Looks like they only open up the reservation system on March 1 at 8am MT. Great backpacking trip! Keeping maps and waypoints up to date and available to users is not without substantial costs. Download Page for Free Colorado Trail and Continental Divide Trail Waypoint files. Permits: to backpack and camp in the backcountry at Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), you need a permit. Not for the beginner backpacker but was personally my 4th backpacking and was limping Sunday and hip bruises throughout. You could perhaps camp at Glacier Basin or Moraine Park and then either drive to Bear Lake or take the shuttle the morning of your hike. In that way it is nicer than some more popular parks that have hundreds of people apply for a small number of permits. It’s a little up a hill past the actual junction. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from July until September. This trek involved a moderate climb, but was overall short in distance. During this time, blue morning skies give way to aftern… I would recommend you give the rangers a call and they can give you a better answer. Do what I didn’t do and ditch your pack at the bottom. I am planning a hike using this trail with some of our Boy Scouts. Before applying for a permit you will want to check out the wilderness campsite map and the latest campsite availability list so you can decide where to camp. This has included three end to end GPS surveys of the trail, production of Mapbooks, and assistance with the creation of guidebooks. On the first day of the trek you must go over Flattop Mountain and Big Horn Flats and you are expose at high elevation for a couple miles. Here in Romania, in Carpathians, I have a lot of wilderness to explore. You get some nice views of the area and it is all downhill. Snow lingers into July and beyond along the Divide, depending on how much snow fell for the year. Although it does not travel the actual Divide, it provides breathtaking scenery, including sections of high peaks and fragile alpine … It was a relatively easy hike up with great views. There are actually two alternate Continental Divide Trail routes through the park, a “short loop” and a “long loop” The route is part of the Continental Divide Trail. Thanks again! For more information, please visit https://www.nps.gov/romo/index.htm Thankfully our tent held up fine in the hail and we didn’t get wet at all. I don’t understand one thing: at one time there were great meadows (Tonahutu Creek), where you could camp, with easy access to water. Difficulty: Very Difficult. I have gotten a permit to do this trip in August. Overall the hike was amazing. Beyond that, just try to be in good cardio shape and take breaks if you start to feel dizzy while hiking. I didn't even want to go down those, let alone up. Was well worth the trip!!!! This section of the trail was really nice and provides great views of the meadow and the Tonahutu Creek running through it. Highlights include expansive views of Continental Divide, large grassy meadows, and abundant wildlife. I had all wool layers for camp and didn’t have to wash any of my camp clothes for a full trek. Thanks for your advice! Do you have the gpx file for this route? I will say it is not the most secluded and wild trail. Do you recommend taking the shuttle bus to the trailhead? I would be cautious and ask the rangers before committing to go in May. The lakes are really nice and the hike is not too difficult. Tips: currently there are still strong creeks above 12,000ft and much more water than the maps would indicate. It took us about 6 hours to make it to camp at renegade which is about 7 miles away from green mountain and I’m glad we left early bc an afternoon snow shower hit. Le Continental Divide Trail, ainsi que le sentier des Appalaches et le Pacific Crest Trail, forment ce que les passionnés de randonnée ont qualifié de triple couronne aux États-Unis1,2. Cascade and granite falls can’t be missed. Started before 7 We freshened up a bit in the bathroom there and called our friend to pick us up. 28 Oct 2018. Join me as I hike the Colorado Section of the Continental Divide Trail southbound. There is also another “Hoosier Pass”, which sits at 10,313 feet in Teller County, Colorado. Hi Max, there is not a campsite at the Bear Lake Trailhead, but there a few campsites elsewhere in the park. We didn’t see many hikers after Summerland Park and near Pine Marten. With the fog, the area looked pretty unusual. Second day we started our hike at 5 a.m. First half of the day was relatively easy even when climbing a few thousand feet of elevation. The scenery was incredible. Follow the Green Mountain Trail, which overlaps the CDT, east to the Tonahutu Trail; … Once we got to the top of the climb (in what seemed like record time), we took the Tonahutu Creek Trail. Trail is very well marked and in great condition. Our recent trip from September 2016. We chose to go back to the car rather than staying the night at Granite Falls, because when we arrived at the campsite we found it right on the edge of the meadow in a wind tunnel. We have had a lot of trouble getting backcountry permits at other national parks. A ranger had told us that it required a lot of bushwacking to get there and that you had to get wet along the way. I loved all the meadows and seeing how the environment changed as you went up in elevation. I hiked this with my Boy Scout troop a couple years ago so forgive me, the details are kinda spotty. In the Colorado Rockies it often storms in the afternoon and lighting is a big concern in Rocky Mountain National Park. Luckily I didn't because I got engaged at Ptarmigan Point. And third, do you in into many day hikers throughout the trail or is the majority of it more secluded and traveled on by backpackers doing