Everything up until the keyhole is very easy but takes a while. Save as much energy as possible because the real climb starts after the keyhole
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We started at 9 am. Done by 3.30 pm. Took shuttle bus from visitorscentre Estes across the street from the mcDonalds.
SO BEAUTIFUL.
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The flowers, the creek that serves as your companion along most of the hike, and then... the magnificent lake at the end... all combine for a first-rate hiking experience.
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I took blue grouse - mule deer - snowshoe hare - mule deer - blue grouse. This was a taxing route that was challenging. Compared to my favorite route in the park, Mt Lion, this trail did not offer scenery as cool in my opinion. Definitely a great workout with plenty of cover underneath the forest but I prefer more scenery.
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Plenty of wildflowers blooming along most of the trail. Shade interspersed with full exposure for the full length of the trail. This trail always has others on it, but is not usually too busy or crowded. We got there at 7:45am and we were the only ones there. By the time we got off the trail, there were probably 7 or 8 other cars there. Restrooms available at the trailhead. It's a there and back trail and the turn around point is clearly defined (it's a beautiful lookout), with a bench in the shade and plenty of large boulders to sit on, if the bench is taken.
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Beautiful hike through a lush willow covered valley with a small stream crossing (was able to stay dry by rock hopping across). The terrain is easy to navigate and seasoned hikers won’t fine this to be challenging. The most challenging part of this hike is the altitude and last 50 vertical feet to the summit on rocky terrain.
This is a hike you want to do early in the morning in order to beat the crowds and afternoon storms.
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Very scenic trail, especially through the Alpine Tundra and higher elevations. The view at 13K feet is amazing!
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The wildflowers were spectacular for this hike, one of the top wildflower hikes in Boulder County. The mountain scenery views are awesome and Lake Dorothy is a magical place.
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It was more than 400 ft ascent. More like 1000 as the first mile was not recorded and it was 1,000 ft. Great hike but didn’t make the lake itself. Storms rolled in.
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Great trail with medium difficulty. One bypass is a little more challenging. The lake and scenery at the top is incredible. It’s a “must ride” trial if you’re in the area. I’m in a fairly stock JKU Rubicon Recon and only kissed a few rocks on the more challenging by pass.
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Very windy above treeline. Needed my smartwool layer the entire time. Beautiful views all around. The first mile is probably the most difficult. Once you get over the first hill of switchbacks, its gentle up and down. Stanley mountain doesn't have a sign, but there is a rock pile and pole on top of it to the left of the trail.
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Very nice hike. Lots of different ecosystems to hike through. Long day, but the gain is pretty gentle and spread out. Some bugs around the lakes, but otherwise was fine. Had to traverse some snow and ten mile creek, which was a little tricky.
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Beautiful! The falls are absolutely amazing. Hike is easy and well maintained trails.
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Beautiful and challenging. Walks through Mountain sides and into the woods below the peaks.
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Summited Longs Peak via the Keyhole route on July 20, 2019. Route was in great shape, the trough was snowy in the middle, but easy enough to scramble around to the left side going up. The homestretch was totally clear, except for a few, easy to avoid wet patches. Started hiking at 215AM and got back to the car at 1245 PM!
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Stellar single track mtn bike. Private land portion had lots of riders.
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We hiked to the base spoils of the nine but did not climb the trail through the spoils, lots of loose rock. Views are spectacular at the mine!
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Spectacular hike to Pear Lake, 7/13/19. Only a couple snowfields left that we’re right before Pear Lake and we’re easily navigable w/out snowshoes. Lots of moose tracks, but no moose. We did see a really pretty golden colored Fox w/ black feet at Pear Lake. One thing to note, while it’s totally possible to make this hike from the Allenspark TH, their is no parking lot there anymore. Looks like someone has shut it down to the public, so we left from Finch Lake TH in Wild Basin of RMNP instead.
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We hike to the terminus of the new slide inFrisco, Colorado. We had to bushwhack quite a bit, but the view was fabulous.
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Fabulous views of Longs & Meeker Peaks. The trail is easy to follow, I made the first Peak in 1 hour and 28 minutes.
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Fun trip with the whole family. Pretty intense for just about all of us.
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Moderate accents and descents, saw dawn and deer, nice loop, lots of bikers.
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This is a good family hike with exception of the last half a mile which is little Rocky.
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Great views at the top, I had some difficulty with this trail. 11 weeks after knee replacement. Steep sections and very rocky specially above tree line.
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Great hike with moderate vertical, nice creek and high ridge-line with great views.
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July 1 2019 - tons of snow up there still. Gorgeous views of Arastra Gulch, Silver Lake Basin, Kendall Mountain, etc. Stopped at the first stream crossing due to thin snow bridge across it. Several downed trees covering the trail on the north side that we had to navigate.
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Gaia trail map took us to 10,600, 800ft below summit. Had we followed National Geographic Dillon map, would have followed trail 9509 to summit (or 9511). Little water along trail. Amazing views across Dillon Lake to TenMile range and Gore Range. This trip about 8.5 miles, 4:45hrs, 1450 elevation. Next time to summit! Hiked with Dave, Dave, John, Rick, daisy and Kermit.
