5 Best Short and Easy Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park is a hiker’s utopia full of majestic mountains, roaring waterfalls, and abundant wildlife. Hitting the trail is a special way to feel the magic of this national park, and this article is here to help you find the best easy hikes in Rocky Mountain!

No matter your age, ability, or skill level, there is a fantastic hike in Rocky for you. The best easy hikes in Rocky Mountain are the Tundra Communities, Alberta Falls, Chasm Falls, Coyote Valley, and Bear Lake trails.

Hey there, my name is Ash! I’m a former park ranger, and I think that hiking is the best way to see the park. I can’t wait to share the best easy hikes in Rocky Mountain with you!

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What are the Best Easy Hikes in Rocky Mountain?

Rocky Mountain National Park has some fantastic easy hiking options. Each trail provides the perfect experience to get out and explore the park’s stunning mountains, lakes, and waterfalls.

If a trail is less than three miles, doesn’t gain more than 500 feet of elevation, and is somewhere I take my own small children, it’s included in this list of the best easy hiking trails in Rocky Mountain.

Tundra Communities Trail

You’ll feel like you’re on top of the world while you’re exploring the high alpine landscape of the Tundra Communities Trail. This trail is found along the Trail Ridge Road – the highest road in any national park!

Tundra Communities Trail Information

Distance: 1 mile roundtrip
Elevation: 200 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Kid-Friendly: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Restrooms: Yes
Pets Allowed: No

This beautiful trail starts above the tree line in what’s known as the tundra. The tundra is so harsh only the hardiest plants can grow here, which is why you’ll have spectacular 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains on this hike!

You will see unique rock formations called “mushroom rocks” along this hike as you venture along at nearly 12,000 feet above sea level. Keep an eye out for wildlife in this area, including tundra-loving marmots and pikas.

This path for this trail is paved and is a simple, out-and-back trail. Due to year-round colder temperatures, the ecosystem is fragile, so please be sure to stay on the path! These plants work hard to grow, and it’s critical that we don’t stomp on them as we explore this beautiful place.

(ALTERNATIVE) Other easy hikes in the area include the Forest Canyon Overlook or the Alpine Ridge Trail. There is another “secret” trail in the area that provides even more solitude and dramatic views. You’ll find info about that trail in this itinerary.

Location

The Tundra Communities Trail is located across from the Rock Cut parking area along Trail Ridge Road.

Due to extreme weather, this road is not open year-round, so you’ll only be able to access this trail from about June through mid-October.

Alberta Falls Trail

This easy hike rewards you with views of spectacular Alberta Falls! You’ll love this trail if you don’t want to venture too far off the main road but would love a lovely walk through the trees.

Alberta Falls Trail Information

Distance: 1.2 miles roundtrip
Elevation: 160 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Kid-Friendly: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Restrooms: Yes
Pets Allowed: No

This hike is beautiful, but expect plenty of crowds as you make your way to Alberta Falls. It’s a fairly easy, out-and-back hike that takes you through aspen groves and pine forests as you follow the trail to this roaring 30-foot waterfall.

Due to the popularity of this hike, you might want to consider taking the free shuttle during the summer months. This hike is also accessible from Bear Lake, which will add about a mile to the total hike. If you want help with avoiding crowds and finding parking in this congested area, this itinerary will help immensely!

You can continue along this trail to other gorgeous hikes, including The Loch, Mills Lake, Sky Pond, or Black Lake.

(ALTERNATIVE) Other easy hikes in the area include the Bear Lake Nature Trail or Sprague Lake.

Location

The Alberta Falls Trail starts at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead along the Bear Lake Road.

Chasm Falls Trail

Chasm Falls is a beautiful waterfall tucked between the rocks! This easy hike only takes a few minutes to complete, but the road to get up here is part of the adventure.

Chasm Falls Trail Information

Distance: 0.2 miles roundtrip
Elevation: 25 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Kid-Friendly: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Restrooms: No
Pets Allowed: No

Though it’s a short walk to the viewing platform, you’ll be impressed with the views of this 25-foot waterfall as it forcefully drops down the cliffs.

Chasm Falls is located along the Old Fall River Road. This road is a one-way dirt road (no RVs/large vehicles permitted) that only opens for a few months each year, from July-September.

What’s cool about the Old Fall River Road is that it is actually the original entrance into Rocky Mountain National Park! This is how the park was accessed before the more famous Trail Ridge Road was built, and views from this road are gorgeous as you make your way up to the Alpine Visitor Center.

If Old Fall River Road is closed to vehicles for the season, you can often still access Chasm Falls by walking or biking 1.4 miles up the road from the Endovalley Picnic Area. This will extend your hike to a total of 2.8 miles roundtrip.

(ALTERNATIVE) Other easy hikes in the area include the Alluvial Fan Trail and the Alpine Ridge Trail.

Location

The Chasm Falls Trailhead is located about 1.5 miles up the Old Fall River Road. You’ll enter the park via the Fall River Entrance and stay north to find this road.

Coyote Valley Nature Trail

The Coyote Valley Nature Trail is a flat and peaceful walk along the Upper Colorado River. This is a fantastic area for wildlife spotting and finding solitude in an otherwise busy national park.

Coyote Valley Nature Trail Information

Distance: 1 mile roundtrip
Elevation: 15 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Kid-Friendly: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Restrooms: Yes
Pets Allowed: No

This beautiful trail follows the river as it winds through the Kawuneeche Valley on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Kawuneeche, the Arapaho word for coyote, was given to this gentle valley of the Upper Colorado River. I haven’t had much luck actually seeing a coyote in this area, but elk and moose are often sighted from this trail, especially in the morning and evening hours!

