Just J.Faye

Hiking & Other Adventures

Backpacking The Four Pass Loop

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Backpacking the Four Pass Loop has been on my bucket list for almost two years. It’s been on Michael’s too. We finally made our bucket list dreams a reality and decided to hike it!

four pass loop

The Four Pass Loop Route

The Four Pass Loop is a 26.6-mile trail just outside of Aspen, Colorado in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. On this loop you hike over four passes (hence the name) over 12,000 feet – West Maroon Pass (12,590 ft), Frigid Air Pass (12,415 ft), Trail Rider Pass (12,420 ft), and Buckskin Pass (12,500).

four pass loop

Source

You can hike the loop counterclockwise or clockwise. It seems that hiking the Four Pass Loop clockwise, starting with West Maroon Pass, is more popular since it’s not as steep.

Most people backpack the loop in 3-4 days. Some people trail run it in a day! We decided to try it in 2 days. Our original plan was two get through 2 of the passes, camp, and then finish the remaining two passes the next day. However, when we took a look at the map and the mileage in between the passes we decided it made more sense to try to get through West Maroon Pass, Frigid Air Pass, and Trail Rider Pass all in the first day and camp at Snowmass Lake. Then save Buckskin Pass for the last day. It was an aggressive plan, but we were ready for the challenge!

four pass loop

Source

Getting To The Four Pass Loop

The Four Pass Loop starts at the Maroon-Snowmass Trailhead just outside Aspen. You can drive your car all the way down Maroon Creek Road and park at the trailhead, but you can only drive to the trailhead before 8:00 am or after 5:00 pm. You also need to be lucky enough to get a spot at the overnight parking lot. It fills up quick. If the lot is full or you arrive sometime 8:00 am – 5:00 pm you need to park at Aspen Highlands. You’ll have to pay for parking and for a bus pass (more info here). Then take the shuttle up to the trailhead. It’s slightly inconvenient and is obviously more expensive, but Maroon Bells is such a popular destination (it’s the most photographed spot in Colorado), so I understand why they try to regulate the traffic.

four pass loop

Once you’re at the trailhead make sure to self-register and fill out a backpacking permit.

Also, make sure to have a bear can! It’s required.

The Four Pass Loop Day 1

Michael and I got up to the ranger booth at 7:30 am and found out that the overnight parking lot was already full, so we had to take the shuttle up to the trailhead. After filling out our permits we started hiking around 8:30 am.

The Four Pass Loop starts right at the iconic Maroon Bells, one of the most photographed places in Colorado.

four pass loop

The first 1.5 miles up to Crater Lake has a slight incline. At 9,500 feet this felt tougher than it should have! But after the lake the trail smoothed out and was pretty flat for the next 2.5 miles. I was actually starting to get worried that we were on the wrong trail, despite following all the signs for West Maroon Pass. I just figured we’d be climbing a lot more.

four pass loop

We took our first break at mile 4 and then the trail started to incline a bit. Gradual at first, then a little steeper, and then we gained 800 feet in .7-miles to the top of West Maroon Pass at mile 6.5. It was something! I haven’t hiked in this high of altitude since last July. It makes a difference. I felt like I was moving in slow motion, but I did it nonetheless!

By this time it was 12:15 pm and we took our lunch break at the top of the pass.

four pass loop

1 pass down, 3 to go!

The hike to Frigid Air Pass was short and quick, just 2.1 miles. The initial descent from West Maroon Pass was quite steep. Then it leveled out and we were walking through meadows of wildflowers. There was also a stream where we could filter water (we use the Sawyer Squeeze).

four pass loop

four pass loop

All of a sudden it was a quick, straight up hike up to Frigid Pass.

There were some lovely views.

four pass loop

2 passes down, 2 to go!

It was a 7-mile hike from Frigid Air Pass to Trail Rider Pass. The switchbacks down Frigid Air Pass were steep and then we landed in a meadow surrounded by beautiful mountains. The trail continued down gradually switching between meadows and forests.

four pass loop

We took a break near a stream at about mile 12 to fill up on calories and water. There were a lot of nice campsites in this stretch of the trail!

