This easy loop around Bear Lake is just over a half mile. It is located on the east side of the park and is a popular place for hiking, walking, and snowshoeing. Since it's a popular trail, it's common to see other people there. There are bathrooms at the trailhead. Parking here fills up early, so consider taking the shuttle to the trailhead. 

Get panoramic views of Rocky Mountain National Park!

Along the Trail Ridge Road, use this pull out to see a scenic vista of ‘many parks’, meaning low-land meadows. Moraine Park, Upper Beaver Meadows, and Horseshoe Park meadows are visible with a backdrop of Deer Mountain and Longs Peak.

Help keep wildlife wild. Never approach or feed wildlife. Animals that learn people are a source of food can become aggressive or stop hunting or foraging on their own. Keep your distance - it's the law! You could be hurt or issued a fine.

Along Trail Ridge Road, stop at the Rainbow Curve viewing area to appreciate a varied and spectacular view.

Rainbow curve rests on tree line, marking the moment of passing between alpine and sub-alpine ecosystems. From this vantage point, visitors can view Horseshoe Park, Deer Mountain, the Alluvial Fan and the Mummy Mountain range. Rainbows can often be seen here after a rain, giving the location its name.

The first major stop above tree line. Enjoy a paved path with educational signs and incredible views. Get a panoramic view at 11,716 feet!

Take a five minute walk down the paved asphalt trail to see Forest Canyon and its tributary canyons, Hayden Gorge and Gorge Lakes. Here the erosive force of glacial ice is unmistakable. A 1,500 feet thick glacier shaped a V-shaped stream valley below. With grinding force, the ice scoured the valley into the distinctive U-shaped valley of today.

Please stay on the paved asphalt trail to protect fragile alpine tundra plants. Studies have shown it can take decades for alpine plants and soil to recover after human trampling. Thank you for staying on the path and enjoying the flowers by not picking them, so future visitors can enjoy them as well.

This stroller-friendly trail offers sweeping views of the alpine tundra. It’s .6 miles long with a 260-foot elevation gain. Watch the sky; if storms approach, stay off!

Lava Cliffs features a rare section of volcanic rock in Rocky Mountain Nationall Park. This area is the result of a lava flow that traveled from the Never Summer Range around 28 million years ago. Many years later, glaciers moving through the area cut open the hillside and revealed the lava cliffs seen today. Look closely for sightings of wildlife perched along the cliffs. Prairie Falcons and American Pipits can be seen in the area. In mid-summer, look to the valley beneath the cliffs for elk enjoying the cold, alpine air.

Gore Range Overlook offers views of the Never Summer Mountains, and the Gore Range. From this western-facing pullout, the flat top of Long’s Peak is in sight - the highest peak at 14,259 feet in the park. The Never Summer Mountains were created by volcanic activity between 29 and 24 million years ago. The Arapaho Indians call these mountains Ni-chebe-chii, which translates to “Never No Summer”. The Gore Range is named after St. George Gore, an Irish aristocrat who visited the area in the mid 1800’s to lead an infamous hunting expedition. Educational signs can be found here. 

The views here are some of the best in the park. While here, hike the Alpine Ridge Trail that offers amazing views in all directions. It’s only a half mile round trip and has a 209-foot elevation gain. Watch the sky, and if a storm comes, stay off.

"Medicine Bow Curve provides a great location to view the northernmost areas of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Looking to the horizon, visitors will see the Medicine Bow Mountains and the state of Wyoming. The Cache la Poudre river can clearly be seen flowing through the valley beneath the lookout area. From this viewing area, visitors can see two tree lines. The uppermost tree line separates the sub-alpine ecosystem from the Alpine Tundra ecosystem. The lower tree line, seen near the bottom of the valley, highlights the valley floor which is too wet for trees to grow. It is also common to see Rocky Mountain Elk and small alpine animals like Ptarmigan and Marmot in this area. But please keep your distance and help keep wildlife wild. Never approach or feed wildlife. Animals that learn people are a source of food can become aggressive or stop hunting or foraging on their own."

"At 10,759 feet, this mountain pass has exceptional views of Poudre Lake, and is located on the continental divide!

The divide traverses the Americas from Alaska to Cape Horn in Chile. As it rains on the divide, the future course of a drop of water depends on a matter of feet. All water east of this pass will flow towards the Atlantic Ocean while all water on the west side will flow towards the Pacific Ocean. Look for a descriptive brown sign in the parking lot. Milner Pass is named for T.J Milner, an ambitious railroad promoter who surveyed a rail route across the divide. Like many surveyed routes of the 1880s, the railroad line was never built. This pass provides access to one end of the Ute Trail that leads to the Alpine Visitor Center."

