Rocky Mountain Hikes – Page 2 – rocky mountain tot

Fern Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park

“Ultimately, it is your commitment to the process that will determine your progress.” James Clear, author of Atomic Habits.

I still can’t believe my 6-year-old and 8-year-old daughters hiked the 7.6-mile roundtrip trek up to Fern Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park AND enjoy it.

We’ve been coming to Rocky Mountain National Park since they were babies. For a long time, it felt like we would never be able to hike beyond a mile or two. That’s one of the reasons I liked the Fern Lake trail when they were younger. There are several destinations along the way including Arch Rocks, The Pool, and Fern Falls. I’ve posted pictures of each below. When we had a fussy baby, or an impatient toddler, we could turn around at these points and still feel like we accomplished something.

Another reason I like the Fern Lake trail is because it tends to melt out earlier in the season compared to other higher hikes. The trail begins at 8,155 ft.

In early June, we spotted several elk and moose. Spotting three moose on a trail was a first for us. Other hikers who posted on AllTrails.com also reported ‘moose traffic jams’.

Arch Rocks

Between the animal spotting and wildflowers, the trail was wonderful even before we arrived at Arch Rocks. The journey to Arch Rocks is 1.2 miles from the trailhead.

The trail follows the Big Thompson River. In spring and early summer, it is common to spot extra waterfalls flowing in.

The pool

At 1.7 miles from the trailhead, you reach a wooden bridge that crosses over The Pool. This destination is one of our favorite 2-4 mile hikes in the park.

We continued beyond The Pool to Fern Falls which is a little under a mile and gains 400 feet of elevation.

Rocky mountain national park fire damage

This section of the hike gets pretty sad because a lot of the forest was damaged by wildfires.

Fern Falls

I wish I could insert a special effect that would allow you to feel the cool mist. Even a video of Fern Falls doesn’t do it justice.

We’ve never made it past Fern Falls, but after a quick snack break, we decided to continue hiking up to Fern Lake. There were small patches of snow along the way, but we were able to do it without equipment beyond waterproof hiking boots. Hiking poles would have been helpful in some spots.

Our girls love hiking in snow! We packed layers that we could easily take on and off along the trail as we went. The temperature dropped noteably right before we reached Fern Lake. We gained a total of 1,380 feet of elevation.

I love hiking to lakes in Rocky Mountain National Park, and this new-to-me lake was stunning.

My older daughter’s advice to kids who want to hike is ‘Don’t give up. Keep on trying – it will be worth it.’

On our way back down the trail, we spotted a couple moose and a elk. Can you see the elk hidding among the trees in the photo of my daughter below? When I asked her advice to other kids who want to hike she said, ‘there is still beauty on the way down’.

This Father’s Day weekend, we want to give a gold star to my husband whose ‘commitment to the process’ is starting to pay off. We appreciate him getting us out in the mountains and among the trees!

helpful inforMation

How do you get to Fern Lake Trailhead?

The National Park Service provides directions to the trailhead as:

From Beaver Meadows Visitor Center follow Hwy 36 west to Bear Lake Road (approximately 1.3 miles). Turn left onto Bear Lake Road and follow for 1.3 miles, then turn right onto Moraine Park Campground Road. After a short distance turn left at a sign indicating that Riding Stable and Trailheads are ahead. This road will take you along the edge of Moraine Park to the TH. The TH is at the end of the road.

What entrance should I use into Rocky Mountain National Park?

As of 6/16/23: NPS states that Fall River Entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park is under construction so only one lane is open to enter. Visitors are encouraged to avoid the Fall River Entrance and use the Beaver Meadows Entrance via U.S. Hwy 36.

Do I need a reservation to hike in Rocky Mountain National Park?

The Fern Lake hike is in the Bear Lake Corridor, so you must have both a pass into the park and a timed-entry permit called Park Access Plus between 5am and 6pm. The reservations can be made at Recreation.gov. Reservations typically open a month in advance. Some of the reservations open up the night before at 5:00 pm. When we are hoping to get a pass for the next day, we set an alarm on our phone so we can get on the site right at 5:00 before they all sell out. This video helps explain the system in more detail.

Where should I go if I can’t get a Park Access Plus reservation?

There are a lot of great options! Some of our favorites include:

Lily Lake, Gem Lake, Calypso Cascades in Wild Basin, Deer Mountain, Twin Sisters Peaks, or the Ute Trail.

Nymph Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park

Today I wanted to share a short post about a short hike. Nymph Lake is located in the Bear Lake area of Rocky Mountain National Park. Known for the pond lilies that float on its surface, Nymph Lake is located only a half mile from the trailhead.

Nymph Lake is one of our favorite short hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. You can find more short hike suggestions here. Continue the trail beyond Nymph Lake to amazing destinations including Dream Lake, Emerald Lake, Lake Haiyaha, and more.

A New Era in Family Hiking, The Best 3 to 6 Mile Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park

This summer we reached a turning point. Gone are the days of baby packs, kid carriers, and short strolls with preschoolers. We will look back on our early years of hiking with fond memories. But let’s be real, hiking with very young children is challenging!

This summer our seven-year-old and five-year-old daughters exceeded our expectations by hiking several of our favorite three to six mile hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park on their own.

Mills Lake

A hike to Mills Lake marked the first big trek of the summer. Mills Lake is in the Bear Lake Corridor of Rocky Mountain National Park. The hike begins at Bear Lake trailhead (9,475 ft elevation). The trail passes by the iconic Alberta Falls. The total distance is 5.6 miles roundtrip.

