Rocky Mountain Light, Gentle Hiking Tour (3-Day Guided Trip)

Distance: 5 miles

Elevation Gain: 650 feet

Largest Single Elevation Gain: 260 feet

On Day 1, after the DIA airport pick up, we’ll shuttle past Estes park to Morraine Park – a remnant of the last ice age. We’ll hike through the meadow, over a ridge to a beautiful lake, with views of the imposing mountains behind.

Distance: 5 miles

Elevation Gain: 950 feet

Largest Single Elevation Gain: 300 feet

We have a beloved loop planned on Day 2 starting from the Bear Lake trailhead. The route will take us on a gently meandering trail past some of the most photographed lakes in the park including Bear, Nymph, Dream, Emerald and Lake Haiyaha. Along the route we have stupendous views of the snow topped towering peaks above us. We continue over a rise and down into the Glacier Creek valley, then follow the creek to thundering Alberta Falls, and beyond that into Glacier Gorge and back to the trailhead. (6 miles) We should still have time after the hike to wander a bit around Estes Park which has a quaint, small-town ambiance, before heading to tour the famous Stanley Hotel, and our evening dinner.

Distance: 4 miles

Elevation Gain: 450 feet

Largest Single Elevation Gain: 100 feet

Day 3 we’ll enjoy a drive up the famous Trailridge Road to above treeline. Here an old Indian route has been converted to a gentle trail across the tundra. The Ute trail provides expansive views and alpine tundra scenery while trekking entirely above tree line. This is a moderate trail that continues generally down for two miles next to Tombstone Ridge before reaching the edge of the Mesa high above the Big Thompson valley. Besides commanding views of Long Peak to the south and the Continental Divide to the west, you are likely to see pika, marmot, big horn sheep, mountain goats, elk and deer if you scan the surroundings. From Timberline Pass we return to the van and retrace our route back down to Estes Park and a return to Denver by late afternoon. (4 miles)