Trail Conditions

 

Steep and Dangerous Trail to Lake Haiyaha from Dream Lake Trail

NPS Photo

 

Hiking in Rocky!

Read this important safety message

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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 May 29, 2024

 

Plan Ahead and Be Prepared.
There is still a lot of snow in the backcountry.
Snow keeps falling, and what is already there is not melting fast.
Trail Conditions Reports from a couple of weeks ago are still usable.

Be prepared with gear and skills to travel safely in spring conditions, with continuing avalanche and weak lake ice risks. In general, for both east side and west side trails, spring conditions are icy in the mornings and mushy, soft, and slushy in the afternoons. Traction devices are advised for lower, more compacted trails. You may posthole in deeper snow. If you start to posthole, either put on snowshoes or turn around. Some trails may have patchy snow, especially as snow melts. Conditions can change quickly. If a trail is muddy, walk through the mud rather than around it to prevent trail damage. Tennis shoe wearers will slip and slide, you can fall down, and have wet feet on snowy trails.

Snow instability and avalanche risks persist. Stay aware and make good decisions – we are not yet out of avalanche season. Currently the avalanche danger near and above treeline is MODERATE.

Destination	Date	Description of Conditions Found	Hiked By
Nymph Lake, Dream Lake, and Emerald Lake	May 28	The trail between Nymph Lake and Emerald Lake is very tricky for people without traction devices.Emerald is completely covered in ice while Nymph and Dream have some open water. About half the trail to Nymph is snow and ice, about two thirds of the trail between Nymph and Dream is snow and ice and almost all the trail between Dream and Emerald is snow and ice. The trail is fairly easy to follow, but route-finding skills are important. Without traction devices, it's reasonable to get to Nymph but the trail after Nymph is difficult without traction devices and has a relatively steep slope on one side so several people were turning around here. The trail between Dream and Emerald has two fairly long sections that are steep and difficult without traction devices. There weren't many people at Emerald: I think most people without traction devices gave up well before Emerald and turned around.The most difficult section of the trail for me was right above Dream. In late morning it was very icy and slippery there, and he fell about 20 feet down the slope.	Volunteer
Lake Haiyaha from Dream Lake	May 28	The trail to Haiyaha is downright treacherous even with traction devices.There were some people going to Haiyaha without traction devices and not surprisingly, finding it extremely hard. Even with traction devices, poles, and skills, this hiker fell three times on the way back from Haiyaha, once badly and was lucky not to be hurt. He saw someone else with traction devices fall badly too. He wished he had brought his ice axe.It's difficult to find where the winter trail begins. The sign directing people from the Dream Lake Trail up to Haiyaha is almost entirely covered in snow with only the very tip of the sign visible. Practically all the trail is covered in snow and ice. Much of the trail is very narrow with a steep drop off to one side: a slip could lead to someone falling several dozen feet and stopping only when hitting a tree or rock. Nearer to the lake, there are a couple of places where tracks in the snow make it difficult to see where the real trail goes. Hikers need route-finding skills, GPS, and maps to not get lost.	Volunteer
Bear Lake	May 28	About half the trail around Bear Lake is snow free. Lots of open water near the inlet. There's a section about halfway around that is slick and I saw someone without traction devices fall heavily there. At that point the trail is very close to the lake and the ice is thin so there's a potential to fall into the lake. Note! Don’t stand on the ice on the lake. It is thin and unstable.	Volunteer
East Shore Trail	May 27	Visitor experienced many downed trees between trailhead and Ranger Meadows. Visitor also experienced trees actively falling close to them during their hike. Anyone on this trail should exercise caution and be very alert to trees around them.	Visitor
Upper Mill Creek and Hollowell Park Trails	May 26	Trees falling and trees down on these trails.	Park Ranger
Onahu to Green Mountain Loop	May 25	First ~2 miles of Onahu Trail are clear of snow, but several down trees (along the entire loop - but especially the Onahu section). After the first two miles, floatation devices a must but post-holing still occurred. Snowshoes were worn from the Onahu Creek wilderness site until the south facing section of the Green Mountain trail (~2 miles). Beyond the Onahu Bridge wilderness site/Long Meadows junction, conditions were fairly treacherous as the slope is steep and completely covered in snow; wouldn't recommend to anyone without proper snow-gear and experience. About a mile or so above Big Meadows the trail becomes clear, but muddy again.	Park Ranger
Fern Lake from Fern Lake Trailhead	May 23	Snow is melting quickly near Fern Falls. There were a couple of patchy slopes, but it was easily navigable even without traction devices. At least a 1/2 ft - 1 ft of snow on the NW side of Fern Lake with deeper snow toward Odessa Lake and Spruce Lake.	Park Ranger