the loop? Overall, the trip was amazing and challenging. Bring your deet to protect your feet. Get adequate rest, pack light, hydrate, eat, and be sure to check the weather. Seasons: Summer, Fall. This means I receive a small commission if you choose to purchase through a link I provide (at no extra cost to you). We hiked the trail clockwise over the course of 3 days, 2 nights, and camped at Granite Falls and Big Pool, both of which were great sites. While waiting for our ride, we walked over to Village Pizza and grabbed a pitcher of Dale’s Pale Ale and a couple pizzas! It might be more wise to get a ride to the Park & Ride since you can grab a shuttle to Bear Lake from there at 7:00 am and get an early start (plus the Bear Lake shuttle runs more frequently). My husband is thinking of doing this hike, minus the purple, with our boys who will be 9 and 12. Didn’t see any wildlife by heard the elk during the first night. We saw several deer, a coyote in Big Meadows, marmot at Ptarmigan pass, a lot of pika at altitude, and just caught some elk as they walked away from us. We took four nights to do it and included the Green Mountain/Onahu loop for one full day. The Continental Loop trail about 37 miles. Side note: This is a National Park with a permit and rules to follow, and these rules are in place to protect the park and visitors. Do you think it would make a difference if I chose to hike the loop the other way. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Start at Bear Lake It is a beautiful trail, but is a terrible place to be during a thunderstorm because there is zero cover. Second, what are the conditions like in early July? However, you need to be comfortable with high altitude hiking, and it is a great idea to acclimate to the altitude for a day or two before starting tour trek. Lesson to learn: 1) go with people who will help you make wise decisions, 2) space out your campsites better if the reservation system allows, 3) if you're spend 1 night instead of 3, don't carry so much food! For ease of travel, the season to complete the Collegiate Loop begins around the beginning of July and extends into late September most years. From there, we got on the Hiker Shuttle and took it to the Estes Park Visitor Center. If you have a car, you can park at the Park & Ride lot (or maybe at the Trailhead). The latest you can grab your permit is Noon on the 1st day of your trek. You’ll specify how many people are in your group when you reserve your permit. Very well-maintained trails and campgrounds, kudos to NPS. Eventually we reached the junction with the Tonahutu Trail. There are just a couple of parks where you have such restrictions for camping. is this hike possible in mid may or is there still too much snow? Hiked Clockwise from the Tonahutu trailhead Friday starting sept 20. Day 4: 6.6 miles; +2,200 feet / -2,200 feet; Day hike to Lake Nokoni and Lake Nanita. :) We stayed at North Inlet Junction which was nice, though we would have preferred Pine Marten. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. I think you are likely to be totally fine if you just make sure to keep an eye out for ominous looking clouds and make sure you are not hiking in super exposed areas between roughly 1-4pm. A decent point of reference is the 20 year average snow free date data on the NPS website (https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/site_details.htm). If you needed to freshen up or buy a real meal, you could hike down to the developed area on the North side of Grand Lake. Alternate Day 5: 9.8 miles; +3,200 feet / -3,500 feet; Pine Marten to Bear Lake. There are some significant climbs, but the trails are all well marked and maintained. It was fairly cold as well. Head east on the trail as it follows a wide valley and enjoy the views of the marshlands. It is absolutely stunning. Enough incline to be frosty but nothing crazy. I’m am running into a dead end when I follow your link or look on the RMNP website. The above treeline section of the route starts at North Inlet Junction and ends at Haynach Lake Trail Junction (or vice versa). We were not really expecting this kind of weather in late August, but I guess at 12,000 feet you are never really safe from any type of weather. Hi Kelly – sorry, I do not have a full gpx file for this route. We did 4 nights, 1 at Haynach, 2 at North Inlet Junction, and 1 at Summerland Park, going clockwise from Green Mountain trailhead. That last you want is to be drenched in cotton clothes that will stay wet and keep you cold. but having approximately 15 miles to go I decided to risk it and hike back to the trailhead. The trail is well marked and passed through several different types of topography and fauna. The weather can be unpredictable but leave early and beat the storms! (which is full of gorgeous views) but again got to camp too early. Trails are mainly well kept but we didn’t come across many other hikers. I LOVE this route and want to hike it but only have a couple friends that can and not sure they want to. After about another mile or so, there start to more and more snow on the ground. July and August mark the peak of the Colorado monsoon season. Running through the center of the Rocky Mountains, from Canada to Mexico, the Continental Divide separates the watersheds of the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. The hike is a great multi night loop for any moderately experienced backpacker. Can you tell us more about this? I don’t have a file with GPS data, but you could always trace the route in caltopo.com and then export to a GPX file! Third day was great. Of course, the Continental Divide Trail traverses right across the Colorado Rockies and right through Rocky Mountain National Park. Much more rewarding from this perspective – wilderness with no