28 replies to this topic

[NWA395]

Well,
Thanks to all the information contained here we think we have a fairly decent plan laid out, but would appreciate any feedback concerning times, other options. While this is almost a recon trip for my wife and I while we make more plans for the 2012 visits to the park. Our general plans are to use the morning for hikes and the afternoon for exploring from the truck.



Leaving NW Arkansas on 9/1 about 0200. Approximately 13 hour drive to Moraine Park CG. Arrive late afternoon and stretch from the drive and set up the tent. Check out the visitor center then head over to Bear Lake TH and do Bear, Dream, Nymph and Emerald Lakes..time providing

9/2: Figure we would hike in the early a.m and do TRR in the afternoon. Mills Lake most likely the morning hike. Does the trail to Mills Lake take you to or by the loch or is there a split where you either continue to Mills Lake or take the fork to The Loch. Afternoon check out Estes for some local brews and walking.. Dinner at camp

9/3: Fern lake and Spruce lake in the a.m and wherever the wind blows us in the afternoon.

9/4: Open in the a.m and then do the 13 hours back to the land of 26 straight days of 100 degree weather.

I would appreciate any feedback on good photo opportunities or locations along the route, good local brews and eateries.

Thanks
Geoff

[NWA395]

NWA395, on 27 July 2011 - 07:44 PM, said:

Well,
Thanks to all the information contained here we think we have a fairly decent plan laid out, but would appreciate any feedback concerning times, other options. While this is almost a recon trip for my wife and I while we make more plans for the 2012 visits to the park. Our general plans are to use the morning for hikes and the afternoon for exploring from the truck.



Leaving NW Arkansas on 9/1 about 0200. Approximately 13 hour drive to Moraine Park CG. Arrive late afternoon and stretch from the drive and set up the tent. Check out the visitor center then head over to Bear Lake TH and do Bear, Dream, Nymph and Emerald Lakes..time providing

9/2: Figure we would hike in the early a.m and do TRR in the afternoon. Mills Lake and the Loch most likely the morning hike. . Afternoon check out Estes for some local brews and walking.. Dinner at camp

9/3: Fern lake and Spruce lake in the a.m and wherever the wind blows us in the afternoon.

9/4: Open in the a.m and then do the 13 hours back to the land of 26 straight days of 100 degree weather.

I would appreciate any feedback on good photo opportunities or locations along the route, good local brews and eateries.

Thanks
Geoff

[rcw]

Smokin' Dave's BBQ and Poppy's are our favorite places to eat. Poppy's always has good pizza and a large assortment of interesting beers. Sunset at Rock Cut on TRR can be spectacular. You can get good pictures of the divide at Bierstadt Lake or Sprague lake. Sprague is right by the road to Bear Lake. Bierstadt is a pretty good hike up the hill from Bear Lake Road. That said, there are picture opportunities anywhere you go. Even sitting in the parking lot at the Safeway.

[mathguy]

NWA395, on 27 July 2011 - 07:44 PM, said:

9/2: Figure we would hike in the early a.m and do TRR in the afternoon. Mills Lake most likely the morning hike. Does the trail to Mills Lake take you to or by the loch or is there a split where you either continue to Mills Lake or take the fork to The Loch.

As no doubt other Forumers will tell you, the trail splits three ways at a well defined trail junction coming from the Glacier Gorge
trailhead, where if you bear left (south) you go to Mills/Jewel lakes
if you go more or less straight (approx west) you go to the Loch, and if you bear right (approx north) you're on the "unimproved"
trail to Lake Haiyaha. It would not be unreasonable to go to Mills, then backtrack and go to the Loch, if you want to see both lakes
on the same hike since both are within a mile of the trail junction.

[Rusti]

sounds like a very good plan. If you are looking for a quick last morning hike before the trip home consider Gem Lake - easy trail and gives a completely different landscape from what you will see along Glacier Gorge/Bear Lake area.

Somkin' Dave's has good food and a decent beer selection. Village Pizza is the hidden gem for craft beer drinkers - they have an incredible list but (and it's a big but) they don't always have everything listed. Good pizza and great beer. If you have time to drive over to Boulder check out the Avery Brewery tasting room. My must have while in Colorado is Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale (we can't get it in Kansas and it's in my top five favs).

Enjoy!

[skinnyindian]

From Fern Lake I would skip Spruce and keep going to Odessa. Spruce is a nice lake, but the trail is unimproved over lots of boulders and the scenery at Odessa is spectacular.

[mkadow]

skinnyindian, on 28 July 2011 - 08:10 AM, said:

From Fern Lake I would skip Spruce and keep going to Odessa. Spruce is a nice lake, but the trail is unimproved over lots of boulders and the scenery at Odessa is spectacular.

+1!

[John]

+2!

[DeeCeeM]

Ditto on the sunset at Rock Cut suggestion. Here's a link to one of the pictures I took there last year. (I posted it somewhere on the forums, but it's been awhile.)

You also need to catch at least one sunrise. I would recommend both Sprague Lake and Moraine Park, which would work out nicely for your two morning hikes.

