Route Overview
A 3-day Rocky Mountain plan built around Bear Lake, Trail Ridge Road, and Wild Basin. Balanced hikes, alpine views, and wildlife with smart pacing.
Itinerary
Bear Lake
Bear Lake Road ends 9.2 miles from the junction with Trail Ridge Road at the Parking Area for Bear Lake. From the parking area, take a short walk on a marked path to reach Bear Lake itself. Bear Lake offers spectacular scenic views of Bear Lake, Hallett Peak and the surrounding mountain peaks.
Easy lake loop with alpine reflections.
Arrive early for parking.
Nymph Lake + Dream Lake
From the Bear Lake Trailhead, Dream Lake is a steady climb through aspen groves and ponderosa pine.
Classic Bear Lake corridor hike to two alpine lakes.
Continue to Emerald Lake if time and energy allow.
Sprague Lake
Sprague Lake Loop meanders around Sprague Lake. There are plenty of benches and lookouts over the lake to stop, reflect, and enjoy the view.
Flat loop with great elk viewing and mountain reflections.
Great midday break.
Moraine Park
Get awe-inspiring views of the Rocky Mountains! Moraine Park is located and accessed off of Bear Lake Road.
Open meadows with elk sightings near sunset.
Bring binoculars for wildlife.
Trail Ridge Road scenic drive
Enjoy scenic views and wildlife viewing opportunities while driving on Trail Ridge Road. This is a 48 mile scenic drive that connects the communities of Estes Park and Grand Lake. Cresting at an elevation of 12,183 feet above sea level, Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the United States.
Drive the highest continuous paved road in the US.
Start early to avoid afternoon storms.
Alpine Visitor Center
Today, we encourage you to take a moment to appreciate the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center. Look at the Cor-ten steel that makes up its structure. It weathers to a rich red color that matches the trunks of the ponderosa trees nearby. The architect of this building, E. Thomas Casey, chose Cor-ten "so that the structure of the building itself becomes its primary architectural expression." Cor-ten was a new material in 1967, when Beaver Meadows Visitor Center was constructed. In addition to exposing the structural steel, Mr. Casey designed the horizontally-oriented building to fit into its surroundings and wanted people to connect with the park through architecture. Mr. Casey told us "this is the way [that] architecture ought to be. You know, that what you see is what you get." If this kind of passionate talk about architecture sounds familiar, it is because Mr. Casey was a fellow of Frank Lloyd Wright. Through the visible stone, steel and glass construction, the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center is an example of the continued influence of Wrightean design principles and mid-20th century modern architecture in national parks. This building is also a National Historic Landmark!
High-alpine exhibits and short tundra walks.
Temps can be 20F cooler than Estes Park.
Forest Canyon Overlook
Wide canyon views and tundra backdrop.
Short walk from the pullout.
Rainbow Curve
Classic overlook with long views east.
Best light mid-day.
Wild Basin Trailhead
Start for the Wild Basin area.
Limited parking; arrive early.
Ouzel Falls
Listen to the gentle flow of the North Saint Vrain Creek along the trail to Ouzel Falls.
Steady climb to a scenic waterfall.
Bring water and take breaks in the shade.
Lily Lake
Lily Lake Loop is a 0.8 mile loop trail with excellent views of Lily Lake and nearby mountain peaks.
Easy loop with mountain reflections to end the trip.
Great late-afternoon light.
Creates a copy you can customize
3
Days
11
Stops
moderate
Difficulty
Best Season
June-September for Trail Ridge Road access
Tags