Rocky Mountain Lodge-based Snowshoe Tour

• Shuttle to trailhead: 20 minutes
• Hiking Mileage: 6 miles
• Elevation Gain/Loss: 900 feet
• Accommodations: Inn on Fall River

The first day of this Rocky Mountain National Park snowshoe tour brings us into the valley of the Big Thompson River in Moraine Park, as we snowshoe through a landscape filled with the sights and sounds of past glacial activity here. Our route is great for our first day in Rocky, as it begins at a relatively low altitude, giving us the opportunity to adjust to the thin air before we head higher in coming days.

We’ll see waterfalls, large “glacial erratics” (boulders left behind as the ice receded), and mountain lakes carved into granite bowls. This large valley of Moraine Park is also well-known for abundant wildlife.

Our trek follows an open corridor into Fern Canyon. The way is gentle and perfect for getting the feel of our gear and making adjustments along the way.

We’ll continue along the Big Thompson River to The Pool, a roaring confluence of water deep in the scoured granite. Along this route we’ll also see Windy Gulch Cascades high above the canyon floor, and we’ll pass through Arch Rocks, massive boulders left along our path by ancient rivers and ice.

After lunch at the Pool we’ll circle south toward Cub Lake, up a large glacial moraine, a ridge of sand and stone created as a glacier swept through this valley. We first see Cub Lake from high above, framed by the mountains of Glacier Gorge, then we make our way to shoreline where we’re likely to see an array of wildlife, particularly elk and possibly moose as well. This area experienced a large fire in 2012 – even as the effects of this fire are still evident, new vegetation is returning and providing an important food supply for these large mammals.

From there it’s a short trek back to our trailhead, and then to our lodge for a great dinner and relaxing evening.

• Shuttle to trailhead: 30 minutes
• Hiking Mileage: 5.7 miles
• Elevation Gain/Loss: 940 feet
• Accommodations: Inn on Fall River

After breakfast we’ll saddle up and make our way into the high country near the Continental Divide: we’ll gear up at the Bear Lake trailhead and head east on the Bear Lake Trail. After circling around the lake’s eastern edge, we’ll gain the Flattop Ridge and begin our traverse through a truly beautiful subalpine forest.

Today’s trek marks a gentle traverse and descent through high subalpine forest, past alpine lakes, and into the rich high meadow of Hollowell Park a thousand feet below!

We’ll take our time here, as we’ll have spectacular views of the high peaks all around us en route to Bierstadt Lake, at 9,320ft. Views of Longs Peak from here are stunning. After a hearty lunch we’ll begin our descent from the ridge into Hollowell Park, where again we’re likely to see a range of wildlife along Mill Creek, which helped carve this beautiful valley.

After a full day at altitude, it’s back then to Estes and our evening.

• Shuttle to trailhead: 1 hour
• Hiking Mileage: 7.2 miles
• Elevation Gain/Loss: 870 feet
• Accommodations: Inn on Fall River

Day three finds us in the quiet, lush environs of Wild Basin. After breakfast and our shuttle to this southern and less-traveled region of the Park, and with a stop for a look at the old Enos Mills homesite and the dramatic east face of Longs Peak, we’ll begin our trek along the North Saint Vrain creek into Wild Basin proper.

Our route takes us along the creekside access road (closed and snowy for us!) to the Wild Basin trailhead; we’ll follow the creek past Copeland Falls and Calypso Cascades, which will be frozen into crystalline ice flows amongst the spruce/fir and drifts of snow.

Our trail then steepens as we approach Ouzel Falls. Distant mountains come into view as we walk. Ouzel Falls will likely be frozen solid as well – a natural sculpture before us as we enjoy lunch and views of the Continental Divide to the west.

Following lunch we’ll make our way back down trail the way we came, to our shuttle, through the Tahosa Valley and to our lodge as dusk descends and dinner awaits.

• Shuttle to trailhead: 30 minutes
• Hiking Mileage: 5.7 miles
• Elevation Gain/Loss: 400 feet

Our last morning together we’ll enjoy a final trek into the canyon of Fall River, where we’ll stretch our legs with a beautiful snowshoe to Chasm Falls. We’ll have an early lunch at the Falls, which will be encased in ice as water rushes through a narrow granite slot in the gorge. The high massif of Trail Ridge looms overhead to the south as we make our way up the trail.

After some last quiet time in this special place we’ll return to our shuttle and to Estes for departures.