12 Short Hikes Rock Mountain National Park Estes Park

Rating:
Summary: Great little guide to some nifty SHORT hikes in RMNP
Review: The operative word is SHORT, not easy. No hike, according to the author's calculations, takes more than 2.5 hours; seven take less than a half hour. Although a number of the hikes covered are really just strolls, such as at Sprague and Lily Lakes, several offer more challenge because of elevation increases. Remember, for the most part you are starting out at 8500 feet or more: mouth breathing territory for many folks.

Although this is a slender booklet (easy to take along), there are good tips for health, safety, and comfort. A map of the park and its immediate surrounds is a useful partner to the clear instructions about reaching trailheads. Aerial photos of each trail and the "step by step" guide provide a succinct, but sufficiently thorough, introduction to each trail.

I have a number of books about hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park and would be reluctant to name any as the best. But this is one I consider indispensible, especially for helping our visitors find interesting and satisfying experiences in a magnificent setting. If you are lucky enough -- as we are -- to live near the park, you will want a variety of guides, including this one. If you will visit only a day or two, this may be a good, inexpensive choice for enriching your time there.