This is the third of four articles dedicated to skiing the more famous backcountry lines in Rocky Mountain National Park. We’ll take a look at the Park in general before zeroing in on the Longs Peak region. For those looking for a variety of intermediate ski lines or options for some of the toughest lines east of the Continental Divide, the Longs Peak region is your Rocky Mountain go-to.

The Minturn Mile is a sidecountry classic and a Vail Valley special, although the name is a bit of a misnomer. The run itself is more than three miles long and descends from a high point of 11,000 feet to just below 8,000 feet for a total vertical descent of 3,000 feet. If you’re looking for a more adventurous way to celebrate a great powder day, then skip the village scene and knock out the Minturn Mile.

This is the second of four articles dedicated to skiing the more famous lines in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Bear Lake offers some of the finest ski lines in northern Colorado. Late winter and spring are prime time, though many lines can be skied during the middle of winter with proper planning and avalanche gear. For those interested in skiing all year round, late summer and early fall can still offer turns on the glaciers and perennial snowfields common to the area.

This is the first of four articles dedicated to skiing the more famous lines in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. We’ll take a look at the Park in general before zeroing in on the areas of Hidden Valley and Sundance Mountain. For those looking to tip-toe into the area backcountry scene, Hidden Valley and Sundance are perfect places to run some laps, build skill and enjoy the possibilities of backcountry.

In a season as extreme as winter, where weather forecasts are often wrong and ground conditions change by the hour, how do you even plan a backcountry ski adventure? Colorado based Backcountry Ski Guide, Timo Holmquist, provides a guide every backcountry skier needs when planning an adventure.

Black Lake via the Glacier Gorge Trail is a difficult 9.7 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located in Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado that features several lakes and two waterfalls.

Rogers Pass and Heart Lakes via South Boulder Creek Trail is a difficult 9.1 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located in the James Peak Wilderness near Rollinsville, Colorado that features two lakes. Gorgeous views and lots of summer wildflowers!

Lake Haiyaha is a moderate 3.6 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located in Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado that features a waterfall and a lake. “Haiyaha” is a Native American word that means “rock” or “lake of many rocks”, or “big rocks”, depending on the translation. This trail leads through the appropriately named Chaos Canyon.

Saint Mary’s Glacier is a moderate 1.9 mile out and back trail located in the Arapaho National Forest near Idaho Springs, Colorado. The hike up to St. Mary’s Glacier ascends through a beautiful forest and ends with stunning panoramic views. St. Mary’s is a lovely half-day mountain outing easily reached from most major metro areas along the Front Range. It is particularly popular with families due to the variety of terrain encountered for only a few miles of effort. 

Sky Pond via Glacier Gorge Trail is a difficult 9.5 mile out and back trail located in Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado that features three lakes and two waterfalls. Often called the prettiest lake in Rocky Mountain National Park, Sky Pond is an excellent destination in a beautiful part of the Rockies. The pond sits high in an alpine valley, carved by Taylor Glacier, which still lives on, above the lake.

Grays and Torrey’s Peaks is a difficult 9.7 mile out and back trail located in Arapaho National Forest near Idaho Springs, Colorado that features a river. They offer a fun but tiring twofer. Being close to major metro areas, they are incredibly popular, so get to the trailhead early!

The Quandary Peak Trail is a difficult 7.5 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail with an elevation gain of 3,450 feet located near Climax, Colorado. Easily accessible and fairly straightforward, Quandary’s popularity has skyrocketed in recent years, overtaking Bierstadt as the Colorado’s most hiked 14er.

East Inlet Trail to Lake Verna is a difficult, 13.4 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail with a 2,194 ft elevation gain located in Rocky Mountain National Park near Grand Lake, Colorado. An awesome destination for backpackers!

On Sunday, November 22, 2020, I drove up to the park on a beautiful, sunny morning. I decided to hike the Dream Lake Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. The Dream Lake Trail is a 2.4 mile, out-and-back trail with an elevation gain of about 450 feet featuring three lakes, Bear, Nymph and Dream Lakes plus awesome regional views of the park.

Royal Arch Trail is a difficult 4 mile out and back trail located near Boulder, Colorado that features beautiful summertime wild flowers. The destination, Royal Arch, is a local favorite. Many, many stairs to the top for this geological wonder! Great views of the jagged, rugged, Flat Irons & the open valley of Boulder, CO.