RMNP: Fern Falls & 7 Lakes Loop Hike - Lodge Overnight - Hike next Morning

DINNER 4PM AUG 5, LODGE OVERNIGHT, MEET TO HIKE 4:40am AUG 6 IN ESTES.

PLEASE ONLY SIGN UP IF YOU SERIOUSLY PLAN TO GO…WE WILL NEED TO PURCHASE TIMED ENTRY TICKETS. PLUS YOU WILL LIKELY WANT TO PURCHASE LODGING FOR THE NIGHT BEFORE AS WE ARE GETTING AN EARLY START. SO PLEASE READ THE DETAILS BELOW BEFORE SIGNING UP.

TIMED ENTRY PERMIT. Tickets for this hike go on sale July 1st at 8 a.m. We will carpool into the park, but the park only allows you to purchase 1 ticket per person and tickets are nontransferable. So I will need volunteers to commit to going and purchase a timed entry ticket so that we have a ticket for each carpool vehicle. If you have the America the Beautiful Pass, the fee for the ticket is only $2.

Hikes are always subject to date/time change or cancellation due to weather, trail conditions or closures, or other unforeseen circumstances. We hike as a group and hike at an average moving pace of about 2.5mph (slower up…faster down). Everyone is expected to wait at all intersections, creek crossings & periodically otherwise so that no one is left behind or hiking on their own for safety purposes. We will plan to have lunch at an appropriate spot & we will stop as needed along the way for water, snacks, pictures, etc.

Difficulty: about 15 miles and about 3,400 feet elevation gain. This exact hike is not in alltrails so distance and elevation gain are estimated.

HIKE DESCRIPTION: Beginning at the Bear Lake Trailhead, we will pass Bear Lake and then hike past 6 other lakes (Two Rivers Lake, Lake Helene, Odessa Lake, Fern Lake, Cub Lake, and Bierstadt Lake) and 60 foot Fern Falls on this loop trail. We will take all side trails to see each lake up close. We will have spectacular lake and mountain views, along with scenic waterfall and landscape views. The alpine scenery is striking as towering mountain peaks seem to rise right up in front of us. This exact trail is not in alltrails, so here is a link to my self-made alltrails route: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map-march-9-2025-bf5a1d9?u=i&sh=ittjkn

DOGS: NO DOGS. RMNP 🚫 does not allow dogs in the park.

CARPOOL TO TRAILHEAD AT 4:40AM: We will carpool into the park, as timed entry tickets are required and parking is limited at the trailhead. For the carpool, will meet at the Estes Park Visitors Center Parking Structure and carpool from there. After parking, let’s meet by the charging stations outside the parking structure (see photo). We will meet at 4:40am with planned departure at 4:45am. If you use Google maps, you can type in “Estes Park Visitor Center Parking Garage” for directions. If you use Apple Maps, you can type in “Estes Park Visitor Center Public Parking” for directions.

LODGING: We will be starting very early in the morning…August is busy in the park and even though we have timed entry permits, that does not guarantee a parking spot at the trailhead. Therefore, I plan to drive up Tuesday and I will be staying at Murphy’s Resort the night before the hike. Here is a link to Murphy’s Resort: https://www.murphysresort.com
However you may stay at any hotel of your choice…or even camp if you choose.

RESTAURANT TUESDAY AT 4PM: For those interested in meeting for dinner Tuesday evening, let’s go to The Wapiti Colorado Pub. We went there last year and everyone enjoyed it. Since we will be getting up early for the hike, let’s meet at 4 pm at the restaurant. The address is 1350 Fall River Rd, Estes Park, CO 80517.

IMPORTANT: This is a participate at your own risk event! Life is risky. I am not a professional guide and am simply hosting this event. By signing up for this hike you acknowledge that you are capable of performing this hike and that you are solely responsible for your own safety.

NO SHOWS: If you are a no-show to 2 hikes, you will be booted from this meetup group. So please change your RSVP to “not going” if you are unable to make it.

WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING: Water, snacks, layers of clothing, good hiking shoes/boots, sunscreen, bug repellant, sunglasses, hat, gloves, hiking poles (if you find them helpful), and anything else you deem essential.

WEATHER: Here is the NOAA forecast for the hike location. For hourly temps, wind, precipitation, etc., click “Hourly Weather Forecast” in the upper right. https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-105.65059860650663&lat=40.3285169259359

REQUIRED WAIVER: If you have not already done so, you must sign the updated waiver with our new meetup name prior to this hike. I will have copies at the trailhead that you can sign or you may print, sign, and bring it with you from the following website: https://www.dropbox.com/s/p728z28jjuwdzws/Waiver%20Corona.pdf?dl=0
If you choose to sign at the trailhead, please arrive early so that we can depart for the hike timely.