Rocky Mountain National Park & area
We enjoyed a wintery holiday in Rocky Mountain National Park during spring break 2018. It was a snowy experience where ice cleats made a world of difference in enabling us to stay upright and complete a hike. I have learned that trail-finding and hiking in general are more difficult in the snow. I would love to visit Rocky Mountain National Park (and Colorado) again in the summer to check out some of the mountain hikes and blooming wildflowers. To hike at Rocky Mountain National Park, we stayed in Estes Park.
| Fee: | $20 (1-day automobile), $30 (7-day automobile), FREE with Inter-Agency Annual Pass or 4th grade pass |
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| Website: | Rocky Mountain National Park |
Bear Lake to Dream Lake
Our hike from Bear Lake to Nymph Trail to Dream Lake was a very icy trail which was easy to get lost on since there was no markings indicating the trail (or it was snow covered). We saw Bear Lake, Nymph Lake and Dream Lake. We had hopes of seeing Emerald Lake but lost our trail and ultimately gave up when we realized we were on the top of a cliff when we should have been in the valley. The wind picked up quite a bit near Dream Lake. After Dream Lake, it appears we inadvertently went off-trailing, but saw a small frozen waterfall and “the” slope on our off-trailing adventure. Slopes are always easier to go up than down for me. The way down was so slick I gave in to sliding down on my bottom, following the example of my kids, who delightfully used that method of transport any chance they got. Thankfully the casualty on their snow pants were not terrible. Ice cleats were definitely very useful from the start to the end of this trail. Bear Lake itself, though close in proximity to the parking lot, is an icy walk away. We watched people slipping and sliding their way on this walk, being grateful for having our ice cleats.
Fighting the wind walking towards a frozen Dream Lake, Rocky Mountain NP, CO
Sliding on bottoms was more alluring than cautiously stepping downhill on icy slopes, near Dream Lake, RMNP, CO
We originally intended to go cross-country skiing, but both the Ranger at the Visitor Center and the mountain equipment rental shop discouraged it. In fact, it was so discouraged at the rental shop, that they no longer rented it out. So we opted to go with our ice cleats instead of snow shoes, mostly because the ice cleats were less bulky than snowshoes (hence, we hoped, slightly easier to get around with).
| Features: | An icy hike in a winter wonderland going past 3 lakes. |
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| Directions: | At Bear Lake Trailhead, at the end of Bear Lake Road. Stop by Beaver Meadows Visitor Center for latest information. |
| Our Hike: | 5 miles, 1300 ft elev gain, 3 frozen lakes (Nymph Lake, Dream Lake, Bear Lake, lost on the way to Emerald Lake) on icy snow terrain. |
| Don't Forget: | For Winter Hikes: Warm water-resistant jacket and pants (preferably snow pants), warm hat, waterproof gloves, snacks, warm boots, ice cleats (or any ice traction device), water, snacks, sunglasses if its a sunny day. |
Alberta Falls
We did the Alberta Falls hike when it was snowing. It was a beautiful hike. We had intended to go cross-country skiing here, but the folks at Crystal Mountain Shop indicated that they no longer rented them out since it was too icy out on the trails. They did have snowshoes for rent though. Both XC skis and snowshoes rentals were very economically priced. Snowshoes were rented at $5/day while XC skis were offered at $20/day adult and $10/day kids. We opted to use our ice cleats again.
We parked our car at Glacier Gorge trailhead. There were quite a few stairs going down from the parking lot, so I'm not sure how we would have fared with cross country skis.
The Falls were frozen over and looked like a very gradual ski run; if it weren't for the sign indicating that we had arrived at Alberta Falls, we would have missed it.
