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  • Rocky Mountain National Park
  • Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

    For a mountain person, you just can't beat the Rockies. Home to some of the most glorious mountains in the world, countless lakes and rivers, world-class rock climbing and miles of trails, this place belongs on everyone's national park bucket list.

    Top Spots in and near Rocky Mountain National Park

    • Walden, Colorado

      Backcountry Ski or Snowboard at Cameron Pass

      To get to Cameron Pass, drive west out of Fort Collins from Highway 287, to Highway 14, into Poudre Canyon. Take the drive all the way through Poudre Canyon, and soon you will climb out of the canyon and towards the continental divide at Cameron Pass. Once you see the sign at the top of the pass ...
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    • Walden, Colorado

      Snowshoeing at Blue Lake near Cameron Pass

      10 mi / 1500 ft gain
      While the trail does have quite a bit of elevation gain you don't really feel it since it is dispersed among five miles of trail. The first part of the trail is a wider road with a few look out points of nearby Chambers Lake. About two miles in you reach the end of the National Forest area. From ...
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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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    • Granby, Colorado

      Ice Fish on Lake Granby

      Looking to catch some fresh trout? This might be the place to get it! If it's your first time fishing Lake Granby, here's some pointers:Those of you coming from Denver, take US 40W past Winter Park, Fraser and Tabernash until you hit Granby. After you pass through the town of Granby, turn right o...
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    • Bellvue, Colorado

      Snowshoe Sawmill Creek Trail

      7 mi / 1660 ft gain
      To reach the Sawmill Creek Trailhead you have to park at the Blue Lake Trailhead parking lot located across from Long Draw Road (Rd 156) Turn-off. Once you park here you'll see a big sign for the Blue Lake Trail but you'll have to continue following the road up (Southwest) for about 100 yards unt...
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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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