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Rocky Mountain National Park: Grand Loop
Follow a long-forgotten 5- to 7-day loop in Rocky Mountain National Park across the Continental Divide, through moose-infested meadows, and up Longs Peak via a rarely climbed route.
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| Author: | Backpacker Magazine |
| Activity: | Backpacking |
| State: | Colorado (CO) |
| Distance: |
Total: 42.94 mi Active: 42.91 mi |
| Difficulty: | 8 / 10 |
| Rating: |
 1 rating(s)
|
This trip starts with a bang: a 4.4-mile, 2,874-foot climb from Bear Lake trailhead to 12,324-foot Flattop Mountain. Head northwest on Tonahutu Creek Trail 3.5 miles across Bighorn Flats; end just below treeline at Renegade campsite.
The next day, stroll downhill 4.5 miles to Big Meadows and camp in .75 to 1.5 miles at South Meadows or Paintbrush campsites. From here, it's less than two hours to the village of Grand Lake. Follow Summerland Park and West Portal Roads for 1.5 miles to East Inlet trailhead. Walk up the East Inlet drainage 6.6 miles to Lake Verna for the best campsite in the valley. Take a rest day and explore the emerald-grass shores of Fifth Lake, below aptly named Isolation Peak (13,118 feet). To reach Boulder-Grand Pass, follow an unmaintained trail east, past Spirit Lake, to the north side of Fourth Lake. Bushwhack steeply to the east-northeast to the 12,061-foot pass. Descend the east side, skirting a permanent snowfield alongside a steep gully on the left (north). Continue to the designated campsite just east of the patrol cabin beside Thunder Lake.
On day six, climb northeast through open forest to the Lion Lake Trail. After a .5-mile side trip to explore the wildflowers around the Lion Lakes and Trio Falls, follow game trails east from Lion Lake No. 1, climbing about 500 vertical feet to North Ridge, just west of Mt. Orton. Contour down the far side to the north and camp at the upper end of the Hunters Creek cross-country zone.
Next morning, climb to the cirque below Longs Peak's south face. Keplingers Couloir rises steeply for 1,600 feet to the Notch, between Longs and Mt. Meeker. A few simple hand-and-foot moves are required to pass obstacles; keep right when in doubt until you reach the base of the Palisades cliffs. Expect snow in this chute until late June. Traverse left across exposed slabs to the Keyhole Route; follow red-and-yellow blazes to the cleaved summit of Longs Peak (14,259 ft.). Finish an exhausting day with a 10-mile, 4,800-foot descent of the Keyhole Route, North Longs Peak Trail, and Glacier Gorge Trail to close this 43-mile loop.
WHEN TO GO: Wildflowers explode in mid-July; elk bugle in September. Check conditions on Longs' upper faces before starting—snow and ice may require technical skills (plus an ice axe and crampons) in shoulder seasons.
PERMITS: Reserve permits ($20 per trip) by phone starting March 1; after May 15, mail in requests or apply in person at the backcountry office beside the Beaver Meadows visitor center: nps.gov/romo, (970) 586-1242; Backcountry Office, Estes Park, CO 80517. Permitted backcountry camping is limited to seven consecutive nights per party.
VACATION PLANNER: Get hotel, restaurant, and great travel beta at nationalparktrips.com/rockymountainpark.aspx
3D VIDEO: See video clips and fly this route in 3D at www.backpacker.com/3d_flyover_rocky_mountain_national_park/videos/89
--mapped by Dougald MacDonald
PLAN IT
MAP
Rocky Mountain National Park ($12, natgeomaps.com)
Order USGS topo quads at store.usgs.gov.
Order a custom map of this route using MyTopo.com
CONDITIONS
Trail Ridge Road is closed from November to April. Check conditions for the east side of the park check Estes Park, CO (80517) Weather
PERMIT
$20 for entry to Rocky Mountain National Park; (970) 586-1242, nps.gov/romo
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK INFO
Visitor Information (970) 586-1206 (daily, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mountain Time; recorded information after hours)
Trail Ridge Road Information Recorded Message 970-586-1222 (available 24 hours a day, updated when conditions and/or road status change)
Visitor Information for the Hearing Impaired (TTY): 970-586-1319 (daily, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain Time)
Backcountry Office (970) 586-1242
OTHER RESOURCES
GAS
Shell 860 Moraine Ave. Estes Park, CO (970) 586-7867
GEAR
Grab supplies or gear rentals (packs, bags, pads, and fishing gear) at Estes Park Mountain Shop, 2050 Big Thompson Ave., Estes Park, CO; (866) 303-6548.
GROCERIES
The Country Market National Park Village 900 Moraine Ave. Estes Park, Colorado (970) 586-2702
RESTAURANTS
Try a Mountain Mai Tai and the buffalo-and-bacon meatloaf at Peak-to-Peak American Grille, 451 South Saint Vrain Ave., Estes Park, CO; (970) 577-0577
TO TRAILHEAD: Go 9 miles on Bear Lake Road from the Beaver Meadows entrance to a large lot.
| Position Format: | Datum: |
Tracks
GLT01
| Distance: 42.94 mi | Points: 3784 |
Rocky Mountain Grand Loop
Points of Interest
WPT001
Location: 40.311996, -105.646291Start: From the Bear Lake trailhead, head east for 0.1 mile.
