ESTES PARK HIKES

Complete map at bottom of page

Hike 1: Deer Mountain to Alpine Trail Ridge

•20 minute shuttle ride to trailhead

•10 miles

•2444 ft elevation gain

•10,013ft at high point

•Moderately Difficult

•Most elevation in a 3 mile section

•Plodding 1.5 miles from end of trail to Inn

•3-4 miles of trail and summit are heavily travelled (not a lot of opportunities [none?] for potty breaks during this section

•Very sunny

•(The next two days are more difficult)

Hike 2: Storm Pass/Estes Cone

•10 minute shuttle ride to trailhead

•10.5 miles (1.5 mile is the Cone)

•3315 ft elevation gain (700 is the Cone)

•9852 at high point

•Difficult

•The Cone is very difficult. The .6 miles to top took us 50 minutes. No trail – you have follow cairns to the top and light rock climbing is required to reach final summit.

•Less sun at first, sunnier at the end

•Cone is optional. We will eat lunch/sing before splitting up.

Hike 3: Twin Sisters

•Walk to trailhead (1 mile)

•10 miles

•2338 ft elevation gain

•11,428 at high point

•Difficult

•Out and Back

•Biggest Payoff re: view

•Intense switchbacks by 2013 rockslide, which demolished the trail

•More heavily trafficked. Very few options (none?) for potty breaks

Hike 4: Wild Basin to Allenspark

•Shuttle to Trailhead (20 minutes)

•8.5 miles

•1800 ft elevation gain

•9,472 at high point

•Moderate difficulty

•Lovely trail that follows water

•Heavily trafficked during first half

•Culminates in pretty waterfall with nice lunch/sing spot

•Back half has great views of entire basin

•Small bummer to walk down dirt road to Allenspark Lodge

•At the end, walk right by a small pizza tavern which is nice for a beer to celebrate