Easy Trails In Rocky Mountain National Park
How about two in a single hike? Alberta Falls Trail Why you should go: Easy stroll to an impressive waterfall — a lot of bang for your buck. Pictures of Copeland Falls.
Suggested Hikes

With square miles of spectacular mountain landscape and miles of hiking trails, Rocky Mountain National Park is a premium destination for high-altitude backpacking. Rocky Mountain National Park offers something for everyone. There are countless peaks beckoning adventurous mountaineers, epic cliffs and walls for climbers, and a vast network of hiking trails for every skill level.
The park is a paradise for birding and wildlife viewing, and a mountain oasis for fly fishers. Bring your mountain bike for some epic trail riding, or saddle up and take in the trails on the back of a horse for a truly unique experience. Our favorite hikes include everything from family-friendly trails to challenging summit attempts, offering a scenic feast of high-altitude lakes, waterfalls, and of course, spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains.
Just make sure to pick up a RMNP trails map before you go so you can keep your bearings in the wild. If so, check out our guide to the best hikes in Estes Park. Bring your camera for some epic landscape shots, and keep an eye out for the local wildlife and birds.
Given all of the lakes and Glacier National Park To Great Falls Mt along this trail, the Emerald Lake Trail is an excellent choice for sport fishing. Just be sure you square away your licensing and fees in advance. The elevation gain is fairly minimal, and the first half-mile of the trail is paved. The trail is open year-round, though the best time to visit is April to November.
Looking for a shorter scenic stroll? Next up is Loch Vale, aka The Loch. The subalpine lake is surrounded by Taylor Peak, Taylor Glacier, Thatchtop Mountain, and The Sharkstooth, offering breathtaking views in every direction.
Take a deep breath, rest up, and rehydrate, because this is where the trail starts to get hairy. If you stop and look across the valley, you can see The Loch in the distance. The Easy Trails In Rocky Mountain National Park continues up a chute to the right of Timberline Falls. Be prepared for a challenging scramble up feet of rocks and boulders, with water flowing through several portions of the climb.
After catching your breath, follow the rocky trail along the west side of Glass Lake until you reach Sky Pond. The scenic lake sits at 10, feet above sea level, and is surrounded on three sides by sheer cliff walls. This moderate, 5. The first portion of the Gem Lake Trail takes you through a narrow canyon, and crosses the northeastern corner of the historic MacGregor Ranch. There are plenty of aspen groves in the area, making this an excellent fall hike.
Alberta Falls Trail Why you should go: Easy stroll to an impressive waterfall — a lot of bang for your buck. The out-and-back hike begins at the Glacier Gorge Junction trailhead. After appreciating the view, follow Glacier Creek for a short distance to Alberta Falls.
Alberta Falls is a beautiful foot waterfall that follows a granite chute down a small gorge on Glacier Creek. The surrounding area is fun to explore and excellent Glacier National Park To Great Falls Mt picnics. Difficulty: Moderate Distance: 5. The side trail then follows North St. Vrain Creek to Upper Copeland Falls before reconnecting with the main trail.
Heading above Calypso Cascades the landscape begins to open up, offering views of Mount Meeker and Longs Peak to the north. You can see the falls from the footbridge, but we recommend bushwhacking off-trail to see it up close. If you go on a weekend, try to get there as early as…
Emerald Lake Trail

Bring your camera for some epic landscape shots, and keep an eye out for the local wildlife and birds. While planning your visit, be sure to visit our accommodations page for a variety of lodging options in the Rocky Mountain National Park area. Photo Gallery Take a one minute vacation from your computer.