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Lawn Lake Trail

Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
 4.6 (29)
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. …Front Range
  4. …Rocky Mountain National Park
  5. Trail Ridge Road
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“A wonderful, moderate trail through a historically flooded drainage. ”

Brian Smith
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6.3

Miles

10.2

KM

Point to Point

10,997' 3,352 m

High

8,549' 2,606 m

Low

2,448' 746 m

Up

0' 0 m

Down

7%

Avg Grade (4°)

18%

Max Grade (10°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Description

From the Lawn Lake Trailhead, this trail immediately starts to ascend the southern flank of Bighorn Mountain through a series of switchbacks. At about the one mile mark, the grade lessens and the trail contours toward the Roaring River Drainage.

You'll hike into the drainage and follow it, through occasional switchbacks and steeper sections, for the remainder of the trail. Evidence of damage from the 1982 Lawn Lake flood is still apparent along Roaring River. Eventually you'll reach a junction with Black Canyon Trail at which point you've covered just over 5.5 miles. Continue past the junction for another half a mile or so to the terminus at Lawn Lake.

From here, you have the option of following the Crystal Lake Trail (1.5 miles) to Crystal Lake.

In the summer of 2016, Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) teamed up with the National Park Service (NPS) to restore this trail which sustained significant damage during the September 2013 floods. To learn more about VOC's Lawn Lake Trail Restoration project, click here.

Contacts

Local Club: Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC)

Nov 26, 2025: Celebrating the Heart of Colorado’s Outdoors: Highlights from VOC’s 2025 Awards & Appreciation

Nov 5, 2025: From Student to Founder: How One Teen's Inspiration Led to the Birth of a Trail Cleanup Nonprofit in Colorado

Oct 2, 2025: Celebrating National Public Lands Day with VOC Volunteers Across Colorado

Land Manager: National Park Service - Rocky Mountain National Park

Shared By:

Brian Smith
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.6 from 29 votes

#1

in Trail Ridge Road

#137

Overall
  4.6 from 29 votes
5 Star
69%
4 Star
21%
3 Star
10%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#1

in Trail Ridge Road

#36

in Colorado

#137

Overall
5 Views Last Month
4,203 Since Jan 11, 2015
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
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Add a Photo

Photos

Start of Big Thompson with permission from dreamer 200
Jan 11, 2015 near Estes Park, CO
Beautiful! A very special place.
Apr 28, 2018 near Estes Park, CO
Staggering vistas along Lawn Lake Trail. with permission from dreamer 200
Jan 11, 2015 near Estes Park, CO
Waterfall along the Lawn Lake Trail. with permission from dreamer 200
Jan 11, 2015 near Estes Park, CO
A curious marmot comes to check me out along the Lawn Lake Trail.
Jul 4, 2017 near Estes Park, CO
The bridge across Roaring River has been rebuilt, providing easy access to the Ypsilon Trail.
Jul 4, 2017 near Estes Park, CO

1 Comment

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

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Check-Ins

Aug 24, 2024
Brad Costa
Sep 7, 2022
Robert Luck
The higher you get the less intimidating the water flow in the Roaring River.
Jun 7, 2022
James Essex
Apr 30, 2022
Private User
Sep 20, 2021
Carol Case
2mi
Aug 14, 2021
Donald Blake
Very rocky in areas. No scrambling or bouldering but will hurt the feet. 14.7mi
Jun 14, 2021
Makes your booty shake .
Aug 7, 2020
Alex Munoz
Camped out at cutbank after a 3 hour hike, slept then made a 7 hour hike up to lawn lake. drop your gear and go see crystal lake; pack lightly. 6.3mi

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