We continued onwards further down into a meadow. Then it was time to climb up to Trail Rider Pass. This one was a doozy!

The incline started with steep switchbacks up a ridge. Steep as in climb-1100-feet-in-mile steep and at 10,000 feet no less. The mile was BRUTAL. We hiked slow and steady with very little conversation (because let’s save the oxygen for breathing). From there the trail softened slightly. It was still going up, but not at quite the same intensity. The worst part about it was that we were coming up to a false pass. It looked like it could be the pass, but we knew it wasn’t.

One we passed the false summit we could finally see the real pass. It was about a mile away. Hurray! We even got to walk on a flat/slightly down trail for a bit. It was so luxurious. It actually rejuvenated and motivated me a bit. The quick snack break helped too.

four pass loop

We had a little less than a mile to hike up to Trail Rider Pass. It was slow going, but I put one foot in front of the other and continued to carry myself up the trail.

During these difficult passes I’ve been trying to fill my head with words of encouragement rather than doubt. Instead of worrying about if my heart would suddenly go into ventricular tachycardia (VT) I thought about how happy I was to be out backpacking. I thought about all those times I had yearned for it throughout my surgeries, hospital stays, and recovery periods. I thought about how grateful I was that my body could do this type of stuff again. I thought about how blessed I was to be surrounded by beautiful scenery and spending time with the one I love, despite my legs and lungs being on fire. The power of positive thinking is strong! It really helped push me up those passes.

Finally, we made it to the top of Trail Rider Pass!!

3 passes down, 1 to go!

The views from both sides of the pass were spectacular. On one side we saw gray skies and mountains and on the other side we saw blue skies, mountains, and Snowmass Lake.

four pass loop

four pass loop

four pass loop

Snowmass Lake was extra pretty since that was our camping destination for the night.

From Trail Rider Pass it was 2.2 miles down to Snowmass Lake. By this point Michael and I were both ready to be done, so it seemed to take a little longer than it should have, but we finally made it.

The campsite was pretty full. Most people probably got there early to mid-afternoon. We arrived shortly after 7:00 pm. However, we were able to find a lovely campsite near the water. Michael set up the tent, while I filtered water. The thing about backpacking is that you can’t just get to your campsite and relax. There are chores to be done first! Those things went fairly quickly.

Since we needed to bring a bear can, which are heavy and bulky, we decided to pack light, even lighter than normal. Michael carried the bear can (because he’s the best) along with our extra food for the next day. This meant that all I had in my pack were my sleeping quilt, sleeping pad, toiletries, some extra clothes, a water filter, and electronics. It was so light! Michael’s bag really didn’t look much heavier. Everyone thought we were day hikers with our tiny packs. I have never seen heavier packs than I have on the Four Pass Loop! The hike was difficult enough with my small pack. I can’t imagine what it would have been like with a full 60-liter pack!

Anyways, since we were packing light we didn’t pack a camp stove. This meant dinner was cold-soaked ramen. It honestly wasn’t bad! Nice and salty. But after hiking 18 miles I think anything would’ve tasted good.

We then brushed our teeth, took some Tylenol (preventative measure), and headed into the tent.

We hiked 18.2 miles in 10.5 hours.

four pass loop

The Four Pass Loop Day 2

After a long day of hiking the previous day we decided to not set an alarm and just wake up whenever we woke up, which happened to be around 8:00 am.

We gathered up our stuff, ate a quick breakfast (a bar and cold coffee), and got on our way around 9:15 am.

four pass loop

My body was moving a little slow in the morning. I wasn’t sore yet, but my legs felt a little heavy and my cardio seemed a bit worn out. Fortunately the first 1.5 miles of hiking was a fairly flat path. This helped me warm up a bit. Then there was a mile of steep switchbacks followed by another mile of a more gentle grade and then we were on the top of Buckskin Pass!

four pass loop

4 passes down, 0 to go!

I loved looking back on the views of Snowmass and Capitol 14ers and forward to Pyramid.

four pass loop

I also loved that we finished our final pass and all we had to do was hike down a few miles to the trailhead.

We took a snack break. We also saw this mountain goat!

four pass loop

The switchbacks on the back side of Buckskin Pass were a little steep for the first mile and the leveled out to a more gradual descent.

