Hike Profiles for Rocky Mountain
National Park and Surrounding Areas
www.thespiritoftherockies.net
The Saint Vrain Mountain
Trail begins south of
Allenspark, and leads
through the Indian Peaks
Wilderness to the southern
edge of Rocky Mountain
National Park. A brief
scramble north from this trail
leads to the broad summit
of Meadow Mountain,
which provides a panoramic
view of the southern peaks
in the National Park.
Distance: 3.0 miles one-way

Summit elevation: 11,632 feet

Trailhead elevation: 8,800 feet

Net elevation gain: 2,832 feet

Saint Vrain Mountain Trailhead

Roosevelt National Forest, Indian Peaks Wilderness, and Rocky Mountain National Park
Meadow Mountain summit view
Major Trail Landmarks
Rocky Mountain National Park boundary (2.8 miles one-way from trailhead)
Principal Destinations Near Meadow Mountain
Saint Vrain Mountain (4.0 miles one-way from trailhead) - via St. Vrain Mtn. Trail to an unmaintained route
Backcountry Campsites Near Meadow Mountain
The Indian Peaks Wilderness does not have designated campsites in the same way as Rocky Mountain
National Park. Camping information in the Indian Peaks is available by calling 303-541-2500.
The road to the Saint Vrain Mountain Trailhead begins in the town of Allenspark. From Highway 7
turn south on to Business Highway 7 in to Allenspark, and look for a gravel road named Ski Road.
Follow Ski Road south out of town and in to public lands. About 2 miles from Highway 7, Ski Road
splits; take the right-hand road at the split. From this point, drive 0.5 miles to the trailhead parking area
where the road ends. There is room for about ten vehicles at this small parking area.

This trail begins in Roosevelt National Forest, heads west in to the Indian Peaks Wilderness, and also passes
briefly through Rocky Mountain National Park. Although leashed pets are welcome on most of this trail
system, National Park restrictions still apply where the trail crosses in to the park south of Meadow Mountain.
To reach Meadow Mountain, follow the Saint Vrain Mountain trail as it leads west toward a saddle south of
Meadow Mountain. The path becomes rather steep in several areas. At the saddle, the maintained Saint
VrainMountain Trail turns south. Leave the trail at the saddle and head north up the rocky tundra slopes to
the summitof Meadow Mountain. There is no marked route to the summit, although posts of the National
Park boundary mark the most direct route, since the boundary runs north from the saddle to the summit.
Sample photographs of the hike to Meadow Mountain
National Park boundary along trail south of the summit
Approaching the summit from the south
Clouds and Longs Peak from Meadow Mountain
Mount Alice from Meadow Mountain summit
Meadow Mountain topographic map
Principal summer trail marked by solid red line; unmaintained trail or route marked by dashed red line

NOTE: The thick red National Park boundary line depicted on this map is now out of date.
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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.