Parking
Parking is limited along the roadside at Deer Ridge Junction. Deer Mountain is a popular nearby hike, so arrive early for the best chance of finding a space.
Overview
About Little Horseshoe Park Loop
Why go
- Gentle grade with a short meadow circuit
- Open views toward the Mummy Range
- Potential wildlife and spring wildflowers
Heads up
- Limited roadside parking at Deer Ridge Junction
- The meadow loop shares trail with horses
This easy lollipop hike starts at Deer Ridge Junction, follows a gentle approach down to Little Horseshoe Park, circles a small meadow loop, then returns the same way. Plan for 3.9 miles round trip and about two hours, with 472 feet of gain reported for the route. The detailed directions give 3.9 miles; the current mapped centerline stored here measures about 3.7, so use 3.9 as the planning figure. Expect a forested start and open meadow walking rather than a summit climb.
Parkwolf’s verdictIs this the walk for you?Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Rocky Mountain map
Full mapElevation8,593–8,921 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 Little Horseshoe Park Loop, 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
Deer Mountain: A Half-Day Summit Hike0:00 / 0:28
“You're approaching the Deer Mountain trailhead at Deer Ridge Junction, for a summit view across Estes Park and the mountain ranges.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Rocky Mountain Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Upper Beaver Meadows: A Picnic Below the Divide
- Many Parks Curve: Meadows Below the Peaks
- Bringing the Elk Back
- Sheep Lakes: Watch for Bighorns
- 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 Little Horseshoe Park Loop
Follow the loop clockwiseWalk east from the Deer Mountain trailhead through mature ponderosa pines. At about 0.
Walk east from the Deer Mountain trailhead through mature ponderosa pines. At about 0.1 mile, Deer Mountain Trail branches right; stay left. Take the left at the first junction near 1 mile, then left again near 1.2 miles. At about 1.4 miles, turn left at the Loop Trail Shortcut sign to follow the short circuit clockwise. Around 1.8 miles, turn right onto a dirt service road, leave it after roughly 25 yards, then turn right onto the loop again. At about 2.25 miles, take the right branch; the left goes toward Aspenglen Campground. Once the loop closes just past 2.5 miles, retrace the approach, taking the right at the next two junctions.
From pines to meadowThe trail begins under mature ponderosa pines, then descends gently along Deer Mountain's west…
The trail begins under mature ponderosa pines, then descends gently along Deer Mountain's west slope. Near the meadow edge, northwest views open toward Mt. Chapin, Mt. Chiquita, Ypsilon Mountain, and Fairchild Mountain. The circuit crosses broad grassy openings with views toward the Mummy Range. Late spring and early summer bring wildflowers; elk, mule deer, and Wyoming ground squirrels may also be seen in the meadow.
Deer Ridge ChaletThe trailhead is at the former Deer Ridge Chalet site.
The trailhead is at the former Deer Ridge Chalet site. From 1917 to 1960, the site drew visitors with a lodge, cabins, restaurant, filling station, 50-foot observation tower, and ski run down into Little Horseshoe Park. Rocky Mountain National Park acquired the property in 1960 and removed the structures the following year.
Parking and park rulesParking at Deer Ridge Junction is limited to roadside spaces.
Parking at Deer Ridge Junction is limited to roadside spaces. Deer Mountain is a popular nearby hike, so arriving early gives you the best chance of finding a space. Pets are prohibited on Rocky Mountain National Park trails. Horses use part of this loop, so be ready to share the tread.
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.
