If needed, an outhouse is located here as well. 3.3 miles into the hike you reach the trail junction. Overflow parking tends to line the road as you approach the parking lot. This hike is only eight and a half miles, but doesn’t include the same level of incline. Chasm Lake is amazing!! The trail climbs steadily uphill and in the forest for the first 2.0 to 2.5 miles or so. John Wesley Powell, along with several others including William Byers, the founder of Rocky Mountain News, would make the first ascent of Longs Peak in 1868. During the summer months, afternoon thunderstorms are common, typically occurring by 2 pm. AT THE FEET OF THE GIANT: CHASM LAKE AND STORM PEAK: Hike date: Friday, September 2, 2005. Lumpy Ridge is the trailhead for this 3 and a half mile hike, with an elevation gain of 910 feet. This is a tough hike. The Chasm Lake Trail begins from the Longs Peak Trailhead at 9,405 feet, and climbs around 2,500 feet to Chasm Lake at 11,823 feet. Yes, and it's free! Happy hiking!! To reach the trailhead drive 2.1 miles past the Fall River Entrance Station on Highway 34 and turn right onto Endovalley Road. At just over 2.5 miles you'll reach the spur trail that leads to the Battle Mountain Backcountry Campsite (contains one group site). Lady Washington will also come into view at this point as well. This is a tough hike. Chasm Lake, tucked into an alpine cirque below the East Face of 14,259-foot Longs Peak, is one of Rocky Mountain National Park’s most gorgeous lakes.The lake is reached by a one-way, 4.2-mile hike up East Longs Peak Trail and Chasm Lake Trail. Facts About the Hike The melting of Mills Glacier fills Chasm Lake, which feeds Columbine Falls and Roaring Fork, and ultimately fills Peacock Pond. Rain jacket or fleece. Chasm Lake: 448702e 4456613n; ... After a long hike spent mostly daydreaming the miles away, I arrive at camp around 9:30 and take a short nap in the tent before packing up at 10. Compared to the East Longs Peak Trail, the grade along this stretch of trail is much more moderate. Your safety is more important than making it to the lake. If you have plans to spend several days in Rocky Mountain National Park and you are a hiker, this is one of the best trails to put on your to-do list. There were a few spots in clearings or at higher elevations where we got a few bars of LTE or 3G, just enough to send a text message. RELATED: Colorado’s Bluest Lakes! Turn right onto Chasm Lake Trail. To get to the Chasm Lake trail point from Estes Park, you should keep going (driving) at close to 9 miles south on Colorado Highway 7 – heading to the junction for the Longs Peak Ranger point. Ida, 8 Amazing Things to Do in Great Sand Dunes National Park, Best Things to do in Grand Teton National Park, Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim: Planning Guide & Checklist. The hike to Chasm Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park begins from the Longs Peak Trailhead. At the end of this road is a parking lot that can hold approximately 20 cars. Mt. Required fields are marked *. A person in good physical health can hike the trail in 1 minutes in one direction and in 2 minutes in the opposite direction. The first 3.5-mile segment of the ascent goes from the Longs Peak Trailhead and Ranger Station to the Boulder Field on the north side of Longs Peak. When we arrived in the parking lot, at about 6:30 am, every space was filled and there were many cars on the roadside. Once out of the trees, you get panoramic views of the mountains surrounding trail. We saw numerous rock climbers on Longs Peak the day we did this. Hiking shoes. Hiking poles. The snow along the trail has mostly melted out with one exception- the very long stretch over Columbine Falls. So, Tim dropped me and Kara off, and just the two of us hiked to Chasm Lake. Once on the ridge, at about 3.6 miles, you should see a triangle fence marking the split of the East Long's Peak Trail and Chasm Lake Trail. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. In fact, there are very few flat sections or downhill sections as you hike to Chasm Lake. Attempted 5/19/15 Apprx 8.4 miles round trip Apprx 4-5 hr hike depending on snow depth Moderate-Strenuous snowshoe trip +2,450' net gain (11,823' at lake) Snowshoes were required only after a mile or so into the hike. The long distance, elevation gain, and altitude make this a tough hike. Powell, the one-arm Civil War Major, would also become the first person to float the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. There are several trails you can take to Chasm Lake, but when you are in the main area of the park and want to follow the North Longs Peak Trail, the hike is long and arduous. Longs Peak is the highest point in Rocky Mountain National Park. