Alpine Ridge Trail

Alpine Ridge Trail is a steep paved out-and-back from the Alpine Visitor Center parking area to a 12,005-foot summit. It is about 0.6 mile round trip (roughly 0.3 mile each way), with about 200 feet of climbing; allow 30 to 60 minutes. This is a quick way to get above the trees and see the Rockies in every direction, but the altitude makes the short climb feel real: you start near 11,800 feet. Take it slowly, especially if you have just arrived at elevation.

The rebuilt hard-surfaced path climbs across open alpine tundra, with a long staircase of nearly 225 steps. There is little shelter from the wind, and the ridge can feel cold even on a summer day. The steady climb is the work here, not the mileage; stop when you need to and bring a warm layer.

From the top, look east toward Mount Chapin, Mount Chiquita and Ypsilon Mountain, then west toward the Never Summer Mountains. The broad horizon is the reason to climb. For a photo, keep some rocky tundra in the foreground with the mountain line behind it; that shows how high and exposed the summit feels.

Heavy foot traffic once eroded the surrounding tundra, so the route was rebuilt between 2010 and 2013 with steps that keep the climb on one line. Stay on the designated tread and behind the ropes; alpine plants recover slowly. In bloom, look for alpine forget-me-not, sky pilot and alpine sunflower. Marmots are often seen in tundra country here, and pikas are possible.

Start at the Alpine Visitor Center parking lot on Trail Ridge Road. A valid park entrance fee or pass is required. Trail Ridge Road is seasonal and can close in bad weather, so check the route before driving. The visitor center and its facilities are seasonal; the Trail Ridge Store is a separate stop beside it. Pets are prohibited on all Rocky Mountain National Park trails.