East Inlet Trail	May 22	Trail was clear and dry the first 3½ miles.	Park Ranger
Colorado River Trail	May 21	Trail is free of snow but muddy for the first one mile. However, the river has started to flood one mile from trailhead, where the river meets the trail. Park rangers are monitoring conditions as snowmelt increases.	Park Ranger
North Fork Trail	May 21	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
Twin Sisters Peak	May 20	Trail is dry to the landslide. The next mile the wet in spots. Then the trail is snowpacked. Snow is mushy, slippery, and generally in spring conditions. Turned around at this point.	Park Ranger
East Shore Trail	May 20	From the East Shore Trail to the park boundary the trail is muddy with patches of snow and ice.	Park Ranger
Coyote Valley Trail	May 20	Parking area is open. Trail is mostly snow free with a few patches of snow in the shade. Some muddy spots.	Park Ranger
Holzwarth Historic Site	May 20	Trail is clear of snow to the historic buildings. (Buildings are still closed for the season but the grounds are open.) Trail has some muddy spots and a few large puddles of water.	Park Ranger
North Inlet Trail	May 19	Trail clear of snow to Cascade Falls. The trail is muddy. Snowshoes were needed intermittently beyond the Falls.	Park Ranger
West Glacier Creek Trail from Storm Pass Trailhead to Bear Lake	May 18	Hiked West Glacier Creek Trail from Storm Pass Trailhead to Bear Lake. Lower half had intermittent snowpack and running water, but upper half was mostly 2 -3 feet of packed snow.	Visitor
Old Fall River Road	May 17	Road was clear and dry until about mile 3 when scattered snow piles were encountered. At Mile 3.6, encountered a snow pile that spanned the full with of the road for about 30 yards along the road. Post-holed to about a depth of 12"-14" inches with every step so did not continue. They met up with a hiker who went further and stated that at just short of mile 4, snow on the road made it impassable.	Volunteer
Lake of Glass	May 17	The trail to the base of Timberline Falls was mostly packed or slushy snow. Traction devices and poles recommended. The climb to Lake of Glass from below Timberline Falls was very slippery and the compressed, slushy snow made it difficult to kick in steps. Maintaining control of slide and getting traction on the way down from Lake of Glass was challenging. The trail to Mills Lake is also snow covered and slushy, making some of the foot bridges across streams slippery. Traction devices and poles were helpful. Both Mills Lake and the Loch are melting significantly along the edges.	Park Ranger
Ypsilon Lake Trail	May 15	After crossing the Roaring River, there were thirteen trees that had fallen across the trail for the next mile to mile and a half. At the 3.3 mile point from the Lawn Lake Trailhead, there is a steep incline that is entirely covered in snow. It was at this point that traction devices and hiking poles were used, as the trail, with the exception of one 10-yard long spot, was completely covered in snow for the rest of the trail. Stopped at the point where the trail descends to Chipmunk Lake as the snow was quite deep. Talked to two hikers who just came up from Ypsilon Lake. They confirmed that the snow was quite deep and were only able to complete the hike to Ypsilon using snowshoes. On the return trip back down the snow was getting quite slushy so they post holed several times, a couple of times up to their knees (22").	Volunteer
Glacier Gorge to Black Lake via winter trail	May 13	Mills and Jewel lakes starting to melt out quite significantly around the edges. Black Lake still snow/ice covered. Flotation (snowshoes) desirable beyond east end of Mills Lake. Traction devices helpful from trailhead to Mills. Wet, loose snowslides observed on many slopes and all aspects. Visitors should be prepared with gear and skills to travel safely in "winter"/spring conditions, with continuing avalanche and weak lake ice risks.	Volunteer
Storm Pass up Boulder Brook and above to treeline	May 13	Snow-free to major Boulder Brook / Sprague intersection, then back and forth snow drifts for several hundred yards, then deep soft snow from there on. Above the North Longs Peak trail, upthe drainage just to the west, quite soft snow all the way to treelineand above. Flotation (snowshoes) recommended the whole way.	Volunteer
Lake Helene	May 13, 2024	Trails fully covered and traction devices helpful with snow except for a few small spots just above the Bierstadt/Flattop-HeleneIntersection. Flotation helpful beyond the "banana bowl". Two RiversLake and Lake Helene still fully covered with snow/ice. Highlydiscourage continuing past Helene toward Odessa/Fern because of steep, unstable snow, especially in the first several hundred yards beyond Lake Helene. Numerous wet loose snowslides observed on all aspects above treeline in the Lake Helene area.	Volunteer

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 May 23, 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’ 31” snow	Long Draw Reservoir (Site #1123) elevation 9980’ 22” snow	Stillwater Creek (Site #793) elevation 8720’ no snow
Copeland Lake (Site #412) elevation 8600’ no snow	Never Summer (Site #1031) elevation 10,280’ 49" snow	Wild Basin (Site #1042) elevation 9560’ 28" snow
Lake Irene (Site #565) elevation 10,700’ 50” snow	Phantom Valley (Site #688) elevation 9030’ no snow	Willow Park (Site #870) elevation 10,700’ 44” 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.