Hike Profiles for Rocky Mountain National Park and Surrounding Areas

www.thespiritoftherockies.net

Distance: 1.7 miles one-way Summit elevation: 9,786 feet Trailhead elevation: 8,780 feet Net elevation gain: 1,006 feet Lily Mountain Trailhead Roosevelt National Forest

The National Forest Service maintains a trail to the rocky summit of Lily Mountain, which affords a prominent view of the valleys and peaks near Estes Park. The relatively short trail winds through lower elevation forests and has a fairly steep last mile to the summit.

Looking south from Lily Mountain's summit

Major Trail Landmarks There are no major trail landmarks on this hike

Principal Destinations Near Lily Mountain There are no other principal destinations along this trail

Backcountry Campsites Near Lily Mountain The National Forest Service does not provide designated campsites in this area

The Lily Mountain Trailhead is on the east side of the Continental Divide between Estes Park and Meeker Park. Parking is limited to a very small area of roadside parking near the trailhead. The trailhead is not prominently marked, and is along the west shoulder of Highway 7 just south of a few major rock cuts on the highway. This is a little over 2 miles south of the turnoff to Marys Lake Road if approaching from Estes Park, or just over 0.5 miles north of the Lily Lake area if approaching from the south. The Lily Mountain Trail is dedicated to reaching the summit, so no marked trail intersections exist on the way to the summit. The first 0.7 miles of the trail alternates with some up and down terrain, but does not gain any significant elevation. Most of elevation gain is in the last mile of the trail, and a very brief scramble is required to reach the rocky summit. Since this trail is in National Forest land outside of Rocky Mountain National Park, it is one of the few trails near Estes Park where leashed pets are allowed on the trail.

Sample photographs of the hike to Lily Mountain

Lily Mountain Trail

View of Otis and Hallett Peaks from the summit

Lily Mountain topographic map

Principal summer trail marked by solid red line; unmaintained trail or route marked by dashed red line

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All photographs are property of Mike Amfahr and are protected by copyright laws. Topographic map is property of and copyrighted by Maps a la carte, Inc., and is used on this site with permission.