Looking back at my childhood, I must say that I was extremely fortunate to have grown up in a semi-rural area. Though it's more than likely you never heard of Mack, Ohio, you're probably well aware of our largest suburb just to our east: Cincinnati. The dead-end street that we lived on backed-up to a fairly large wooded area covering several hundred acres. No doubt, this is where my love for the outdoors was ingrained into my soul. My friends and I spent countless hours in those woods; hiking, riding our Huffy bikes on trails created by us and others, building tree camps and camping around open fires. After we learned how to drive we discovered the Red River Gorge in central Kentucky where we started taking our first real hikes. We later graduated to the Great Smoky Mountains where we enjoyed our first real taste of big mountains and expansive wilderness areas. Then in 1986, while enjoying a couple of beers in the basement of a friend, the three of us came up with the wild-eyed idea of taking a grand road trip out west. This trip took us to the Badlands and Black Hills of South Dakota, before reaching our ultimate destinations of Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Rocky Mountain National Park. The die was cast at this point, and I was forever hooked on the outdoors.
I was also very fortunate to have found a wife that enjoys hiking as much as I do. Together we have explored dozens of national parks, monuments and forests over the years. As a result of the hundreds, probably thousands of miles of hiking I've done over the years, I wanted to put together a list of what I consider to be my all-time favorite hikes. Though I've attempted to rank them in order of best/most favorite, you may not want to assume that this ranking is absolute. I must admit that there is likely a great deal of recency bias, as I have tendency to think that my latest hike was the greatest. Ultimately, I hope that this list will inspire you, or provide you with some new places to explore in the future.
I also wanted to point out that 24 of these hikes are included in my new trail guide,
Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Rocky Mountains: Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico
Without further ado, here are my top 30 hikes:
1)
Lake O'Hara (Yoho National Park): Parks Canada now limits the number of people that can visit this pristine area. For good reason! In addition to the epic scenery, Lake O’Hara is also famous for its alpine circuit, a loop hike that traverses precipitous ledges with frightening exposure to steep drop-offs. However, there are many other options that hikers can take to enjoy this truly spectacular landscape.
2)
Skyline Loop Trail (Mt. Rainier National Park):
"Oh, what a paradise!" was Martha Longmire’s reaction upon seeing the lush meadows and spectacular wildflowers of Mount Rainier’s southern valley for the very first time in 1885. The description would stick, as the most popular area in the park is now known as “Paradise”. Once you set your own eyes upon it you’ll understand why. This hike was so incredibly beautiful that it was the first time that I ever kept a camera in my hand for the entire trip. The amazing scenery never ended!
3)
Grinnell Glacier Overlook (Glacier National Park): This hike travels along the world famous Highline Trail for much of its distance. The incredible views, the wildlife, and the wildflowers, all combine to make this a trek you'll remember the rest of your life. Though hikers will have a couple of options for enjoying the Highline Trail, I highly recommend taking the steep side trail that leads up to the spectacular Grinnell Glacier Overlook atop the Garden Wall. For a similar, but easier route, you may want to consider the
Highline Loop.
4)
Wenkchemna Pass (Banff National Park): The hike to Wenkchemna Pass begins from Moraine Lake, which sits at the foot of the Valley of the Ten Peaks. Both the lake and the valley were featured on the reverse side of the Canadian twenty dollar bill between 1969 and 1979. At the foot of the lake is a large pile of boulders and rocks, leftovers from the glaciers that retreated thousands of years ago. A climb to the top of the rock pile is a popular destination for photographers. The view there of the lake and the valley is considered to be one of the most photographed scenes in Canada, and is now known as the "Twenty Dollar View".
5)
Swiftcurrent Pass (Glacier National Park): Although this is one of the toughest hikes in Glacier, it includes tons of spectacular scenery. You'll pass by three lakes and a waterfall while traveling up the Swiftcurrent Valley. Once above the valley floor the trail offers outstanding birds-eye views of six glacial lakes, as well as Swiftcurrent Glacier. At the pass you'll enjoy stunning views of Heavens Peak and Granite Park.
6)
Iceline Trail (Yoho National Park): While ascending an avalanche path hikers will enjoy views of Takakkaw Falls across the valley. Once at the top the trail begins crossing over the broken terrain of ancient glacial moraines. From this point forward you’ll enjoy epic alpine scenery, including outstanding views of Emerald Glacier, several small tarns, as well as the spectacular surrounding mountains within Yoho National Park.