Sliding over walking at the Alberta Falls trail, Rocky Mt. NP, CO
The trail continues to Mill Lake and Lake Haiyaha. I would have loved to do that, but we were concerned about the roads going down. The roads were plowed, but it looked icy going over bridges and down the hill. We were also afraid of losing our trail as footprints quickly got covered by the falling snow.
| Features: | A fairly easy walk down some stairs to a frozen waterfall. Our walk was in the falling snowing which made it feel even more like a winter wonderland. |
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| Directions: | At Glacier Gorge Trailhead, near the end of Bear Lake Road, within the main part of Rocky Mt. NP. Stop by Beaver Meadows Visitor Center for latest information. |
| Our Hike: | 1.8 miles rt, part of Rocky Mountain National Park |
| Don't Forget: | For Winter Hikes: Warm water-resistant jacket and pants (preferably snow pants), warm hat, waterproof gloves, snacks, warm boots, ice cleats (or any ice traction device), water, snacks, sunglasses if its a sunny day. |
Ouzel Falls
Our hike to Ouzel Falls started with us looking for the trailhead to Hidden Falls. Having parked in the winter parking lot with a locked gate, it was a mile walk to the Ranger Station. Our quest for Hidden Falls took us to Copeland Falls. Then since we were already there, Calypso Cascades, then why not Ouzel Falls, since it was just hop away. The hike in was very quiet, we passed just a couple of hikers.
The first part of the trail was almost snow-free. After Copeland Falls, there was more icy patches, then mostly iced snow (some parts with elevation gain) and eventually just snow.
Calypso Cascades seemed to be a good sized waterfall cascades with two bridges crossing it's width. The Cascades were mostly snow covered, though we had peek-a-boo views of the water flowing beneath the bridge. The same was true of Ouzel Falls.
My boys found out the hard way that the snow was very deep beside the trail, when they stepped beyond its boundaries.
Crossing the bridge over frozen Ouzel Fall, Wild Basin, RMNP, CO
Lunch just outside a possible bear den, Ouzel Falls, RMNP, CO
Once at Ouzel Falls, we stopped to have lunch. My husband noticed there was a small cave right where we rested. He curiously went towards the cave about halfway through lunch with a concerned look on his face. When I asked him to avoid going into the cave, he indicated that he was checking for sleeping bears.
My husband, who was born and raised in Northern Canada, is usually very relaxed when it comes to black bears. So when he had a concerned look, that was my cue to be very concerned.. He explained that a cave like this, is one a bear would sleep in to hibernate for the winter. After a careful look, he gave us the all clear. Phew.
If it weren't for the ice cleats, we would not be able to do most of our hikes this trip. Well maybe just I, wouldn't be able to do the hikes. My boys seem to have the agility of a mountain goat with or without ice cleats. I am so very jealous. We did see a couple hikers have to turn back when we hit a particularly slippery hilly patch. Luckily our ice cleats saved the day.
| Features: | An icy and snowy hike in a winter wonderland going pass 3 very snow-covered waterfalls (Copeland Falls, Calypso Cascades and Ouzel Falls) |
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| Directions: | Wild Basin Trailhead is about 12 miles south of Estes Park, from CO 7, look for signs to Wild Basin Entrance Station about 5 miles after Long's Peak Trailhead |
| Our Hike: | about 8 miles rt, 1200 ft elev gain on icy then snowy trails |
| Don't Forget: | For Winter Hikes: Warm water-resistant jacket and pants (preferably snow pants), warm hat, waterproof gloves, snacks, warm boots, ice cleats (or any ice traction device), water, snacks, sunglasses if its a sunny day. |
Hidden Falls
I saw a picture of Hidden Falls and I was hooked. I had to go see it! The picture I saw was a column of thick ice with little ice climbers ice-picking their way up. I am, by no means a climber of any ability, much less of cold slippery ice, but what a sight to be a spectator at, I thought. So the quest to find Hidden Falls began...
