Rocky Mountain National Park is one of my favorite national parks in the United States. It’s not only beautiful but also is very family friendly which means, there are so many great hikes that you can do with your young kids in just a couple of days. This is one of the first national parks where my second child who was three year old at the time did most of the walking in a hike. And now hiking in a national park is her one of her favorite things to do.
Before we left for the trip, I had prepared a list of hikes in the notes app on my iPhone. I also made sure that I note down the length and elevation of hikes to make a solid plan of how we are going to cover the hikes during our three days in Rocky Mountain National Park. Yes, we spent only three full days in the park and were able to complete all of the hikes listed below. So, keep reading to find out the 10 best hikes to do in RMNP with kids.
Bear Lake, Nymph Lake and Dream Lake
If you have time to do just one hike in Rocky Mountain National park let it be this one. The hike from Bear lake to Dream lake is actually an experience which you do not want to miss. If you don’t want to do the hikes with elevation then, the bear lake nature trail is only 0.5 mi loop, mostly flat and is the perfect hike for little ones to run alongside the water. We continued another 0.5 mi to Nymph lake and saw the most gorgeous lake with the pond lilies. The kids were enjoying and we decided to continue another 1.1 miles to Dream lake. The lake was absolutely amazing and it was so peaceful out there. After struggling myself with the elevation gain this was truly a rewarding scenery and I am so glad we decided to hike up to Dream lake.
Most people continue further to Emerald lake which is another 1.8 miles but the trail still had snow in June. So we decided to not continue any further and headed back to bear lake from where we started .
Alberta Falls
Alberta falls is one of the beautiful waterfalls in the Bear Lake Corridor. The trail starts at the Glacier gorge junction. (the bus stop since this corridor can only be accessed through the free shuttle service provided by the park). The trail is 0.8mi and quite easy with an elevation gain of 160 ft. However, a park ranger suggested that we start the hike at Bear lake Trail head as it is mostly downhill and on the way out we take the trail to Glacier gorge as it’s shorter and easier as it’s downhill.
Alpine Ridge Trail
Alpine ridge trail is one of the unique trails where you are required to climb stairs all the way to the top while surrounded by the beautiful snow capped mountains. The trailhead is next to the Alpine Visitor Center and starts at an elevation of 11,796 feet above the sea level. The trail is around 0.6 mi with lots of steps and you will be 12,000 feet. After the climb you will find breathtaking views of the Glaciers, alpine lake, wildflowers and the trail ridge road. After your hike you can grab a bite at the cafe at Alpine visitor center which has some great food options.
Journey to Milner Pass (the Continental Divide)
While this isn’t a hike suggested for families with young children, it’s a great stop to take some pictures in front of the continental divide sign. After that head over to the trail and start hiking. If you visit in the month of June you might still be able to see some snow and the kids could touch it if that’s something they look forward to.This hike may not be accessible in the winter.
Tundra Communities/Toll Memorial Trail
Who doesn’t love a short Alpine hike with some dramatic views? This is one of the best hikes of all time and an absolute must do. The Tundra Communities trail is only 0.6 mi roundtrip but the real deal is the elevation. Even though it’s a short hike the elevation gain can make it 10 times harder especially when you are carrying a toddler. But that shouldn’t stop you from experiencing the amazing hike in the tundra.The views are just gorgeous ! Make sure to take a low pace and not rush here. Even if you are visiting in summer, you might want to carry a warm jacket as it can be chilly and windy up here. We love this one for the kids as they are light weight and packable.
Holzwarth Historic Site
This is another hike that is perfect for families with young kids. Along the 0.5 mi hike to the site, you will walk in the middle of the beautiful meadows of Kawuneeche Valley. At the Holzwarth historic site you will find the well preserved guest ranch built by some of the early settlers in the area. It’s very interesting to step into the historic sites and imagining how their life looked like. We were also greeted by a Park ranger who briefed us about the Holzwarth family history, their story and how the guest ranches were like. The kids loved exploring the houses and the beautiful meadows with the flowers.
Alluvial Fan–Horseshoe Falls
Alluvial fan was created when a surge of water flowed down from a steep landscape to a flatter one, carrying with it sand, pebbles, rocks and even boulders. As water teaches flat surface it loses speed and energy and begins to spread out creating a fan shaped area of deposition. It’s the perfect hike to do with your little ones as there are many rocks and boulders along the way and my kids loved climbing on them and being adventurous. The hike is about 0.7 miles and there are two parking lots east and west but parking can get full during peak summer days.
Sprague Lake Loop
Sprague lake is one of the most beautiful and underrated lakes in RMNP. The trail loops around the Sprague lake. We went there first thing in the morning and almost had the lake to ourselves. There are plenty of benches to sit and enjoy the serenity of the surroundings. We also spotted a moose here, so if you have that on your list then this could be a spot where you can find them. The hike less than a mile but we did take time to sit back and take in the view several times. This is a must-do with young kids as it’s not only very easy but also beautiful!
Coyote Valley
Coyote Valley hike is similar to the hike to Holzwarth Historic Site and makes it perfect for young kiddos to just run and enjoy the beautiful meadows. Don’t forget to carry a sunhat like this one if you are hiking in the summer afternoons. The hike is also stroller and wheelchair friendly. Plus, this is also a great place for wildlife spotting. Be sure to look for moose along the shores of the Colorado river.It is 5 miles north of Kawuneeche Visitor Center. Be sure to stop at this visitor center as well. We got to attend a ranger talk while we were there and the kids got to touch the fur of all different animals that inhibit the valley.
Adams Falls
Adam falls is an easy hike to the waterfalls and is located on the Grand Lake side of Rocky Mountain National Park. This was one of the last things we did on our trip and we are so glad we did. Even though the hike is around 0.9 miles round trip there is some elevation gain which means it’s not stroller friendly. It is outside the park hence you can access it year round even if the trail ridge road is closed.
We were able to do all of the above hikes plus more in three days of our visit to Rocky Mountain National Park. We were lucky that it didn’t rain while we were at the park, so we were able to enjoy the outdoors without any breaks. To know about other things to do in the park check out my previous post Everything you need to know before visiting Rocky Mountain National Park with kids in 2025.
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