55 replies to this topic

[DeeCeeM]

I want to expand the hiking section of my website; and since I had to research some short & easy hikes for my friend gsmatch, it seems logical to start there. These are all under 4 miles round trip. Please vote for your favorite and add comments or nominate others. Then, if no one objects, I'll use the results on my website. (So if you don't want to be quoted there, be sure you say so in your reply.)

[Bill 007]

I love the start of the Fern Lake Trail. Nice, easy hiking and interesting scenery. Love the water and the Arch rocks. Nice first day hike.
Bill

[Malok]

Out of the hikes you have listed, I agree totally with BPowers2000. If however you had Dream or Emerald Lake on your list, I would quickly have put that up to the top. I guess it depends on what you mean by easy. You could also list the walks around Sprague, Bear, and Lilly Lake as easy walks. If there was just one place I could take someone on a short visit to RMNP and they had time for only a short hike I would take them up to Dream Lake.

Malok

[DeeCeeM]

If however you had Dream or Emerald Lake on your list, I would quickly have put that up to the top. I guess it depends on what you mean by easy.  You could also list the walks around Sprague, Bear, and Lilly Lake as easy walks.
Malok

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

After all the discussions on this forum, I have a strong feeling that easy is in the eye of the beholder. Anyway, these are supposed to be representative of some of the easiest hikes I could think of or were recommended in the thread on hikes for the lung impared.

I started to put Dream on this one, but Emerald is going to be on the next one so I decided not to. (If I had, it would have been my hands down winner.) Sprague, Bear & Lily Lakes didn't make the cut because you can only have 10 choices, so I left off "lake loops" but will mention them on my site. However, all of the above is why choice # 10 is "Other."

Besides, I know the folks at this forum well enough to know that, if your answer's not on the list, you'll vote for it anyway! :P

[dennis]

Wow, I voted for Aberta Falls. But voting for the best in RMNP is always difficult. My wife decided this year that the best hike in RMNP is the one that you're on at the time!!! The view from Sprague Lake is hard to beat. Of course, if you want to include the time of year the aspens are turning, you may vote differently. Dennis

[GLENNinPA]

This is not an easy one to reply to, but I think Calypso Cascade would be my favorite. It's a nice cool trail with the sound of rushing water almost the whole way. The Cascade is beautiful. Plus I just love the Wild Basin Area.
Glenn B)

[waterrat]

Dream Lake gets my vote for a short hike. It's just too perfect to pass up if you don't have much time.

Fern Lake trail sounds intriguing, though; I'm going to have to try it next year.

[ProfHall]

Yes, the Fern Lake trail is a great one for "first day" hikes or "short and easy". Just depends on how far you want to go. All the way to the Pool is about 3.5 miles round trip, and almost completely flat (almost...there are a few places with some gentle up hill/down hill segments). The Big Thompson is either right beside the trail or just off in the willows, but always near, and there are LOTS of boulders for kiddos to climb on to keep interested in the hike. And the Pool is a good payoff for the walk in...

[DeeCeeM]

ProfHall - what's this, no West Side vote? Say it isn't so!

(Something like "And the best part of the hike to Adams Falls is its proximity to Grand Lake Chocolates and a cone of Malt Ball Fudge," maybe?)

[Aaron]

I can't believe that either?? I'm the only vote for Adams Falls so far!?! ProfHall is slipping on this one

--Aaron

[ProfHall]

What is this to be, a duel of honor? Pistols at twenty paces at dawn? Fencing til blood is drawn? Choose you weapons...

Anyway, DCM's poll did not ask "favorite place to stay" which would of course be our cabin on the west side. And, if the hike had been "Adams Falls AND BEYOND" then I would have picked that. But, given the east/west choices in the poll, I did like the Pool hike better than Coyote Valley...though the Colorado Trail is wonderful. It just doesn't have the "payoff" of something like the Pool a short distance in. The views of the Never Summers are themselves a payoff, however...see the pictures from John's report of his visit there!

Ok, I guess I've defended my honor enough... :D

[Aaron]

Ok, I guess I've defended my honor enough

:D :P ;)

I just had to pile on!

--Aaron

[DeeCeeM]

What is this to be, a duel of honor?  Pistols at twenty paces at dawn?  Fencing til blood is drawn?  Choose you weapons...

You're in trouble either way - as my markmanship medals & my former fencing opponets will attest!

DCM
(Bait the hook, cast the line & then just wait to reel 'em in)

[ProfHall]

my markmanship medals & my former fencing opponets

Why, oh why, am I NOT surprised?

[Bill 007]

How 'bout elk chips at 20 paces.
Bill