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 Shelf Lake. Aaron Bojan By Aaron Bojan Hike Rating: Hard Distance: 9.3 miles Elevation Gain: 2365 Feet (Editors Note: The destination for this hike in Rocky Mountain National Park is off the main trail and requires some backcountry navigation skills including map reading skills and an awareness of the lay of the land. These are sensitive areas, please travel carefully.) Shelf and Solitude Lakes sit high on a rocky bench above the Mills Lake to Black Lake Trail. Sitting at approximately 11,200 feet, Shelf Lake takes your breath away as you crest the final section of the trail. Solitude rests just above Shelf, nestled alongside the ridge, creating an awe-inspiring view surrounded by tall walls and a deep canyon stretching into the distance. Solitude sits at 11,400 feet. The climb to these two lakes is challenging, with an ascent of roughly 1200 feet starting at the creek and climbing to Shelf Lake. Starting at either the Bear Lake Trail head or the Glacier Gorge Trailhead, the trail passes Alberta Falls, one of the most magnificent falls in RMNP. Continue on the trail traveling beyond Alberta Falls, ascend the rock steps and around Glacier Knobs, Mills Lake, and Jewel Lake. Follow the Mills Lake path once you arrive at the junction of the Mills Lake and Loch Vale trails. Mills Lake is one of my favorite lakes in the park. From Mills Lake, you can discover seven additional lakes. The sweeping views of the drainage include Longs Peaks, Pagoda, Spearhead, and many others.  Longs Peak, the Trough, Pagoda, and Spearhead. Aaron Bojan Once you arrive at Mills Lake, take pictures and soak in the dramatic views. Follow the trail and continue past Mills towards Black Lake. You will pass Jewel Lake, which is worth taking a moment to enjoy this serene little lake. Continue towards Black Lake and enjoy the scenery on this winding and wandering trail. The trail that leads to the creek crossing to begin your ascent up the canyon wall to Shelf Lake is hard to find. If you have never taken this trail, having a downloaded map from AllTrails will help you find the exact place to cross the creek. Once you cross the creek, the trail will sometimes be clear, faint, marked with Cairns, and hard to follow. Keeping your phone close with your downloaded map from AllTrails will help keep you on track. The trail crosses downed trees, over rocks, and through rugged terrain; slow and steady is your friend. The challenging climb ascends nearly 1200 feet and ends with a final push to Shelf Lake. Climbing up the final rock steps leads to a much easier winding trail through a patch of Krumholtz over rocks to the Lake’s southeastern edge. The view reveals Shelf Lake, Thatchtop, and the falls flowing into Shelf.  Shelf Lake and the falls trickling down from Solitude. Aaron Bojan Looking to the left of Shelf Lake and the falls in the distance, find the faint trail leading over the outlet and over to the slabs to continue onto Solitude. There are many vantage points to capture unique and gorgeous views. Take the time to explore and wander before descending to the Black Lake trail and heading back to Mills Lake and the trailhead where you began your adventure.  Solitude Lake. Aaron Bojan Completing this epic hike will bring exhaustion and exhilaration as you return to the Bear Lake Trail Head or the Glacier Gorge Trail Head. Once finished, you have earned a rest and some good food from one of the many great restaurants in Estes. Stop by Brownfields, grab the Shelf and Solitude trail tags, and share your adventure with Aaron, as he may be working the counter, helping guests discover the best hikes RMNP offers.  Aaron is the associate director at Crossroads Ministry in Estes Park. He loves hiking and exploring the lakes and peaks of RMNP. Since moving to Estes Park in 2016, Aaron has been exploring the trails of RMNP, discovering many gorgeous and exhilarating destinations worth the challenging hike.
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"The wild requires that we learn the terrain, nod to all the plants and animals and birds, ford the streams and cross the ridges, and tell a good story when we get back home." ~ Gary Snyder
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“Hiking -I don’t like either the word or the thing. People ought to saunter in the mountains - not hike! Do you know the origin of the word ‘saunter?’ It’s a beautiful word. Away back in the Middle Ages people used to go on pilgrimages to the Holy Land, and when people in the villages through which they passed asked where they were going, they would reply, A la sainte terre,’ ‘To the Holy Land.’ And so they became known as sainte-terre-ers or saunterers. Now these mountains are our Holy Land, and we ought to saunter through them reverently, not ‘hike’ through them.” ~ John Muir 
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