Near Lily Lake and Ridge Loop
View of Longs Peak, looking west from Lily Lake. Lily Lake Trail, Rocky Mountain National Park. Estes Park, Colorado.
Near Lily Lake and Ridge Loop
Lily Lake Trail, Rocky Mountain National Park. Estes Park, Colorado.
Near Lily Lake and Ridge Loop
Lily Lake Trail, Rocky Mountain National Park. Estes Park, Colorado.
Near Lily Lake and Ridge Loop
Rainy this day but great views here.
Near Lily Lake and Ridge Loop
Overlooking Lily Lake from Lily Trail

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Driving Directions
Hike Route

Lily Lake and Ridge Loop

4.1 (21 Ratings)
A quick loop right off of the peak-to-peak highway near Estes that offers a taste of RMNP's bounty.
0.8
mi
Distance
ft
Gain
moderate
Difficulty
BirdingFall ColorsFamily FriendlyLakeViewsWildflowersWildlife

Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
0.78mi
Distance
0ft
Elevation Gain
0ft
Elevation Loss
25%
Max Grade
8,939ft
High Point
8,927ft
Low Point
Path Type
Loop
Description
From the Lily Lake TH, start out on the Lily Lake Trail in a clockwise direction. This section of trail offers a nice, flat warm-up with stunning views of !Longs Peak (14,259') and Mount Meeker (13,911') and, of course, the serene Lily Lake. Once you've reached the opposite side of the lake, look for the Lily Ridge Trail to branch off to the left - take it. Lily Ridge Trail switchbacks its way up the ridge on the northern shore of the lake before flattening out and descending to the lake's eastern shore. This trail could prove a slight challenge for some but the views down on the lake are worth it if you're willing to put in the extra work.Once you descend back to the lake, you'll be back at the trailhead.

Route Conditions

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Contributors
Brian Smith