KGH-SNU Colorado Hikings-Climbings

Actual Schedule:

8-02-2015 (Sun): Arrived at the rental lodge in Estes Park, CO
8-03-2015 (Mon): Mills Lake & Trail Ridge Road, RMNP
8-04-2015 (Tue): Mount Ida, RMNP
8-05-2015 (Wed): Roxborough, USAFA, Garden of Gods, Pikes Peak
8-06-2015 (Thu): Long Lake & Lake Isabelle, Brainard Area
8-07-2015 (Fri): Mounts Spalding and Evans, Idaho Springs
8-09-2015 (Sat): Return to home

Below were the initial plans we considered.
Please run Internet searches on each of the following for detailed information. All are well documented there.
Hopefully, this listing serves as a future references.

RMNP area

1.  Emerald Lake (1.8 miles, 605' vertical)
Bear Lake (9,475') - Nymph Lake (9,700') - Deam Lake (9,900') - Emerald Lake (1.8 miles, 605' vertical, 10,080')
This is just in your backyards and an easy trail. Good for the first day as you will be terribly itching for a hike in Colorado air. Generally very crowded in summer.

2.  Flattop, Hallet Peak (5 miles, 3,627' vertical, Strenuous)
Bear Lake TH (9,475') - Flattop Mountain (4.4 miles, 3,238' vertical, 12,324') - Hallet Peak (5.0 miles, 12,713')
Exhausting climb for anyone but it will be spectacular. I just keep it on the schedule as a standby.

3. Sky Pond (4.6 miles, 1,660' vertical)
Glacier Gorge TH (9,240') - Alberta Falls (9,400') - North Long Peak Jct (9,740') - Loch Vale Jct (1.9 miles, 9,780') - The Loch (2.7 miles, 10,180' - Lake of Glass (4.2 miles, 10,820') - Sky Pond (4.6 miles, 10,900')
For those who are young and fit but you don't have to go all the way.

4. Mills Lake-Jewell Lake (Black Lake): (3 miles, 710' vertical, Black Lake-4.7 miles, 1,380' vertical)
Glacier Gorge TH (9,240') - Alberta Falls (9,400') - North Long Peak Jct (9,740') - Loch Vale Jct (1.9 miles, 9,780') - Mills Lake (2.5 miles, 9,940') - Jewell Lake (3 miles, 9,950') - Black Lake (4.7 miles, 10,620')
Good for the second day. Good for everyone up to Jewell Lake. But for those strong and fit can go all the way to Black Lake.

5. Estes Cone: (3.3 miles, 1606 vertical)
Longs Peak Ranger Station TH (9,400') - Longs Peak-Storm Pass jct (9,700') - Eugenia Mine Site (1.4 miles, 990') - Storm Pass (2.5 miles, 10,260') - Estes Cone (3.3 miles, 11,006')
This one is not "in the valley" but on the top. Good for most of you.

Outside of RMNP area but close to Estes Park

6. Lake Isabelle (Brainard Lake NRA at Ward, CO, 2 miles, 400 vertical)
Brainard Lake TH (10,480') - Long Lake - Lake Isabelle (2 miles, 10,868')
Good for everyone. Relatively easy and scenic. Consider for the third day.

7. Diamond Lake (Nederland Area, 2.5 mile, 800 vertical)
Fourth of July TH (10,160') - Arapahoe Pass Jct (1 mile, 10,850') - Diamond Lake (2.5 mile, 10,960')
Good for everyone. Relatively easy and scenic. Consider for possibly third day.

Near Denver or Colorado Springs

8. Easy Hikings
8-1. Roxborough State Park (Denver): Fountain Valley Trail (2.3 miles, tiny vertical, located at 6,100')
8-2. Garden of Gods, Red Rock Canyon Open Space, US Airforce Academy (Colorado Springs)
These will take a long driving of up to 2 hours. These are easy walks in the park and should be good for a resting day. If you plan a fourteener climb, do these the day before.

