Rocky Mountain National Park's Aspen Brook Trail

Aspen Brook Trail

Description:
The Aspen Brook Trail begins at its intersection with the Storm Pass Trail at an elevation of 8,900 feet and descends to an elevation of 8,273 feet at the boundary of the Park. You access the trail via the Storm Pass Trail from Lily Lake. The Storm Pass Trail begins just south of the lake. The Aspen Brook Trail begins about a quarter mile from the beginning of the Storm Pass Trail.

The trail makes a steady descent to the north through spruce and lodgepole pine along Aspen Brook. The stream is generally dry along the upper reaches of the trail. You'll start to hear the stream as you travel farther down the valley. This trail is generally soft and sandy, easy on the feet. It travels along a meadow with aspen along the stream about half way down the trail. There are some horse hitch racks at the upper end of the meadow. You get good views of Ypsilon Mountain, Fairchild Mountain, Hague Peak, and Mummy Mountain from this area. The trail becomes an old road just past the meadow. This road passes through an area of old boarded up buildings. It soon reaches the Park boundary marking the end of the trail.

Features:

Length:	1.74 miles (2.8 kilometers)
Elevation Range:	8,273' - 8,900'
Elevation change:	676 feet
Season:	May 1 - Dec 1
Difficulty:	Easy to moderate
Use:	Low
USGS maps:	Longs Peak
Trailheads:	Lily Lake
Restrictions:	No pets are permitted
Suitable for mountain bikes:	No (not permitted)
Suitable for horses:	Yes

Vicinity Map

Altitude Profile

Directions:
The Aspen Brook Trail begins from the Storm Pass Trail. The Storm Pass Trail begins about .3 miles south of the Lily Lake parking area. Take Highway 7 south from Estes Park for about 6.2 miles to the Lily Lake Trailhead. Take the south loop of the Lily Lake Trail to where it turns west. Continue south to the end of an open area. The Storm Pass Trail begins at the southwest end of the open area. Follow the Storm Pass Trail for about a quarter mile to the Aspen Brook Trail.

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