While hiking to Mt Ida, you really feel like you are walking on top of the world. For much of this hike you walk along the Continental Divide, so you have panoramic views across the park. It gets even better once you reach the summit of Mt Ida. From here, at an elevation of 12,899 […]
The Emerald Lake hike is one of the most popular hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. On this hike, you get to see three very pretty alpine lakes (Nymph Lake, Dream Lake, and Emerald Lake), with the option to add on Bear Lake and Lake Haiyaha. This is a great hike for almost all ages […]
The Black Canyon of the Gunnison is a highly underrated national park. In some ways, it’s a smaller, less crowded version of the Grand Canyon. You can enjoy the views along both rims, hike the rim trails, or go on a real adventure by hiking below the rim. You can explore both the North and […]
Driving South Rim Drive Road is one of the best things to do in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Along its short distance, you can take your pick between 12 overlooks. This is the easiest and fastest way to get panoramic views of the canyon, see the unique, striated cliffs, and peer down to […]
Located in southwestern Colorado, Mesa Verde National Park is one of the most unique national parks in the United States. This park preserves the ancient Puebloan cliff dwellings and archeological sites that are hundreds of years old. Short hikes, scenic drives, and viewpoints make the to-do list, but the best way to experience this park […]
The Twin Sisters Peak trail, which crosses between Rocky Mountain National Park and the Roosevelt National Forest, offers 360° views from the top of the Twin Sisters Peaks. Since this hike is on the far eastern edge of Rocky Mountain National Park, you get a panoramic view of the national park, with Longs Peak and […]
Rocky Mountain National Park is best seen from a hiking trail. Fortunately, there are hikes for all ages and ability levels. From short, easy strolls around lakes, to ridgeline trails with panoramic views, to challenging but epic climbs to the tallest mountain peaks, there truly is something here for everyone. Here are 15 of the […]
Deer Mountain is one of the easier hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park that offers high mountain views. To get to the peak, it’s an almost constant uphill walk through an evergreen forest. You will get occasional glimpses of Longs Peak early on during the hike, but for the most part, you will have to […]
The Gunnison Route takes hikers from the south rim of the Black Canyon to the Gunnison River. It’s the most popular inner canyon experience on the south rim, but don’t let that fool you. This is a hard, strenuous hike where you will descend (and later hike back up) a massive amount of elevation in […]
Great Sand Dunes is a much different experience than many other national parks in the United States. Sure, there is hiking and amazing sunsets and ranger programs, but this park has a much different feel to it. It’s a small park and the list of things to do is very short. A few hours are […]
Gem Lake is a short but strenuous hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. Not only do you get to visit a pretty lake but you also get sweeping views of Estes Park with Longs Peak in the distance. If you are looking for a short, family-friendly hike, and don’t mind a bit of a stair […]
The hike to Odessa Lake and onward to Fern Lake is a relatively low-traffic trail in Rocky Mountain National Park. Its nearby neighbors of Bear Lake, Emerald Lake, and Dream Lake get a lot more visitors, so if you are looking for a relatively uncrowded trail with the chance to visit multiple alpine lakes, this […]
Sky Pond is one of the best hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park for good reason. This hike has a little bit of everything…waterfalls, alpine lakes, high mountain views, and fun river and stream crossings. To get to Sky Pond, you will rock scramble up a waterfall, which can be refreshing when the weather is […]