The trailhead is at Deer Ridge Junction just a couple of miles from the Beaver Meadows Entrance to the Rocky Mountain National Park (entering from the Estes Park side).The space for parking is limited along the side of the road so it is best to arrive early.

The trail begins its gradual ascent up the side of Deer Mountain in pine forest. This hike offers beautiful views all the way.The forest is not thick as you make your way up the first 3/4 of the trail allowing you to see surrounding peaks in the park. Views from the trail are plenty; you will see meadows, snow covered mountains, wildflowers on the hillsides and pine forests as you amble up the side of Deer Mountain.

After a series of switchbacks near the top of the mountain, you will finish your hike at the peak (elevation 10,013 ft.) with fantastic views of all the surrounding mountains and valleys in the park including Moraine Park and Longs Peak. Well worth the hike up!

The trail is well-traveled and well-maintained. During late spring and early summer, you may find snow in shady areas and at the top depending on the winter snowfall amounts. Ask a ranger at the visitor center for trail conditions. Other hikes inthe park you may enjoy: Alpine Ridge Trail

[My Response:] You picked an interesting year to come out and hike in early June. Colorado mountains, while plains areas are experiencing drought, have accumulated 150-200% of normal snowfall this winter. That means in early June, a lot of snow will still remain on the higher peaks and trails. Call the forest service for up to date weather information as you arrival time draws near.

U.S. Forest Service
Rocky Mountain Region
740 Simms St
Golden, CO 80401
303-275-5350

Since you’re a backpacker you probably already carry a compass, maps, high energy food, water, first aid kit, fire materials, sunscreen, rain gear and warm layers of clothing. Also, lightning is the number one threat in Colorado springtime hiking so watch the sky, know when to get cover and when to get away from lightning rods, and eject all metal while squatting low until threats pass if it gets imminently threatening. Altitude itself can be an issue as well. Drink extra water and realize that on steep ascents your hiking speed may be slowed to 1 mph (but going down makes up for it at 4+ mph).

If you were coming later in the season, I’d suggest hiking a fourteener like Mt. Bierstadt which is considerably shorter but more strenuous than other suggested hikes. But the snow will be too much of an obstacle for that in early June without snowshoes and perhaps other equipment. You don’t say how many days you are wanting to hike, but I’ll give you some options for day hikes relatively close to Denver. Since you’re looking for day hikes closer to Denver, there are a variety of close hikes of that distance where snow is minimal.

Deer greeting at Hall Ranch.

1. Hall Ranch to Button Rock: One hike with a variety of terrain that I would suggest is in Hall Ranch Open space in Boulder County. It starts out in low desert terrain and ascends into alpine meadows. We have never failed to see herds of deer whenever we go to Hall Ranch. A challenging hike would be to take the Night Hawk trail 4.7 miles to where it joins the Button Rock Preserve trail and take the extra 2 miles to the Button Rock Reservoir for a round trip of 13.4 miles. You can always decide you’ve had enough at the 4.7 mile mark and cut the trip to a 9.4 mile hike. Toward the 4 mile mark you’ll see views of Longs Peak in the distance and it should still be snow-capped by June 7th.

To get to Hall Ranch from Denver, take 6th Ave. West to Golden and follow CO 93 through Boulder to US 36 to Lyons to Hwy 7. (Left lane out of Lyons). Be careful driving through Lyons. The local town council prefer to derive revenue via their local constabulary rather than by the interchange of goods and services. My Dad used to drive delivery trucks through Lyons and warned me years ago and sure enough, every time we drive through Lyons some poor soul is pulled over getting a ticket. I’ve seen guide books direct people to Hall Ranch the long way up Boulder Canyon to Hwy 7 and down from the west to avoid Lyons. Anyway, just be wary driving through town if you choose to go through Lyons.