It was starting to get pretty hot, so I’m glad we were done with our uphill hiking! Our last few miles were through Aspen trees.

four pass loop

About 4.5 miles after leaving Buckskin Pass we were back at Maroon Lake. I had to take some extra time to drink these views in. It was just so pretty!

four pass loop

We had just enough time to use the bathroom before jumping on the shuttle to bring us back down to Aspen Highlands.

We hiked 8.4 miles in 4 hours.

We did it!

Four Pass Loop Thoughts

Overall, I really enjoyed backpacking the Four Pass Loop. It is such an iconic Colorado hike. I’m glad I can finally check it off my list.

The scenery is gorgeous. Is it the most beautiful hike in Colorado as it is often claimed to be? That I don’t know, but I don’t think you’d be disappointed.

The one unfortunate thing is that so many people hike this loop. Michael and I saw more people in the first four hours of Four Pass Loop than we saw doing the Northern Circle and the Devil’s Dome Loops combined. Typically this isn’t a bad thing. I love talking to people on the trail! The thing that makes this unfortunate is I saw so much toilet paper and garbage. People, please pick up after yourself!

Aside from that point, it’s amazing and I highly recommend it.

four pass loop

I am so proud of myself for finishing this, much less being able to do it in only 2 days. This is the hardest thing I’ve done since recovering from heart surgery. Fortunately the Four Pass Loop was much more enjoyable than that!

To celebrate Michael and I went to Dairy Queen and ate Blizzards for lunch.

I’ll be dreaming about backpacking the Four Pass Loop for a while!

four pass loop

four pass loop

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Seven Sanitas Summit Challenge

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On March 31 Michael and I hiked to the top Mount Sanitas for my first time in 2018. On the way down he gave me the Seven Sanitas Summit Challenge: hike Mount Sanitas six more times before April 14.

Seven Sanitas Summit Challenge

Challenge accepted.

Why the challenge?

Seven Sanitas Summit Challenge

At the end of March Michael and I decided to plan a trip for some backpacking in Utah for mid-April. We found backcountry permits for the Lathrop Trail in the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands. The Lathrop Trail starts at the top of a mesa and extends down to the Colorado River and then back up to the mesa. The 21-mile out and back is flat to gradual aside from a 1.5-mile stretch that is quite steep with about 1200 feet of elevation gain/loss.

Since my heart still isn’t at 100%, we decided to test out my abilities on Mount Sanitas, a trail in Boulder with a 1250-foot gain over 1.3 miles and is similar to what we would encounter on Lathrop Trail. I used to hike Mount Sanitas allllll the time – before work, after work, weekends, you name it. It definitely is a butt-kicker and is one of those trails that you love to hate.

Knowing that I could get to the top just fine, Michael then extended this challenge to me. By doing Mount Sanitas 6 more times we would both gain more confidence in my abilities and wouldn’t be quite as nervous that anything negative would happen while backpacking.

This link has some more information on the trail itself.

Quick side note on my heart health

Seven Sanitas Summit Challenge

Before I continue I’ll give a quick update on my heart. Since the yurt-defibrillator-shock fiasco things have been going really well! With the new medication that I’m on I haven’t had any arrhythmias that needed my ICD to kick in with therapy. This is huge! I went from receiving 1-5 therapies daily (caused by VT) during the first two weeks of January to receiving NONE mid-January through now.

After getting shocked I had a hard time getting back to exercising. It’s not that I didn’t want to, it’s that I was scared to. I was scared that I would receive therapy again or, worse, get shocked.

I took it easy and tried to go for daily walks or hit the gym for some leisurely biking or ellipticaling (<- don’t think that’s a word). I continued to get stronger and more confident, especially since I hadn’t had any episodes with the new medication. Each week I tried to push it just a little bit more.

And that brings us to today!

Let the challenge up Sanitas begin

Seven Sanitas Summit Challenge

March 31 was my first time hiking Mount Sanitas this year. I started out very slow and only slightly scared with my only goal being to get to the top safely. I tend to do best when I settle into an all-day easy pace so that I don’t have to stop for breaks. One step at a time, slow and steady progress.

