Trail Conditions

 

Still Snowy on Sky Pond Trail on June 24, 2024

NPS Photo

 

Hiking in Rocky!

Read this important safety message

Submit your own trip report

 

Longs Peak: View the Longs Peak Conditions Report

East Troublesome and Cameron Peak Fire Closures: View Fire Information Area Closures

 

Trail Closures

East Troublesome and Cameron Peak Fire Closures

• Some park trails and areas remain closed due to fire impacts. Park staff will continue to assess these areas for safety and downed trees, being mindful of high winds that occur this time of year causing more trees to fall. Learn more here.

 

RMNP Trail Conditions Report as of June 26, 2024

 

Plan Ahead and Be Prepared. Even though it has been hot in areas of Colorado, especially on the plains, there is still snow in the backcountry. Traction devices and hiking poles in these areas will be very helpful. Conditions can change quickly. Tennis shoe wearers will slip and slide, and have wet feet on snowy trails. If a trail is wet or muddy, walk through the water and mud rather than around to prevent trail damage.

Destination	Date	Description of Conditions Found	Hiked By
Sky Pond	June 24	The trail to The Loch/Mills Junction is snow free. As you continue above The Loch, conditions on the trail will vary greatly. Be prepared for sections of trail to be dry, wet and muddy, and areas covered with snow and ice. There are places you will have to navigate across snowfields. Traction devices, good footwear, and hiking poles are advised if hiking above The Loch. Still lots of snow on the way to Andrews Glacier and Sky Pond.	Park Ranger
Flattop Mountain	June 24	Flattop Mountain trail is unremarkable from the Bear Lake Trailhead until about the Dream Lake Overlook. From that point until approximately the Emeral Lake Overlook, the trail contains sporadic patches of snow. Most are easily skirted; however, a couple require crossing but with minimal post holing. This portion of the trail also contains quite a bit of water due to runoff. From the point where the larger alpine conifers give way to the trees near the tree line, until the hitching rail near the summit, the trail is void of snow. This area also is quite well populated with flowers. There is a snowfield that starts at the hitching rail and is about 150 yards in length. Post holing did occur at the beginning and end of this field, with the remainder being fairly well packed snow on the path through the snow. Traction devises and poles are helpful, but not necessary. At a point 6-tenths of a mile from the trail marker at the summit of Flattop, along the North Inlet Trail there is a snowfield of about 200 yards in length. Past this there is a dry area before another snowfield, again of about 200 yards in length. There did not appear to be a path left by hikers through these areas and so it could be expected that they are comprised of soft, slushy snow.	Park Volunteer
Odessa Lake to Lake Helene	June 22	Visitors report that they made it from Odessa Lake to Lake Helene area with traction devices and poles. Felt it would have been much harder going down that section than up.	Visitor
Flattop Summit from west side via North Inlet Trail	June 22	Visitor attempted to head to the summit of Flattop. He made it about ½ mile before he chose to turn around due to icy, steep and sketchy conditions.	Visitor
Alpine Visitor Center down to Milner Pass (West Ute Trail)	June 21	The first 2.5 miles are fairly clear- exception are the two late snowbanks as always, but they are easy to walk through. Beginning at about 2.5-2.8 miles there is fairly consistent snow all the way to the junction that splits to go either to Mt. Ida or descend to Milner Pass. This section can be tricky- it is easy in a couple of places to lose your way or accidentally follow a game trail. Gaiters should be worn and trekking poles are extremely helpful. The snow was mushy and so post holing became an issue. The descending section from the Mt. Ida junction to Milner is not as snowy, the trail is obvious- but it is muddy and slick in places.	Park Ranger
Tonahutu Loop Trail	June 19	Tonohutu Loop is clear of snow below 10,700 ft. Above, several snow fields persist; traction devices are a must and trekking poles or ice axe are highly recommended; snowshoes are not recommended. There are several downed trees along the route. The trail is not flooded, yet there are many sections that have flowing water, and there are several gushing creeks to cross.	Visitor
Colorado River Trail	June 19	First mile is good, then around 1½ miles is when it starts to get tricky. At the split to go to Lulu City, the social trail that went around the flood is deep with mud and still water. Path is hard to read, and navigation is confusing. Flagging is inconsistent. Unless you have been on this trail before, it is not recommended to hike until the flooding resides. If you do choose to hike this trail, hike through the mud and water, not around it.	Park Ranger