Looking Back: 2017 post, Seeking Serenity in the Mountains

EMERALD LAKE

Hiking with best friends was the secret to our successful hike to Emerald Lake. Our group hiked 3.6 miles with an elevation gain of 650 ft. The hike to Emerald Lake is one of the best hikes in RMNP because you pass by Nymph Lake and Dream Lake on your way up. Like Mills Lake, this hike also starts at the Bear Lake trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park. We didn’t get to enjoy the views at Emerald Lake for long before a sudden hail and rainstorm had us heading down the mountain. By the time we reached the parking lot, the sky cleared, and we saw the most spectacular double rainbow.

Looking Back: 2018 post, Breathtaking Hike to Dream Lake

Young Families in Rocky Mountain National Park

gem lakE

Gem Lake is in Rocky Mountain National Park’s Lumpy Ridge area. The hike is 3.6 miles (1.8 miles each way), gains 1,000 ft of elevation, and features unique rock formations like ‘The Boot’. Rock steps lead to the small mountain lake. These steps are moderately challenging for me. For the girls and their shorter legs, the climb required an extraordinary effort.

Looking Back: 2015 post, Rocky Mountain Tot Goes to Gem Lake

Ouzel Falls

Ouzel Falls is located in the Wild Basin area of Rocky Mountain National Park where abundant wildflowers bloom beside rushing waterfalls. This area is often less crowded and is lower in elevation compared to the Bear Lake area. The hike to Ouzel Falls begins at 8,500 ft of elevation and gains 950 ft. The total distance is 5.4 miles (2.7 miles/way). Before arriving at Ouzel Falls, the trail passes Copeland Falls and the Calypso Cascades which are both beautiful destinations on their own.

Looking Back: 2015 post, Into the Wild Basin in Rocky Mountain National Park

Deer Mountain

The trailhead for this summit hike is located off of Deer Ridge Junction, a few miles west of Rocky Mountain National Park’s Beaver Meadows entrance. The 10,013 ft. summit features sweeping views. The hike is 6 miles total distance (3 miles/way).

Looking Back: 2017 post, Deer Mountain – a Family-Friendly Summit Hike In Rocky Mountain National Park

Deer Mountain, good spring summit hike for families in Rocky Mountains

Blue lake in indian peaks wilderness

Unlike the other hikes in this post, Blue Lake is located in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area rather than Rocky Mountain National Park. The recreation area is located approximately 1 hour 20 minutes from Denver, 50 minutes from Boulder, and 50 minutes from Estes Park. The hike is 6.2 miles round trip and gains 1,250 feet in elevation. The trail passes several mountain lakes including Mitchell Lake. We spotted several moose along the trail.

Looking Back: Post from 2016 hike, Add This to Your Hiking Bucket List, Blue Lake in Indian Peaks Wilderness.

The fact that we were able to experience six world-class hikes as a family fills my heart with gratitude. To celebrate, we purchased the girls’ hiking badges for each destination they reached.

I can’t wait to see which badges they will add to their collections next!

Introverts Guide to Estes Park, Colorado

I’ve been on a search for a better vacation destination for our family than Estes Park, Colorado. Guess what!? I haven’t discovered one yet. The reason why is because Estes Park combines the beauty of the natural world with a lot of family-friendly entertainment options.

I found a fun article, The Vacation You Should Take, Based on Your Introverted Myers-Briggs Type. I believe there is something in Estes Park for every personality type or mood that you are in. Here are some ideas for my fellow introverts:

The article says that ‘INTJ: Go on a reading retreat at a secluded cabin’. If this is you, Estes Park is perfect because there are a lot of cabins like ours to rent in Estes Park. One of my favorite things to do on vacation is sit by our fireplace and get lost in a good book. I stock up on books when I’m in town at Macdonald Bookshop and Cliffhanger Used Books. Check out my Book Lovers Guide to Estes Park.

For the personality type INTP, the article suggests you ‘Attend your favorite convention, like Comic-Con.’ I used to work at a convention center, so I know there is a convention for every hobby. Some of the hobby conventions held in Estes Park include the Craft Spirits Festival, Bigfoot Days, and Wool Market which are held at Estes Park Events Complex. There is also a large Scottish-Irish Highlands Festival at the Estes Park Fairgrounds.

INFP types should ‘Connect with nature, like going on a quiet forest retreat’. Estes Park is located next to Rocky Mountain National Park. There are countless opportunities to connect with nature in the park. However, because this is such a popular tourist destination, you’ll benefit from venturing to the park during off-peak seasons such as winter and spring. If you go during summer months, avoid holiday weekends, get up early, and go hiking further than most fellow hikers (over 3 miles). One of my favorite spots to connect with nature is the Calypso Cascades in the Wild Basin.

The article says ISFP types should ‘Take a trip to the beach’. Based on the articles description (‘love spending time with a few favorite friends and hobbies’ + ‘often like to be creative and to explore new places’), this is the personality type I most relate to. One of the things I struggle most with Estes Park is that I feel like I’m going to run out of new places to explore if we keep going back every year. That’s why I often come up with ‘food adventures’ on our trip. For example we went to all the Asian restaurants in town to figure out which we liked most. We also did a Cinnamon Roll Showdown and searched for Estes Park’s best bowl of chili.

Finally, INFJ types should ‘Have “creative space” at an Airbnb in a new town.’ For these types I recommend going on a relaxing stroll along Estes Park Riverwalk. First stop at Kind Coffee whose mission is to ‘Promote the sustainability of our environment through the sales of certified organic and fairly traded coffees’. Next step into one of the town’s numerous art galleries. This summer I’m excited to check out Joy House, ‘a store made up of gifts that are all made by friends with special needs or disabilities.’ You might also enjoy spending time in Rocky Mountain National Park sketching or photographing the incredible mountain landscape and wild animals like elk or moose that frequent the area. For tips check out local photographer Erik Stensland’s new book, ‘The Photographers Guide to RMNP’.