9 replies to this topic

[kbat]

The countdown to our return to paradise is at 20 days, and we are considering our options for a first day hike. We are flatlanders, so we need to do about 6-8 miles round trip with about 1000 - 1500 feet of elevation on the first day (something along the lines of Mills Lake or Deer Mountain etc.).But, we have never been to RMNP in July, and we are concerned about the crowds.

Question #1: Any suggestions for good first day hikes and what time we would need to be at the trailhead?

Question # 2: Do any good hikes start or end at Sprague Lake? That is our favorite spot in the park and it would be great to launch or finish there.

Thanks for your help!

[GLENNinPA]

There's a trail from the Glacier Gorge Trail that leads to Sprague. It is only a tenth of a mile or so from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead. I took it one year and thought it was pretty cool. Lots of horse droppings though.

[DeeCeeM]

That same trail that Glenn mentioned also connects with the Storm Pass Trail and the Boulder Brook Trail. I haven't hiked either, but you might want to look into them. You could hike from Sprague Lake to the Storm Pass Trail and then take your pick from there. There also appears to be a trail that connects Sprague Lake with Highway 66 and another that goes to the East Portal, but I haven't done those, either, at least not on foot. (I recall taking a horseback ride in the area years ago; but it was mostly through forest, so I can't remember exactly where we went.)

As for the Glacier Creek Trail (the one Glenn is talking about) you can actually hike all the way from Bear Lake to Sprague Lake on it. One advantage is that you can use the shuttle system to do it as a one way hike. The other - at least for me - is that if you start at either Bear Lake or Glacier Gorge and end up at Sprague Lake, the hike is downhill. I actually did this hike From Glacier Gorge Trailhead to Storm Pass Trailhead last year and found it enjoyable though not spectacular. You go by a couple of cascades; and if you are paying attention, you can step a few feet off the trail to visit Prospect Pond.

As for what time to be at the trailhead, it's my experience that the earlier you go, the fewer people you'll see and the more likelihood of finding a parking place.

[HighPlainsMedic]

You have a good idea to slowly acclimatize to the area..
Passing on some information posted earlier on this spring. Follow THIS Link

July in Rocky although much cooler than TX.. you still need to think about water.. you won't notice the sweating as the air is very dry and your sweat will evaporate quickly.. and there are less molecules of water at altitude as well.. Dee Cee posted some really good information on safety as well....

Take photo's, have a good.. no.... GREAT time...:D

[Mark Zemmin]

The biggest thing I have found to deal with the crowds is get to the trailheads by 8 AM you will have no problems in general. It is a little more crowded on the weekends. We like to stay on Eastern time when we come to the park, that way getting up early does not seem so bad.

[Pam]

We like Bridal Veil Falls for a first day hike.

[kbat]

GLENNinPA, on 30 June 2011 - 10:33 AM, said:

There's a trail from the Glacier Gorge Trail that leads to Sprague. It is only a tenth of a mile or so from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead. I took it one year and thought it was pretty cool. Lots of horse droppings though.

That looks like the Glacier Creek trail on the RMNP map - parallels Bear Lake road - maybe about 2 miles from Glacier Gorge Trail to Sprague Lake.

SInce I want to gain some altitude, I was thinking about starting at Sprague, linking up with the Boulder Brook Trail, go south to North Longs Peak trail (that should gain about 1500 feet in about 2.5 miles) then down the North Longs Peak Trail (north west) to join up with the Glacier Gorge trail above Alberta Falls, and then down to the Glacier Creek Trail (referenced by Glenn) and then east back to Sprague.

Using the RMNP map and a topo map, I calculate this would be about an 8-9 mile triangle loop hike. Let me know if I'm way off in my calculations, please.

Thanks to everyone for your input.

[ScottO]

Your calculations look good to me. The only crowds or congestion will be on your way down between Alberta Falls and the junction with the Glacier Creek Trail. While the Boulder Brook trail is fairly steep in places, the early morning air spilling of the mountain is nice and cool and keeps you refreshed. In my experience, it's like air conditioning only better. If you start late, the Glacier Creek section could get fairly warm on your return. Should be a pretty nice hike.

ScottO

[DrCloud]

Gotta say, as a first-day hike, that's pretty ambitious -- a nice loop, to be sure, but ambitious. But, then, I'm not young and full of extra energy any more... HPH

[kbat]

DrCloud, on 01 July 2011 - 05:09 PM, said:

Gotta say, as a first-day hike, that's pretty ambitious -- a nice loop, to be sure, but ambitious. But, then, I'm not young and full of extra energy any more... HPH

I'm not young any more either, but I've been training and the thrill of being back in RMNP should help me make it through.