2. Gem Lake to Bridal Veil Falls: If you’re feeling a bit more ambitious and want a moderate/strenuous hike a little farther away and higher up with

Gem Lake reflects the beauty that gives it its name.

spectacular views and a chance to see wildlife, a great 12.8 mile hike is to park at the Lumpy Ridge Trailhead (el. 7750’ see attached map) and take the Gem Lake trail to Cow Creek and follow it to Bridal Veil Falls. You can follow the Gem Lake trail which is well used and well marked to Gem Lake (a pretty mountain pond at 1.8 miles). After snapping some photos, you can continue onward 1.1 miles to a fork. Here you can take inventory of how you’re feeling and if the morning ambition has waned, you take the left fork for a mile, you’ll end up at balanced rock and can head back to your car having seen some good sites and walked a grand total of 7.8 miles. If you’re feeling good that day, take the right fork for 1.7 miles until it intersects with Cow Creek. Follow the signs and the creek for 0.8 miles to another fork, again take the right fork and go one more mile to Bridal Veil Falls (el. 8900’). You’ll have to pick your way through some rock in spots where the trail grows questionable and faint but just keep an eye out for cairns and wear and it should be no problem. After you enjoy the falls,  follow the same trek back to the car for a round trip of 12.8 miles. This hike gives you a taste of Rocky Mountain National Park without having to drive into the park and pay. If you know that you’re going to do a lot of hiking in RMNP, it pays to buy the annual pass ($40 in 2011). There are numerous connecting trails of greater distance in this same area.

From Denver take I-25 north to CO 34. Stay on CO 34 all the way to the Estes Park reservoir and look for MacGregor Avenue which passes by the world famous Stanley Hotel (where The Shining was filmed) and winds past some nice estates. Look for Lumpy Ridge Trail head signs and turn right on Devils Gulch Rd (CR 43) for nearly a mile. Turn left on Lumpy Ridge Rd. (more signs point the way). Follow this into the Lumpy Ridge trailhead parking lot. Get there early because the parking lot fills up (especially on weekends). The drive time will take you about an hour and ½.

Dorothy Lake near Arapaho Pass

3.Arapaho Pass & Dorothy Lake: If we experience enough snowmelt, Arapaho Pass is a great trail. Take out insurance on the rental car and if possible, get a 4wd vehicle for this one. Passenger vehicles and sedans can make the trip but in Spring, you never know what some of the runoff is going to do to the roads. You must travel 5 miles on gravel roads west of Eldora, which normally are relatively wide and pothole-free.

Start at the Fourth of July Trailhead at an elevation of around 8,500’ and end at Lake Dorothy at 12,061’. Lake Dorothy, a glacial lake carved out of barren rock above timberline at the base of Mt. Neva. The trail climbs the north side of the creek drainage making several switchbacks along the way. It gets above the thick trees pretty fast so that hikers can view the peaks fairly readily. In summer, you’ll see abundant wildflowers here. The trail will be soggy in early June and this June it may even have some snow to negotiate.

When you get to Arapaho Pass you’ll see great vistas to the west. It’s worth the extra distance and elevation to visit Lake Dorothy to the southwest. The round trip is only about 7.5 miles, but because of the elevation, fighting through some possible snow and avoiding Spring runoff, it will wear you down.
Take U.S. 36 to Boulder from Denver. In Boulder, get to Broadway and turn west on Arapahoe (CO 119) and follow Boulder Canyon to Nederland. From Nederland turn west on County Road 130, following signs for Eldora Ski Resort. Go through the town of Eldora. Continue westward as the pavement ends. Go right at the fork in the road. Drive four miles to the Fourth of July Trailhead.
There are many more trails even closer to Denver proper where you could do 8-12 miles easily. I picked these for their unique scenery and wildlife viewing opportunities. I’ve seen deer and elk every time I go to the Estes Park area where Gem Lake is. Tons of deer wander Hall Ranch. You may see marmots and pica along the trail to Arapaho Pass.

Hope this helps. Enjoy Colorado!

Spring thaw has begun.

Bridal Veil Falls at the end of the Cow Creek Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park strolls along old McGraw Ranch roads and former riding trails through grassy meadows and rolling hills around the base of Sheep Mtn until it ascends through a thick aspen grove up the rocky cleft where the fall drops creating a picturesque cascade.

