The Alpine Ridge Trail is a popular, short but steep hiking trail taking visitors to the alpine tundra and a scenic overlook of the Never Summer Mountains.
Alpine Ridge Trail Basics
Under 1 Hour
0.6 Miles Round Trip
Out-And-Back
162 Feet
Duration: Under 1 Hour
The Alpine Ridge Trail can typically be done in less than an hour, depending on how quickly you can climb over 200 steps to the top.
Distance: 0.7 Miles Roundtrip
Don’t let the short distance fool you, while the trail is only 0.3 miles each way, you are climbing up over 150 feet in that span.
Type: Out-and-Back Trail
Alpine Ridge Trail takes you to the top of the mountain near the Alpine Visitor Center. For this path, hikers walk to the top then turn around and come back down the same way.
Elevation Change: 162 Feet
The elevation gain on this is one of the most I’ve done on short hikes like this. Alpine Ridge Trail is a steep path up from the parking lot.
Season: Spring, Summer
Thanks to the heavy snowfall that hits every year around October and stays through mid-late June, this trail is only accessible in the late spring and summer months.
Time of Day: Any
The trail can be done at any time of the day, but the Alpine Visitors Center and parking lot fill up quickly. Try to get here either early in the day or late in the afternoon to avoid the crowds.
Amount of Shade: None
There’s no shade on this trail. You are above the tree line, so there aren’t any trees to provide a respite from the elements.
Difficulty: Moderate
Even though short trails are usually considered easy, I give this one a moderate rating due to the number of steps and being at 12,000 feet elevation above sea level.
What Makes Alpine Ridge Trail a Great Hike?
When you get to the end of the trail, you feel like you are on top of the world! On a clear day, you can see Longs Peak, the Continental Divide, and sometimes all the way to Wyoming. Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the United States, and this is at the maximum elevation of the road.
Our trip to Rocky Mountain National Park was in October of 2020. The boys always have a week off of school in October and the original plan was to go to California for my cousin’s wedding. Well, with the COVID restrictions, they weren’t able to have a big family wedding and only invited immediate family. Since we were already planning to go on a trip, we looked at what was cheap and found great prices on tickets to Denver and a place to stay in Estes Park.
When we got to the top of the ridge, we were overlooking the mountains, but our view was a bit hazy. The park rangers pointed out the plumes of smoke that had just started making their way into the Never Summer Mountain Ranges towards Flatiron Mountain and the Mummy Range. While we didn’t get a nice clear view, it was interesting and a little scary to see the wildfires burning out there. Just two weeks after we left the fire started raging through Rocky Mountain National Park, Trail Ridge Road was closed due to burning trees on the roadway, and the fire threatened and caused evacuations for downtown Estes Park.
Scenery on the Alpine Ridge Trail
Start of the Trail
The trail starts in the parking lot. From here, you are looking up almost 200 feet to the top of the ridge.
On the Trail
As you walk along the trail, if it’s the right season, there will be wildflowers in bloom in the meadows. Make sure to stay on the path and don’t pick the flowers. Some of the flowers include alpine avens, moss campions, and alpine forget-me-nots.
End of the Trail
The end of the trail is a great place to stop and rest while taking in the views of the mountains and valleys in front of you. It really gives a new perspective to the alpine areas and the tops of the ridges and mountains. To the west, you’ll see the Never Summer Mountains, and to the east are Mount Chapin, Mount Chiquita, and Ypsilon Mountain.
Alpine Ridge Trailhead Information
Park Name: Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park is in the northern central region of Colorado, just 55 miles north of Denver. The park is over 400 acres of mountains, alpine ridges, meadows, streams, and large and small lakes. To get to Rocky Mountain National Park, fly into Denver International Airport (DEN) and rent a car to drive about 2 hours to the park, going through Estes Park.
During peak season, from the end of May through mid-October, the park uses a timed entry permit reservations system. Every vehicle entering the park has to have a permit in addition to paying their entry fees. It's a good idea to get a permit as soon as they open for the season. To go to Alpine Ridge Trail, you'll need the regular entry permit (not one with Bear Lake Road unless you plan to go there, too). Otherwise, you can enter the park before 9 AM or after 2 PM.
Finding the Trailhead
The trailhead for the Alpine Ridge Trail is near the northeast corner of the parking area, across from the Trail Ridge Store. Look for the paved stairs leading up to the top of the ridge.
Markers Along the Trail
As you walk up the trail, there are a few signs with information about the area, what you can see, and the reconstruction of the trail from 2010-2013.
Nearest Restrooms
There is a restroom facility on the north side of the parking lot, in the opposite direction from the visitor center.
Parking Area
We try to go to most of the visitor centers in a park, so it was easy to add this to our trip to Rocky Mountain National Park. There are two roads to get here: Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road. Old Fall River Road is a one-way road from the end of Endovalley Road up to the visitor center. From there you can continue to the west entrance of the park passing Medicine Bow Curve or head down Trail Ridge Road back to the east side. When you come up via Old Fall River Road, you will end up on the back side of the gift shop. Continue just past the building to the paved parking lot.
Other Trails at this Trailhead
On the opposite side of the parking lot is the trailhead for the Ute Trail heading west down to Milner Pass.
Tips for Alpine Ridge Trail
- Dress in warm layers. Even in the warmest month, August, this trail is chilly due to the elevation and high wind in the area.
- Don't underestimate the altitude. This is also known as "Huffers Hill" because the steepness combined with the high altitude can make it strenuous for some. Know the warning signs of altitude sickness if you've never been to that height.
Accessibility Information for Alpine Ridge Trail
Paved with Steps
Paved
Trail Type: Paved with Steps
The Alpine Ridge Trail is a paved trail, but it includes almost 200 paved steps. Visitors are not allowed off the asphalt, so there’s no way around the steps.
Parking: Paved
The parking area at the visitor center is a large paved lot with multiple handicap permit parking spots.