ADULT ONLY

Colorado Rockies Hiking Adventure

  • 5 Days
  • 12 People Max

    4 - 12 guests

  • Activity Level 4
    • Activity Level 4

      Challenge Accepted

      I'll let my trusty guides sweat the small things, so I can focus on my goal. Getting to the top, reaching the end, achieving my dreams! Sure, it'll be tough, but the views will be worth it.

    Read more about the Active Range

  • Trip Start: Denver, Colorado
  • Trip End: Denver, Colorado
colorado rockies

Let the epic beauty of Rocky Mountain National Park unfold all around you on this 5-day Colorado Rockies hiking adventure tour.

Rocky Mountain National Park is known for epic scenery, abundant wildlife, and more than 350 miles of hiking trails. On this 5-day hiking-focused trip, you’ll have opportunities to experience the majesty of the Colorado Rockies while challenging yourself on some of the park’s most iconic trails. You’ll have plenty of time to take in the splendor of Rocky Mountain National Park beyond the hiking trails with a scenic drive of Trail Ridge Road and relaxing evenings in Estes Park.

Colorado Rockies Hiking Adventure ~ Itinerary

Trip Start: Denver, Colorado Trip End: Denver, Colorado
  • Day 1Pick-up from hotel, enter Rocky Mountain National Park and hike Trail Ridge Road

  • Day 2Hike to Emerald and Haiyaha Lakes

  • Day 3Hike to Twin Sisters Peak

  • Day 4Hike to Mount Ida Summit

  • Day 5Say Goodbyes, return to Denver

  • Day 1

    Pick-up from hotel, enter Rocky Mountain National Park and hike Trail Ridge Road

    Your Colorado Rockies adventure begins bright and early with a journey west to Estes Park, the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. Get your first taste of pristine mountain air on a short hike among wind-sculpted rocks and sweeping views of the surrounding mountains. After a picnic lunch, enjoy a scenic drive along the famed Trail Ridge Road, which forms the highest continuous highway in America. This “highway in the sky” brings you above the tree line where you can get an up-close look at the unique ecosystems of the tundra on a short hike to help you acclimatize to the elevation. After spending time in the “Roof of the Rockies,” you’ll return to Estes Park for a relaxing evening.

    Ridgeline Hotel - Estes Park (Lunch, Dinner)

    Hiking: 2-3 Miles

  • Day 2

    Hike to Emerald and Haiyaha Lakes

    Begin your day hiking through aspen and ponderosa pine groves. You’ll pass Nymph Lake filled with pond lilies and then make your way along the shores of Dream Lake through Tyndall Gorge. You’ll follow Tyndall Creek to reach your first goal of the day: Emerald Lake. After appreciating the fantastic views of Flattop Mountain, we’ll begin our return trip via a side trail to Lake Haiyaha where you’ll enjoy lunch. The lake’s namesake, haiyaha, is an indigenous word that means "rock" or "lake of many rocks," or "big rocks", depending on the translation. After about 6 miles of hiking for the day, we’ll head back to Estes Park where you have the rest of the day on your own to explore this cool mountain town and the wide array of restaurants it has to offer.

    Ridgeline Hotel - Estes Park (Breakfast, Lunch)

    Hiking: 6 Miles, 700 feet elevation gain

  • Day 3

    Hike to Twin Sisters Peak

    After a couple days to warm up your legs and get your lungs adjusted, you’ll get to tackle your first summit hike. About a mile into the 7-mile hike, you’ll reach the first overlook offering great views of Longs Peak. You’ll then make your way through a boulder field left behind by a large landslide in 2013 when the area received nearly 10 inches of rain. As you continue, you’ll be treated to views of Mt. Meeker, Powell Peak, Taylor Peak, and Lily Mountain before reaching 11,000 feet and your first view of the Twin Sisters. After another half–mile, you’ll reach the summit (just under 11,500 feet) with incredible views all around you. This evening we’ll enjoy a well-deserved dinner together.

    Ridgeline Hotel - Estes Park (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

    Hiking: 7 miles, 2,500 feet elevation gain

  • Day 4

    Hike to Mount Ida Summit

    Today’s trek leads to one of the favorite summits in Rocky Mountain National Park, Mount Ida. The trail begins among interesting rock formations and a placid alpine lake before turning upwards through the forest with occasional views of Never Summer Mountains. The landscape quickly changes as you get above the tree line and enter the tundra where resident bighorn sheep and elk can often be seen. Upon reaching the base of Mt. Ida, you’ll have a 1-mile ascent to the peak. At just under 13,000 feet, the summit offers stunning 360-degree views of mountain peaks, alpine lakes, and the continental divide. This evening we toast to our time exploring Rocky Mountain National Park over a wonderful dinner.

    Ridgeline Hotel - Estes Park (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

    Hiking: 9.5 miles, 2,500 feet elevation gain

  • Day 5

    Say Goodbyes, return to Denver

    Enjoy a relaxing morning in Estes Park before we make our way back to Denver for goodbyes and flights home.