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/the-keyhole-and-longs-peak-trail Continue on Longs Peak Trail for another 0.8 miles to the Chasm Lake Trail. But don’t depend on your phone to call for help, talk to friends, or send photos to friends and family. The Chasm Lake hike offers many of the benefits of a trek to Longs Peak, but with a little less effort required. At Chasm Lake Trail Junction, grab a quick snack and soak in views of Longs 18-acre granite face known as the Diamond. Although there are cairns that follow different routes up this section, your most efficient route will likely be towards the right, heading almost straight up the draw. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It is a steady, uphill hike the entire way. Darkness begins to recede as we reach the 3.5-mile mark, the junction that splits Long’s Peak climbers from the relatively few who continue southwest to Chasm Lake. After 0.5 miles you reach a marked trail junction, keep left on the main trail. Which Ones Will Be Your Favorite? Pack a rain jacket and/or fleece and even another layer of clothing. Find out what we carry in our day packs and what we wear on the trails. The 14,259-foot peak is named after Major Stephen H. Long, who led an expedition across the Great Plains and along the base of the Rockies in 1820. Due to the distance of the Longs Peak hike, most hikers arrive between 3 and 5 am to start their hike. Distance: 8.2 miles Trailhead to Chasm Lake Trail Junction . At roughly 3.4 miles, and an elevation of 11,540 feet, hikers will arrive at the Chasm Lake Trail junction. Then, enjoy the views of Chasm Lake. From the meadow, follow a trail that heads west, and scramble up a break in the rocks to reach the lake. Camera. Beyond the junction the main trail leaves the subalpine zone and begins to ascend Mills Moraine. If this is part of a bigger road trip through the USA, visit our. After a brief walk through the basin the trail begins to climb sharply up the headwall that forms Chasm Lake. Total Ascent: 2,700 feet 11,760′) as the alpenglow spreads across the famous east face of Long’s Peak known as the ‘Diamond’. You may also want to note that car-camping is not allowed in the parking area. We started at 7:00AM and finished about 3:00PM with a lunch break at Chasm Lake. Chasm Lake Hike. The stretch of trail from the edge of the forest to the trail junction for the Keyhole Route is one of the most strenuous of the hike. Trailhead: Longs Peak Trailhead, Rocky Mountain National Park Starting elevation: 9,400 feet; Highest elevation on the hike: 13,326 feet Route: East Longs Peak Trail past Chasm Junction to Chasm Lake … What is the length of the Chasm Lake Trail? If you are new to hiking or are curious about what you should bring on a hike, check out our Hiking Gear Guide. Chasm Lake was a wonderful hike my group of friends did in late July of 2015. For most of this hike we had zero cellular service. At least 3 liters of water in the summer. The hike starts at the Longs Peak Trailhead. Water and snacks. From the junction the Chasm Lake Trail travels southwest along the wall of a deep gorge that offers birds-eye views of Peacock Pool and Columbine Falls as you proceed towards the lake. To get up to Chasm Lake, you will have to climb up a rock fall. In the valley to your left is Peacock Pond. Longs Peak takes its name from Major Stephen Harriman Long, an explorer and inventor who famously led an expedition over the Great Plains. The trail continues to gain elevation while feeding through open tundra filled with jagged rocks and boulders lit by the early morning sunrise. Looking towards the south is 13,911-foot Mount Meeker. Chasm Lake sits at the base of Mount Lady Washington, a 13,281 foot mountain, as well as the east-facing wall of Longs Peak, the … To reach the trailhead from Estes Park drive 8.9 miles south on Colorado Highway 7 to the turnoff for the Longs Peak Ranger Station. While out on the plains, in the distant view, the expedition could see the highest mountain in the northern range. It fills a deep cirque carved from the base of Mt Meeker (13,911'), Longs Peak (14,259') and Mount Lady Washington (13,281'). Is there a Chasm Lake trail map? Meeker. The most direct trail is from East Longs Peak Trailhead. Much of the shoreline around the lake is accessible, however, some minor rock scrambling is required to reach some of the better vantage points. In the photo on the left you can see the trail as it passes above Columbine Falls before ascending the headwall. To get here, take Highway 7 and turn onto Longs Peak Road. Date: August 12, 2017 Miles: 8.43 Elevation Gain: 2,684 ft Start Time: 6:17 am Duration: 5:41 hours. You have covered most of the elevation gain by this point and what lies in front of you are some of the best views in Rocky Mountain National Park. Chasm Lake - 8.4 Miles Round-Trip Chasm Lake is located 4.2 miles from the Longs Peak Trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park. You still have another uphill mile or more until you reach Chasm Junction. Behind you are the Twin Sisters. We probably would have gotten away with also parking on the road but didn’t want to take the chance of getting a ticket. For more than half of this hike you will be exposed to the sun, with very little shade. Yes, and it's