Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
A steep east-side crossing into open tundra.
Overview
The route passes the Ute Meadow backcountry campsite, about 2.7 miles from the start, then continues to the open upper ridge. Here the trail crosses rock-strewn tundra with wide views over Forest Canyon and Hayden Gorge toward the Continental Divide. Timberline Pass is marked by a tall rock outcrop, not a built overlook. For a shorter walk on the upper trail, go from Ute Trail parking to Timberline Pass and back; that’s about 3.8 miles and a separate out-and-back.
Parkwolf’s verdictThe high country is the payoffMap & elevation
Plan your hike
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Rocky Mountain Tour Guide
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
Upper Beaver Meadows: A Picnic Below the Divide“You're nearing Upper Beaver Meadows, a good place to stop for a packed lunch with the Continental Divide behind the grassland.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Rocky Mountain Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“…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
Ute Trail East is a 6.1-mile point-to-point hike from Upper Beaver Meadows Trailhead to Ute Trail parking on Trail Ridge Road. It gains about 3,300 feet and is difficult, with steep stretches. Allow around six hours on the trail and sort out the return before you start; there’s no loop back to your car.
Start at Upper Beaver Meadows Trailhead, at the end of the gravel road off US 36; bathrooms are listed there, but water isn’t. Finish at Ute Trail parking on Trail Ridge Road. That road has seasonal vehicle access, so check access before relying on a pickup. Pets are prohibited on all Rocky Mountain National Park trails, tundra and meadows.
Wildlife
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.
Keep exploring
ModerateUpper Beaver Meadows Loop5 mi · 3.5 hr · At the trailheadA five-mile loop climbs from meadow to broad Longs Peak views.
EasyLittle Horseshoe Park Loop3.9 mi · 2 hr · 1 mi awayA gentle meadow loop with open Mummy Range views.
ChallengingDeer Mountain Trail6.2 mi · 3.5 hr · 1 mi awayEarly meadow views lead to a steep climb and broad summit panorama.
ModerateCub Lake Trail4.6 mi · 3.5 hr · 1.2 mi awayA meadow crossing and aspen climb lead to a lily-pad lake.
ModerateOdessa Lake via Fern Lake Trail9.8 mi · 6 hr · 1.5 mi awayTwo alpine lakes, a cascade and a serious climb from Fern Lake.
ModerateCub Lake–The Pool Loop6.1 mi · 3.5 hr · 1.5 mi awayPair a lily-covered lake with a creek-carved pool.
ModerateFern Falls Trail5.1 mi · 3 hr · 1.5 mi awayArch Rocks and The Pool earn the long walk to Fern Falls.
ChallengingGrace Falls Viewpoint Trail12 mi · 7.5 hr · 1.5 mi awayA long high-country hike for a view of Grace Falls.
Picnic area · 0.5 mi awayUpper Beaver Meadows Picnic AreaA quiet roadside picnic with the Continental Divide in view.
Campground · 1 mi awayMoraine Park CampgroundElk bugles sometimes carry across camp on autumn nights.
Sight · 1.3 mi awayMany Parks Curve OverlookThe lowland parks and Longs Peak line up from this roadside curve.
Sight · 1.6 mi awayMoraine ParkAn open glacial meadow with elk beneath Longs Peak and the Divide.
Sight · 1.6 mi awayDeer MountainThe last steep steps open onto a wide Front Range panorama.
Entrance station · 1.8 mi awayBeaver Meadows EntranceClosest entrance from Estes Park, with passes sold at the gate.
Visitor center · 1.9 mi awayMoraine Park Discovery CenterA former lodge with hands-on exhibits above Moraine Park.
Scenic pullout · 2.1 mi awayWest Horseshoe Park PulloutA quick stop for meadow views beneath the Mummy Range.Parkwolf’s Rocky Mountain ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