Bear Lake Area and Glacier Gorge Area	June 18	All the trails have water and mud. In many cases, there's running water on the trails. However, it's possible to hike the following trails without stepping on any snow and ice (that is, although the trail might have some snow and ice, it's possible to step around the snow and ice without stepping off the trail): Bear Lake loop Trail to Dream Lake (but the trail around Dream has snowbanks that must be crossed) Trail to Mills Lake including Alberta Falls Trail from the Mills/Loch junction to the Haiyaha junction	Park Volunteer
Dream Lake to Emerald Lake	June 18	There are still around seven sections of snow and ice that must be crossed. There are two particularly tricky sections just before Emerald. One of these is about 8 feet of seemingly pure ice, although it's flat, and the other is an uphill section of about 20 feet. It's possible to get around the 20 feet uphill section by going to the right and following footprints in the snow or to the left (off the trail) and walking on the rock. However, following the tracks straight up the snow and ice could be treacherous for people without traction. I met another hiker who put on traction devices purely for this 20-foot section. There is also a downed tree that isn't straightforward to get around.	Park Volunteer
Dream Lake to Lake Haiyaha	June 18	The trail from the junction before Dream to about 15 feet past the switchback corner is mostly still snow and ice but may be negotiated by someone with good balance without traction devices There's another section of snow and ice just before Haiyaha but this is easier to cross without traction devices. There is lots of water on the trail including near the bridges, and immediately before the lake. He got his feet wet but someone with better agility and balance might not have.	Park Volunteer
The Loch	June 18	This trail is free from snow and ice (but does have a downed tree) until about 100 yards before the Loch. After that, it's all snow and ice until the lake.	Park Volunteer
North Fork Trail	June 18	The first five miles from the trailhead to the park boundary have been cleared. But past that, there are huge numbers of downed trees.	Park Ranger
Pear Lake	June 17	The trail from Finch Lake trailhead to Pear Lake is snow-free until about 1/4 mile before Pear. Then you will encounter significant snow with a few snow bridges as you try navigating your way up to the lake itself. No snow on the eastern shores of the lake. About 15 trees down from Finch Lake on.	Park Ranger
Wild Basin to Ouzel Lake and Upper Ouzel Creek	June 16	The trail to the Ouzel Lake - Bluebird Lake junction is snow-free. The trail to Ouzel Lake from there still has some large snowdrifts and is washed out in one section. Snow traction devices would help but are not necessary. Snow begins about half a mile after the junction on the trail to Bluebird Lake and is still very deep. In the morning, he was not post-holing, but traction devices and poles were necessary. The snow and foot tracks going off trail may make navigation difficult for some hikers. There were some concerning snow bridges where running water could be heard under the snow. In exposed areas, the trail alternates between snow and rocks, and the snow is melting more quickly near rock edges. The snow is deceptively thin in these areas, making it easy for one's foot to plunge multiple feet between boulders. The last half mile to Bluebird Lake is especially difficult because of steep snow fields where it may be difficult to stop a slide. He chose to turn around a half mile before Bluebird Lake, but some hikers reported successfully making it to Bluebird.	Park Ranger
Lake Verna (East Inlet	June 14	Backcountry hikers reported to ranger that sites at Lake Verna had snow, but they believed the conditions did not warrant snow equipment.	Visitor

Timber Lake Trail Be advised a landslide occurred summer 2014 two miles beyond the Timber Lake trailhead and goes all the way to the top of Jackstraw Mountain. That landslide is still there, is active and unstable, and continues to worsen each year.

Any time of year, and affected by season, elevation, slope, and exposure, Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) can have extreme weather. In RMNP, all four seasons can happen in one day! Plan ahead and be prepared for weather to change rapidly.

Any Time of Year: Choose Your Destination Wisely. Always tell someone where you are going, where you will be parked, what your intended route is, when you plan to be back home, and then let them know when you return.

Route-finding is important. RMNP trails are not marked in winter and following other tracks is not advised, as you don’t know where they lead, and wind and new snow obliterate tracks. When trails are covered in snow, signs may not be visible. Carry a map and compass or GPS and know how to use them.

Be Prepared for Conditions with Essentials. It is important to bring and use the right gear, especially suitable gear for the season.Plan that trails can be snowy much of the year. Depending on conditions and elevation, some trails can be icy and snowy September through midsummer. Do you have the right gear and equipment, and know how to use it?

• Traction devices for the bottom of your boots and hiking poles are strongly recommended, as trails may be icy. Or depending on conditions after snowstorms or at higher elevations, the snow may be deep enough that snowshoes are advised. Hiking poles are helpful for stability.
• Food and water are essential no matter how long your hike.
• Layers of wicking clothing and extra socks.
• Waterproof outer layers and extra layers for warmth; in summer, raingear.
• A hat and gloves, sunglasses or goggles, and sunscreen any time of year. Sunlight can damage your eyes and skin, even on cloudy days. Protect your eyes from the sun and blowing snow
• Wear closed-toed footwear with a treaded sole for hiking. Slick-soled shoes without good traction (ex. sneakers), sandals, flip flops, plastic clogs) can lead to cold toes, wet feet, slips, trips and falls.

Roads can be icy and snowy, especially in shady areas. Be prepared and know how to drive in wintery conditions. If the Colorado Vehicle Traction Law is in place in RMNP, for your safety and the safety of other motorists, all vehicles must have properly rated tires with a minimum of 3/16” tread or an approved traction control device.Fire Impacts Approximately 30,000 acres or 10 percent of RMNP has been impacted by the East Troublesome and Cameron Peak Fires. Some park trails remain temporarily closed due to the level of fire impacts and ongoing safety assessments. This website is updated as trails reopen. Please see the link above.

REMEMBER, PETS ARE PROHIBITED ON ALL RMNP TRAILS, TUNDRA AND MEADOW AREAS

 

SNOTEL SITES AS OF June 26, 2024

There are several SNOTEL sites in and around Rocky Mountain National Park. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service provides a website where monitoring results are available.

SNOTEL Website: https://wcc.sc.egov.usda.gov/nwcc/site?sitenum= and every SNOTEL site has a unique Site Number. For example, Bear Lake is https://wcc.sc.egov.usda.gov/nwcc/site?sitenum=322

Bear Lake (Site #322) elevation 9500’ no snow	Long Draw Reservoir (Site #1123) elevation 9980’ no snow	Stillwater Creek (Site #793) elevation 8720’ no snow
Copeland Lake (Site #412) elevation 8600’ no snow	Never Summer (Site #1031) elevation 10,280’ no snow	Wild Basin (Site #1042) elevation 9560’ no snow
Lake Irene (Site #565) elevation 10,700’ no snow	Phantom Valley (Site #688) elevation 9030’ no snow	Willow Park (Site #870) elevation 10,700’ no snow

 

Submit Your Own Trip Report

Send us an email, call [phone], or stop by a park visitor center.

 

For Your Safety

These Trail Conditions reports are the viewpoints of the submitters, whether park staff, volunteers, or visitors. Conditions can change rapidly in the mountains. Use these reports only as guidelines. Be prepared for varying weather and trail conditions.

Falling trees are ever-present hazards when traveling in the forest. Be aware of your surroundings. Dead trees can fall without warning!

Due to the September 2013 Flood, missing foot bridges, uneven trail surfaces, unstable slopes, falling trees due to soil moisture, rutted trails, damaged water bars and steps, standing water, difficult water crossings, and missing directional signs could be encountered. Most of Rocky Mountain National Park is designated wilderness, where self-reliance and adventure are expected. Hikers should be prepared to take responsibility for their own actions; search and rescue may be delayed. Be prepared to stay overnight even if you are a day hiker. Hiking poles may be helpful on uneven trails. Route finding skills may be required. Carry a map and compass and other backcountry travel essentials. Hike at your own risk.