Two RMNP Easy Hikes to Get You Outside!

by Jason Miller

This month we wanted to go on two different hikes that are EASY. After a long winter of sitting on the couch watching TV, it is best to ease back into the hiking season. We chose two hikes that are located outside the gates of Rocky Mountain National Park. You will still need to acquire a RMNP Entry Reservation (entry reservations begin May 24, 2024). The Lumpy Ridge Loop is only 1.6 miles but has some vertical gain which will get your blood pumping. Lily Lake Trail is just under one mile but is also a wonderful spot to begin your summer hiking season.

​Twin Owls via Lumpy Ridge Loop
Located at the Gem Lake and Twin Owls parking lot you will find restrooms and the trailhead to this first hike. Scattered around the parking lot there are enormous boulders and rock features. This can provide your first photo opportunity if so desired. To begin the hike, you need to look for the sign that points to “Twin Owls Black Canyon Trail .6 miles."  I suggest taking a picture of the trail map at the beginning of the hike and at the end. This gives you a time stamp and you can calculate your time on the trail.

The trail starts off as a gentle climb on a pebble walkway. A few minutes into the walk we come to a sign. This sign informs us that we were crossing onto private property and that no pets are allowed on the trail. At this point you are on the MacGregor Ranch. This 3,600-acre ranch is nestled up against Rocky Mountain National Park. There are 41 structures including  the ranch house, chicken house, milk shed, and “loafing shed."  Be sure to stay on the trail and do not explore private buildings.

Continuing, you will travel past the base of Twin Owls. Rock climber’s routes branch out in different spots along this section of The Black Canyon Trail. There are many signs along the way, but NONE have our trail name on them. Stay on the trail that points toward Gem Lake. We hugged the mountain side with fascinating views of the Rocky Mountains. When we came to a fork in the trail and a sign saying that Gem Lake is 1.2 miles away, we went right to continue our clockwise loop. At this juncture we were only .5 miles from the parking lot.

Once we turned onto the last portion of the trail, it is a downhill grade all the way. Gentle switchbacks make it an easy walk down. We had a group of 6 people including two nine-year-old boys and completed the entire adventure in just over an hour.

Total Distance - 1.6 miles
Elevation Gain - 416 feet
Average Time - 54 minutes
Trail Rating - Easy to Moderate

Lily Lake Trail
Our second hike is one that I have always called a walk. Being a .8-mile flat loop with only 40 feet of elevation gain around a beautiful lake, most would not consider this as a worthy hike. Because of its expansive views of Longs Peek and Mount Meeker with this quaint lake in the front, we are placing it on our short list of must do hikes! Lily Lake Trailhead is located outside Estes Park on Highway 7 across the street from Twin Sisters Mountain.

It was a clear day to start off and by the time we got to the trailhead the wind was blowing and temperature dropped 15 degrees. Dressing in layers ensured that we would be warm. We chose to walk around the lake counterclockwise which gave us the option of Lily Ridge Trail. If you are looking for a little harder hike, you can try this one. The entrance is only 75-100 yards up on the main trail. Look where you cross the river and there is a section of fencing. The trail is in front of the fence. This adds on .5 miles to the total route and changes the difficulty from easy to moderate. Choosing this route gives you views of Lily Lake from halfway up the side of Lily Mountain.

Lily Lake Trail is a wide trail that is easily traveled no matter your ability. Strollers and wheelchair users are welcome. Today the trail is snow packed, so we needed to walk slowly and watch our footing. Walking along the north side of the lake gives you spectacular views of Longs Peak and Mount Meeker. There are a few benches sprinkled along the way that provide you with great resting opportunities and picture taking.

At the far end of the lake, the landscape opens and mountains in the distance come into view. Moose sightings are rare, but they do occur in this area. Looking back across the lake toward the parking lot we could see Twin Sisters. Another massive mountain within the RMNP. Our trail continued alongside the water which gave us an opportunity to see numerous ducks. Wildlife is never far away from these great watering holes. On this side of the lake there are picnic tables so you can come, sit, and have dinner watching the sunset. Beautiful.

We spent a total of 25 minutes on this easy hike. It's good to get outside, no matter the time or distance traveled. Be sure to eat a good breakfast, stretch, and plan well before hiking Rock Mountain National Park. Sunglasses, sunscreen, layers, and lunch are a must. Never forget to bring WATER! There are many options out there when it comes to hikes in the RMNP, but none this close to Estes Park with these kinds of views.

​Get Outside and use #HikeRocky when posting pictures on social media!
All photos above by Jason Miller.

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Postscript: Mountain weather is tricky to predict at best. Jason went on his Lily Lake hike early May and his photos show a fair amount of snow. Dave Rusk hiked the same trail earlier on April 20th with practically dry conditions and minimal snow around Lily Lake. Proof positive it's important to keep up to date on weather and trail conditions in RMNP!

Photos by Dave Rusk