Favorite Hike Poll
Imagine you have exactly one day to go hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park. What's that 'must do' hike that you
would choose?
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The overwhelming trend in the voting was to cover as much ground as possible in one day!
As a result, totally different hikes sometimes included common features (making tallying the
votes very tricky.) However, the consensus for must do hike would be a loop from Glacier
Gorge Trailhead up to the Loch and then to Sky Pond and returning by way of Lake Haiyaha
and Dream Lake to Bear Lake, or the same route in reverse. Those looking for a shorter
version opted to go to the Loch, then backtrack to the trail to Lake Haiyaha, while the really
hardy souls added Mills Lake and/or Emerald Lake to the trek. The four next most popular
hikes were a loop from Bear Lake to the Fern Lake Trailhead, Gem Lake, the Wild Basin area,
and Longs Peak.
Trail between
Dream Lake and
Lake Haiyaha
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For the most "bang for my buck," I like the Bear Lake Loop. . . . The terrain is varied and the
breakouts are spectacular. - Bill
Mills Lake. It's a beautiful and very moderate hike
with gorgeous vistas, and the destination is one of
the most picturesque lakes in the park, with the
keyboard of the winds as a perfect backdrop. -
Rhonda
This is easy for me. I would go to Mt. Alice via Wild
Basin. You get a little of everything. Great river,
many waterfalls, some of the most beautiful Lakes
in the park, a wonderful summit, and a VERY full
single day in Rocky!! - Michael
Gem Lake
No doubt one day to spend deserves a hike up Gem Lake Trail and then on to Cow Creek
area, 5 miles of great beauty and fantastic sites. - goatboy
The loop hike starting from Bear Lake to Fern Lake Trailhead, with Odessa Lake, Fern Falls,
Fern Lake, The Pool, etc in between. One loop hike that gives you all of the great features
of RMNP in one great day. - Casey
Chasm Lake is such an incredible destination, with the face of Long's towering over you. -
Andrew
Approximate hiking
distances (one way, in
miles)
Bear Lake Trailhead to
Dream Lake - 1.1
Emerald Lake - 1.8
Lake Haiyaha - 2.1
Glacier Gorge Trailhead to
Mills Lake - 2.5
Black Lake - 4.7
The Loch - 2.7
Timberline Falls -4
Sky Pond - 4.6
Note: Locations of trails
drawn on map are
approximate and for
illustration purposes only.
Other approximate hiking
distances
Bear Lake Trailhead to
Lake Helene - 2.9
Odessa Lake - 4.1
Fern Lake Trailhead to
The Pool - 1.7
Fern Falls - 2.5
Odessa Lake - 4.9
Wild Basin Trailhead to
Calypso Cascades - 1.8
Ouzel Falls - 2.7
Bluebird Lake - 6
Thunder Lake - 6.8
Snowbank Lake - 8
Gem Lake Trailhead to
Gem Lake - 2
Twin Owls Trailhead to
Gem Lake - 1.8
Cow Creek Trailhead to
Gem Lake - 3.7
Long Peaks Trailhead to
Chasm Lake - 4.2
MountainDrama
Rocky Mountain National Park
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