There was no signage that claimed Hidden Falls. In fact, quite the opposite, Hidden Falls was noted as a "Dead End" both by a sign, and by a Ranger we spoke to. The Ranger did indicate that it existed, so the quest continued. As I mentioned earlier, since we were on the other (wrong) side of the stream, our quest for Hidden Falls took us to hike on icy/snowy trails for 8 miles, taking in 3 waterfalls along the way. Though the offspring units might disagree, we had a good time finding our way.
But when we finally did find it, it proved to be a worthwhile adventure. There were three parts of Hidden falls: the left side (bluish in color when we visited), the middle section with water frozen as it fell to the ground many many feet below, and the right side which was just peeking through the trees. The middle section looked like it had begun the thawing process. Perhaps this is why we did not witness any ice climbing that day. I read that these Falls, as great and mighty as it looks, disappears in the summer.
Pictures don't do justice to these tall frozen falls called Hidden Falls, RMNP, CO
| Features: | An elusive waterfall that freezes in winter on its fall down to the ground, about 90 feet below |
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| Directions: | Wild Basin Trailhead is about 12 miles south of Estes Park, from CO 7, look for signs to Wild Basin Entrance Station about 5 miles after Long's Peak Trailhead. We parked at the Winter Parking lot, and followed the road until just before second bridge to Wild Basin Trailhead/Ranger Station/parking lot. Just before the second bridge (entrance to Wild Basin summer parking area), off the main road on the left, there is a little sign indicating "Horse Trail to Copeland Falls, Dead-End - 0.5 miles". Follow the little trail directly behind that sign. Hidden Falls is slightly beyond the dead end (about 0.3 miles past the "Dead-End"). Look for a tall frozen column of ice on the left side. Hidden Falls is frozen in winter and in beginning of April when we visited. (We combined this hike with Ouzel Falls for about a 10 mile hike) |
| Our Hike: | 3.5 miles rt from winter parking lot, fairly flat walk on mostly melted trail, we did not need ice cleats on this hike in early April 2018. |
| Don't Forget: | For Winter Hikes: Warm water-resistant jacket and pants (preferably snow pants), warm hat, waterproof gloves, snacks, warm boots, ice cleats (or any ice traction device), water, snacks, sunglasses if its a sunny day. |
Gem Lake, Estes Park
Within one of the neighbourhoods of Estes Park is the trailhead for Gem Lake. Gem Lake Trail featured many rock formations along the way. Much to the kids’ delight, there were icicles formed on most rock edges. We called it our icicle forest. I tried to convince the boys to leave the icicles for future fellow hikers unfortunately to no avail. They reasoned that the icicles would melt away in the near future so justifying their continuation of icicle “mining”.
Icicle 'mining' at Gem Lake, near RMNP, CO
We may have lost our trail part ways through as the trail itself was being snow covered as we continued our hike . We walked by something that looked like a balance rock though the established trail did not pass by Balanced Rock. So I believe we must have veered off trail. Either way, the kid unit of our family decided to call it a day.
We went on a day that was snowy and slippery up in Rocky Mountain National Park, but the roads were cleared to this trailhead. There was a large parking lot, just off a neighbourhood street in Estes Park. The roads were windy and up a hill though we had no trouble getting up to the parking lot (we were lucky to have accidentally rented a 4WD).
| Features: | A walk into an icicle winter wonderland, where icicles dripped from most rock surfaces in view. |
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| Directions: | From CR-34 (aka Wonderview Ave), turn north on McGregor Ave, then right onto Devil's Gulch Rd, then left onto Lumpy Ridge Rd. The trailhead with a large parking lot is at the end of Lumpy Ridge Rd. |
| Our Hike: | 3.6 miles rt, 1000 ft elev gain, lots of stairs |
| Fee: | Free, free parking, plentiful |
| Don't Forget: | For Winter Hikes: Warm water-resistant jacket and pants (preferably snow pants), warm hat, waterproof gloves, snacks, warm boots, ice cleats (or any ice traction device), water, snacks, sunglasses if its a sunny day. |
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