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HIKER'S HEAVEN - SEVEN DAY ITINERARY

Day One
  • Drive up Old Fall River Road to the Alpine Visitors Center. (Be sure to stop at Chasm Falls on the way up.)
  • Return to Estes Park by way of Trail Ridge Road, checking out the views at Rock Cut, Forest Canyon Overlook, Rainbow Curve and Many Parks Curve.
Day Two
  • Hike from Bear Lake to Emerald Lake via Nymph Lake and Dream Lake.
  • If time allows, on the way back take the trail that branches off at the outlet of Dream Lake to Lake Haiyaha. Either backtrack to the Emerald Lake Trail or continue on the unimproved trail that leads to Glacier Gorge.
Day Three
  • Drive over Trail Ridge Road to Grand Lake.
  • Take a short hike up the East Inlet Trail to Adams Falls. If time permits, continue to Lone Pine Lake, Spirit Lake or Lake Verna.
  • While on the West Side, be sure to be on the lookout for moose.
Day Four
  • Explore the Wild Basin area. Hike up the Wild Basin Trail to Ouzel Falls. Not ready to turn around? Continue to Thunder Lake.
  • Stop by St. Catherine's Chapel at St. Malo Retreat - a beautiful stone building in a stunning setting.
  • On the way back, stop at Lily Lake and stroll around it.
Day Five
  • Hike to The Loch. Want more? Continue on to Sky Pond, climbing Timberline Falls along the way.

Day Six
  • Explore the Bear Lake Road area.
  • Visit the Moraine Park Museum.
  • Take a stroll around Sprague Lake.
  • Walk around Bear Lake.
  • Options for easy hikes include Cub Lake or Bierstadt Lake. Want something longer? Hike from Bear Lake to the Fern Lake Trailhead, taking in Odessa Lake along the way. (Tip - In summer, you can use the shuttle system for one-way hiking.)
  • Catch the sunset from Rock Cut on Trail Ridge Road.

Day Seven
  • Climb Long's Peak. (More than you want to tackle? Chasm Lake is a spectacular destination on the same trail.)


Chasm Lake
Photo by Erik Stensland
Chasm Lake Red, copyright by and used with permission of Erik Stensland
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