WPT002
Location: 40.313182, -105.646570Turn right at 3-way junction onto the Flattop Mountain Trail, and begin a steady ascent through a thick conifer forest intermixed with spruce-fir and aspen stands.
WPT003
Location: 40.317407, -105.643959Turn left at 3-way junction and continue towards Flattop Mountain.
WPT004
Location: 40.316422, -105.653051Turn left at 3-way junction and continue ascending through the trees. Peek-a-boo views of Glacier Gorge begin emerging to the southwest.
WPT005
Location: 40.312556, -105.659096Take a moment and catch your breath at Dream Lake Overlook, an impressive birds-eye view of Dream Lake over 1,000-feet below. The trail continues to ascend through thick spruce-fir groves and winds up several switchbacks.
WPT006
Location: 40.315288, -105.665351As the forest begins to thin out make sure to evaluate the weather before continuing on. During summer months afternoon storms can build quickly, stranding hikers inside ferocious thunderstorms.
WPT007
Location: 40.314692, -105.670269Midway up a series of tight switchbacks is Emerald Lake overlook, a 3,000-foot vertical drop deep into the Tyndall Gorge. Glacier Gorge and Longs Peak are clearly visible to the southeast, and Tyndall Glacier, one of five remaining active glaciers in the park, can be spotted to the west.
WPT008
Location: 40.310348, -105.684187Just below the summit, pass a large hitchrack marking the top of Tyndall Glacier, which can be seen to the east. The trail quickly ascends the last few hundred feet to the large flat summit of Flattop Mountain.
WPT009
Location: 40.308971, -105.690256Flattop Mountain Summit (12,324 ft.). The summit, largely a flat swath of alpine tundra, has no official summit marker, but hikers generally consider the Flattop Mountain Trail - Tonahutu Trail Junction the official top. Views include Longs Peak to the southeast, Hallet Peak to the east, and 180-degree views of the park to the west. To continue, descend the Tonahutu Trail toward Ptarmigan Pass.
WPT010
Location: 40.330450, -105.733881Cross fork of Tonahutu Creek
WPT011
Location: 40.335662, -105.748797Timberline campsite area
WPT012
Location: 40.333398, -105.747542Renegade campsite area
WPT013
Location: 40.335444, -105.754448Haynach campsite area
WPT014
Location: 40.325393, -105.757392Tonahutu Meadows campsite area
WPT015
Location: 40.319822, -105.771466Granite Falls campsite area
WPT016
Location: 40.318987, -105.775173Lower Granite Falls camps
WPT017
Location: 40.323113, -105.791224Sunrise area campsites
WPT018
Location: 40.320855, -105.798457Sunset camping area
WPT019
Location: 40.309871, -105.809044Big Meadows camp area
WPT020
Location: 40.296987, -105.813052South Meadows camping area
WPT021
Location: 40.295812, -105.812819Paint Brush
WPT022
Location: 40.281265, -105.815469Lodgepole camping areas
WPT023
Location: 40.256316, -105.816039Tonahutu Creek and North Inlet trailhead. Its not uncommon to see anglers fishing for trout. From here, follow Summerland Park and West Portal Roads for 1.5 miles to the East Inlet trailhead.
WPT024
Location: 40.253754, -105.832608Gateway Inn: A good place to resupply, shower ($10), and eat a piece of pie for brunch.
WPT025
Location: 40.239368, -105.799871East Inlet trailhead: Pretty cross-meadow views up the valley.
WPT026
Location: 40.237117, -105.797497Short loop trail past Adams Falls cascades.
WPT027
Location: 40.237477, -105.784279Meadow overlook with good view to Mt. Craig.
WPT028
Location: 40.228872, -105.759110Overlook atop granite shelves near entrance to upper East Inlet Creek valley, with great views to the west.
WPT029
Location: 40.230410, -105.758473Beginning of Cats Lair Dispersed Camping Area
WPT030
Location: 40.226160, -105.742845End of dispersed camping area by bridge over East Inlet Creek.
WPT031
Location: 40.230437, -105.736284Gray Jay group camping area
WPT032
Location: 40.231123, -105.733002Lone Pine Lake
WPT033
Location: 40.233038, -105.728199Pretty trailside cascade
WPT034
Location: 40.233186, -105.727381Slickrock Campsite
WPT035
Location: 40.231414, -105.725991Solitaire campsite
WPT036
Location: 40.228675, -105.716040Upper East Inlet campsite
WPT037
Location: 40.227643, -105.711736Lake Verna Campsite: best camping in the valley. End of maintained trail.
WPT038
Location: 40.225182, -105.697720Spirit Lake
WPT039
Location: 40.222614, -105.687547Fourth Lake
WPT040
Location: 40.222833, -105.685271Start of bushwhack toward Boulder-Grand Pass, following tiny creek steeply uphill.
