Hiking the Best of Rocky Mountain National Park

Welcome to Colorado, USA! This morning, you’ll meet your trip leader and fellow group at your accommodation in Estes Park at 8.30 am. Take a scenic drive through Trail Ridge and arrive at your trailhead. Then, you’ll enjoy a day of high-country exploration and acclimatisation, walking above the tree line in Rocky Mountain National Park. Begin your hiking trip with a trek on the famous Ute Trail. This trail provides amazing views of summits, volcanoes, glaciers and varied wildlife (if you keep your eyes peeled). Enjoy the vantage point of being 3450 m high (or 11,400 feet) as you stop for a packed lunch. After, continue down the road for a short hike to The Alpine Ridge visitor center. The viewpoint here sits above the headwaters of the Colorado River and offers breathtaking views of the Never Summer range. Stay the night in your comfortable inn after a group dinner.

After breakfast, take a drive to the trailhead and set out on today’s hike through the reaches of Wild Basin – a region of the national park that is covered in wildlife, waterfalls and wildflowers. Moose have also recently been seen in this river valley, so keep your eyes peeled. Hike along the North Saint Vrain River, past Calypso Cascades and Ouzel Falls onto Ouzel Lake and the mountain cirque that surrounds. If time permits, you’ll continue to the higher reaches of Bluebird Lake and take in another view of the Continental Divide. After lunch, exploration and lots of waterfall pics, head back down the trail to your accommodation, where a group dinner awaits.

Today after fuelling up on breakfast nice and early, head into the land of glaciers, past and present. Take a short drive to Glacier Gorge trailhead and from here, begin your ascent. Hike past the picturesque Alberta Falls and then head into the sub-alpine forest. Among the towering alpine trees, you’ll pass the emerald waters of Mills Lake, Jewel Lake and Black Lake – which sits in a silent and imposing mountain cirque, displaying the powers of glacial ice. Sit down for a hearty lunch and underneath the granite crags Spearhead and Keyboard of the Winds. Head back to your accommodation, taking in the expansive views of Andrews Glacier, Storm Peak and the vast Longs Peak, Pagoda and Chiefs Head mountains on the way.

Your time spent hiking at a high altitude has now prepared you for an ambitious hike to the Chasm Cirque. After breakfast, you’ll head to today’s trailhead. Start with a steep climb that gradually eases and crest above the tree line, where you’ll be welcomed by a view of Longs Peak. Arrive at Chasm Lake, where you can’t help but be entranced by the 548 m (or 1,800 foot) vertical cliff known as The Diamond. This is a world-famous climb, so you’ll likely see rock climbers high above you on the granite wall while your group sits down for lunch. Take your time walking back the way you came and enjoy the countless wildflowers that bring these mountain meadows to life. Enjoy a well-deserved farewell dinner at your lodging tonight with your group, sharing stories and favourite moments.

Sit down for a leisurely breakfast this morning, then make your way to the Gem Lake Trailhead. Nestled within the ancient granite cliffs and boulders of Lumpy Ridge, you’ll hike through a labyrinth of rock formations while taking in the amazing views of the country you have walked through so far. Take it all in (and take plenty of photos) and then enjoy lunch at the lake with your group. Make your way back to the accommodation where your trip ends in the early evening. If you’d like to stay in the area for longer, just speak to your booking agent.