Trail Conditions

 

The Loch, taken May 20, 2025

NPS/D. Turk

Spring Hiking Updates - May 22, 2025

It's spring in Rocky Mountain National Park and conditions are changing.

Most snow has melted on trails in lower elevation areas of the Rocky Mountain National Park. With recent rain, expect sections of lower elevation trails to be wet and muddy. If hiking in areas above 9,000 feet in elevation, be prepared for winter hiking conditions and snow on trails. Traction devices and hiking poles are advised. Winter navigation skills continue to be important in May and June. The Bear Lake area has about 20 inches of snow.

When hiking on wet and muddy trails, practice Leave No Trace by hiking through the mud. Stepping off trail to avoid puddles expands the footprint of a trail and causes erosion. Wearing waterproof boots with good traction and moisture-wicking socks can help keep your feet dry this time of year.

Resources and Safety Information Before Hiking in Rocky:

Going hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park? Be aware that weather and conditions can change rapidly in the Rocky Mountains, especially at higher elevations. The information shared below is based on recent trail conditions reports.

The information below is a guide, but be aware that conditions on specific trails could change by the time you start your hike. Weather can change rapidly inside the park year-round.

When hiking in forest areas, know that falling trees and branches are an ever-present hazard. When hiking, take time to look up and be aware of your surroundings. Trees can fall without warning! Other safety tips to be aware of, ticks are out. It is recommended to do frequent tick checks when hiking. Be aware that spring and summer lightning and thunderstorms are common in May, June, July, and August.

Helpful Resources:

• Looking for Information on Longs Peak: View the Longs Peak Conditions Report
• For Area Closures: View Fire Information Area Closures
• Tick Safety
• Lightning Safety

 

Trail covered with snow and ice near Nymph Lake, taken May, 19, 2025

NPS/Allison

How Much Snow is in Rocky Mountain National Park?

SNOTEL SITES - As of May 22, 2025

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

The main SNOTEL Website is: https://wcc.sc.egov.usda.gov/nwcc/site?sitenum=

Every SNOTEL site has a unique site number. For example, the site number for Bear Lake is 322. To see information specific to Bear Lake, visit https://wcc.sc.egov.usda.gov/nwcc/site?sitenum=322

For snow depth at all SNOTEL Sites inside RMNP, see the chart below:

Bear Lake (Site #322) elevation 9500’ 18 inches snow	Long Draw Reservoir (Site #1123) elevation 9980’ 18 inches snow	Stillwater Creek (Site #793) elevation 8720’ 0 inch snow
Copeland Lake (Site #412) elevation 8600’ 1 inch snow	Never Summer (Site #1031) elevation 10,280’ 49 inches snow	Wild Basin (Site #1042) elevation 9560’ 20 inches snow
Lake Irene (Site #565) elevation 10,700’ 44 inches snow	Phantom Valley (Site #688) elevation 9030’ 0 inches snow	Willow Park (Site #870) elevation 10,700’ 37 inches snow

 

Submit Your Own Trip Report

Have you been hiking recently on any trail inside Rocky Mountain National Park? Would you like to share with others what the trail was like? To submit a trail conditions report:

• 💻 Fill out and submit an RMNP Trail Conditions Report online
• ☎️ Call Rocky Mountain National Park staff at 970-586-1206 and share a report over the phone.
• 🏫 Stop by a Rocky Mountain National Park visitor centers and fill out a report in person.

 

Rocky Mountain National Park Trail Conditions Report - Updated May 6, 2025

 

