Jack P. Hailman - Hiking Circuits in Rocky Mountain National Park

Loop Trails, With Special Sections for Combining Circuits
and Using the Shuttle Bus to Complete a Circuit

Jack P. Hailman and Elizabeth D. Hailman

University Press of Colorado

2003 by Jack P. Hailman and Elizabeth D. Hailman

Published by the University Press of Colorado
5589 Arapahoe Avenue, Suite 206C
Boulder, Colorado 80303

All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America

The University Press of Colorado is a cooperative publishing enterprise supported, in part, by Adams State College, Colorado State University, Fort Lewis College, Mesa State College, Metropolitan State College of Denver, University of Colorado, University of Northern Colorado, and Western State College of Colorado.

The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National
Standard for Information SciencesPermanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials. ANSI
Z39.48-1992

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Hailman, Jack Parker, 1936
Hiking circuits in Rocky Mountain National Park : loop trails, with special sections for
combining circuits and using the shuttle bus to complete a circuit / Jack P. Hailman and
Elizabeth D. Hailman.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-87081-721-3 (Paperback : alk. paper)
1. HikingColoradoRocky Mountain National ParkGuidebooks. 2. Trails
ColoradoRocky Mountain National ParkGuidebooks. 3. Rocky Mountain National Park
(Colo.)Guidebooks. I. Hailman, Elizabeth D. II. Title.
GV199.42.C62R6253 2003
796.510978869dc21
2003007720

Design by Daniel Pratt

12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

COVER PHOTOGRAPHS. Front, top, from left: Longs Peak from Mills Lake, bull Elk, Upper Copeland Cascades; front, bottom: Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, Longs Peak from Estes Cone, Alpine Sunflower; back, top: Alpine Sandwort, Lily Lake, fall color near Bear Lake; back, bottom: Glacier Basin, Clarks Nutcracker, mountains with Andrews Glacier in background center; spine, top: North Inlet Trail; spine, bottom: Alberta Falls.

For our siblings
Jacks sister, Frances Hailman;
Lizs brother, Tom Davis;
and Toms wife, Jane Loveless Davis

Oh, no! Not another hiking guide! More than a dozen guides devoted to trails in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) already exist, and more than a dozen others covering a larger geographic area feature prominent RMNP trails. So why another guide? Because this one is different (otherwise, we would not have bothered to write it). It is the first and only guide to circuit hiking in RMNP.

Circuit (or loop) hikes are identified only occasionally in existing trail guides, perhaps because authors have not thought consciously in such terms. Existing guides do describe a few of the loopsmainly the shorter onesor mention others in passing; our guide covers all of these in detail and includes many other circuits not described elsewhere.

We framed this guide with many different users in mind, from families desiring a pleasant walk within the reach of even small children to vigorous, seasoned backpackers planning a multiday trip across the tundra. We offer hikes for those who can enjoy RMNP only during summer vacations, those who are able to take advantage of falls crisp air and brilliant color, and those who love hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing over wintery, snow-laden trails. Whether users are staying in tourist cabins, camps such as Cheley Camp, the YMCA complex, the historic Stanley Hotel, RMNP campgrounds, or private area residences, they will find this book valuable in planning outings. After all, from the complete novice to the old hand, we all share the desire to hike some of the best trails available anywhere.

First, we thank the many rangers of Rocky Mountain National Park whom we talked with in the field, in visitor centers, and at campfire programs; RMNP staff members such as those in the backcountry office; and employees of the Rocky Mountain Nature Association (RMNA) who run the visitor center bookstores. Special thanks go to RMNP staff member Judy Visty, who gave us access to key specimens in the parks collections, and to Barb Christian of RMNA, who so cheerfully helped us with myriad small issues.

We were exceedingly fortunate to have two wonderful manuscript reviewers. Alexander Drummond, who is exceptionally qualified both as an outdoorsman and author, provided many useful comments, gently goaded us to include more ancillary information about the places visited on the hikes, and even surprised us with a circuit we had overlooked. RMNP staff member Dick Putney helped us avoid several potential pitfalls in the manuscript, provided valuable information about the park, and took the trouble to write down from his own experience the fall and winter uses of every circuit in the book, which material we have shamelessly appropriated, almost verbatim in many cases.

For expediting production of this book we thank the University Press of Colorados Director Darrin Pratt and his staff, especially Laura Furney and Daniel Pratt (no relation to Darrin), who processed the text and illustrations, respectively.