WPT041
Location: 40.224885, -105.673436Grass hummocks in shallow, wet gully near treeline. The way to the pass is obvious from here.
WPT042
Location: 40.224826, -105.668884Boulder-Grand Pass
WPT043
Location: 40.225002, -105.668668Top of descent gully bypassing permanent snowfield on east side of pass
WPT044
Location: 40.224731, -105.665297Lake of Many Winds
WPT045
Location: 40.223993, -105.648855Thunder Lake
WPT046
Location: 40.222413, -105.644908Thunder Lake patrol cabin; designated campsites are located northeast (follow signs).
WPT047
Location: 40.230179, -105.637302Intersection with Lion Lake Trail in wet meadow. About half an hour from Thunder Lake campsite to here. Leave trail again.
WPT048
Location: 40.228983, -105.635058Scramble through gap in small cliff band
WPT049
Location: 40.229095, -105.634698Granite-lined Castle Lake, with super views of the east face of Mt. Alice.
WPT050
Location: 40.230571, -105.627141Above-treeline saddle on North Ridge. Keplinger's Couloir on the south face of Longs Peak is in plain view.
WPT051
Location: 40.235468, -105.625671Cross Hunters Creek at outlet of small pond below Keplinger Lake. Tough going ahead through boulders and krummholz for about half a mile.
WPT052
Location: 40.242415, -105.619499Shallow ponds beneath striking cliffs at the end of Pagoda Mountain's long south ridge.
WPT053
Location: 40.246502, -105.617554Base of steep scree cone.
WPT054
Location: 40.247972, -105.616901Entrance to Keplingers Couloir, the gully splitting the south face of Longs Peak
WPT055
Location: 40.249846, -105.616161Gully forks. Take the branch to the right.
WPT056
Location: 40.251530, -105.614034Foot of the Palisades cliffs. Join a route called Clark's Arrow, headed for the summit of Longs Peak
WPT057
Location: 40.253713, -105.614820Just below the Notch, the dramatic gap between the Palisades and Longs' summit block. Follow ledges to the left.
WPT058
Location: 40.253891, -105.616571Join Keyhole Route at the bottom of the Homestretch. Drop pack and follow red and yellow bull's-eye blazes to the top.
WPT059
Location: 40.254901, -105.615521Longs Peak: Summit! 14,259 feet. To continue, backtrack on the Keyhole Route.
WPT060
Location: 40.253834, -105.616979East end of the Narrows on the Keyhole Route.
WPT061
Location: 40.254341, -105.618289Top of the Trough, a huge northwest-facing couloir. Watch for icy snow patches.
WPT062
Location: 40.256152, -105.620515Exit the Trough toward the Ledges, leading to the Keyhole.
WPT063
Location: 40.260204, -105.620991The Keyhole. Follow blazes to avoid cutting east too soon and cliffing out on the False Keyhole.
WPT064
Location: 40.263537, -105.615609The Boulderfield Campsites. This is where the Boulderfield Shelter Cabin stood until 1937.
WPT065
Location: 40.274089, -105.605403Granite Pass. Trail to the right leads to the Longs Peak Ranger Station. Follow North Longs Peak Trail to the north.
WPT066
Location: 40.286656, -105.604019Saddle with good view of north side of Longs Peak.
WPT067
Location: 40.289619, -105.603094Treeline
WPT068
Location: 40.289092, -105.617369Boulder Brook Campsites, just down the Boulder Brook Trail.
WPT069
Location: 40.301196, -105.631957Along this gentle downhill section, you'll catch views of the entire valley and the Glacier Gorge trailhead below and to the right.
WPT070
Location: 40.299011, -105.638276A wooden bridge spans this deep, gushing gorge and connects to a slickrock-like section of trail before jogging left.
WPT071
Location: 40.299691, -105.639371Admire the valley views at the rest stop just before the 3-way junction. Turn right.
WPT072
Location: 40.303909, -105.638199Alberta Falls
WPT073
Location: 40.304634, -105.638626Heading downstream, the trail skirts the log-jammed river. Stop for an upstream peek at several tumbling cascades as you head downhill.
WPT074
Location: 40.306206, -105.638908A few user-created trails lead to the edge of a deep ravine. Stick to the main trail: overgrowth and tree-cover make for a less than spectacular scene.
WPT075
Location: 40.306613, -105.641484Cross the stream on a bridge. There is another crossing a few-hundred feet ahead.
WPT076
Location: 40.307678, -105.643402Pass a wooden barrier before the 3-way junction. Follow signs to Bear Lake to end this 43-mile loop.
Route up Longs Peak via Keplingers Couloir (click image to enlarge)
Location: 40.248088, -105.616550© Dougald MacDonald
Flattop Mountain
Location: 40.309247, -105.690193Lake Verna
Location: 40.228170, -105.714912© Kristy Holland
East Inlet Valley
Location: 40.237867, -105.783749© Kristy Holland
Grand Loop Video (click to view)
Location: 40.313567, -105.646591Related Trips
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