Parking
East Inlet Trailhead is at the end of West Portal Road on the east end of Grand Lake. From US 34, turn onto West Portal Road and continue about 2 miles to the trailhead.
Overview
About Spirit Lake via East Inlet Trail
Why go
- Several distinct landmarks, from Adams Falls and East Meadow to alpine lakes.
Heads up
- A 15.6-mile day at altitude, with a rough and hard-to-follow upper section.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Rocky Mountain map
Full mapElevation8,419–10,348 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 Spirit Lake via East Inlet 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
East Inlet: Two Views of Adams Falls0:00 / 0:26
“You're approaching East Inlet Trailhead, the start of the short walk to Adams Falls. Allow thirty to forty-five minutes for about eight-tenths of a mile round trip, with rocky steps and uneven footing near the falls.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Rocky Mountain Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- North Inlet: The Walk to Cascade Falls
- Water Beneath the Mountains
- Kawuneeche Visitor Center: Get Your Bearings
- Harbison Meadows: Lunch at the Sisters' Ranch
- 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 Spirit Lake via East Inlet Trail
A full day, not a quick lake walkSpirit Lake via East Inlet Trail is a 15.
Spirit Lake via East Inlet Trail is a 15.6-mile out-and-back from East Inlet Trailhead, with Spirit Lake about 7.8 miles one way and roughly 1,899 feet of climb on the way in. Allow about 11 to 14 hours for the return trip. The route moves from forest and a waterfall through East Meadow and a chain of lakes before the high-country finish. This is for hikers ready for a very long day at altitude; the easier choice is to turn around at Lake Verna.
From the trailhead to the first lakesA short spur near the start reaches Adams Falls, a stepped cascade about 55 feet high, with…
A short spur near the start reaches Adams Falls, a stepped cascade about 55 feet high, with viewpoints below and above it. The East Inlet route continues through mixed pine and aspen, then skirts the north edge of East Meadow, where the valley opens over East Inlet Creek. Beyond the meadow it climbs the rocky lower slopes of Mount Cairns, passing smaller cascades along the way.
The long climb to Lake VernaLone Pine Lake, about 5.
Lone Pine Lake, about 5.5 miles in, has a granite slab near its southwest shore that makes a natural place to pause. From there the trail climbs toward a saddle and continues to Lake Verna at about 6.9 miles one way. Lake Verna sits at roughly 10,280 feet, with steep, rocky slopes around its long narrow shoreline. Turning back there makes a 13.8-mile round trip, already a substantial hike.
Spirit Lake takes more commitmentLake Verna is the common stopping point.
Lake Verna is the common stopping point. The continuation to Spirit Lake is unimproved and can be hard to follow, so expect a rougher, slower finish and carry a map you can use offline. The park's listed Spirit Lake distance is 7.8 miles one way; stay with the route to that lake rather than following onward paths to other lakes. Pets are prohibited on all Rocky Mountain National Park trails. Carry food and enough water for the full outing; treat water from streams or lakes before drinking.
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.