And guess what?! I did it! And then I did it 6 more times! I hiked it through a range of weather – hot and sunny, foggy and snowy, chilly and windy – sometimes by myself, sometimes with Michael.

Here are my times for hiking to the summit (does not include the hike down):

  1. March 31 – 45:30
  2. April 1 – 44:36
  3. April 3 – 41:16
  4. April 5 – 38:53
  5. April 8 – 50:13 (took an alternate route up which was .6 miles longer)
  6. April 10 – 39:45
  7. April 12 – 38:53

You can see that I was able to shave off about 6.5 minutes from my first hike to my last. It may not sound like much, but the trail is only 1.3 miles long, so I’ll take it. Back in the day I could run/hike to the top in around 30 minutes – lots of room for improvement!

Not only did I get faster, but I got stronger and more confident in myself. I was able to feel that rush of endorphins that I hadn’t felt for so long. It’s such a good feeling!

Challenge fever

Seven Sanitas Summit Challenge

I had forgotten what it’s like to pursue a goal – a clear, concrete goal with a deadline. Up until 2017 I had trained for either a half marathon or a full marathon at least once a year for 7 years. It was a lot of time and a lot of work, but so satisfying. Without working towards anything specific (because my general “get back into shape” wasn’t super inspiring) I felt a little lost.

The Seven Sanitas Summit Challenge left me feeling driven and motivated, excited to tackle anything that came my way. I know Michael has a few more challenges for me coming up. I can’t wait to smash them. I’m lucky to have a partner that encourages and inspires me.

And here are some extra pictures, because I took a lot during my 7 times up and down.

Seven Sanitas Summit Challenge

Seven Sanitas Summit Challenge

Seven Sanitas Summit Challenge

Seven Sanitas Summit Challenge

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Quick Camping Trip in Eagles Nest Wilderness

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A rare Saturday night and Sunday morning with no other commitments led to a spontaneous (and quick!) camping trip to Eagles Nest Wilderness.

Camping in Eagles Nest Wilderness

On Friday afternoon I shot Michael a text, “Throwing this out there: We could camp somewhere not too far away Saturday night and hike Sunday morning.” It didn’t take much to convince him that this was a great idea.

Next came the planning.

Turns out I’m pretty bad at it. There are just so many options for camping here in Colorado! It’s overwhelming. We were looking for an area that was less than 2 hours from Denver with 10-15 miles of hiking trails, minimal snow, and no permit/reservation required. After a lot of Googling and a trip to REI to ask the experts, we landed on a 10ish-mile backpacking loop in Eagles Nest Wilderness, just outside of Silverthorn.

And by “we”, I mean Michael. He’s the one that first came across Eagles Nest Wilderness and went to REI while I was working at the Brewery Running Series event at Cerebral Brewing.

I got home from the event, packed up my gear, and we were on the road by 3:00!

eagles nest wilderness

Eagles Nest Wilderness Gear

Since we were just backpacking for one night our packs were much lighter than they were in Lost Creek Wilderness. Here’s what I brought with me:

I also packed some trail mix and protein bars that I didn’t eat.

eagles nest wilderness

Saturday Evening in Eagles Nest Wilderness

We parked our car at the Eaglesmere Trailhead (8700 ft) shortly before 5:00pm. It’s a little late to start heading out on a backpacking trip, but better late than never!

We walked along the gravel road to the Surprise Trailhead, crossed over the Cataract Creek, and headed onto the trail and into the forest. It was full of aspens, wildflowers, mosquitoes, and uphill hiking.

2 of the 4 things in that list were not so great. I’ll let you guess which ones.

eagles nest wilderness

I hope you guessed the mosquitoes and the uphills.

Luckily we put some deet on before starting the hike. Otherwise, we easily could have gotten eaten alive.

As for the uphill climb, I was on the strugglebus. I’m not sure if it was from the elevation, the climbing, or slight dehydration, but I was pretty light-headed for miles 2, 3, and 4. It didn’t feel great. I had to slow my pace way down and continue to suck down water.

eagles nest wilderness

Just over 3 miles into the hike we hit the split for Gore Range Trail. We took a right onto the trail and passed by Surprise Lake (10,050 feet). Since we were tight on time (and I was dragging my feet) we didn’t stop to gawk at the lake. I’m sure it was beautiful though. There was quite a few people camping near there. Maybe we’ll catch it next time.

