What To Do (continued)

TRAIL TRIPS

You are urged to take at least one trail trip before leaving the park. This is sage advice, for only on the trails can the real feel of the mountains be experienced. Everyone has his favorite trail, and you may make your own selection. The first decision is whether to hike or to ride a horse. Perhaps you may want to experience both methods. In any case, you should leave your car behind for at least 1 day of your stay here.

Certain rules covering trail use should be observed:

To avoid getting lost, stay on designated trails. Repeated short cuts damage the trails, necessitating repairs.

If you are hiking, yield right-of-way to horses by standing quietly off the trail as the riders pass.

By depositing trash in receptacles, you help to keep the trails free from litter and refuse.

If you plan to cook out, obtain a fire permit from a ranger. This is a fire-protection regulation.

Leave dogs behind. Their presence along the trails disturbs wildlife.

With some 200 miles of trails in the park, beginning at a dozen different points and ending at scores of destinations, you may have difficulty planning your trail trips before you arrive. Information on the various trail trips is best obtained after you get to the park. The park rangers, the museum attendants, the naturalists, and the saddle-horse operators are all happy to outline trip possibilities for you.

A brief description of a few of the popular trips follows.

A SHORT HIKE FROM BEAR LAKE TAKES YOU TO DREAM LAKE, WITH ITS MATCHLESS VIEW UP TYNDALL GORGE.

Trails from Bear Lake.—One of the trail hubs of the park is Bear Lake. A "must" is the 1-mile hike to Dream Lake, near the foot of Hallett's Peak. From Dream Lake you may take a primitive trail another mile to Emerald Lake in Tyndall Gorge or a developed trail to Lake Haiyaha in Chaos Canyon. Each trip is an excellent half-day hike. You may want to go eastward along the big moraine to Bierstadt Lake or to the top of Flattop Mountain from Bear Lake—a long, uphill climb, with a reward of marvelous views. The splendid all-day hike to Odessa and Fern Lakes begins here, too. This can be as a loop trip, via Cub Lake, returning to Bear Lake; or, if you can arrange to be met in Moraine Park, an excellent 9-mile "through" hike with a minimum of uphill walking is possible.

Glacier Gorge Trails.—A mile below Bear Lake is a parking area from which trails lead in several directions. Two short hikes—about 4 hours each—are possible from here to Lake Mills in Glacier Gorge (at the foot of Longs Peak) and to the Loch, a lovely mountain lake. From these lakes, dim "fishermen's" tracks lead on to higher and more remote lakes. From the Loch a primitive path leads to Andrews Glacier. These latter tracks are not really trails and, although easily followed, usually require some local specific information. There is also a seldom-used, constructed trail from Glacier Gorge parking area up to the Boulder Field near the top of Longs Peak. This makes a good horseback trip but is not popular with hikers because the destination is so much more easily reached by the shorter trail from Longs Peak Campground. A spur from this trail leads, via Storm Pass, to Tahosa Valley.

Fern Lake Trail.—At the end of the Brinwood Road in Moraine Park is a picnic area. A trail begins here which follows the Thompson River, past beaver houses and "The Pool," to Fern Falls and Fern Lake. From Fern Lake the trail continues to Odessa Lake and on to Bear Lake. Many people leave Bear Lake, reaching Moraine Park by this trail. The trip is about 9 miles; 6 hours give ample time for a leisurely pace.

ONLY BY TRAIL CAN YOU VISIT SUCH HIGH-COUNTRY LAKES AS THIS.

Wild Basin Trails.—Many persons consider Wild Basin the finest area in the park. Trails begin here at the road's end and lead up the branches of the North St. Vrain River to many beautiful lakes. One popular hike (about 4 hours) is to Ouzel Falls, via Calypso Cascades, and return. Most of the other trips in Wild Basin are longer and make more suitable all-day hikes. Thunder Lake is one of these spots. Ouzel and Bluebird Lakes make another 1-day trip combination. There is no trail across the range here, but some fine, back-country hiking possibilities exist for the sturdy, seasoned hiker.

Western Slope Trails.—Many people hike or ride horseback from Bear Lake over Flattop Mountain to Grand Lake via either the Big Meadows or North Inlet. This takes all day as compared with 2 or 3 hours by highway. However, the trail trip is through much splendid scenic country which is not seen by the highway traveler between these two points. Hikes in the Grand Lake vicinity include one to Shadow Mountain Fire Lookout, with matchless panoramic views, and the interesting "trail to nowhere," up Columbine Creek. The trail distances to major points of interest on the west slope are longer than on the east side of the park, and many people prefer to use horses. By riding, trips to Lake Verna in the East Inlet and Lakes Nokoni and Nanita in the North Inlet can be made in 1 day. A number of spectacular horseback trips in the Never Summer Range are possible. Saddle-horse operators can help you plan such trips in this vicinity.

Trails in the Estes Park Vicinity.—Several interesting trail trips near Estes Park village and in the lower altitudes of the park are available. These are especially pleasant early or late in the season when many of the higher trails are snow-blocked. Gem Lake is reached by a 2-mile trail (3 hours or so) which begins about 1 mile from town on the Devils Gulch Road. This trip presents interesting rock formations and fine panoramic views. Twin Sisters is a high, isolated mountain south of Estes Park, reached by a trail beginning on State Route 7. A good hike for about 7 hours takes one to the top of this mountain and back in a leisurely manner. The view of the plains from Twin Sisters is extensive, and timberline flowers add color to the trip. Several other trails permit hiking in these lower altitudes.

Trails near Trail Ridge Road.—At Deer Ridge, a trail leads to the commanding summit of Deer Mountain, which is a fine, early-season hike although dry in midsummer. On the tundra, a trail leads from Rock Cut on the highway to the Memorial Peakfinder. A trail also leads from Iceberg Lake to Fall River Pass. At Milner Pass a trail leaves the highway, passes through an especially beautiful forest, and reaches the top of Specimen Mountain. This hike affords matchless scenic views, particularly of the Never Summer Range, fine displays of wild-flowers, and possible glimpses of bighorn. At Phantom Valley Ranch (on the western slopes) a trail leads up the Colorado River to the ghost town of Lulu City, and branches continue to Poudre Pass, Thunder Pass, and beyond.

Nearly all of these trails—and many others—can be covered by visitors on trips with the ranger naturalists during the summer. These escorted hikes help you to get your bearings in the park, as well as to enjoy and understand the great scenes and natural features encountered along the route. If you are interested in hiking, you should join a few of these naturalist trips. In this way, you quickly realize the possibilities for your unescorted hikes, if you prefer to travel on your own. The ranger naturalists will help you plan other hikes and will do all they can to make your trail trips safe, interesting, and enjoyable.

This outline of trail-trip possibilities is only a beginning. In addition, there are trips to Lawn Lake, Tyndall Glacier, Windy Gulch, the North Fork of the Thompson River, and Chasm Lake. Information on trips to peak tops is not included in this booklet, as they are far more difficult than those described here. If you expect to ascend such mountains as Longs Peak or Mount McHenry, be sure to consult the park ranger at the nearest ranger station or go to the chief ranger's office in Estes Park village. Routes to be followed may vary from week to week because of changes in snow conditions. The rangers can give you up-to-date information. Remember to get a fire permit if you camp out on the trail.