Parking
Use the Hidden Valley Parking Area on Trail Ridge Road (US 34), roughly seven miles from the park’s eastern entrances. Restrooms are close to the lot.
Overview
About Hidden Valley Nature Trail
Why go
- A quick creekside loop with footbridges and interpretive signs.
Heads up
- Very short, so it works best as a stop while you are already in Hidden Valley.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Rocky Mountain map
Full mapElevation9,396–9,473 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
3 active Rocky Mountain alerts
- ClosureOld Fall River Road closed to vehiclesOld Fall River Road is closed to motor vehicles for the season.Official details
- ClosureSun Valley burn-area access remains closedThe area and trail west of Sun Valley Trail remain closed, including the route used for angler access to the Colorado River, because of impacts from the 2020 East Troublesome and Cameron Peak Fires;…Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Rocky Mountain Tour Guide
Your drive to Hidden Valley Nature Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Rocky Mountain National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Rocky Mountain audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Hidden Valley: A Former Ski Hill0:00 / 0:33
“Hidden Valley is coming up, a former ski area that's now a relaxed stop for snow play or a creekside break. In winter, the park's only designated sledding hill has short, gentle runs suited to younger kids.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Rocky Mountain Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- One Aspen, Many Trunks
- Isabella Bird Writes Home
- Rainbow Curve Above Horseshoe Park
- Beaver Ponds: A Wetland Left by Dams
- 79 audio storiesacross Rocky Mountain’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Elk, Moose, Mountain Goat, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 136 trails, 88 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“…No cell service for majority of the day but had continuous access to the app - the maps, the tour guide as you drive is amazing. Highly recommend purchasing the subscription.”
Trail guide
Hiking Hidden Valley Nature Trail
A short walk beside Hidden Valley CreekHidden Valley Nature Trail is an easy loop of about half a mile from the Hidden Valley Parking…
Hidden Valley Nature Trail is an easy loop of about half a mile from the Hidden Valley Parking Area. It follows the creek through a meadow and conifers, crossing the water on footbridges and passing interpretive signs. Allow about 30 minutes. I’d use it as a quick nature break while you’re already at Hidden Valley; it’s too short to build a day around.
Follow the creekWalk counterclockwise from the lot: head north over the footbridge, follow the creek west,…
Walk counterclockwise from the lot: head north over the footbridge, follow the creek west, cross it again, then head east back to the parking area. The creek, bridges and signs give you a few things to pause for on a short, easy walk. Picnic tables sit beside the creek if you want to stay awhile.
A former ski areaHidden Valley operated as Rocky’s ski hill until it closed in 1992; the facilities were removed…
Hidden Valley operated as Rocky’s ski hill until it closed in 1992; the facilities were removed by 2002. The park later reopened the area for winter sledding and summer picnics. A separate 2.2-mile Hidden Valley backcountry route is used for skiing; its distance and climb describe a different outing.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Rocky Mountain
3,124 sightingsElkMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
1,601 sightingsMooseMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
19 sightingsMountain GoatMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
19 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
30 sightingsGolden EagleMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
270 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 11 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Rocky Mountain. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
