorado

    Overnight at Nokhu Hut

    5.0
    3 mi / 540 ft gain
    The Nokhu Hut is part of the Never Summer Nordic Hut system, and makes for the perfect beginner Hut trip. The Hut has a stocked kitchen, wood shed, and small wood burning stove that keeps the tiny hut toasty warm.From the Hut, it is a short, easy hike to Lake Agnes - the trail often stays snowy u...
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  • Bellvue, Colorado

    Hike to Comanche Lake in Pingree Park

    3.5
    8 mi / 700 ft gain
    You start out hiking through the average Colorado forest for the first 4 miles of the 7-8 mile trip at about 6,500 feet. The trail is largely downhill for the first couple miles until it levels out and you are headed North. A little more than halfway, you come to Comanche Reservoir and hike up al...
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  • Bellvue, Colorado

    Winter camp at Zimmerman Lake

    2.7 mi / 518 ft gain
    This is a fairly popular snowshoeing and cross country skiing trail in the winter and offers a variety of additional trail options from the lake. Starting at the parking lot, the trailhead is easily accessed and begins the very gradual assent to Lake Zimmerman. Once at the lake, there are beautif...
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  • Grand Lake, Colorado

    Doe Creek Trail

    7.13 mi / 1617 ft gain
    Doe Creek Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a lake located near Granby, Colorado.
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  • Ward, Colorado

    Hike to Blue Lake

    4.6
    6 mi / 1000 ft gain
    Located in the Brainard Lake Recreational Area (west of Nederland, CO in the Indian Peaks Wilderness), this gem isn’t exactly a well-kept secret, but it has all the beauty that you could ask for in a relatively easy Colorado hike.To get the full effect of the lake, you may want to plan your hike ...
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  • Ward, Colorado

    Snowshoe or Ski Lake Isabelle

    10 mi
    Speechless. That’s how this hike will leave you. And not just because of its length. At over 10 miles, this snowshoe exploration is not for the faint of heart. But the language-defying beauty of this hike will make every sore muscle worth it.The Brainard Lake Recreational Area near Ward, Colorado...
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  • Ward, Colorado

    Shoshoni Peak

    5.0
    10.61 mi / 2470 ft gain
    Hike one of the most scenic 12ers in Colorado's front range, Shoshoni Peak, with an elevation of 12,967 feet. You can easily combine a summit of Pawnee Peak for wonderful views of multiple alpine cirques. Enjoy wonderful views of the Long Lake Valley, Isabelle Glacier, and Pawnee Pass regions. Fo...
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  • Ward, Colorado

    Climb Apache Peak

    10 mi / 3280 ft gain
    Start at the Long Lake Trailhead ($10 parking fee) and head up the trail towards Isabell Lake. You'll pass both Long Lake and Isabelle lake, with spectacular views at both. At Lake Isabelle, be sure to continue straight on the trail, further up the valley, not the right turn up to Pawnee Pass.Con...
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  • Ward, Colorado

    Pawnee & Buchanan Pass Loop

    5.0
    26.98 mi / 6978 ft gain
    Before you start your trip, get a camping permit from the Boulder Ranger Station. Plan to spend your first night in the Crater Lake BZ (Backcountry Zone), and your second in Buchanan BZ. If you're feeling particularly sedate, you can easily spend a third night in Coney Creek. Start early in the ...
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  • Ward, Colorado

    Pawnee Pass and Pawnee Peak

    5.0
    9.95 mi / 2490 ft gain
    Start at the Long Lake trailhead in the Brainard Lake Recreation area (there's a fee to park, if you don't have a pass). Take the trail towards Lake Isabelle for a few miles, winding through forest and past Long Lake. Signage towards Lake Isabelle and Pawnee Pass is apparent. Just as you reach ...
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  • Ward, Colorado

    Lake Isabelle via Long Lake Trailhead

    4.5
    4.09 mi / 374 ft gain
    Start at the Pawnee Pass Trail No. 907 Trailhead. Long Lake is about 2 tenths of a mile and Lake Isabelle is 2 miles from the trailhead. Keep an eye out for moose grazing in the bushes or in the water near Long Lake. This is a 4 mile out and back hike with well marked trails. For an 8.75 mile hi...
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  • Ward, Colorado

    Isabelle Glacier

    5.0
    8.62 mi / 1578 ft gain
    Getting There The trailhead can be reached from Boulder by driving west through Boulder Canyon on Highway 42 to Nederland, then going north on the Peak-to-Peak Highway 72 to the town of Ward. From there, a National Forest Sign on the west side of the highway provides directions to the ranger stat...
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  • Nederland, Colorado

    Camping at Brainard Lake

    5.0
    Pawnee Campground has 47 sites for suited for tents, RVs, or trailers with eight that are walk in and tent only. These can fill up quick so get there early if you don't have a reservation, which can be tough to come by but will be well worth it.Brainard Lake has been one of the most popular hikin...
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  • Ward, Colorado

    Hike to Mitchell Lake

    4.0
    4 mi
    Located in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area, Mitchell Lake is a good quick hike for an afternoon getaway. With just two miles to go till you reach the lake itself, it's easy for the whole family and the pups (the recreation area is super popular, so this is assuming the lots are full and you hav...
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  • Ward, Colorado

    Explore Red Rock Lake, CO

    3.0
    If you are looking for great reflections, color and mountain peaks for your photos, this lake is a great place to start. The Brainard Lake Recreational Area has so much to do, but this is a stop not to miss.It seems that everyone drives on by this little gem to get to Brainard Lake and the hiking...
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  • Ward, Colorado

    Hike the Ceran St. Vrain Trail

    5.0
    4 mi / 1207 ft gain
    The Ceran St. Vrain trail north of Jamestown offers the hiker a nice respite from the summer sun as this path runs through dense pine forests. The trail follows the South St. Vrain Creek for most of the way and follows moderate grades throughout. There is no official end to the trail, only that i...
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