It’s that time of year once again and time for some spring hiking in Estes Park! The days are longer, the temps are slowly warming, the grass is beginning to green and the pasque flowers are in bloom! While we love experiencing this change in season, winter weather always puts up a fight as spring takes the lead in this annual seasonal battle. So, take note, spring hiking can be absolutely perfect (and I mean perfect), it can also turn into full on winter conditions in a moments notice. I’ve gone from sweating buckets at the start of a hike to finishing in blizzard conditions as I make it back to the trail head. One also has to watch out for the early season thunderstorms that can roll through with cold rain, hail, and lightning.

Enough of that, for now let’s get back to the perfect hiking conditions I was talking about to begin with. Here are some of my favorite hikes in order for the best spring trails, read low elevation, to some that may throw in a few curve balls at the higher altitudes.

Get Low

Go to Lumpy! (Map) A few wonderful options here. For a gentle, rolling hike, you can head out on the Black Canyon Trail (on the left by the bathrooms). This winds behind McGregor Ranch on gently rolling terrain for a couple of miles before getting steep. There are countless options here… head out until you want to turn around, go the the ‘green gate,’ if you know, you know, and enjoy a nice four mile round trip hike, or you can continue past where the grade gets much steeper. You can turn around when you’ve had enough, or continue all the way around the Lumpy Loop for an eleven mile leg burner. Be sure to look up this hike… there are a few trail junctions you’ll want to be aware of. There will also be snow on the backside of this loop into late spring. In April and early May, look for the stunning pasque flowers along the lower portions of this trail, especially in the first half mile. The first in the area to bloom and a sure sign of warmer days ahead.

If you head up the Gem Lake trail (to your right at the bathrooms), you can enjoy a quite steep, 3.4 (I think) mile round trip hike to a quaint little lake tucked into some dramatic granite cliffs. This is a classic! Note that some of the shaded areas near the lake can hold ice into lake spring. Easy to avoid, but don’t be a dummy and hurt yourself on the slick spots.

Bonus: Go to Bridal Veil Falls from the Cow Creek Trailhead (Map). 6.2 miles and a true joy of a hike.

Ramp It Up

Some mid elevation options would be Upper Beaver Meadows (limited parking early in the season), and Cub Lake.

Upper Beaver Meadows doesn’t really take you anywhere, but just explore a map and you can see the network of trails that surround this area. (Parking options: Early Season | Later Spring) It’s a perfect place to simply get out and enjoy Rocky. Make it as short as you want or you can get some real distance in. Last week I did an eight mile run in that general area and definitely didn’t hit every trail, and never repeated any section of trail either. Look for plentiful mule deer and turkeys. You’ll see elk here a lot and coyotes are pretty common as well.

The Cub Lake Trail (Map) is another great spring option. It’s about five miles round trip and the trail skirts the far west end of Moraine Park before climb up to this gorgeous lake. The last little bit is narrow and shaded so can hold some snow and ice until later in the spring, so take note and use your noggin when you encounter the slippery sections, especially on the way down. Look for turkeys and even moose along the lower sections of this hike.

Get High

No no, I know we’re in Colorado, but I’m just talking about elevation. Springtime can make for incredible high altitude hiking but you do need to be on your A-Game. The trails will still be snow covered and the weather can change in a blink of an eye so you’ll need to really be prepared for a wide variety of conditions. You can be drenched in sweat hiking in full sun and blue skies in a t-shirt one minute and bitterly cold after a snow squall slips over the divide the next. So, seriously, don’t take higher altitude spring hiking in Estes Park for granted.

Emerald Lake (Map) is a go to any time of year. This trail will most likely be packed down, icy, and slick in the spring. Especially in the morning hours before the sun has had a chance to do its work. In the afternoon it can be soft and slushy making for very cold wet feet. This hike is about 4 miles round trip and it breathtaking, passing by several lakes en route to Emerald.

The Loch (Map) is another worthy option. A bit longer at five miles (ish) but no less spectacular. Again, snow packed and variable trail conditions will persist along this route.

Woof Woof

You brought the pooch and need an option. Head south to the Brainard Lake (Map) area. You can’t drive all the way to the lake until the road opens, but the Indian Peaks Wilderness is every bit as spectacular as Rocky Mountain Nation

al Park and you can bring the pups with you! Just park where the road is closed for the season and follow the road up to Brainard Lake. From there you can continue on, if you wish, to one of many worthwhile destinations from lakes to summits. Again, this is high altitude and you’ll most likely be on snow the entire time until later in the spring.

A close option that should be snow free is the Homer Rouse Trail (Map). A few miles, roundtrip, will take you up to Seven Keys Lodge through forest and open meadows. A popular option for us locals when we want to stretch the legs with our four legged friends.

Hopefully this gives you some ideas over these next six or so weeks on some incredible hikes to hit as winter gives way to warmer days. Spring hiking in Estes Park is some of the best hiking all year. Just use common sense and enjoy some time in these truly special mountains. Some waterproof shoes will definitely help as well 😉

Happy Trails!

p.s. If you’re looking for some summer hikes, check this out: Summer Hike Blog Post