Well, our vacation time is fast approaching. With my calf hurt I am still not sure if we can go. So we are going to play it by ear right up to the departure date. I guess that is one good thing about driving. No worries about canceling your transportation.
With my leg hurt I have been thinking about what we could hike. On my first CO solo trip I went by Estes Cone but did not make it up to the top. It is pretty flat from Long’s Peak Ranger Station to Estes Cone. But it is a good scramble to the top of the cone. I am starting to think that this might be perfect for a family hike. One way it is 3 miles. So 6 miles round trip is about as much as I can put the kids. As long as it is nice we can take all day and not rush the little legs. The Ranger Station elevation is about 9400 and the cone tops out a little over 11000. So it is high enough for the kids to feel the effects from the lack of oxygen, not to mention a great view from the top, and give them something they can feel good about accomplishing.
I jumped on Google Maps and created the rout from the Long’s Peak Ranger Station to Estes Cone. If anyone else has any ideas for a good day hike less than a 6 miles round trip in the Estes Park area let me know.
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So many great hikes in RMNP… Dream Lake (and up to the scree around Emerald) or (a bit longer) Loch Vale are easy jaunts from the Bear Lake trailhead. Fun to catch (and release!) some of the greenback cutthroat trout from either lake.
I would rather stay away from the Bear Lake area just because of the amount of traffic it gets. I do want to get Noah to fish a little.