We continued to hike on the Gore Range Trail. We crossed over a lot of fallen trees, rolling hills, and streams from mountain run-off. A few miles later we hit the Tipperary Lake Trail split. Our original plan was to camp at Eaglesmere Lake, but considering that it was already 7:00 and Eaglesmere was another 2 miles away we decided that Tipperary Lake was going to be our home for the night.

Tipperary Lake was about .1 miles from the trail split. It’s a small and marshy lake at about 9,770 feet.

eagles nest wilderness

A group of three men had already set up camp near the lake and had invited us to join them, which was great, because there were not many other options. We changed into warmer clothes, set up camp, and started up cooking dinner (ramen and dehydrated vegetables, classic). Michael pulled a chocolate bar and a little bottle of bourbon out of his pack. What a lovely surprise! He’s the best.

We ate, drank, and chatted with our camp neighbors. One of the men had been coming to camp at Lake Tipperary in Eagles Nest Wilderness for 25 years! So crazy!

We hung out and relaxed as the sun went down and the stars went up. It was a beautiful evening.

eagles nest wilderness

Sunday Morning in Eagles Nest Wilderness

We woke up on Sunday morning at about 7:30 to a gorgeous day! Can’t complain about waking up to views like this:

eagles nest wilderness

I cooked up my oats and ate breakfast on a boulder overlooking the lake. It was so peaceful. We finished packing up camp and hit the Gore Range Trail shortly after 8:30. Since we did most of the work (AKA uphill hiking) the previous day, our hike north to the Eaglesmere Trailhead was going to consist of some rolling hills and a lot of hiking down.

The landscape of Sunday’s hike was vastly different from Saturday’s. On Saturday we were primarily hiking through groves of tress with very little scenic views. On Sunday we were traversing through more open areas that exposed us to beautiful views of Lower Cataract Lake and Green Lake Reservoir. Also, there were a lot less bugs!

eagles nest wilderness

We were able to hike quickly and made it back to our car by 10:30.

The full loop was about 10.4 miles (5.5 miles on Saturday and 4.9 miles on Sunday) ranging in elevation from 8,700 feet to 10,300 feet. It was much less intense that our previous backpacking trip in Lost Creek Wilderness, but still totally worth it.

I love that we can decide late on Friday afternoon to go on camping trip and make it happen. Even though it was only 10 miles and one night, both of us came back to Denver on Sunday revived from hiking, breathing in fresh mountain air, watching the stars come out, and sleeping outside.

I highly recommend spending some time in the Eagles Nests Wilderness! I would love to go back and explore more of the area.

eagles nest wilderness

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Colorado Hikes: Sky Pond

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Another beautiful Colorado Hike coming your way! This time it’s Sky Pond.

Colorado Hikes: Sky Pond

There is something about alpine lakes tucked into mountains that I absolutely love. Maybe it’s because they look like like this:

Colorado Hikes: Sky Pond

Maybe.

Compared to Gem Lake, the hike to Sky Pond is a little bit longer and a little bit more difficult, but just as awesome. This hike had been on my radar for a while, but I finally got to move it from the “must hike” list to the “this hike was awesome” list back in early September.

We (“we” being myself and a guy that I dated for a few weeks that I am no longer seeing, so he will only be mentioned as a generic “he” throughout this post) set out from Denver super early on September 10 to drive out to Rocky Mountain National Park. Our goal was to get there slightly before sunrise (6:30am), but it ended up being closer to 7:00am. The parking lot at Glacier Gorge was already full, so we parked at an overflow lot about ½-mile down the road. Bonus hiking miles!

For it being early September, the weather was a nice little fall preview. Brisk air in the morning with sunshine, bright blue skies, and some colorful aspen trees. It was a little chilly at the start, but we warmed up quickly with the sunshine and the hiking.

