Shuttle to trailhead: 10 minutes

Hiking Mileage: 4 miles

Elevation Gain/Loss: 1000 feet

This Rocky Mountain National Park hiking tour begins with a scenic drive to Gem Lake Trailhead, nestled within the ancient granite cliffs and boulders of Lumpy Ridge. We will hike in a labyrinth of rock formations, while taking in amazing views of the country we’ll be hiking through over the coming days. The route provides excellent opportunities for photography, acclimatization, and serves as a great first hike. After lunch at the lake, we’ll make our way back to Estes Park to check into our rooms and enjoy our first dinner at a hand-picked, local mountain eatery.

Shuttle to trailhead: 1 hour

Hiking Mileage: 10 miles

Elevation Gain/Loss: 1520 feet

Accommodations: Inn on Fall River

Today we’ll find the pleasures and power of mountain water: from rushing rivers and waterfalls, to high mountain lakes. Our hike will take us through the reaches of Wild Basin, a wildlife- and flower-strewn region of the Park. Moose have recently been seen in this river valley as well!

We’ll hike along the North Saint Vrain River, past Calypso Cascades and Ouzel Falls to Ouzel Lake and the mountain cirque that envelopes it. From there, time and interest permitting, we’ll continue along to the higher reaches of Bluebird Lake and take in another view of the Continental Divide beyond. From there it’s back down trail to our lodging, where evening dinner awaits.

• Shuttle to trailhead: 20 minutes
• Hiking Mileage: 10 miles
• Elevation Gain/Loss: 1440 feet
• Accommodations: Inn on Fall River

Day 3 will find us headed into the land of glaciers, past and present. We’ll make an “alpine start”, with an early breakfast and early departure to Glacier Gorge, the trailhead from which we’ll begin our ascent.

Our route will take us past Alberta Falls, into the sub-alpine forest, and from to a emerald string of mountain lakes, from Mills to Jewel, and at last to Black Lake, which sits in a silent and imposing mountain cirque, testament to the power of glacial ice. We’ll enjoy a hearty lunch, scope out the granite crags above us, including Spearhead and Keyboard of the Winds, before making our way home to Estes for the evening. On our return we’ll get great views of Andrews Glacier, the pyramidal Storm Peak, and the stark vastness of Longs Peak, Pagoda, and Chiefs Head mountains.

Please Note: We’ll always have good alternatives if weather or other factors require an itinerary change. Also, it’s important to dress in layers and prepare for cold and windy conditions above tree line.