Destination	Date	Description of Conditions Found	Reported By
Bear Lake Trailhead and Corridor	5/22/2025	Expect winter hiking conditions when hiking in the Bear Lake area. Most trails that begin from the Bear Lake Trailhead are covered with packed down snow and ice. Some sun-exposed sections on trails have melted. Bear Lake has a base of about 20 inches of snow. The trail is icy and traction devices are advised. Use caution on the south side of the lake, be careful of postholeing in the softening snow and walking too close to the shore of the lake. Use caution near the inlet and outlet of Bear Lake, there is open water.	Park Ranger
Glacier Gorge to Black Lake	5/20/2025	From Glacier Gorge Trailhead to Alberta Falls, the trail is mostly free of snow. From Alberta Falls to Mills Lake, the trail is wet, muddy, and there are patches of snow on the trail. From Mills Lake to Black Lake, the trail is covered with hard-packed snow and ice. The snow started off hard in the morning and became slushy by afternoon. Traction devices are advised.	Park Visitor
Bear Lake Loop	5/19/2025	The north side of the Bear Lake Loop trail is almost entirely free from snow and ice, but the rest of the trail still has plenty of snow that is 3-4 feet deep in places. The trail is slippery and traction devices are strongly advised on the snowpacked sections. Snow on the trail is hard packed almost everywhere.	NPS Volunteer
Bear Lake to Nymph Lake	5/19/2025	When hiking from Bear Lake Trailhead to Nymph Lake, traction devices and hiking poles are advised. About 1/3 of the trail is covered with hard-packed snow and ice. The rest of the trail is free of snow. The trail could be wet and muddy. There is a fallen tree on the trail to Nymph that is easy to step over.	NPS Volunteer
Nymph Lake to Dream Lake	5/19/2025	Traction devices are advised. Most of this trail is still covered with hard-packed snow and ice. There is a section that has melted and is now free of snow. The section of trail near Nymph Lake Overlook is steep and very icy.	NPS Volunteer
Dream Lake to Emerald Lake	5/19/2025	The trail is covered with hard-packed snow and ice and is very slippery. Traction devices are strongly advised. There are sections that are steep and it is very difficult to ascend and descend without traction devices. Emerald Lake is covered with snow and ice. Use caution near any inlets and outlets, as ice is thin. Do not walk on any ice over water this time of year.	NPS Volunteer
Dream Lake to Lake Haiyaha	5/19/2025	This trail is covered with snow and ice and under the current conditions is very difficult even with good traction devices and hiking poles. Sections of this trail are very steep, narrow, and have with steep drops. It is not advised to hike the traverse to Haiyaha. Due to the amount of snow, the trail can be difficult to follow and winter navigation skills are needed. It is not recommended to hike on this trail under these conditions.	NPS Volunteer
Sprague Lake	5/19/2025	The Sprague Lake Loop Trail is free of snow and ice. There could be wet and muddy sections on the trail.	NPS Volunteer
Wild Basin to Ouzel Lake	5/19/2025	The lower elevation section of the trail to Ouzel Lake is mostly free of snow. Expect patches of snow on the trail near the Ouzel/Bluebird Junction. The trail is covered with snow from that junction to Ouzel Lake. It can be difficult to follow the trail. Winter navigation skills, a map and GPS are helpful. Carry traction devices - they are helpful in the snow-packed sections.
Cub Lake to The Pool	5/18/2025	From Cub Lake Trailhead to The Pool, the trail is free of snow. Sections may be wet and muddy. Keep an eye out for wildlife along the trail.	Park Visitor
Longs Peak to Estes Cone	5/12/2025	From Longs Peak to Estes Cone, snow on the trail has mostly melted. Traction devices are no longer needed. There are a few sections on the trail where hiking in snow cannot be avoided.	NPS Volunteer

Any time of year: Plan ahead and be prepared for varying weather and conditions. Remember- Your safety is in your hands! Trails inside Rocky Mountain National Park can experience extreme weather and conditions can change quickly. In RMNP, all four seasons can happen in one day!

Any Time of Year - Be prepared: Choose your hiking destination wisely. Know your personal limits and choose a trail that meets your goals within your limits. Be willing to turn back for any reason. 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.

Lakes: Always proceed with caution around icy lakes, especially around inlets, outlets, and rocks, where the ice can be thin.

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, rain gear is strongly advised..
• 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.

Pets: Pets are prohibited on all trails, tundra, and meadows areas in Rocky Mountain National Park. For details, see RMNP's Pets Webpage.