(ALTERNATIVE) Other easy hikes in the area include the Holzwarth Historic Site and Adams Falls.

Location

The Coyote Valley Nature Trail is located on the west side of the park, about 5 miles north of the Kawuneeche Visitor Center.

Bear Lake Trail

Bear Lake is Rocky Mountain National Park’s most famous lake! This lovely trail circles the lake, providing spectacular views of the water and the surrounding mountains.

Bear Lake Trail Information

Distance: 0.7 miles roundtrip
Elevation: 50 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Kid-Friendly: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Restrooms: Yes
Pets Allowed: No

The Bear Lake Trail is a wheelchair-accessible loop trail and a great option for any hiker! As you make your way around the lake, you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about the park as you pass by interpretive signs. From this trail, you’ll have amazing views of Hallett Peak and the Continental Divide.

You can choose to complete just the short loop around Bear Lake or extend your hike and take in even more phenomenal views. The Bear Lake area provides access to many of the park’s best alpine scenery, including the trails to Emerald Lake, Lake Haiyaha, Flattop Mountain, Odessa Lake, and Bierstadt Lake.

(ALTERNATIVE) If you’re looking for something slightly longer, I highly recommend at least starting the trail to Emerald Lake. You’ll pass by Nymph Lake and Dream Lake on your way, and it’s a gorgeous way to spend an hour or two.

Location

The Bear Lake Trail starts at the end of the Bear Lake Road. It is extremely difficult to find parking in this area, so check out this itinerary for help navigating the crowds.

What are the Best Wheelchair-Friendly Trails in Rocky Mountain?

You’ll find a few fabulous wheelchair-friendly trails in Rocky Mountain National Park! Several of these trails are found in the Bear Lake Corridor Trail System, where you will have amazing views of gorgeous lakes and mountain peaks along the Continental Divide.

You can find more specific and detailed information on the park’s website, but here are a few notable options:

Bear Lake — This is a short loop trail that is accessible at the beginning from either direction. Assistance may be needed on the southwest side of the lake to maneuver log “steps.” Along this trail, you’ll be encompassed by pine trees and have views of Hallett Peak and the Continental Divide.

Coyote Valley Trail — This is a 1-mile, packed gravel trail that crosses the Colorado River into the Kawuneeche Valley. If you take this trail early in the morning or late afternoon, you will likely see elk and moose.

Lily Lake — The Lily Lake Trail is just under one mile of packed gravel. It’s also lower in elevation compared to other areas, so you might see blooming wildflowers in the spring and early summer.

Sprague Lake — This lake was created more than a century ago by Abner Sprague, who dammed a stream for a trout pond. On the far side of this half-mile gravel trail, you will get lovely views of the Continental Divide.

Rocky Mountain National Park now has an all-terrain wheelchair that can be borrowed for free to take on the park’s hiking trails! You can learn more about that here.

Rocky Mountain Hiking Regulations

To protect this beautiful place and leave it better than you found it, please follow these regulations:

• Don’t take anything. Rocks, flowers, sticks, antlers, etc., must stay in the national park. If you find something cool, take a picture of it, but please don’t remove it.

• Stay on the trail. Please don’t make your own trail or follow trails that other people have made. This is for your own safety and to protect fragile environments and plants.

• Don’t feed or approach the wildlife. These animals need to be able to find food on their own in order to survive the harsh winters, and they often become aggressive and transmit diseases to humans if fed. Maintain a safe distance from the park’s wildlife to avoid injury or death.

• Don’t leave food or backpacks unattended, even for a quick minute. Always keep your pack within arm’s reach while hiking or camping in Rocky Mountain to avoid unwanted wildlife encounters.

• Pets are not allowed on any park trails. See where you can take your pets if you bring them to the park.

What are the Best Longer Day Hikes in Rocky Mountain?

If you’re able to cover longer distances and are hoping to spend your day hiking, Rocky Mountain has so many epic trails that shouldn’t be missed!

These trails are definitely not easy, but if you’re looking for a challenge, consider hiking to Emerald Lake, Sky Pond, Chasm Lake, or Deer Mountain.

Emerald Lake

The trail to Emerald Lake is about 3 miles roundtrip as it takes you to three picturesque high alpine lakes. If you’re not looking to spend your whole day out on the trail, this is a fantastic option for a shorter dayhike in the park. You can read the whole trail guide here.

Sky Pond

This trail is almost 9.5 miles out and back, but if you choose to complete it, you will witness some of the best views in the park. On your way to Sky Pond, you will pass Alberta Falls, The Loch, Timberline Falls, and the Lake of Glass. These are some of the prettiest lakes in the park, and this is a popular destination for visitors.

Chasm Lake

The trail to Chasm Lake is about 8.5 miles there and back.  It starts with a steady climb towards Long Peak, the tallest peak in the park at 14,259 feet above sea level. As you climb, you will get above the treeline and might see some marmots and pikas. Some scrambling is required on this hike, and you should not continue to the top of Longs Peak unless you have mountain climbing gear and experience.

Deer Mountain Trail

This travel travels through the pines as it makes its way to the top of Deer Mountain. It gains over 1,000 feet of elevation and is 6 miles roundtrip. When you reach the top of the mountain, you will enjoy views of Longs Peak, Moraine Park, Upper Beavers Meadows, and Estes Park.

This park has so many stunning views to enjoy. I hope you enjoy these easy trails in Rocky Mountain National Park — have a great time!

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