The 5 Best Easy and Moderate Hikes at Rocky Mountain National Park
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If you’ve ever started planning a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park, you know that choosing which hikes to go on can be a daunting task. With over 350 miles of trails in the park, there are just so many trails to choose from and sometimes multiple trails to get to certain points of interest. If you’re staying in Estes Park and looking for scenic, easy, or moderate hikes, these favorites are a great place to start.
This is by no means an exhaustive list. There are plenty of other hikes you can go on in other areas of the park, or outside of the park near Estes Park, but this is the area I am most familiar with. These are all under 6 miles round trip easy or moderately challenging. It should also be noted that you might need a park reservation to get to the Bear Lake Corridor, depending on the time of year and day you visit. Please see the official Rocky Mountain National Park website to view information on timed entry permits.
You also shouldn’t need any specialized equipment to do these but I recommend bringing along a backpack (I like this one because you can stuff a jacket into the strings on the front) with water, some snacks, and a poncho in case it rains. Alternatively, you can use a hydration backpack to combine the backpack and water and pack snacks and anything else you might need in the backpack pocket.
Always be sure to dress properly for the weather. In the summer, you can probably get by without this, but for some of these hikes, I do recommend getting shoes with good traction. This can be either a quality sneaker with good traction, a pair of trail runners, or hiking boots.
Nymph Lake/Dream Lake/Emerald Lake
This beautiful hike features not one, not two, but three alpine lakes and absolutely gorgeous views along the entire hike. This is probably the most popular of the moderate hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park but there is a reason it is so popular. It is about 3.5 miles round trip with lots of interesting stops along the way.
You will want to arrive early because you will start at the Bear Lake trailhead. There is a good-sized parking lot there but it fills up pretty quickly as the morning goes on. The trail also gets busier the later it gets so to have easy parking and fewer crowds, it’s better to go super early in the morning. There’s also a shuttle system in the park so if the Bear Lake lot is full, you can park in the shuttle lot and take the shuttle to the Bear Lake trailhead. It’s also a really convenient time to take a lap around Bear Lake while you’re there.
This hike is particularly rewarding as you get beautiful views of 3 different alpine lakes. As you start on the trail, you do have a large uphill portion pretty much right away but you are rewarded with a view of Nymph Lake after a little while. While there are more uphill parts through the rest of the hike, I find the initial climb to Nymph Lake to be the hardest part.
There are some steps through the rest of the hike which is important to keep in mind if steps can be challenging for you. As you continue on, you get some great views of the park and you get to see 2 more alpine lakes: Dream Lake and then Emerald Lake.
Lake Haiyaha
This hike starts off the same as the Emerald Lake hike but you turn off to a different trail just before Dream Lake. It’s about 4 miles round trip, so just slightly longer than hiking to Emerald Lake. There is a steep set of switchbacks right at the turnoff but at the top, you are rewarded with one of my favorite views in the park.
The trail can be a little narrow at times and is pretty high up – important to note for those with a fear of heights – but the views are amazing. At the end, you do have to climb over some rocks to get to the lake but I am absolutely not a climber, and not only have I made it to the lake, but both of my parents have as well.
This one is definitely more of a moderate hike with the rocks at the end, but the views of Lake Haiyaha are so worth it. It is breathtakingly beautiful. Dress warm because it can be pretty chilly up here, especially on a windy day. Also, note that it is not this color anymore. This picture was taken when a landslide affected the color in 2022.
Alberta Falls
I have so much love for this short hike that ends at a waterfall. It’s about a mile and a half round trip and is a relatively easy trail but it is pretty much all uphill. The path is well-maintained and includes steps going up for a good amount of it.
I suggest starting at the Glacier Gorge trailhead. It’s slightly shorter that way and I think a little bit easier. You can get there from the Bear Lake trailhead but you’ll note at the start of your hike that you have to go downhill. Keep in mind you have to walk up that big hill at the end of the hike. The hike is also slightly longer going from Bear Lake. With views of the river along the way and the gorgeous Alberta Falls at the end, this hike is a must-do when visiting this area of the park.
Mills Lake
The hike to Mills Lake ends at yet another gorgeous mountain lake. The path to Mills Lake will take you right past Alberta Falls if you’re looking for a slightly longer, more challenging hike. This is about 5 miles round trip.
Again, I suggest starting from the Glacier Gorge trailhead but you can also get there from the Bear Lake trailhead. The Glacier Gorge trailhead lot is much smaller than the Bear Lake lot and also fills up quickly so you may have to take the shuttle. You get wonderful views all along this hike and the lake is absolutely gorgeous and pretty large. You can walk around the lake at the end as well. Pack lots of snacks and have a little picnic by the lake while admiring the view.
Sprague Lake (with Bear Lake as a close runner-up)
I wanted to fit both Sprague and Bear Lake on this list but Sprague is absolutely my favorite of the two easiest hikes at Rocky Mountain National Park. Both of these hikes are pretty flat with a well-maintained walking path. I believe they are also both wheelchair accessible, although I feel a wheelchair would do slightly better at Sprague than at Bear. Both lakes are beautiful and must-sees on your trip and both are about a half mile to walk around.
However, I prefer Sprague for wildlife sightings. We tend to swing by on our way in and out of the park every time we enter and we have been incredibly lucky for wildlife sightings here. I have seen both moose and elk here, as well as other smaller animals. You won’t see something every time, but it’s worth stopping by to check and the lake itself is beautiful and worth walking around. It’s also a beautiful spot to watch the sunrise.
As an added bonus, the parking lot is large and usually not as busy as Bear Lake. However, it wouldn’t be a trip to this part of Rocky Mountain National Park without also stopping by Bear Lake. I suggest either putting it at the beginning of your trip or taking a lap around before or after hiking to Emerald Lake or Lake Haiyaha.
Whether you’re looking for alpine lakes, waterfalls, or stunning mountain views, these hikes highlight some of the best spots in Rocky Mountain National Park. Ready to hit the trail? Let me know your favorite hike in the comments!
Looking to spend more time in the Estes Park area? Check out my full Estes Park itinerary here or go on a tour after your hike! This safari tour takes you around the National Park and up Trail Ridge Road! This is perfect if, like me, you find it intimidating to drive up Trail Ridge Road in your own car.
If you’re looking for more to do in Colorado, check out my post on the best Colorado road trips!
