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Mount Ida Hike – One of Rocky Mountain National Park’s Most Famous Hikes
Mount Ida is one of the national park’s top hikes. This is a difficult out and back hike at 9.3 miles with a 2,358 feet elevation change. The trailhead is near Poudre Lake. There is limited parking near the trail so arrive early to beat the crowds. The trail runs in-between the two continental drain divides. Plan ahead and be aware of the weather because afternoon thunderstorms can roll in quickly.
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Mount Ida Hike Breakdown
Length: 9.3 Miles
Elevation Gain: 2,358 ft
Route: Out & Back
Moderatly Trafficked
Not Pet Friendly
Difficulty: Hard
Getting to the Mount Ida Trail
Poudre Lake
Mount Ida trailhead is located on the north end of Rocky Mountain National Park. Look for Poudre Lake on your park map or on google maps. Once you reach Poudre Lake you will notice a large parking lot with signs and bathrooms. Arrive early to beat the crowds and ensure a parking spot. We arrived around 10:00 AM on a Monday morning, the main parking lot was full, so we adventure just a block down the road to some smaller off-the-road parking lots that had a few spots open.
Mount Ida Hike Tips
- Bring Plenty of Water
- Start your hike early to avoid getting caught in an afternoon thunderstorm.
- Wear good quality Hiking Boots
- Recommended times to Hike – Summer
- This is a steep hike at a high elevetion, take your time and drink water to avoid altitude sickness.
Mount Ida Hike Packing Guide
- Osprey Hydration Pack
- Rain Coat
- Sunscreen
- Headlamp
- Hiking Boots
- Food/Snacks – Think! High Protein Bar
- Extra pair of Socks
- Map
- Camera
- Toilet Paper
- Hat/Sunglass
*Good hiking boots are essential for this hike. You will come across many different types of terrains including technical rock scrambling.
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Mount Ida Trail & The Continental Divide
Mount Ida trail runs along the Continental Divide. The Continental Divide is a line that determines the drainage direction to the surrounding oceans. The line runs from Alaska all the way through the Americas and ending at the most southern point in Chile, South America.
The Journey
Tundra Landscape
A Tundra landscape implies there are very few trees, short growing seasons, and harsh winters. You will notice some pine trees to start but once you hike up toward Mount Ida the landscape transforms to bare lands with few trees and green grass. Rocky Mountain National Park reminds me of Ireland’s lush green landscape, mixed with rugged Colorado mountains.
Wildlife
During our hike to the summit of Mount Ida, we saw a variety of wildlife, including, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, mice, and whistle pigs. The most stunning was the bighorn sheep, standing near the peak of the summit looking over the horizon. This was an absolutely amazing animal to see in its natural habitat.
Wildflowers
There weren’t too many wildflowers along the trail because of the harsh tundra terrain, but near the summit, there were unexpected fields of yellow flowers. These small flowers were bright and painted the mountainside with a bright yellow color.
Rocks
On your way to the summit at the last 1-mile incline, you will encounter some rocks. You will have to do some scrambling and keep a close eye on where the trail is to ensure you stay on track. There will be stacked rocks for trail markers along the way. Amongst the grey, black, and bright green mossy rocks you will find some hidden white rocks with gorgeous detail.
Lakes + Glaciers
The Mount Ida hike is at a high elevation so even in the summer months, you will still find large glaciers. The white snow contrasts gorgeously amongst the lush green grass. Once you reach the summit of Mount Ida you will see many turquoise green lakes in the valleys below.
Picnic at the Summit
We timed our hike perfectly with lunchtime hitting right when we summited Mount Ida. We stopped in Estes Park before heading into the National Park to pick up some Subway sandwiches. The sandwiches hit the spot after working up quite the appetite hiking to the summit.
Mount Ida Peak
Mount Ida’s peak sits at 12,874-feet above elevation. Before reaching the peak you will have a steep climb for about half a mile to reach the peak. The high altitude makes the climb a bit more difficult but it is a great workout and totally worth the views when reaching the top. There are 360° views of the vast surrounding mountains, lakes, and glaciers.
Another Great Colorado Hike – Crag Crest
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