Trails · Estes Park
Lily Mountain Trail
A short, punchy summit hike just off Highway 7 — a steady climb to a rocky 9,786-foot perch with a big, sweeping view of Estes Park, Longs Peak, and the Continental Divide, and it's dog-friendly.
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Lily Mountain is the perfect half-day summit near Estes Park: about two miles up, a thousand-plus feet of gain, and a genuine rocky top with a view far bigger than the effort suggests. From the small pullout on Highway 7, the trail contours north through ponderosa and rock outcrops, mostly gentle at first, with teaser views out over the valley. It sits in the Roosevelt National Forest just outside Rocky Mountain National Park, which means — unlike most Estes-area summits — leashed dogs are welcome.
The last quarter-mile is where it earns its keep: the trail steepens and turns into a fun, hands-on rock scramble to the true summit at about 9,786 feet. From the top the reward opens in every direction — Estes Park and Lake Estes below, the long wall of the Continental Divide, and the unmistakable block of Longs Peak to the southwest. It's popular and the parking is tiny, so come early, and save the scramble for dry conditions.
Trail Facts
Difficulty
Moderate (summit scramble)
Length
~2 mi one-way (~4 mi round trip)
Elevation
8,689 → 9,786 ft
Elevation Gain
~+1,100 ft
Bikes
Not allowed
Stock / Horse
Not allowed
Dogs
Allowed (on leash)
Season
Year-round (traction in winter)
Surface
Dirt & rock
Manager
USFS Canyon Lakes Ranger District
Getting There
From Estes Park, take Colorado Highway 7 south about 6.5 miles; the Lily Mountain trailhead is a small pullout on the west (right) side of the highway. Parking is very limited — a handful of spots — so arrive early, and do not block the highway or private drives. No facilities or water at the trailhead.
| 0.0 mi | Lily Mountain Trailhead — pullout on Hwy 7 |
| 1.0 mi | Gentle contour through ponderosa & rock outcrops with valley views |
| 1.6 mi | Trail steepens toward the summit block |
| 2.0 mi | Summit scramble — ~9,786 ft; Estes Park, Longs Peak & the Divide |
Know Before You Go
- Dog-friendly. Unlike most Estes summits, Lily Mountain is in the National Forest (not RMNP), so leashed dogs are welcome — pack out waste.
- Summit scramble. The final push is a short, hands-on rock scramble — fun in dry conditions, sketchy when wet or icy.
- Tiny trailhead. Only a few parking spots on Highway 7; arrive early and don't block the road or driveways.
- Afternoon storms. The summit is exposed — time your climb to be down before midday thunderstorms in summer.
- Carry water. None on the trail; bring your own.
Built by Many Hands — Give a Little Back
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- Poudre Wilderness Volunteers — trail patrols & the official trail description Donate →
- Colorado Parks & Wildlife / COTREX — the mapped trail route & statewide trail data Donate →
- Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forest (USFS) — the public land itself Support →
- OpenStreetMap contributors — the Street basemap Donate →
- Google & USGS — trailhead location, ratings & topographic maps
Trail details compiled by the Red Feather Lakes Travel Guide from the sources above. Photography by us — more of our own trail images coming as we hike them.