Winter Hiking and Snowshoeing in Rocky Mountain National Park

Meet your guide and group in Estes Park, Colorado at 8.30am and start your adventure with a trek into the valley of the Big Thompson River in Moraine Park, an easy walk that begins at a relatively low altitude. You’ll see waterfalls, large boulders left behind as the ice receded and mountain lakes carved into granite bowls. The valley is also well-known for abundant wildlife so keep a lookout for animals. See the Windy Gulch Cascades high above the canyon floor, and pass through Arch Rocks, massive boulders left along the path by ancient rivers and ice. After lunch at the pool, you’ll circle south toward Cub Lake where you’ll see water framed by the mountains of Glacier Gorge. From here, it’s a short trek back to the trailhead and on to your lodge for dinner and a relaxing evening.

After breakfast, you’ll travel into the high country near the Continental Divide and gear up for the Bear Lake trailhead and Bear Lake Trail. After circling around the lake’s eastern edge, you’ll gain altitude and begin your traverse through a beautiful subalpine forest. Take in the scenery as you descend through the forest, past alpine lakes and into the rich high meadow of Hollowell Park. You’ll have plenty of time to take in the spectacular views of the high peaks and enjoy lunch. After a meal and a rest, you’ll descend from the ridge into Hollowell Park where wildlife sightings are common. After a full day at altitude, it’s back to Estes for a hot meal and a relaxing evening at the lodge.

After breakfast, you’ll take the shuttle to the quiet, lush environs of Wild Basin, a less-travelled region of the park, with a stop to look at the old Enos Mills homesite and dramatic east face of Longs Peak along the way. Snowshoe along the snowy creek-side access road to the Wild Basin trailhead and follow the creek past Copeland Falls and Calypso Cascades, which will be frozen into crystalline ice flows and sparkling like jewels among the spruce trees and drifts of snow. After a rest, the trail steepens as the distant mountains come into view. Take in the frozen sculpture that is Ouzel Falls as you enjoy lunch and views of the Continental Divide to the west. Following lunch, make your way back down trail to the shuttle which returns to the lodge via the Tahosa Valley where a hot shower and delicious dinner awaits.

After breakfast, enjoy a final trek into the canyon of Fall River and stretch your legs with a beautiful snowshoe to Chasm Falls. Take in the view as you enjoy an early lunch at the falls which will be encased in ice as water rushes through a narrow granite slot in the gorge. Gaze up at the high massif of Trail Ridge which looms overhead as you make your way up the trail, enjoying the view along the way. After spending time taking in the beauty of this special place, you’ll return to the shuttle and back to Estes where your Rocky Mountains adventure will come to an end around 5pm.