A majority of the hiking I have done in Rocky Mountain National Park has all been around the Bear Lake Area. The south side of the park is the Wild Basin area where Kyle and I chose to hike up to Bluebird Lake. I believe this is the longest hike I have done in the park so far at 12.6 miles round trip and takes you up to nearly 11,000 feet. This trail is rated as “strenuous” as it gains 2500 feet in elevation. We did this hike in the fall just so we could get some nice views of the changing aspen trees.
You will start this hike at the Wild Basin Trailhead. This trail offers a variety of features to see including several waterfalls and a lake. The first attraction you will reach is Copeland Falls which is just less than a mile into the trail. You will then reach Calypso Cascades which is most impressive to see during spring run off.
A few miles later you will reach Ouzel Falls, a 40 foot waterfall that can be viewed better if you go off the trail a bit. As you continue hiking upwards you will follow Ouzel creek most of the way.
I don’t feel that the hike is that strenuous until you reach the the mile or so of the hike. Here, you will reach a steep area of loose rock that is located up a small canyon. This isn’t a long section of hiking and once to the top, you arrive at Bluebird Lake. When Kyle and I arrived to the lake it was SUPER windy. So we didn’t stay long at the top.
Learn more about this hike here