Plenty of trails extend from Cow Creek.

This easy to moderate trail is a good hike for families and will only take a little over an hour or two depending on your speed.   Only at the very end when stepping up rock does one need to take caution.  Some of larger rock slabs can be icy and slippery in the non-summer months and you’ll need to take caution at those spots, but otherwise the trail is fairly easy. Be cautious and alert for lightning especially when crossing open areas during thunder storms as well.

The main ranch house from the old McGraw Ranch, now a research center.

History:

The trail head starts at the old McGraw Ranch. The main house and some other buildings date from the 1880’s as part of the original ranch.  John and Irene McGraw purchased the ranch in 1909. Many of the outer bunkhouses date from between 1836 and 1988 when it was run as a guest ranch. The government took it over in 1988 and converted into offices and residence quarters for biological researchers. The National Park Service was going to raze all buildings like they did at Grand Teton and Glacier National Parks but the National Trust for Historic Preservation saved McGraw from similar policies. So if any of you are pursuing careers in biology or forestry, and even history or related social sciences, you might want to look into research opportunities at this prime spot.

Nearby Trails: Other nearby trails in the park you may enjoy include: The North Boundary Trail, Gem Lake, Lawn Lake, Rabbit Ears, Black Canyon, Lumpy Ridge, Balanced Rock

Travel time: About 10 minutes from Estes Park, or 95 minutes from Denver.

Rocky Mountain National Park offers so many hiking trails that you will be sure to get on at least one that really has it all!! The Bierstadt Lake trail is uphill to the top (1.2 miles). The gradual uphill climb is a workout, but well worth every switchback.

There are fabulous views all the way. Rocky peaks, Aspen groves, grassy hills, wild flowers and at the end of the trail, a small lake.

The best part of this hike is that the lake is the perfect habitat for moose to hang out. We were fortunate enough to be there at the right time – a female moose was feeding on the grass in the lake. What a treat!!
Restrooms available at trailhead.

The Lake at the end of the trail offers the best picnic area around. Views, water and wildlife!

Rocky Mountain National Park includes the Alpine Ridge Trail. Beginning at Milner Pass/Poudre Lake,it is a gradual uphill climb past towering rocks, the still water of Poudre Lake and then through forest with peeks of the surrounding Rockies

The trail is well maintained, moderately used and reminiscent of a hike you might find in the northwestern U.S. It is lush and green with shady sections and beautiful greenery. Wooden stairs occasionally lead you up the mountain. The climb is through pines and aspens and pleasant wooded areas. The trail will gradually come out of the trail onto the open tundra heading up toward the Apline visitor center. A fantastic trail that offers a variety of micro climates and views!

The Alpine Ridge Trail connects the Alpine Visitor Center to the Milner Pass parking area (elevation change of 1,038 ft. from end to end). Check your map. We started at the Milner Pass end and hiked in about an hour before turning back. (If you are feeling courageous, hiking the entire trail roundtrip will take a few hours).

Milner Pass is on the Continental Divide (water flows to the Pacific on one side and to the Gulf of Mexico on the other).

Other trails in the area you may enjoy: Bridal Veil Falls Trail, Bierstadt Lake Trail, Deer Mountain Trail, Alberta Falls Trail

Restrooms available at trail head.
Picnic Spot Recommendations: We would recommend eating at the picnic ground at Lake Irene, just a couple minutes down the road from Milner Pass. It offers tables, a short trail to the lake, and restrooms.

Bierstadt Lake Trail

We love to hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. We have done several trails in the park with our kids. Most are moderate to easy and all of them have wonderful scenery. Some of those that we like best are Deer Mountain Trail, Alluvial Fan Trail, Bierstadt Lake Trail (saw a moose on that one), Alberta Falls Trail, Alpine Ridge Trail (south section).

If you travel in 2 more miles, you will leave the crowds behind at the falls and get another treat ending at Mills Lake. Take these hikes and be prepared with your raingear, you never know how quick clouds can chase you off the mountain.