LILY
MOUNTAIN TRAIL
Directions:
From
Estes Park, travel about 6 miles south on Highway 7 to a small roadside
pulloff at the trailhead. You'll see a yellow emergency phone and a sign
at the trailhead. If you keep going up the highway, you'll reach Lily
Lake, a popular roadside stop for visitors to Rocky Mountain National
Park. Greenback cuttthroat trout inhabit the lake.
The
Hike:
The
Lily Mountain summit is about 1.6 miles from the trailhead. The trail runs
beside Highway 7 and winds its way up the hillside toward the rocky
summit. The climb is gradual, and I'd rate it as a moderate walk.
The
last quarter mile or so is marked by cairns, so keep a sharp eye.
The
trail offers many spectacular views of the Estes valley, Twin Sisters,
Longs Peak, and other highlights of Rocky Mountain National Park. Take
your time, and take your camera.
The
trail is mostly on U.S. Forest Service land, so you don't need to pay the
national park's entrance fee.
Nearby
Attractions:
Lily
Lake is a good picnic spot, and a wheelchair-accessible trail encircles
it. It's a good place for kids and old folks.
Across
the highway from the lake is a RMNP visitor center. Restrooms are
available there, and the center also has a collection of informative
museum-type displays to familiarize you with the natural history and
ecology of the RMNP area.
If
you're hungry, I suggest the Baldpate Inn, which is a quarter-mile drive
down a dirt road from the visitor center. The inn was a popular stop on
the old highway heading into Estes Park, and today it is a quaint,
enjoyable bed and breakfast. The inn offers a delicious soup and salad
lunchtime buffet during the summer months. Enjoy the food and the unique
atmosphere of this old-time treasure. And don't miss a visit to the
Baldpate's Key Room, an odd but fascinating attraction. I recommend
reservations. (By the way, this is an unpaid endorsement. I really like
the Baldpate.)
--
Bob Kretschman
Posted
Oct. 29, 2000