    (Breakfast)

Tour Departure Dates

  • Upcoming
  • 3 months
  • 6 months
  • 1 year
USD $3199/per adult
30 Jun 2024
2024
30 Jun4 Jul
Departure Open Open
14 Jul 2024
2024
14 Jul18 Jul
Departure Open Open
28 Jul 2024
2024
28 Jul1 Aug
Departure Open Open
11 Aug 2024
2024
11 Aug15 Aug
Departure Open Open

Included

  • Experienced guides 
  • 6:1 guest-to-guide ratio 
  • Our ‘Red Carpet’ pre-trip customer care service available to answer questions 
  • Travel Wallet: a resource for everything you need to know about your trip in one secure space!
  • All accommodation for the duration of your trip 
  • Most meals (except where indicated, so you can experience local cuisine independently!) 
  • Picnic lunches, unlimited snack baskets & unique destination snacks 
  • Specially curated tour ‘Wow’ moments throughout your trip 
  • All activities described in the itinerary  
  • All necessary equipment (well-maintained and safe) for activities  
  • All transportation from start to end of trip 
  • All gratuities for hotels, restaurants and activities 
  • All park and other entry fees 

Not Included

  • Transportation (air and land) to and from start/end points 
  • Travel insurance 
  • Alcoholic beverages  
  • Gratuities to Austin Adventures guides 
Austin PIF 2

Take 10% off the trip price when you book a trip and pay in full.

By paying in full we are able to pass on savings to our guests, but please note that by opting for this payment plan, your booking becomes non-refundable, non-cancellable, and non-changeable. 

We highly recommend that you purchase Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance. We recommend Redpoint Insurance – you can find details here.

T+Cs Apply.

BOOKING CONDITIONS

Useful Info

Where does the trip start?

On the first morning of the trip, our two pick-up locations are Homewood Suites Denver Airport at 7:30am or the Springhill Suites Denver Airport at 7:45am. You are welcome to book your pre-trip stay at either of these hotels directly or any other hotel in Denver, though you must make your own way to one of the two pick-up points at the pre-designated times.

Where does the trip end?

Your trip ends with a drop-off at either the Denver Airport at 12:30pam in time for flights below or at a hotel of your choice around Denver Airport at 1pm.

What flights do you recommend?

Arrival: We recommend arriving in Denver at least the day before your trip starts. Many guests like to arrive a day or two early to accommodate potential flight delays and/or explore the city prior to your trip start.

Departure: Flying out on the last day of the trip, we recommend departing from Denver after 1:30pm. Earlier flight times will require a separate transfer booked at your own expense.

What should I bring with me on the first day?

When you speak with your guides the night before your trip, they will give you a detailed description of what to bring with you on Day 1. Typically, this includes a day pack with your rain jacket, sunglasses, hat, camera, etc. Anything you want easy access to during the day should go in your day pack as the rest of your luggage will go in the locked cargo trailer pulled behind the van. Your guides will provide you with a water bottle on the first morning of your trip and will always have water available for refills. There will be snacks available at all times in the van. Your guides will also have bug spray and sunscreen accessible for you to use.

Will I have contact with my guides before the trip starts?

Your guides will call your cell phone the night before your trip begins to touch base on the first day’s plan. If they don’t get through to you, they will leave a voicemail on your cell phone with all the details you need to plan for your first morning.

What are your recommended guide gratuity guidelines?

You will have 2-3 guides on your Austin Adventure (depending on group size). We recommend USD$20 per day, per guest, per guide. Typically, gratuities are offered by check or cash in local currency on the final morning of the trip and can either be given to each guide individually or to one guide to be equally distributed. Most of our guides these days also accept gratuities via Venmo (please note this app does not work in Canada). All dining, housekeeping and activity tips are included in your trip price.

How do rooming arrangements work?

Trip prices are based on shared arrangements (typically two guests per room), unless otherwise stated. For solo travelers, we’ll pair you with another person of the same gender to share rooms and if there’s no one suitable to share with, there’s no forced single supplement. However, if you specifically request your own rooms, you can opt to pay the single supplement. Solo travelers who book within 90 days of departure, where there are no other solo travelers willing to share, will be required to pay the single supplement. 

For Family Vacation bookings, families consisting of four guests traveling with children aged 17 and under will be automatically assigned one shared room. However, the following alternative rooming allocations are available:

  • Families consisting of four guests with all children aged 13 and above are welcome to opt for additional rooms as per advertised double occupancy adult rates.
  • Families consisting of four guests with at least one child aged 12 and under are automatically assigned a shared room. However, families can opt to pay the adult rates for all guests in their family to have an additional room.
  • The same principles apply for families consisting of more than four guests.

Rooming preferences are subject to availability and must be communicated in writing at time of booking. Automatic assignments as per this policy will be applied in the absence of any specification provided by guests. Any request for additional rooms during trips will be at guests’ own expense and subject to rates made available by the accommodation provider at the time. All minors (guests aged 17 and under) must be accompanied by at least one adult.

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Why travel with us

benefit group size

Just-right group sizes allow you to get off the beaten path

With an average of 12 guests per departure and an industry-leading 6:1 guest-to-guide ratio, you’ll enjoy a highly personalized experience with the perspective of an insider.

benefit guides

Award-winning guides lead the way

It’s so much easier to relax and enjoy your adventure when you have fun, caring guides who know the land, are experts in motivation, sweat all the details and whip up incredible meals, too!

benefit inclusive

You’ll never need to sweat the details

When we say all inclusive, we mean it! Meals and snacks, activities, lodging, transportation, guiding services and more. Every detail is handled; all you need to do is show up!

benefit safety

Enjoy freedom to push your boundaries – safely

Every aspect of your trip is thoroughly considered for your safety, from highly vetted vendors and well-maintained equipment to extensively trained guides and our seasoned operations team at headquarters.

benefit family

Decades of expertise mean you’ll experience only the best

Family travel and North American National Parks are our specialty. We’ve perfected our itineraries and sustained relationships for decades, ensuring you'll experience your destination to the fullest.

benefit wow

"Wow Moments” take your trip from enjoyable to extraordinary

For us, the extra mile is never extra, it’s part of the way! Count on special touches throughout your trip that will amplify your experience. If we’ve done our job, they’ll have you saying “wow!”

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Colorado Rockies Hiking Adventure