The summit of Twin Sisters in Estes Park is worth the steep trek there. Photo by Brandon Scherzberg
Colorado is the ultimate outdoor-lover’s playground, and nowhere is that better demonstrated than in the nearby kayaking, rock climbing, and hiking gems of Estes Park. Situated a short drive from the touristy bustle of the small downtown area, the Twin Sisters ridge rises up from Lily Lake, running nearly 2 miles along the boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park and offering a short but difficult hike laden with steep switchbacks, twisted trees, and small scree-fields. With two summits, a washout area, and 360-degree views from the top, it’s enough to get your legs firing and remind you that elevation ain’t nothing to mess with. (You can decide afterward if you still want to tackle Long’s Peak at 14,259 feet—or maybe that frosty microbrew in town is officially more your speed.)
Park in the Twin Sisters trailhead parking lot, across the street from Lily Lake and the Jurassic Park climbing area. Photo by Brandon Scherzberg
How to get there: Fly into Boulder Municipal Airport and rent a car if you’re making the long haul. Otherwise it might be smart to make the road trip so you can lug all of your hiking gear with you without going over an airline baggage-weight limit. Drive out to Estes Park, a popular summer resort area chock full of quaint restaurants, tourist shops, and smaller attractions like a movie theater. From there, take Route 7 south up through the mountains for about 15 minutes. You’ll come across two parking lots: one for Lily Lake and one for the Twin Sisters trailhead. Turn into the Twin Sisters lot (which will probably be less crowded than the Lily Lake pullout) and park there.
What to bring: Sturdy hiking boots, lightweight and quick-drying hiking pants and shirts, a heavy fleece or light down layer, wind-blocking rain shells (pants and jacket), a hat, sunglasses, wool socks, hiking poles, and plenty of snacks and water. If you’re making the hike right now, there may still be snow toward the summit, though it’s probably hard-packed. Bring micro-spikes if you have them, snowshoes if you really want to lug them up. Don’t forget the essentials, like your compass and whistle, and sunscreen is a must on face and hands.
Don’t believe the first “summit” you see on Twin Sisters. Photo by Brandon Scherzberg
The stats: 7.2 miles; maximum elevation 11,428 feet; +2,388 feet of elevation gain; moderate to strenuous. No dogs, horses, or bikes allowed.
From the trailhead: Walk the dirt road extending from the upper right of the parking lot until you see the trail’s information sign at the edge of the trees. From here you’ll follow a well-defined trail at a steady incline through the woods for a few miles, eventually reaching a washout section (recent flooding has taken out portions of the trail and created an impressive mudslide down the face of the mountain). Cross the slide carefully and climb upward until you spot a rock cairn (a manmade tower of rocks). This is your sign to dip back into the woods, but keep in mind that this may change by the time you do the hike. You’ll cross back over the slide and continue up steep switchbacks through the trees until you break out of the treeline to a scree-filled path, a small saddle, and a short scrambling route. Don’t believe the first summit you see! Make it to the west peak for your summit view, and if you’re feeling frisky, scramble up to the east peak as well. Follow the trail back the way you came.
Bring crampons or micro-spikes if you have them in case there is still a lot of snow toward the peak of Twin Sisters. Photo by Brandon Scherzberg
Instagram-worthy moment: You knew this was coming, but the summit is definitely the most impressive part of the hike. Try out your panorama app for a sweeping 360-degree view of the terrain around you.
Spend the rest of the afternoon: Walking around Lily Lake or climbing in Jurassic Park, perhaps tackling the classic mixed rock-climbing route Edge of Time. You could also drive out to Rocky Mountain National Park for some fun bouldering and shorter hikes if your legs aren’t too sore.
Refuel at: Chicago’s Best in Estes Park for some no-frills dining and chewy, cheesy pizza, or Grubsteak to chow down on wild game steaks like buffalo, elk, and yak. Wash it down with a local microbrew and top off your culinary Estes Park tour with a milkshake from Yesterday’s Ice Cream Shoppe.
Twin Sisters’ 11,000-plus-foot elevation will prep you for higher local peaks, like Long’s. Photo by Brandon Scherzberg
Hit the hay: If you know where to find Pierson or Johnny Park, set up a tent back there. (Sorry, we’re not mapping it out in order to protect the mellowness back there.) Otherwise, Rocky Mountain National Park offers a few first-come, first-served campgrounds. If you’re looking for a hot shower after a long hike, book a stay at the Wildwood Inn, a rustic mountain lodge bordering Rocky Mountain National Park, or the River Stone Resorts and Bear Paw Suites, where each unit comes with a full kitchen, gas grill, HDTV with cable programming, and even a jetted spa tub.
Do: Watch out for huge herds of elk roaming practically everywhere in Estes Park as you drive through.
Don’t: Mess around with altitude sickness; it can hit you even before you reach 11,000 feet and cause dizziness, headaches, or even vomiting. If you start feeling sick, get down to a lower elevation and drink plenty of water. Remember: The mountain will still be there tomorrow if you can’t make it up today.
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