Food ideas so far are all good. I would add Casa Grande for Mexican.

Looks like you've got a good time ahead of you - have fun!

[nicshow]

Just remember that your change in elevation will be significant. You will need to be open to changing your plans depending on how your bodies react to the altitude. Hydrate yourselves very well beginning a couple of days before arriving and keep pounding down the fluids while you are in CO.

Nic

[B-Jay]

You've got a lot of good suggestions so far. I would like to second Rusti's recommendation for a trip to Oskar Blues in Lyons for a Dale's Pale Ale. Another place with good Colorado brews (and good food) is Rock Mountain Inn. Since we can't get Odell beers here in Illinois, I usually order one of their brews when I'm there. I'm partial to the 5 Barrel Pale Ale or the IPA.

Have a great time!

B-Jay

[jflo]

Rusti, on 28 July 2011 - 07:40 AM, said:

sounds like a very good plan. If you are looking for a quick last morning hike before the trip home consider Gem Lake - easy trail and gives a completely different landscape from what you will see along Glacier Gorge/Bear Lake area.

Somkin' Dave's has good food and a decent beer selection. Village Pizza is the hidden gem for craft beer drinkers - they have an incredible list but (and it's a big but) they don't always have everything listed. Good pizza and great beer. If you have time to drive over to Boulder check out the Avery Brewery tasting room. My must have while in Colorado is Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale (we can't get it in Kansas and it's in my top five favs).

Enjoy!

If you are into breweries, Colorado is the place to be...

Of course there is Estes Park Brewery, and Grand Lake Brewery (MUCH better than EPB in my opinion)

Boulder: Boulder Brewery, Avery (as Rusti noted), Upslope ( on the way to Lyons)...
Oskar Blues (one of the best in CO) Lyons and Longmont (where the Brewery is located, amazing selection of guest beers on tap, including a killer restaurant), Lyons is also the home of the new Smokin' Dave's BBQ, which has a much larger selection of brews on tap compared the their EP location...
Longmont: Left Hand and Pumphouse
Fort Collins: New Belgium, Fort Collins Brewery, and Odell
Denver: Great Divide, Breckenridge, Wynkoop, Sandlot...

My buddy (who lives in Denver) and I always make a point to visit a few breweries while I'm out there... I've been to all of these with the exception of Sandlot and Pumphouse...
Brewery tours are fun!

Anyway, I'm sure you'll have an awesome time whatever you decide... Hey, It's RMNP!!!

[NWA395]

Rusti, on 28 July 2011 - 07:40 AM, said:

sounds like a very good plan. If you are looking for a quick last morning hike before the trip home consider Gem Lake - easy trail and gives a completely different landscape from what you will see along Glacier Gorge/Bear Lake area.

Somkin' Dave's has good food and a decent beer selection. Village Pizza is the hidden gem for craft beer drinkers - they have an incredible list but (and it's a big but) they don't always have everything listed. Good pizza and great beer. If you have time to drive over to Boulder check out the Avery Brewery tasting room. My must have while in Colorado is Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale (we can't get it in Kansas and it's in my top five favs). Enjoy!

Rusti,
I appreicate the leads on the local brews. I am sure we will follow up on one or two

skinnyindian, on 28 July 2011 - 08:10 AM, said:

From Fern Lake I would skip Spruce and keep going to Odessa. Spruce is a nice lake, but the trail is unimproved over lots of boulders and the scenery at Odessa is spectacular.

Odessa sounds like an excellent idea. In looking at the map, we may just decide to do a loop from Fern Lake TH (leave the truck here) , to Fern, Odessa and cut over to Lake Helene then to Bear Lake or Bierstadt. Logistics of getting back to the truck may be a challenge but there is always the thumb..

DeeCeeM, on 28 July 2011 - 06:00 PM, said:

Ditto on the sunset at Rock Cut suggestion. Here's a link to one of the pictures I took there last year. (I posted it somewhere on the forums, but it's been awhile.)

You also need to catch at least one sunrise. I would recommend both Sprague Lake and Moraine Park, which would work out nicely for your two morning hikes.

Food ideas so far are all good. I would add Casa Grande for Mexican.

Looks like you've got a good time ahead of you - have fun!

Sunrise hike is in the plan and the sunset from the Rock Cut looks great. Thank you all for the info and feedback.

Smokin Daves is on the list

[NWA395]

Reading the reviews and trip reports, wondering which is the tougher route

Fern Lake TH going to Bear lake TH,

or

Bear Lake TH going to Fern Lake TH

[DeeCeeM]

NWA395, on 30 July 2011 - 09:41 AM, said:

Reading the reviews and trip reports, wondering which is the tougher route

Fern Lake TH going to Bear lake TH,

or

Bear Lake TH going to Fern Lake TH

Disclaimer - I've not done this hike, but I researched it last year in case I had time to squeeze it in. After an initial climb, Bear Lake TH to Fern Lake TH is mostly downhill, so that's the direction I was planning on. However, some people actually prefer going uphill because it's easier on their knees. Both starting points have their proponents, so I'd say either would be fine.