Hiking the Tonahutu trail in Rocky Mountain National Park

Trailhead: Bear Lake
Beginning Elevation: 9,475'
Destination Elevation: 8,800'
​Elevation Gain: 2,874'
​Total Miles: 16.1

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This long day hike is a 'through-hike' that begins at Bear Lake, climbs up the Flattop Mtn trail, and follows the Continental Divide north before dropping into the Tonahutu Creek drainage and ending just north of the town of Grand Lake. You will want to have a vehicle waiting for you at the Green Mtn trailhead.

Emerald Lk overlook

Alpine Chiming-bells

Flattop Mtn Summit

Most of the elevation gain for this hike is the first 4.4 miles up the Flattop Mtn trail, which rises quickly above treeline and onto the alpine tundra. These photos are from early July when most of the snow covering the trail has melted away. Once at the summit of Flattop, travel to the trail junction with the North Inlet trail on the Continental Divide. Continue north catching a view into the Odessa Lake basin. 

Alpine Avens line the Flattop Mtn trail

The Continental Divide Story, 1977 author, Kip Rusk, on the Continental Divide

Looking south to Ptarmigan Mtn and Andrews Pk

The trail cruises across the broad tundra with expansive views to the south and west. Be sure to travel on this section of the trail early in the day and keep an eye on the sky. The open tundra can be vulnerable to lightening strikes.

The trail travels around the north side of Snowdrift Pk

Alpine Avens carpet the tundra

Snowdrift Pk reflection

Unnamed lake near the Tonahutu trail

Western Yellow Paintbrush

Alpine Sunflowers

Alpine Elephant-head

The trail passes by and in front of numerous mountain peaks and you can use numerous rest stops with a map figuring out what all the names of the peaks are. 

​At about the halfway mark, the trail begins its drop into the Tonahutu Creek drainage and back into the trees. 

Nakai Peak and the Haynach Lakes basin from the Tonahutu Cr trail

Engleman Spruce forest

From a 2013 fire

West side ecosystem

The trail travels by Granite Falls and this is a good place to take a long rest and refresh the feet with a soak for the last stretch of the hike around the Big Meadow. It's hard not to feel ready to be done with the hike by the time you get to the Green Mtn trailhead turnoff. But your long day can be rewarded by getting a meal in Grand Lake. 

Granite Falls

Big Meadow

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