7)
Ice Lakes (San Juan National Forest): Ice Lake just might have the most intense cobalt blue color I’ve ever seen in nature. Combine this extraordinarily beautiful alpine lake with outstanding mountain scenery and several thousand wildflowers, and you have one of the best hikes found just about anywhere.
8)
Static Peak Divide (Grand Teton National Park): Cascade Canyon gets all the accolades whenever outdoor media types discuss hiking in the Grand Tetons. However, in my humble opinion, the pundits simply haven't done their homework. I'll admit this is an extremely tough hike, but the alpine scenery is simply epic, and easily makes this the best hike in Grand Teton National Park.
9)
Lake Solitude (Grand Teton National Park): This hike just about has it all: a beautiful subalpine lake, stunning mountain scenery, wildlife, wildflowers, and the largest waterfall in the park. Although this is another tough hike, it does provide hikers with the opportunity to explore more of the stunning scenery in the Cascade Canyon area. For an easier option, you could end your hike in
Cascade Canyon.
10)
Siyeh Pass Loop (Glacier National Park): This one-way hike offers visitors the chance to take-in some of the best of what Glacier has to offer. Hikers will pass through the incredibly beautiful Preston Park, climb along one of the highest maintained trails in Glacier, and then travel back down the Baring Creek Valley where you'll enjoy a relatively close-up view of Sexton Glacier.
11)
Mt. Ida (Rocky Mountain National Park): Hands down this is the best hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. The views from the summit are simply epic. In fact, hikers will enjoy outstanding panoramic views along much of the route. Although the terrain becomes fairly rugged on the final leg to the summit, you'll have very little exposure to steep drop-offs. If this still sounds like this might be a little bit out of your comfort zone, you could simply end your hike atop Peak 12,150, a sub-peak along the ridge approaching the summit.
12)
Sneffels Highline (Mount Sneffels Wilderness): The Sneffels Highline is among the best hikes I've ever done. This spectacular loop offers several miles of exceptional views as it travels above treeline through the Uncompahgre National Forest and Mount Sneffels Wilderness Area. I highly recommend this hike during the fall when the aspens explode in brilliant shades of yellows.
13)
Blue Lakes (Uncompahgre National Forest): The Blue Lakes Trail travels to an extremely scenic glacial basin within the Mt. Sneffels Wilderness area. Although not a national park, the San Juan Mountains near Ouray could easily qualify as one, and would probably rank as one of the crown jewels within the entire national park system. You could also make a strong argument that the hike to Blue Lakes would rank high on the list of the best hikes among all of our national parks.
14)
Dragon's Tail (Glacier National Park): This is a great alternative if you're looking to avoid the extreme crowds at Hidden Lake Overlook. Although you'll start-off on the same trail, the "climbers route" to the Dragon's Tail splits off the main trail after roughly a mile. Hikers will enjoy sweeping views of Hidden Lake and the surrounding mountains from the east and southeast side of the lake.
15)
Grinnell Glacier (Glacier National Park): This is an extremely popular hike in the Many Glacier area, and for good reason. This spectacular trail visits the edge of the famous 300-acre glacier that sits just below the Continental Divide.
16)
Mt. Elbert (San Isabel National Forest): Why not just go to the top of Colorado? Not only is 14,440-foot Mt. Elbert the highest point in Colorado, it’s also the highest point between Mt. Whitney in California, Fairweather Mountain in Canada, La Malinche Mountain in Mexico, and Mont Blanc in France. From the “roof of Colorado” hikers will enjoy outstanding panoramic views. Moreover, as “fourteeners” go, the trek to the summit is relatively easy.
17)
Chasm Lake (Rocky Mountain National Park): In my humble opinion this is the best lake hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. In addition to the outstanding panoramic views you'll encounter on the way up, you'll also enjoy up-close views of the famous "Diamond" - the east-facing wall of Longs Peak which rises more than 2,400 feet above this incredibly beautiful alpine lake.
18)
Huron Peak (Collegiate Peaks Wilderness): At 14,003 feet, Huron Peak just barely qualifies as a “fourteener”. However, that doesn’t mean the views are any less stunning than peaks that are hundreds of feet higher. The summit still offers mind-blowing views of Colorado’s Sawatch Range, including the Three Apostles.
