Snow comes early and stays late in Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park. Visitors can choose from a variety of winter hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing opportunities on maintained trails or in the backcountry. Snowfall in the park tends to be deeper on the west side of the Continental Divide. Hikers on the east side of the divide can find lower-elevation trails with little or no snow in winter months.
Fundamentals
Located a little more than an hour’s drive from Denver, Rocky Mountain National Park includes 265,770 acres of mountain peaks, pine forests, aspen groves, rivers and rocky outcroppings. It stretches from the town of Estes Park on its east side to Grand Lake on the west side. Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved road in the United States, connects the two towns, but closes in winter when deep snow blocks the route.
The National Park Service allows use of several of the 355 miles of trails throughout the winter, offering visitors solitude and stark beauty not found in the busy summer months. Trails at elevations of less than 8,700 feet offer year-round hiking possibilities without the need for Nordic skis or snowshoes, according to the park website. Most of the easily accessed lower-elevation trails are on the east side of the park.
Easy Hikes
The nearly level 2.5-mile route to the Pool takes hikers on a gravel road and narrow trail along the Big Thompson River to its confluence with Spruce and Fern creeks. In winter, visitors will see frozen waterfalls, the Arch Rocks and possibly beavers, according to the park website.
The 2.3-mile Cub Lake trail passes cliffs, moraines, streams and ponds as it travels from willow thickets to pine and aspen forests. Deep snow or ice may occasionally block the last mile or make snowshoes necessary, according to the park website. Combining the Cub Lake and Pool trails creates a 6-mile loop.
More Strenuous Hikes
For a more moderate hike, the 2.5-mile Chasm Falls trail climbs from a river bottom past old road-worker cabins to ice formations created by the falls. The 1.8-mile Gem Lake hike provides a lesson in erosion and glaciers as it climbs past geologic formations to a mountain lake with views of the Continental Divide and the valley below.
The Deer Mountain hike offers a strenuous winter workout, climbing more than 1,000 feet in three miles to reach the 10,013-foot summit. Hiking at the summit may be limited by snow as deep as five feet, according to the park website.
Backpacking
The park limits camping to designated winter zones if you wish to take a multi-day backpacking trip in the winter. Camps must be set up on rock or snow only, and may not be within sight or sound or winter-use trails, according to the Rocky Mountain National Park Hiking Guide.
Considerations
Even on snow-free trails, winter in Rocky Mountain National Park can be treacherous, according to the park website. Hikers should be prepared for ice on trails, changing weather, high winds and low temperatures. Carry the essential gear for winter hiking, including extra clothing, water, high-energy foods and trekking or ski poles.
Warnings
The park website cautions against hiking in deep snow or going near snow cornices that can slide without warning. Avalanches are a concern throughout the winter, and the park encourages hikers to check with rangers or at the visitor center to learn about recognizing dangerous snow conditions. Rangers also can provide up-to-date trail condition details and information about recognizing hypothermia.
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