free! Although they never entered Rocky Mountain National Park, three members of the expedition would later become the first to climb Pikes Peak. We spoke to a park ranger who stated that the lot can be completely full by 2 am!! Is there a Chasm Falls trail map? Just wanted to add that if anyone wants to shorten their morning hike there is a backcountry campsite along the Longs Peak trail. All rights reserved © Earth Trekkers. From the turnoff drive another mile to the ranger station. There is a parking area at the Rangers Station but it fills up quite quickly especially during the summer months and weekends. Please note that parking is fairly limited, and the lot fills up very early on weekends. The four of us had no desire to arrive by 2 am to get a space. Meeker, Longs Peak and Mt. Your email address will not be published. Chasm Lake – 8.6mi / 13.8km Nestled below the awe-inspiring east face of the famed Longs Peak is the gorgeous Chasm Lake. This section of “trail” ascends for roughly two-tenths of a mile before reaching the top of the wall where you'll finally enjoy your first views of Chasm Lake. Due to the popularity of the hikes from this trailhead, the length of time to reach most destinations, exposure to afternoon thunderstorms, and limited parking, you'll definitely want to arrive as early in the morning as possible, especially on weekends during the summer months. Don’t do this hike in anything other than hiking shoes or hiking boots. Kara and I definitely did the better hike. If this is part of a bigger road trip through the USA, visit our United States Destination Guide for more inspiration and travel planning tips. It is a steady, uphill hike the entire way. In fact, there are very few flat sections or downhill sections as you hike to Chasm Lake. Be prepared to turn around early. Hiking to Chasm Lake. This includes packing out what you bring into the park, be considerate of other hikers, stay on the trail, and do not remove anything from the park. The trail rapidly gains elevation and you will hike up and over massive boulders and stone steps. How long does it take to hike the Chasm Falls Trail? When snow lingers, ascend and descend carefully—do not slide. At least the view is great, as you get closer to Longs Peak. The hike to Chasm Lake is on the way to the top of Longs Peak. Copyright This hike took place on July 16, 2009, a beautiful day. Meanwhile, Tim and Tyler hiked Twin Sisters and then picked us up after their hike. To the right it heads toward Battle Mountain Backcountry Campsite and to the left toward Chasm Lake and East Long's Peak Trail. Do not expect your cell phone to work. You need to be back in the tree line by 2 pm. To the right is Lady Washington and to the left is Mt. Note that you will be following the East Longs Peak Trail for the most part of this trip. So, we split up. We almost confused it with a smaller lake before you climb the last rocky section. Difficulty: Strenuous Trail junctions are well marked with signs throughout the hike. Start the hike early, ideally by 7 am. Ida. The lake shadows the base of the Diamond face of Longs Peak, which towers 2,456 feet above Chasm Lake. Much of the shoreline around the lake is accessible, however, some minor rock scrambling is required to reach some of the better vantage points. Deer Mountain is also a great hike for newbie hikers who want to summit a mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park. From here, I headed to Chasm Lake. A person in good physical health can hike the trail in 39 minutes in one direction and in 30 minutes in the opposite direction. Use extreme caution If you are new to hiking or are curious about what you should bring on a hike, check out our. From the trailhead, hike west up the East Longs Peak Trail. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. How long does it take to hike the Chasm Lake Trail? At your final destination, Chasm Lake ripples with the spurts of wind and Longs Peaks’ monolithic granite stretches 14,259 feet tall into the sky. After a long trail uphill, it was an amazing and breathtaking experience to see the Lake. From the Longs Peak Ranger Station the trail begins a steep climb through a thick forest of lodgepole pine, spruce and fir. The national park website provides additional information on hiking in the Longs Peak area, as well as some general hazards you should be aware of while hiking in the high country. The highest elevation point is 11,823 feet. Chasm Lake is a great place to use the panorama feature. The Keyboard of the Winds is also visible from this vantage point. This is the point where the hike really gets good. Chasm Lake is a 8.4 mile round trip hike that has an elevation gain of almost 2,500 feet. If you still have the energy, plenty of time, and good weather, you'll have the option of continuing on to Battle Mountain, the Boulder Field or the Keyhole. Miles from the trailhead from Estes Park and finished about 3:00PM with a lunch break at Chasm is... 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