19)
Hallet Peak (Rocky Mountain National Park): For those that feel that Longs Peak is just a little too hard, or maybe a little too dangerous, Hallett Peak just might be the perfect mountain to satisfy your big mountain, "summit fever". Reaching a height of 12,713 feet, the mountain provides a great opportunity to feel like you're on top of the Rockies, without being exposed to dangerous drop-offs.
20)
Pitamakan Pass (Glacier National Park): Dawson Pass usually gets all the attention in the Two Medicine area. However, at least for me, I think the views from Pitamakan Pass are much more dramatic. From the knife-edge pass you can see five lakes on either side of you.
21)
Chapin / Chiquita / Ypsilon (Rocky Mountain National Park): This is another alpine hike that ventures up into the highest elevations of Rocky Mountain National Park. On this hike you'll have the choice of either summiting one, two or all three mountains along the so called "CCY Route". The highest among these three peaks is Ypsilon Mountain, which is also the 5th highest mountain in the park. No matter your choice, the views from either of these mountains are quite amazing.
22)
Piegan Pass (Glacier National Park): Maybe not quite as scenic as its more popular neighbors, the hike to Piegan Pass is far less crowded. Big expansive views, that include Jackson Glacier and Blackfoot Glacier, await hikers along much of this route near Logan Pass.
23)
Ptarmigan Tunnel (Glacier National Park): If you're anywhere near Many Glacier the hike to Ptarmigan Tunnel shouldn't be passed up. The highlight of the hike is passing through a 240-foot tunnel that cuts a hole through the Ptarmigan Wall. It was built for horses and early park tours by the Civilian Conservation Corp in the 1930's. After hiking all morning in the Many Glacier Valley, walking to the other side of the tunnel is like passing into another world.
24)
Black Face Mountain (Lizard Head Wilderness): Although Black Face Mountain may look fairly nondescript from the top of Lizard Head Pass just outside of Telluride, you shouldn't be deceived - the views from the summit are quite amazing. After a relatively easy climb hikers will enjoy stunning panoramic views of several 13 and 14,000-foot peaks, as well as the iconic Lizard Head.
25)
Sheepherder Lakes (Beartooth Highway): This hike passes through an exceptionally beautiful basin that visits several alpine lakes. The entire route travels through open terrain known as the High Lakes.
26)
Lake Josephine Loop (Glacier National Park): This loop takes you around both Lake Josephine and Swiftcurrent Lake in the Many Glacier Valley. The hike is mostly flat, making it a great choice for almost everyone in the family. Oh yea, the views are simply outstanding! Moreover, nearly every time we've hiked in this area we've seen at least one moose.
27)
North Rim Trail (Yellowstone National Park): The North Rim Trail allows you to see sights along the rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. This includes stops at overlooks that provide spectacular views of Crystal Falls, the Brink of the Upper Falls, the Brink of the Lower Falls, Red Rock Point, Grand View Point and Inspiration Point.
28)
Beehive Basin (Beartooth Highway): This hike visits an unnamed lake below the rugged Spanish Peaks of Montana. During the summer months the meadows that surround this beautiful jewel are filled with a plethora of wildflowers.
29)
Lion Lake No. 1 (Rocky Mountain National Park): For whatever reason, I didn't take the opportunity to take this hike until 2021. Wow! What was I waiting for? The rugged subalpine landscape that surrounds this lake offers some of the most beautiful scenery in the park, while making it by far the most scenic lake in Wild Basin.
30)
Sky Pond (Rocky Mountain National Park): Surrounded on three sides by sheer cliff walls, Sky Pond offers hikers dramatic alpine scenery. What makes this hike a RMNP classic is that you'll visit two waterfalls and two other stunning lakes along the way. However, the scramble alongside Timberline Falls to reach the basin may present a challenge to some with a fear of heights.
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From Montana to New Mexico, the American Rockies stretch for more than a thousand miles. Within this spectacular mountain range are thousands of miles of hiking trails.
With such an overwhelming number of options, how will you find and choose the most scenic and rewarding hikes?
Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Rocky Mountains takes all the guesswork out by focusing on some of the most amazing hikes across this range, and provides you with a handpicked list of options that will allow you to make the most of your trips in the Rockies:
