The Rocky Mountains contain some of the best scenery in the United States, and the splendor runs from Canada almost to Mexico.
Within that expanse are six national parks within four different states protecting some of the very best of what there is to see.
All of them are easy to see by car, and all have opportunities for long adventures deep into their hearts, but for a lot of people, a day hike is the perfect balance. Coming up are the best of those found in these parks.
Iceberg Lake– Glacier National Park, Montana
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The Iceberg Lake Trail is one of the most beautiful you’ll ever hike. After a somewhat steep start, the grade is overall pretty gentle. You’ll see wildflower meadows, waterfalls, mountain peaks, glaciers, and, finally, a spectacular blue alpine lake surrounded on three sides by sheer cliffs rising 3,000 vertical feet. The winter freeze doesn’t start breaking up until early summer most years, so you’ll see icebergs floating on the surface for much of the summer.
Grinnell Glacier– Glacier National Park, Montana
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The Grinnell Glacier Trail is in the same area of the park (Many Glacier Valley) as The Iceberg Lake Trail is, and if you can do both, you should. This trail has scenery similar to that along the Iceberg Lake Trail, and it ends at one of the park’s largest glaciers, where a silty melt pond features floating icebergs.
Pitamakan-Dawson Loop– Glacier National Park, Montana
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Located in the Two Medicine area in the southeastern part of the park, this loop crosses the Continental Divide twice at high mountain passes. Views include peaks, glaciers, alpine lakes and wildflowers, and more. It’s a long day, though– about 18 miles.
Specimen Ridge– Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
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The trailhead for Specimen Ridge is located off the Northeast Entrance Road near the Lamar Valley. From up high, you’ll have views of mountains, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and herds of wildlife in the valley below. On the ground, look for petrified wood, elk antlers, and colorful rocks.
Avalanche Peak– Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
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This short but very steep trail starts at Sylvan Lake off the East Entrance Road. It gets you to a mountaintop with panoramic views that include the Tetons far to the south. For a little extra adventure and a lot of extra solitude, consider following the connecting ridge to Hoyt Peak. It’s easier than it looks.
Cascade-Paintbrush Loop– Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
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Via Paintbrush Divide, a high alpine pass with stunning views of familiar peaks that you don’t get from park roads, this loop connects Cascade Canyon and Paintbrush Canyon. The scenery includes wildflower meadows, rushing streams, mountain lakes, and inspiring views. The full loop is 23 miles, but you can use a boat shuttle from and to Jenny Lake to shave off 4 miles, but the downside is very long afternoon wait times. Also, negotiating Paintbrush Divide can require use of an ice axe well into July.
Death Canyon– Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
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Death Canyon is a beautiful canyon that’s far from a secret but nevertheless isn’t nearly as heavily traveled as Cascade Canyon is. Once you read the canyon, you also have a choice to continue on to Static Peak Divide, a steep trail that doubles the length of your day but pays off in the way of spectacular mountain views.
Emerald Lake– Rocky Mountain National Park, Wyoming
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One of the classic hikes in RMNP is to start at Bear Lake and hike just about a mile to Dream Lake. However, you can continue on to Emerald Lake. It’s a little longer and a little more strenuous, but the lake is higher and has better views of the surrounding peaks.
Sky Pond– Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
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If you want a little more challenge and escape from the crowds, start just down the road from Bear Lake at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead and follow trail signs for Loch Vale. Once you pass the Loch, you’ll reach Lake of Glass at the edge of timberline, and you’ll eventually get to Sky Pond, a true alpine tarn in the shadow of the Continental Divide and in one of the most spectacular mountain settings imaginable.
Longs Peak– Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
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Longs Peak is the highest peak in the park, and there’s no peak higher than it to the north in either the U.S. or Canadian Rockies. The standard route up it is 16 miles round-trip with about 5000’ of elevation gain, and it also involves some exposed scrambling. It’s a great adventure, though, with views that are more than worth the effort.
Gunnison Route– Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado
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The Gunnison Route is one of several ways to access the inner canyon of “The Black” and the river itself. Considered a “route” rather than a “trail” by the Park Service. At just 1.5 miles one-way in length, it’s nevertheless extremely steep and includes an installed chain for one 80’ stretch of the route. Relatively few people every experience the canyon this way, though, and you’ll definitely get away from the windshield tourists that make up most park visitors.
Star Dune– Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
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Star Dune, along with nearby Hidden Dune, is presently the tallest sand dune in North America at 741’ in height (conditions can cause the heights of dunes to fluctuate). There’s no official route up it, and the best way is to take a longer approach via sand ridges rather than try to head straight up its steep, loose sides.
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