Lily Lake/Lily Ridge Trail

The Trail
This easy loop trail is 1.3 miles long (round trip) with a 192 foot elevation change. The elevation changes occur while hiking up and down the ridge, but the rest of the trail is pretty flat. We started by hiking north and going up the ridge first, so that is the route reflected in the elevation graph below. The trail follows the ridge, then heads back down to the lake. At this point we continued around the Lily Lake Trail to the south side of the lake.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

 

Trail in Google Earth

Alternatively, hikers not wishing to climb up the ridge trail could simply continue along the trail circling the lake instead, which is about a 0.8 mile loop. 

Looking back on the trail ascending the ridge

Looking down at the lake from the ridge

We found lots of interesting plants and animals around the lake.

Boulder Raspberry

Boulder Raspberry fruits forming

  

Yellow Stonecrop

 

Colorado Columbine

Male Red-winged Blackbird

We even saw a couple muskrats swimming toward then diving under the boardwalk.

There were a lot of Tree Swallows and Violet-green Swallows flying about.

Tree Swallow

Tree Swallow

Looking toward the ridge from across the lake

Directions
This trail is located in Rocky Mountain National Park, which is next to Estes Park in Larimer County, Colorado. To get there, take St. Vrain Ave./CO-7 from Estes Park just under 7 miles to Lily Lake. Alternatively, take US-36/Moraine Ave. east from Estes Park and turn left onto Mary's Lake Rd. When you reach St. Vrain Ave./CO-7, turn right and continue to Lily Lake.