Be aware as there are some forks in the road during the first few miles, so make sure to follow the signs towards Loch Vale and Sky Pond. If you take a wrong turn, you’ll still end up someplace awesome (like Lake Haiyaha, which is on my “must hike” list), just not where you originally intended.

One great thing about this hike is that there are many things to see along the way – Sky Pond is not the only attraction! The first is Alberta Falls, which is just about one mile into the trail and is a 30-foot scenic little waterfall.

Colorado Hikes: Sky Pond

After Alberta Falls the incline begins to pick up and the switchbacks begin. Two miles later the trail brings you to the next landmark: Loch Vale.

“The Loch”, as it’s called, is a little subalpine lake surrounded by mountains. This would be a good place to stop if you need a little rest and/or snack.

Colorado Hikes: Sky Pond

From here the trail stays flat for only a short while and then the stairs begin and it gets nice and steep. Like I-definitely-can-tell-I’m-over-10,000ft-elevation steep. At this point my heart rate was pretty high and I was feeling light headed, but then I turned around and took in the views and everything was a-ok.

Colorado Hikes: Sky Pond

The stairs lead you right to the base of Timberline Falls, which is about 4 miles from the beginning of the hike.

Colorado Hikes: Sky Pond

Here is where the fun part begins: scrambling up some rocks. This was the first time I’ve ever had to do much scrambling during a hike. It was both terrifying and exhilarating. Because of the cooler morning temps, there was some ice on the rocks; however, I just took it slow with small movements and some advice from that guy and made it up in one piece.

Then you see a lake and it’s like “YAY! I made it to Sky Pond!” only to realize that it’s not. We weren’t expecting this one and totally would’ve stopped there if someone hadn’t told us that it was, in fact, Glass Lake. Other hikers are so helpful.

I didn’t mind that it was there though. It was beautiful.

Colorado Hikes: Sky Pond

The remaining trail to Sky Pond was quite tricky, as in we lost the trail and climbed over a bunch of rocks until we found it again. Then a little stone path a few steps lead right to it.

Colorado Hike: Sky Pond

Sky Pond is about 4.5 miles from the trailhead and sits surrounded by cliffs at about 10,900 feet. It was crazy windy, so we found a little cove that somewhat blocked the wind and had our lunch of pb&j, cheddar pretzels, and peanut butter oatmeal cookies. We were only two of a few people there at the time. It was very peaceful and we just sat and took in the scenery, watching the climbers in the distance and keeping our eyes on the marmots.

Colorado Hikes: Sky Pond

I still can’t believe how blue those skies were, especially when contrasting against the white/gray of the mountains.

It’s times like that when I realize how much I truly love hiking and being in the mountains. All the miles and climbs and gasping for air are totally rewarded.

And then my heart races in a different sort of way.

Colorado Hikes: Sky Pond

We hung out at Sky Pond for about 45 minutes and then started to head back towards the trailhead. Luckily on the way back we found the proper trail from Sky Pond to Glass Lake. It made things much easier.

It’s always interesting to hike trails in reverse. It’s the same scenery, but in a different perspective and in a different light of day.

As we were going down there were quite a few people just beginning their way up. We even passed by a little elk family chilling in the woods near the trail.

Colorado Hikes: Sky Pond

The round trip hike is about 9 miles, but with our bonus miles to the overflow lot and some additional wandering we ended up at about 10.6 miles. It was such a fantastic hike and ended up being a gorgeous day, so we decided to celebrate with some post-hike beers at The Barrel in Estes Park.

I hope you give this one a go!

Colorado Hikes: Sky Pond Colorado Hikes: Sky Pond

Here are some additional tips:

Sky Pond Stats:

  • Length: 9.0 miles
  • Type: Out and back
  • Beginning elevation: 9240 feet
  • Elevation gain: 1780 feet
  • Location: Estes Park, CO
  • Trailhead: Glacier Gorge Trailhead
  • Bathrooms: Yes

Weather, Clothes, and Food:

