Balanced Rock via Gem Lake in RMNP

The Gem Lake trail offers outstanding views of Estes Park, Longs Peak and the surrounding mountains. You'll also pass through several areas with huge boulders, as well as some very interesting rock formations. From the lake we travel down to the Balanced Rock trail and the aptly named feature that makes good photos.

The climb up to the lake is quite steep, and has quite a few rock steps built into the cliff face to help hikers ascend more safely. Many of the steps are one or two feet in height, which will make progress a little slow for some people. You may want to consider bringing trekking poles for this stretch of the trail.

At roughly 1.75 miles we will reach Gem Lake, one of the more popular destinations in Rocky Mountain National Park. The lake has the fairly unique distinction of having neither an inlet or outlet stream. Instead, the lake is formed by trapped snowmelt and rainwater that collects in a basin carved out of the base of the granite cliff walls that surround the lake.

Round Trip - 7.8 miles
Elevation Gain - 1458 ft
Highest Elevation - 8,849 ft
Meetup time - 8 am

Meet at Lumpy Ridge Trailhead, located just north of Estes Park. To reach the trailhead from the intersection of Wonderview Avenue (34 Bypass Road) and MacGregor Avenue in Estes Park, turn to travel northbound on MacGregor Avenue. After driving roughly 1.2 miles the Lumpy Ridge Trailhead will be on your left. You may want to note that MacGregor Avenue makes a sharp right turn, at which point it turns into Devils Gulch Road, just before reaching the trailhead access road.

This is a BUSY time of year in the park. Please consider carpooling from the Estes Park Visitor Center Parking Garage (free) in case parking is limited.

Technically a RMNP pass is required to enter all parts of the park, but I have never had to show a pass in this parking lot. No Timed Entry reservations are required.

There are several lunch possibilities for after the hike.