Favorite Easy & Short Hikes

Bear Lake 

Trailhead: Bear Lake

Distance: 0.6 miles roundtrip

Elevation: 9,475 ft.

Elevation Gain: n/a

Head to the end of Bear Lake Road for this Rocky Mountain Classic. It's an easily accessible loop with a self-guided nature walk and plenty of sccenic places to stop and rest. A portion of this hike is even handicap accessible.

Nymph Lake

Trailhead: Bear Lake

Distance: 1 mile roundtrip

Elevation: 9,700 ft.

Elevation Gain: 225 ft.

This is a great hike to a small but scenic subalpine lake. Highly recommended for families! This is the first in a series of lakes up trail from the Bear Lake Trailhead.

Extra Credit: Continue up to Dream Lake 0.6 miles past Nymph Lake then Emerald Lake is just 0.8 miles past Dream Lake. A spectacular trifecta, Emerald Lake is surrounded by high cliff faces and rock spires.

Lily Lake

Lily Lake

Trailhead: Lily Lake

Distance: 0.7 miles roundtrip

Elevation: 8,950 ft.

Elevation Gain: n/a

Head to Lily Lake for a picnic and a beautiful, easy walk with views of Twin Sisters, Longs Peak, and Ypsilon Mountain. Wide, level paths make this an accessible hike for all.

Extra Credit: Take the Lily Ridge Trail branching off either end of the lake's northern side to get your heart beating a bit faster. It is 0.7 miles and joins back up with the lake trail. You might also venture off onto the unmarked climber's trail leading to a rock climbing area called Jurrassic Park. The views and photo opportunities up there are simply spectacular. Less than a mile down the road is the Lily Mountain trail. 4.2 miles round trip.

He's mad that he had to stop climbing
to take a picture with me! (Alluvial Fan)

Alluvial Fan

Rating: Easy

Distance (round trip): 0.3 miles

Elevation Gain: 20 ft

A testament to the strength of water, the Alluvial Fan Trail is a popular stop for people interested in observing the aftermath of the Lawn Lake flood in Rocky Mountain National Park. Surrounding the trail are striking trees to either side and a little stream kids can splash in to the right. Up ahead is the massive floodgate where giant boulders have remained for years as if tossed aside. 

Information from Estes Park Mountain Shop