Enjoy sweeping views of the Kawnueeche Valley and the Never Summer Range from this spectacular overlook.

For thousands of years, Native American communities lived seasonally in the Kawnueeche Valley. The Colorado River provided valuable resources that sustained communities through the summer months. In the late 1800’s, settlers from the United States of America began to farm the valley as homesteads.

Along the far side of the valley, visitors can view the impressive Never Summer Range. This row of mountains is the only volcanic mountain range in Rocky Mountain National Park. In the late 1800’s, prospectors looking for precious metals mined the valley below Farview Curve. The mines never produced riches, but today, the Never Summers provide another valuable resource: water. Look for a horizontal stripe running across the middle of the mountain range. Known as the Grand Ditch, this canal collects and carries water to Long Draw Reservoir. Even today, the ditch provides water to farmers and communities living east of Colorado's Front Range.

"This unique Beaver Meadows Visitor Center was designed by Taliesin Associated Architects in 1967, and was one of the most significant projects for the firm in the years following the death of its founder Frank Lloyd Wright. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 2001 It is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m in summer and from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in fall and winder. It is open year-round, but closed on Thanksgiving, President’s Day, and Christmas."

The Moraine Park Discover Center makes a home in a historic building about two miles up Bear Lake Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. From there, visitors can see stunning views overlooking Moraine Park and Longs Peak. It was built in 1923 as Moraine Park Lodge by Imogene MacPherson as the center of her tourist operation and was eventually adapted into a natural history museum by the National Park Service. In 1993, the lodge was converted into a visitor center with exhibits designed by the Denver Museum of Natural History. It features interactive natural history exhibits with themes including geologic processes, glaciation, weather and climate, ecosystems, and human impact. It is open spring through fall from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Fall River Visitor Center is located on route 34, five miles west of the town of Estes Park. This unique visitor center offers a fascinating learning experience with full-size bronze wildlife displays in a stunning facility and beautiful site.VIt is open year round, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving, President’s Day, and Christmas.

The Kawuneeceh Visitor Center is located on U.S. 34, just one mile north of Grand Lake, this is the only visitor center on the park’s west side. It was built in 1990 with about $300,000 raised by the Rocky Mountain Nature Association (now the Rocky Mountain Conservancy), the Kawuneeche Visitor Center boasts exhibits on the plant and animal life of the area, as well as a large three-dimensional map of the park. It is closed Monday and Tuesday, and open Wednesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Hours expand to 5 p.m. in summer.

Picnic area with flush toilets year-round.

Picnic area with vault toilets.

Picnic area with vault toilets, wheelchair accessible.

You’ll find a few different trails there, ranging from quick and easy, to long and intense. You can also just hang out for a while too. It has picnic tables and grills, but you can also use your own camp stove if you brought one. The picnic area also has restrooms, so it’s a good place to stop for whatever reason.

Historic site, trailhead, and picnic area with vault toilets.

Trailhead with vault toilets. The trail itself is a nice, easy path by the river.

Restrooms available.

Restrooms available.

Eight tables, use of portable grills allowed, vault toilets.

Visit this beautiful town right near Rocky Mountain national park! Find places to stay, places to eat, and things to do! This town has got everything you need.

A beautiful park in a u-shaped valley with a trailhead.

A great place to stop on your drive to view some wildlife and talk to an expert.

Stop on your drive to check out some gorgeous wetlands and get a view of the real ecosystem of the Rocky Mountains. There's even a boardwalk you can walk out on to really get a good view.

A great place to sit and rest - with four tables, this is the ideal place to get some lunch in, and spot some wildlife while you're at it!

Pause here for a quick snack or a picnic lunch - with 6 tables, its a wonderful place to take in the Kawuneeche valley.

An amazing place to get to to get a sweet view of the Colorado River.

A moderate route, this trail lets you experience some of the best of the Rocky Mountains.

This picnic area on the edge of Harbison Meadows offers covered and uncovered picnic tables.

Picnic Tables: 4

Fire Grates: 4

Portable Grills: Yes 

Known as the "Western Gateway" to Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand Lake has something for everyone, and the charming lakeside setting makes folks feel right at home.

Timber Creek Campground is open for the summer camping only. Located on the west side of the park close to Grand Lake. Tenting and RV campsites are available. Reservations are required.

Lush, green meadows, a meandering river, alpine forests, and all with that beautiful backdrop of the majestic rocky mountains.