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Challenging for inexperienced hikers, from the very onset of the hike it is uphill and strenuous. Once you hit the meadow there is a bit of a break from the constant uphill climb, however it does pick back up. After you completely pass the meadow you will reach a fairly large area that has been burned by a forest fire. The final stretch to granite falls is completely uphill with very rocky terrain.
The falls were beautiful, that was where my hike ended. It took my wife and I about 2.5 hours there, and about 1.5 back. We stopped occasionally along the way there, didn’t stop on the way back.
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My favorite hike. Very easy route. Bring warm clothes in summer
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Beautiful views and not too difficult of a hike with the grade being not too steep.
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50° w/overcast skies goin up and sun on way down. Beautiful trail.
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Jun9-19,
About 2/3 was snow covered with a mix of walking small steps on top to post holing up to waist due to sun and softness of snow.
★
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Done this yesterday (June 8, 2019), great hike, trail had some snow after 10500 ft, but hardly need spikes, poles are more than enough
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Flat and mellow hike to the base of Bald Mountain followed by a steep incline to the summit.
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I did 4x4 driving in 2019 Memorial weekend, it was a fun trail to run, got various road condition. The closer to the Yankee hills, the harder it became. I didn’t make it to the top of the hill, it was still packed with 2ft snow and it was little late.
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A beautiful ride from Lakewood to the top of Squaw Pass and back. Clear roads. Lots of snow on the ski trails.
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Beautiful views, took my daughter up for her first winter backpacking trip. Snows got deep about the last half mile, probably would have been fine with snow shoes, but we were stuck with boots. Great camp location, quiet, peaceful, and super close to lakes and meadows for day hikes.
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As of April 7, 2019, still completely snow covered (packed snow) and required yak trax. A few areas was just starting to melt (and refreeze). Very easy uphill over about 1.8 miles to get to the Firetower, with great views around, especially to the SW of Mt. Evans and Mt. Evans Wilderness
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We hiked this trail in sunny and warm winter day. It was my second hike in snowshoes after 10 years break. We enjoyed well packed snow with no ice. First section up to the Rogers Pass trail fork could be easily hiked without snowshoes, while upper part provided very interesting experience on some more steep sections, especially on the way down.
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Great place for dogs, pretty stream, can be a comfortable trail walk with intermediate hikers or a trail run
Beautiful varied views, can do in snow or summer
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Great snowshoe hike. Can be windy but very calm the day we went.
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The first half mile has continual traffic noise from nearby I-70. After that it is a very pretty trail.
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Beautiful, easy hike. So quiet and beautiful in the winter.
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Trail is well-defined and easily traveled. On Saturday it is busy with dogs and bikes. Too many dogs off-leash against park rules.
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I have done this hike in the summer, but just did it in mid-October and you should know that the parking lot at the trailhead is already closed for winter which adds and extra two miles RT to the hike. Also, it just took one snowfall to make the trail very icy about 30-50% of the way. Be prepared for winter hiking conditions!
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We had some small children and this was a nice hike to take them on. There were easy sections and ones that challenged them. Awesome views!
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Good Sunday morning mountain bike ride at the end of Sept. It was 52 degrees and cloudy, so that kept the crowds away. Some reviewers call this "easy", which you have to take with a grain of salt. It may be easy for some experienced mtn bikers, but this is a challenging trail system with mostly side hill riding on narrow single track. There aren't a ton of long, steep climbs, and the route isn't terribly rocky, which definitely makes it easier than some rides. I think moderate is a good overall rating, with a few easy spots and a handful of difficult sections.
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I'm a photographer and hike this 6 mile loop every fall, and sometimes in the spring also. Here is an uploaded photo gallery from fall 2017: http://tfmorrow.com/photoalbums/RMNP-WildBasin2017/
I just did this loop again a few days ago, and focused on waterfall photography; it will probably take me a few weeks to get those photos uploaded and linked on my website: http://tfmorrow.com/ This is a beautiful trail loop, especially in September. Hiking pace is rather slow because I'm constantly stopping to take photos; waterfall photos take even more time because a tripod is required.
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This is a great through hike. We started in Frisco and caught the free Summit Stage bus to Copper Mountain. The hike starts there and you hike back to Frisco over Uneva Pass and through some nice high country. Very nice trail. Some fall aspen colors at the beginning and end of the hike. The hike ended up being a total of nearly 14 miles. So it can be a longer day.
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There are several really nice views from higher up. We went in the late summer so there wasn't much running water but during the spring I would expect to see several streams. There are a few steeper parts but anyone in general good shape should have no problem. Bang for the buck this is a very good hike.
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Glorious September weather and Aspens turning color made the hike highly enjoyable. Trail was crowded but everyone was happy and pleasant.
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My 61-year-old father and I backpacked up to Crater Lake, staying Friday and Saturday nights. Beautiful scenery, a little crowded, especially on Friday evening. The final mile up to Crater Lake is quite a climb!
We, like seemingly everyone else, had an easy time catching fish. After a fish taco lunch, I wiled away Saturday reading and ducking under trees for shelter from the sprinkling rain, while my dad snoozed in the tent.
We started out intending to go up to Heart Lake via this route, but had a late start: https://www.gaiagps.com/hike/1425/rogers-pass-lake-via-rogers-pass-trail/.
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