path, no people, no restrictions. The rest of Carpathians are without restrictions on camping. Jump to Day 3: Summerland Park Campsite to Pine Marten Campsite Driving to the Park & Ride is a good compromise! Unfortunately, we narrowly missed the Hiker Shuttle Express at 8:30 am and were forced to wait an hour until the next shuttle came at 9:30 am. Sorry for the video quality. It then opens up to the vast expanse of Big Meadows. Unfortunately, wildfire smoke obscured the the best panoramic views, it may be worth double-checking the conditions for the next few weeks. So, we decided it wasn’t safe to go down the glacier without any snow shoes or ice axes. We couldn’t find an easily accessible walk source right near the camp, so ended up getting water from a small creek that crosses the North Inlet Trail near the turn off for the campsite. The last one was a little sketchy but manageable if you take your time. Thanks for reply. I’m worried about acclimating to the high altitudes, especially since the first day is a climb. I was solo and ended up sitting at my first campsite for 8 hrs because you can't just go on to another campsite. I finished this in 13 hours starting and ending at N Inlet Trailhead, going counter clockwise. We made it to our first site (Granite Falls) and turned around to go back to the car. We’re doing the loop in 4 days. Below is a list of the gear I brought on this trip in Rocky Mountain National Park: Day 1: 10.2 miles: +3,700 / -2,500; Bear Lake Trailhead to Haynach Lakes Camp. If they are beginners, I would definitely leave early! We hiked the loop in 3 days / 2 nights and finished in the same place we started. The Bear Lake Shuttle runs every 10-15 minutes and takes you all the way to the Bear Lake Ranger Station and Trailhead. It’s tough enough that you feel tired, but does not burn you out or anything. We started at the North Inlet Trailhead in Grand Lake, and proceeded clockwise headed north towards Granite Falls. Starting at North Inlet Trailhead-July-Renegade-Sunrise-NIT. After the falls, we hiked through some more dead forest. This was great because we didn’t explore the area much on the way up since we were in a hurry. In Colorado, most of that dividing happens well above treeline with some of the most expansive views in the state. Eventually the storm passed, and we felt comfortable enough to briskly hike another mile down the trail until we reached the the part of the trail that is surrounded by tall trees. In fact, some of the trail’s most spectacular scenery can be found as the trail passes right through Grand Lake. All our campsites were near water. Once at flattop, conditions were extremely exposed with high winds for about 3-4 miles. There area few sites near Tonahutu Creek (Paintbrush, Big Meadows, Sunset, Tonahutu Meadows, etc.). If there are any storms expected, you definitely want to get this part of the trek finished early in the morning to avoid any issues. Since we didn’t have a car, we planned to take the free park shuttle from the Visitor Center to Bear Lake. They are active and we go hiking often. You can always give the rangers a call at the backcountry office and they can give you a better idea of the popularity. When we were at a safe spot with our tent, it was easy to get in the tent and wait for the storm to pass. Absolutely beautiful hike. Thanks for the tip. Visibility was only about 20 yards. Here we followed signs that led to the North Inlet Trail that goes to Summerland Park. I think I chose counter clockwise because I wanted the day hike to Lake Nanita to be towards the end of the loop. Difficulty: Doing this trek over 5 days made for a manageable pace. Sounds great! I was most looking forward to the "high elevation day," however that day ended up with us dealing with hurricane force winds on the divide. I am thinking about going back and hiking this loop again! I had a blast on this loop. Due to a flip, this was the final state in my CDT thru hike. Hi Lindsay – Based on my map is looks like the hike from July to Renegade is ~8 miles with +/- 2,000 foot of elevation change. Like Cook and Zumwalt, I'd spent most of my 25 "Rocky" years climbing Longs and other peaks. By this point, the weather was fine and we decided to leave our gear at camp and hike up to Haynach Lakes to explore. It’s hard to say exactly whether or not they will be comfortable backpacking. Drink lots of water, be in shape, and hopefully you can do some small hikes before this one. It is absolutely beautiful up there. We stayed at Ptarmigan that night. There’s a lot of switch backs and elevation gain on this day so start early. After a couple miles we came across a sign for the Summerland Park campsite. ( Log Out /  The Tonhutu trail is more rugged and tougher, but still well marked and manageable. Then, we headed to the Ranger Station, hopped on the Bear Lake shuttle, and took that to the Park & Ride lot. Continental Divide Loop; Continental Divide Loop. Travel is through the montane and sub-alpine life systems at elevations of 8,000 (2,438 m) to 11,500 feet (3,505 m). Is this particular hike overly popular and tough to get a permit for? There are several false summits and when it looks like the climb is almost over, it's not. The snow fields above 10k feet require lots of route finding to navigate safely, with many areas of snow drifts between knee and waist deep. This was by far the coolest loop I’ve ever done we did it over 3 days and 2 nights at the end of June so there was still some snow in areas but it was unreal. Just remember that either direction involves a couple miles hiking above the treeline after Flattop Mountain on the first day, so you will want to check the weather and hike early if storms are expected in the afternoon.

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