Estes Cone Trail from Longs Peak Trailhead

Estes Cone Trail from Longs Peak Trailhead is a 6.2-mile out-and-back to a rocky summit, with about 1,800 feet of climbing from roughly 9,400 feet to 11,000. Plan on about five hours. The walk links East Longs Peak Trail, Eugenia Mine Trail, the Moore Park connector and Estes Cone Trail. The first part is forest hiking; the last half-mile gets steep and rocky, then a short scramble reaches the true top. It suits fit hikers who are comfortable at altitude and on faint, uneven tread. If you want an easy stroll, this isn't it.

The trail begins at Longs Peak Trailhead by the ranger station, reached from Colorado 7 via Longs Peak Road. The lot and roadside spaces are limited and can fill early on peak-season weekends, so arrive early and don't count on overflow. Restrooms are at the trailhead, but there is no water there or on the route. A park entrance fee or pass applies. Pets aren't allowed on park trails; trained service animals are permitted.

The route climbs steadily through lodgepole pine, spruce and fir. At about half a mile, turn right onto Eugenia Mine Trail. The grade eases as the path reaches a footbridge over Inn Brook; the historic mine site is about 1.4 miles from the start. Look for a crumbling log homestead, a rusting boiler by the creek and mine tailings upstream. The shaft is sealed, so stay out of the workings.

From the mine, the trail drops toward Moore Park. At about 1.7 miles, pass the spur to Moore Park Backcountry Campsite; shortly after, ignore the branch toward private property and keep left on the Estes Cone route. The climb steepens as you head northwest. At Storm Pass, around 2.6 miles in, continue straight onto Estes Cone Trail. The right-hand route heads toward Lily Lake, a different approach; the left drops toward Bear Lake Road.

Beyond the pass, the forest thins to limber pines, roots and small boulders. The final two-thirds of a mile gains close to 800 feet. Parts of the tread are faint, so follow the cairns and pay attention at the rock. A lower perch gives you a good view without the final scramble; the true summit takes careful scrambling beside the rock wall. Stop at the perch if that move is outside your comfort zone. In summer, start early to reduce your time on the summit in the afternoon thunderstorm window.

The summit opens in every direction: Longs Peak and Mount Meeker to the south, Hallett Peak and the Continental Divide beyond, the Mummy Range, and the Estes Valley to the north. For a useful photo, include a little of the summit rock in the foreground and frame Longs Peak rather than filling the shot with distant ridges.

Estes Cone looks volcanic, but its shape comes from erosion and its separation from the surrounding mountains. The Eugenia Mine is a different kind of story: a short-lived copper-and-gold prospect. Local accounts describe a family homestead by the creek and a piano hauled in by wagon; the visible remains are the old structure, boiler and tailings, not an open mine.