Reddit reviews Rocky Mountain National Park: The Complete Hiking Guide
We found 2 Reddit comments about Rocky Mountain National Park: The Complete Hiking Guide. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
We found 2 Reddit comments about Rocky Mountain National Park: The Complete Hiking Guide. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
I excerpted this from an email I sent to a buddy of mine. I used to guide hikes in and around RMNP.
The Completer Hiking Guide by Lisa Foster is the best guide to Rocky. She's a ranger there, or at least was when I was there.The only problem is that she doesn't really differentiate between hard scrambling and easy climbing.
http://www.amazon.com/Rocky-Mountain-National-Park-Complete/dp/0615526845/ref=dp_ob_title_bk
Hikes
Easy
Medium
~Go up Flattop. Hike the tundra to Hallets and Otis. Glissade down the Andrews Glacier, b/t Otis and Andrews. Hike out on the Loch trail. Check the conditions on the Andrews Glacier before doing this one. Also if there's still a snow pack, you may want to go with a guide, i.e. a hikemaster form the YMCA of the Rockies.
~This is above Emerald Lake at the base of the Tyndall glacier, which is a hanging glacier. To get there, find a route over the boulder field to the South, left, of Emerald Lake. I made it most of the way there and got turned around by a storm.
~There's a climber's trail heading toward the saddle between Flattop and and Notchtop Mtn, called Ptarmigan Point on the quads. You should look for it just past Two Rivers Lake, prior to heading down toward Lake Helene. It will be off to the left of the main trail. Follow it until your reach Ptarmigan Tarns. I think there are two.
~There's no trail once you turn off the trail to Odessa Lake. Scramble to the top and head to the west for the high point. Very nice view of Lake Helene.
Hard
Restaurants
~can't remember the name of it. Really, really good breakfast. Find a local and ask them. They should know about it. Head about 16 miles south on C0-7. It's right in the main part of Allenspark.
~don't remember much about the food. I went there for the live bluegrass every weekend. Here's the schedule: http://www.rockinnestes.com/
You should definitely spend a day hitting the breweries in Fort Collins.There are six breweries, I think. The tour at The New Belgium Brewery was a favorite. The EP Brewery isn't bad, either.
Lastly, some general tips for hiking there. Most of the rock there is granite. It is very hard on footwear. There will be perpetual construction on Trail Ridge road. This can lead to very long delays in both directions (hours). Plan accordingly. Much of the park is at high elevation. Afternoon thunderstorms are very common. If you're attempting a summit, or heading to a high elevation lake, you should be on your way down by around lunchtime. Plan on the early starts others have mentioned. You will probably have to acclimatize. Start with easier stuff and work your way up to more difficult hikes.The best source of information will be the rangers. They know their park and what goes on in it. Sorry for the wall of text. Enjoy the trip, RMNP is an amazing place.
Glad to help! An excellent book for looking up hikes is Lisa Foster's guide: http://www.amazon.com/Rocky-Mountain-National-Park-Complete/dp/0615526845
It's comprehensive. It hasn't been updated since the flood, but it's still very accurate.
Be sure to take a look at the flood scar on the side of Twin Sisters, too. It's visible from Highway 7. Twin Sisters can be a fun hike - and you get to hike across the flood scar - but it's not something I would recommend if you only have time for one long hike.
Check out the Alluvial Fan too.