  • Weather: 50s at the start, but climbed up into 80s towards the end of the hike. Bright blue skies, but quite windy in the higher elevation.
  • Time of year: early September
  • Duration: About 6.5 hours, but we hung out at Sky Pond for 45-60 minutes.
  • Outfit: Eddie Bauer hiking pants, Athleta Chi tank, Under Armour quarter zip, Merrell hiking shoes, Smart Wool running socks, and The North Face rain jacket
  • Extras: Patagonia backpack, sunscreen, and sunglasses along with water and sandals for after the hike
  • Snacks: pb&j, cheddar pretzels, peanut butter oatmeal cookies, Quest bars, water, and no beer (because we forgot it)

Colorado Hikes: Sky Pond

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Colorado Hikes: Gem Lake

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Gem Lake is a beautiful Colorado hike. This 3.5-mile roundtrip hike in Rocky Mountain National Park is worth every bit of that 1000 foot elevation gain. 

colorado-hikes-gem-lake

Oohhhh hiiiiii.

I’ve been away. And by “away” I mean, in Denver, but away from this space. Instead of being here I’ve been spending the bulk of my free time forming relationships – with Denver, with new friends, and with the mountains.

And you know what? It was a nice little break from blogging/writing/baking. However, lately I’ve found myself wanting to return. I think part of it is the change in the weather (there’s just something about fall, you know?!). No matter the reason, I’m happy to be here.

gem-lake-hike-2

As I mentioned I’ve spent quite a bit of time forming a strong bond with the mountains and doing a lot of hiking. I don’t want to say I’m obsessed, but I am in love. So I decided I would share some of my hikes on here.

  1. To log the experiences so that I can remember them for personal reasons.
  2. To share them with you in case you are ever in Colorado with the urge to hike.

With all that said, let’s jump right in.

This first one isn’t a super intense hike, but it is a beaut: Gem Lake.

gem-lake-hike-8

The Gem Lake hike is located in Rocky Mountain National Park just outside of Estes Park. It’s a small, beautiful lake (pond??) nestled right in the mountains.

I did this hike on the 4th of July with friends that were visiting from Minneapolis. A few of my Denver friends had hiked it the previous day and after seeing their pictures I decided that I needed to go see Gem Lake for myself.

Because seriously, look:

gem-lake-hike-3

We got to the Lumpy Ridge Trailhead at about 8:30am. Luckily it was still early enough to grab a spot in the parking lot. Parking is always a little bit of a gamble, but we got one and then we were off hiking.

The first 1/2ish mile goes through a sparsely wooded area with a slow and steady incline. The incline isn’t too intense, but it will get your heart pumping! Especially if you aren’t acclimated to the altitude. The trail continues and opens up to some beautiful views of Estes Park, Long’s Peak, and other mountains.

gem-lake-hike-5

From here the trees are a little bit more dense and the switchbacks begin, most of which are created with stone stairs, like a rustic spiral staircase through the wilderness. That’s fun, right?

After about 1.7 miles from the trailhead you’ll get your first view of the glorious Gem Lake!

gem-lake-hike-7

What a gem! Am I right?!

Baahhhahahaa.

After exploring the area for a bit (and taking 3 gazillion pictures) we climbed up some of the rocks on the far side of the lake to hang out and eat some snacks. We were equipped with pb&j, apples, bananas, Clif bars, trail mix and (of course) Bud Light. It was the 4th of July, after all.

If that isn’t an All-American picnic I don’t know what is!

gem-lake-hike-6

When we got our fill, we packed up our things, took a few more pictures, and hiked back down to the trailhead.

Overall, I would highly suggest this hike to anyone and everyone!

  • The views are ridiculously gorgeous.
  • It’s not too intense, but you still have to work a little bit.
  • It’s not an all day commitment. The total hike should take 2-3 hours, depending on how long you hang out at the lake.
  • You can hang out in Estes Park afterwards.

Oh and did I mention how beautiful it is?

I went in the summer, but I bet it’s absolutely stunning in fall with all the aspens changing colors. Let me know if you check it out!!

gem-lake-hike-1

The stats:

  • Length: 3.5 miles
  • Type: Out and back
  • Beginning elevation: 7860 feet
  • Ending elevation: 8900 feet
  • Elevation gain: 1040 feet
  • Location: Estes Park, CO
  • Trailhead: Lumpy Ridge Trailhead
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