9. Mounts Evans and Spalding (Idaho Springs)
Summit Lake TH (12,830') - Mount Spalding (13,842') - Mount Evans (14,265') - Descend on East Slope - Back to Summit Lake as a loop
To me, this is the easiest fourteener you can have. Do this one on the last day to give as much acclimatization as possible. You need early start and a long drive. Those less strong can quit at the Spalding and return back to Summit Lake and still have climbed one of the highest thirteeners.

10. Pikes Peak (14,110', Colorado Springs, Closed 8-09-2015) Pikes Peak Toll Road from Cascade, CO. Park at Devils Playground, from there, 5.5 miles round trip, 1300 vertical, 3 hours.
This is another fourteener.  You need early start and a long drive to the site. If you do, do it on the last day. Those less strong can come down by car from the summit.

11. Colorado Trail Section 6 at Kenosha Pass West Trailhead (Too far from Estes Park, 6 miles, mostly downhill walking, 3 hours)
Colorado Trailhead at Kenosha Pass (10,000') - Jefferson Lake Recreation Area
A long drive. A taste of Colorado Trail. Easy hiking. You can do this on a resting day.

12. Longs Peak by Keyhole Route: (15 miles round trip, 5,000' vertical)
East Longs Peak TH (9,400') - Keyhole Route - Summit (14,259')
I have had my eyes on it since I came to Colorado but never felt that I was ready enough to challenge this peak. Maybe, it may happen one of these days or will never happen. I guess, at my age, one has to prepare specifically for the climb of this peak a few years ahead of time.

Additional choices we could have taken:

The Top 10 Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park
by Rocky Mountains Hiking Trails.com

Mt. Ida - 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 sounds like this might be a little bit out of your comfort zone, you ought to check out the much easier version of this hike which ends atop Peak 12,150.

Hallett peak from Emerald Lake - For those that feel that Longs Peak is just a little too hard, or maybe 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.

Chasm Lake - In my humble opinion this is the best lake hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. In addition to the outstanding panoramic views you'll have on the way up, you'll also have a front row view of the famous "Diamond", the east-facing wall of Longs Peak which rises more than 2,400 feet above this incredibly beautiful alpine lake.

Emerald Lake - The hike to Emerald Lake takes hikers deep into the Tyndall Gorge, and visits three other beautiful subalpine lakes along the way. Although Bear Lake and Dream Lake are very nice destinations, Emerald Lake is the true gem in this chain of lakes fed by the Tyndall Glacier.

Ute Trail - Want great panoramic views without having to climb a lot of altitude? The Ute Trail is the perfect choice. This relatively flat hike along Tombstone Ridge offers hikers the chance to explore the alpine tundra zone, while soaking in the outstanding views of Forest Canyon, Longs Peak, Moraine Park and Estes Park.

Sky Pond - Surrounded on three sides by sheer cliff walls, Sky Pond offers hikers a dramatic scene. 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 next to Timberline Falls to reach the basin may present a challenge for people with a fear of heights.

Bear Lake to Fern Lake TH - As a result of Rocky Mountain's excellent shuttle system, hikers have the option of taking the spectacular one-way hike from Bear Lake to the Fern Lake Trailhead in Moraine Park. Along the way you'll visit four magnificent lakes, a 60-foot waterfall, plus you'll make the spectacular descent into the Odessa Gorge.

Lake Helene - Although Lake Helene is denoted on the official park map, the side trail leading to its shore isn’t marked with a trail sign. Don't let this deter you - this is one of the most scenic lakes in the park.

Bluebird Lake - This is another hike that offers several attractions along the way, including three waterfalls. Bluebird Lake, which fills a deep cirque beneath Ouzel Peak along the Continental Divide, is the star attraction.

The Keyhole on Longs Peak - This hike should probably rank higher, but I had to take it down a few notches due to its level of difficulty. In terms of distance and elevation gain, this is a very difficult hike. The terrain - crossing the Boulder Field and then making the scramble up to the Keyhole - makes this an extremely difficult hike, and is likely the most difficult hike I've ever been on. However, the payoff is quite large. The views along the way, as well as from the Keyhole itself, are simply amazing.