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Longs Peak Ranger Station
Climbing Longs Peak
Distance: 8 miles (one-way)
Elevation Gain: 4,855 ft.
Difficulty: High Strenuous
Trailhead: Longs Peak Ranger Station
Overall: The "big one" for Rocky Mountain National Park. Lots of people but worth the effort.
Longs Peak is the ultimate goal for most hikers who love Rocky Mountain National Park. It's also a very long day with 16 miles, 4800 vertical feet and a bit of exposure to keep things exciting. If you're looking for solitude, this isn't it. But Longs Peak shines in the camaraderie department and many lifelong friends have met on this trail. For some who have never done a class 3 hike, the Keyhole itself can be a heart pumping experience. It's better to move further on out of the wind so you can see where you're going. Hike toward the "fried egg markers". It looks worse than it is. All in all, the key is to start early and be prepared. It's an experience you'll never forget.
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The Keyhole Route
Trail to Boulderfield- roughly 7 miles of good trail
Keyhole- where the "fun" begins, always windy, boulder scramble from the Boulderfield
Ledges- cross over the backside of Longs with airy views into Glacier Gorge. Follow "fried egg" markers
Trough- 800 ft. of scrambling up. First real test of your will to make it.
Narrows- Section across south side, similar to ledges.
Homestretch- last 400 ft. to the top on solid rock. Not as hard as it looks. You're almost there!!
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DON'T FORGET!
- minimum 2 liters of water
- gloves, hat, layers for warmth
- rain gear
- sunglasses and sun screen
- map and compass
- high energy food (GU is great)
- a positive attitude
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Climbing Mount Meeker
Distance: 5.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 4,511 ft.
Difficulty: strenuous
Overall: Mt. Meeker may be ranked #2 in height in Rocky Mountain National Park, but you'll have to try harder to reach it's incredible summit. The distance is shorter than Longs but that only means more up in a shorter distance. Following the trough between Longs and Meeker is the easiest route but requires much endurance and especially good route-finding skills. Make sure you know where you're going. Otherwise, this is a favorite. The views back to Longs and over toward Pagoda and Alice don't get any better.
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Chasm Lake
Distance: 4.7 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,360 ft.
Difficulty: Moderate
Overall: When people ask me to pick out 3 or 4 premier hikes in the park, this is always one of them. The scenery beheld in the amphitheater-like basin in unparalleled anywhere else in the park. Requires a bit of rock scrambling right near the lake.
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