Hike the Parks: Rocky Mountain National Park. Brendan Leonard

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       HIKE THE PARKS

       ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

       HIKE THE PARKS

       BEST DAY HIKES, WALKS, AND SIGHTS

       ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

       BRENDAN LEONARD

       To Dave Fecik: Thanks for bailing me out of jail that one time so we could do all these hikes together seventeen years later.

      MOUNTAINEERS BOOKS is dedicated to the exploration, preservation, and enjoyment of outdoor and wilderness areas.

      1001 SW Klickitat Way, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98134

      800-553-4453, www.mountaineersbooks.org

      Copyright © 2021 by Brendan Leonard

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form, or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

      Mountaineers Books and its colophon are registered trademarks of The Mountaineers organization.

      Printed in China

      Distributed in the United Kingdom by Cordee, www.cordee.co.uk

      First edition, 2021

      Copyeditor: Erin Cusick

      Design: Jen Grable

      Layout: Laura Shaw Design, Inc.

      Cartographer: Mike Powers/Honest Maps

      All photographs by the author unless credited otherwise

      Cover photograph: Taylor Peak dominates the view from The Loch (Hike 5).

      Back cover photograph: Longs Peak at sunrise (Hike 25)

      Frontispiece: Rock formations along the Ute Trail near Poudre Lake (Hike 30)

      Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data is on file for this title at

      https://lccn.loc.gov/2020045114 (print) and

      https://lccn.loc.gov/2020045115 (ebook)

      Mountaineers Books titles may be purchased for corporate, educational, or other promotional sales, and our authors are available for a wide range of events. For information on special discounts or booking an author, contact our customer service at 800-553-4453 or [email protected].

      Printed on FSC-certified materials

      ISBN (paperback): 978-1-68051-298-4

      ISBN (ebook): 978-1-68051-299-1

       CONTENTS

       Overview Map

       Hikes at a Glance

       Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park

       Planning Your Trip

       How to Use This Guide

       Map Legend

       BEAR LAKE ROAD

       1Bear Lake

       2Alberta Falls

       3Sprague Lake

       4Mills Lake

       5The Loch

       6Odessa Lake via Bear Lake Trailhead

       7Four Lakes Loop

       8Cub Lake

       9Fern Lake

       10Bierstadt Lake Loop

       11Moraine Park Loop

       12Black Lake

       13Flattop Mountain and Hallett Peak

       DEVILS GULCH ROAD

       14Gem Lake

       15Bridal Veil Falls from Cow Creek Trailhead

       16Black Canyon Trail and Lumpy Ridge Loop

       COLORADO HIGHWAY 7

       17Lily Lake

       18Lily Ridge Trail

       19Copeland Falls

       20Three