by Rick McCharles
As besthike editor I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve never hiked in Colorado.
Until now.
I’m en route to Estes Park.
I’ve got a couple of weeks … Where should I hike?
The only MUST DO on my list is Maroon Bells.
Best hikes, treks, tramps in the world.
besthike.com 
If you’re heading toward Estes Park, you’re sort of going in the wrong direction; the Bells are outside Aspen which is 7 hrs away.
But no matter … you’ll be in the jumping off point for Rocky Mt Nat Park, which in some ways is better. Estes is clogged with tourist cars in the summer, esp weekends, so the main advice is to minimize your time in town.
Here’s the general scoop:
* Colorado is by far the highest state; it’s hot down low now, so you will go high; don’t worry about it, just breath a lot.
* Unlike the Sierra’s and Cascades, expect rain in the afternoon, usually briefly, sometimes violently. Locals are on the trail by 6am; visitors aren’t and get killed by lightning (which is OK by us).
* RMNP has outstanding rock, so climbing and scrambling are great; the Elks (outside Aspen) have terrible rock (same as around Banff), but much better wildflowers.
* To a Coloradoan, the San Juans are actually the creme de la creme. We don’t like to tell anyone that, we want it for ourselves, but I’m telling you. Hint: take the train to start your hike.
Above Estes Park:
* Bear Lake is hike central for RMNP. If you get a late start (don’t do that) you’ll take the free shuttle.
* Flattop Mt is a good intro 1/2 day hike. Big trail, gets you above timberline, monster views. Note that once on top of the divide, the terrain is surprisingly easy … I hope it occurs to you to hike along the Divide, look at your map, and descend back down to a different trail, thus completing a cool loop.
* Trails like these with big vert are annoying and dangerous with a big pack; go very light.
* For overnights, a cool thing is to walk from Bear Lake over the Divide to Grand Lake, and come back the other way (the two trails will be obvious on a map).
* The other overnight would be to study the map, and do a big loop over Stormy and Mummy passes.
* What you really need to do however, is climb Longs Peak. It’s the best mountain in the state, outside of Wyoming the best in the Rockies. Do not even think of doing an overnight; it would be a total PITA. Instead start at 4 am along with 100 other people Follow them and do what they do … there are some steep spots, but nothing you can’t do. Longs is not a gravel pile; it’s a real mountain; there is a reason it’s one of the most popular 14ers in the state, even though it’s technically about the 5 hardest.
Wow. THANKS BUZZ.
I’ll try Long’s Peak early tomorrow morning.
… Working my way south through the State. En route to Vegas.
Definitely! Great tips, Buzz. Enjoy, Rick.