Best day hike (Estes Park: 2013, bus, rated)

[agxjvc]

Hello everyone. My wife and I are planning a day hike in the greater Estes Park area this weekend. We're decently skilled hikers, but feel that Longs Peak might be a little much. We're both in good shape and want something challenging, with views. Don't mind a long hike either.


Does anyone have any thoughts/recommendations?


Thanks everyone!


James

[bluescreen73]

Flattop Mountain and/or Hallett Peak

https://www.hikingproject.com/trail/7000459

https://www.hikingproject.com/trail/7001043

If you're looking for more vertical here's a Class Two 13er hike inside RMNP.

https://www.14ers.com/route.php?rout...208&type=13ers

[hikernut]

There's plenty to choose from. One idea would be a circuit that visits a number of lakes and waterfalls. You could start/end from a few different trailheads, like Cub Lake TH, Fern Lake TH, Hollowell Park TH. Take a look at a map and you will see some circuit possibilities that visit some or all of Cub Lake, Fern Lake, Odessa Lake, Lake Helene, Bear Lake, and Bierstadt Lake. As I recall, this is mostly below tree line so it would be a good choice for a windy day. Being up on the Continental Divide is not much fun in a gale.


There is a bus system running in the summer that might help out. I'm not sure of the details, but it might be able to get you from one TH to another to cut out some miles. I'd take the bus ride at the beginning of the trip, though, as they stop running at some point in the day and if you get back late counting on the bus for a ride, you could find yourself with a much longer hike than intended.

[Neditate]

Longs Peak is not just a "hike". https://rootsrated.com/stories/10-th...ing-longs-peak
I like the Protrails site for hiking info: ProTrails | Hiking Trails in Rocky Mountain National Park

[hikernut]

Originally Posted by Neditate

Longs Peak is not just a "hike". https://rootsrated.com/stories/10-th...ing-longs-peak

Very true. I'm surprised at how many people ascend the Keyhole Route each year considering the exposure (i.e., certain death for sliding off). It's fine when dry, but I certainly would not want to be on that route if it were wet.

Edit: I would agree 100% with that article. The Keyhole Route is very crowded. One must get an extremely early start in order to be safe. I'd prefer to below the Ledges section on the descent by around 11am. And getting to the top on any particular attempt is about 50/50 in my experience.

I've ascended Longs Peak by three different routes. The most pleasant day on Long's I experienced was doing The Trough as a snow climb in the spring. While it's a bit beyond a hike, requiring crampons and an axe, it's not especially difficult. The weather patterns in the spring are more stable and there will be very few, if any, other people on the summit.