Rocky Mountain Day Hikes
  • Home
  • Hike Rocky Magazine
  • Trail Guide to RMNP
  • Wildflowers of RMNP
  • About Us
Welcome to
​Rocky Mountain Day Hikes
Picture
This website explores the trails of
Rocky Mountain National Park,
​
one of the premier hiking parks of the world. 

"The essence of nature guiding is to travel gracefully rather than arrive." ~ Enos Mills


Know Before You Go
RMNP Trail Condition Reports
Snow Depth
5/27 - Bear Lake-6", Wild Basin-13", Lake Irene-32"
2/19 - Bear Lake-60", Wild Basin-50", Lake Irene-76"
It's spring in Rocky Mountain National Park, which means conditions are changing. Snow is beginning to melt in lower elevation areas of the park, making many trails wet and muddy. If hiking in areas above 9,000 feet in elevation, traction devices are advised and expect trails to be covered with snow and icy. Winter navigation skills continue to be important in May and June. 

​When hiking on wet and muddy trails, practice Leave No Trace by hiking through the mud. Stepping off trail to avoid puddles expands the footprint of a trail and causes erosion. 
5/22 - Expect winter hiking conditions when hiking in the Bear Lake area. Most trails that begin from the Bear Lake Trailhead are covered with packed down snow and ice. Some sun-exposed sections on trails have melted. Be careful of postholeing and walking too close to the shore of the lake. 

From Glacier Gorge Trailhead to Alberta Falls, the trail is mostly free of snow. From Alberta Falls to Mills Lake, the trail is wet, muddy, and there are patches of snow on the trail. From Mills Lake to Black Lake, the trail is covered with hard-packed snow and ice.

5/19 - Wild Basin. The lower elevation section of the trail to Ouzel Lake is mostly free of snow. Expect patches of snow on the trail near the Ouzel/Bluebird Junction.

5/18 -The trail to Cub Lake is mostly free of snow. Some sections are wet and muddy. Traction devices are not needed.

West Side - At lower elevations, trails are wet and muddy. Expect snow at higher elevations. On trails with snow and ice, traction devices are advised.
Sky Pond - Traverses an avalanche-prone area and a waterfall, which it is icy.
Fern Lake - The area drifts significantly in winter in the burned area.
5/12 - Longs Peak - ​From Longs Peak to Estes Cone, snow on the trail has mostly melted. Winter conditions have taken over. Any venture will require proper winter equipment, route-finding skills, and knowledge of winter travel. Expect to encounter snow and ice, extremely cold temperatures, avalanche hazards, and high winds.
Picture
Snowplow operations on Trail Ridge Road May 21 2025, Courtesy Rocky Mountain National Park
Alpine Visitor Ctr Web Cam
Alpine Visitor Ctr Web Cam, 11,796' - April 26
Glacier Basin, RMNP, Webcam
Glacier Basin Webcam - April 26
Kawuneeche Valley Web Cam - May 12
Kawuneeche Valley Web Cam - May 23

Visit the RMNP Trail Conditions Page for more update information: Click Here

RMNP Updates
Picture
5/22- Trail Ridge Road is Not Anticipated to Open over the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend
5/21 - Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at RMNP to Celebrate Fall River Entrance Completion
4/24 - Colorado Gray Wolf Mortality in Rocky Mountain National Park
4/3 - Fungus Linked to White Nose Syndrome Detected in Bats in RMNP
11/7 - Rocky Mountain National Park announces 2025 Timed-entry Reservation System

Visit the Rocky Mountain National Park website for more information on 
​Trail Conditions, Shuttle Bus Info, Webcams, ​​and ​Alpine Visitor Center Weather 


Trail Guide
to
Rocky Mountain National Park
​Find your next hike here!
Rocky Mountain National Park is a hikers paradise offering spectacular mountain terrain for hikers at all levels.
​Enjoy exploring the hikes on this website.

​Complete trail profiles, photos, and videos for more than 75 trails in Rocky Mountain National Park.
 
Waterfall Hikes
Waterfall Hikes
Peak Hikes
Peak Hikes
Loop Hikes
Loop Hikes
Play
Pause
 
Short Hikes|Moderate Hikes|Longer Hikes|Challenge Hikes|Lake Hikes|Waterfall Hikes|Peak Hikes|Loop Hikes


Picture
the on-line magazine of Rocky Mountain Day Hikes
Looking for additional Rocky Mountain National Park information?
Find a variety of articles on a wide range of topics.
Trail Reviews|Stories & Adventure|Science & Ecology|History & Current Issues|Culture & Art|Gear Reviews

New in Hike Rocky
Picture
Picture
May Newsletter
May is a month of miracles in Rocky Mountain National Park. The predictable final winter storms leave their beneficial moisture behind while a kaleidoscope of spring colors and sounds return to treat our senses.
What's in a RMNP Name
Up, Up, Up! Biking Trail Ridge Road in May
Rocky Mountain Conservancy’s Trail Improvement Fund
Colorado’s bears are waking up and they’re hungry. ​
Newsletter Link


RMDH Wildflower Field Guide
​to Rocky Mountain National Park

 
Green/Brown Wildflowers
Green/Brown Wildflowers
Play
Pause
 

Barefoot Publications
PO Box 187
Estes Park, CO 80517

Trail Guide for RMNP
Hike Rocky Magazine
About Us

© Copyright 2025 Barefoot Publications,  All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Hike Rocky Magazine
    • Hike Rocky magazine
    • RMNP Updates
    • Trail Reviews
    • Gear Reviews
    • Science & Ecology
    • History & Current Issues
    • Stories & Adventure
    • Culture and Arts in the Park
    • The Continental Divide Story, 1977 by Kip Rusk
  • Trail Guide to RMNP
    • Trails by Location >
      • Wild Basin & Longs Peak Area
      • Bear Lake Corridor
      • Northern Park
      • West Side
    • Trails by Distance >
      • Short
      • Moderate
      • Longer
      • Challenge
    • Trails by Destination >
      • Lakes
      • Waterfalls
      • Peaks >
        • Peaks By Elevation
      • Loop Hikes
    • Index of Trails
  • Wildflowers of RMNP
    • By Color
    • April/May Flowers
    • June/July Flowers
    • August/September Flowers
    • Wildflower Guide Curators
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • Supporting Partners
    • Media Kit
    • 2025 Hike Rocky Print Edition
    • 2024 Hike Rocky Print Magazine
  • Hike Rocky magazine
  • RMNP Updates
  • Trail Reviews
  • Gear Reviews
  • Science & Ecology
  • History & Current Issues
  • Stories & Adventure
  • Culture and Arts in the Park
  • The Continental Divide Story, 1977 by Kip Rusk
  • Trails by Location >
    • Wild Basin & Longs Peak Area
    • Bear Lake Corridor
    • Northern Park
    • West Side
  • Trails by Distance >
    • Short
    • Moderate
    • Longer
    • Challenge
  • Trails by Destination >
    • Lakes
    • Waterfalls
    • Peaks >
      • Peaks By Elevation
    • Loop Hikes
  • Index of Trails
  • By Color
  • April/May Flowers
  • June/July Flowers
  • August/September Flowers
  • Wildflower Guide Curators
  • Who We Are
  • Supporting Partners
  • Media Kit
  • 2025 Hike Rocky Print Edition
  • 2024 Hike Rocky Print Magazine