Flattop Mountain
| Trail Features: | Outstanding Views |  |
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| Trail Location: | Bear Lake | ||||
| Roundtrip Length: | 8.9 Miles | ||||
| Trailhead Elevation: | 9475 Feet | ||||
| Total Elevation Gain: | 2850 Feet | ||||
| Avg. Elev Gain / Mile: | 640 Feet | ||||
| Highest Elevation: | 12,324 Feet | ||||
| Trail Difficulty Rating: | 14.60 (strenuous) | ||||
| Parking Lot Latitude | 40.31196 | ||||
| Parking Lot Longitude | -105.64581 | ||||
Trail Description:
The hike to Flattop Mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park begins from the Bear Lake Trailhead, located at the end of Bear Lake Road, 9 miles from the turn-off at Highway 36. Due to the extreme popularity of the area you may want to consider using the free park shuttle to access the trailhead during the peak season.
From the trailhead hikers will immediately make a right turn onto the Bear Lake Loop Trail. After a short walk along the eastern shore of Bear Lake you'll make another right turn onto the trail that leads towards Flattop Mountain. From here the trail passes through a pleasant aspen grove as it begins ascending the slopes of the Bierstadt Moraine.
Roughly one-half mile from the trailhead you'll reach the trail that leads to Bierstadt Lake and the Mill Creek Basin. Hikers should turn left at this junction to continue towards Flattop Mountain. From here the route begins heading due west. As it climbs higher you'll enjoy spectacular views of Longs Peak, the Keyboard of the Winds, Pagoda Peak and Chiefs Head Peak as you look towards the south.
At just over one mile from the trailhead hikers will arrive at the Flattop Mountain Trail junction, which forks off to the left and begins ascending the eastern slopes of the mountain.
According to Rocky Mountain National Park: A History, the Arapaho and Ute Indians likely traveled across the park using east-west routes such as Trail Ridge, Forest Canyon, Fall River and Flattop Mountain in order to reach their traditional hunting grounds on the Great Plains. The Arapaho Indians called the Flattop Mountain corridor "The Big Trail". At one time the Flattop Mountain Trail was also known as the Grand Trail. A pathway was formally constructed in 1925, was rehabilitated by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1940, and is now currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Once on the Flattop Mountain Trail the grade steepens, and becomes moderately strenuous for much of the remainder of the route. Roughly 1.7 miles from the trailhead, at an elevation of 10,480 feet, hikers will reach the Dream Lake Overlook where you'll enjoy magnificent views of Longs Peak. This is also a great place to take an extended break.
At 2.4 miles, and an elevation of roughly 11,000 feet, hikers will finally emerge above the treeline and enter the scrub pine / krummholz zone. At this point outstanding panoramic views will also begin to emerge, especially towards the east where you'll be able to see Bierstadt Lake, Sprague Lake and much of the Glacier Basin area.
At 3 miles you'll arrive at the Emerald Lake Overlook. Standing more than 1200 feet above the lake, this vantage point also offers stunning views. Off to your right, towards the southwest, is Hallett Peak. From this perch the trail begins to transition into the more barren and rocky terrain of the open tundra.
Just below the summit of Flattop Mountain, roughly 3.9 miles from the trailhead, hikers will reach a horse hitch rack where you'll enjoy great views of Hallett Peak and Tyndall Glacier. From this point you'll have less than 200 feet of climbing left to reach the top. You'll also notice that the slope begins to become progressively shallower, and almost levels out over the last third-of-a-mile.
The Flattop Mountain Trail dead ends at the junction with the North Inlet and Tonahutu Creek trails. Although there are no signs indicating that you're at the top, this is usually recognized as the summit of Flattop Mountain. At this junction, roughly 4.45 miles from the Bear Lake Trailhead, you'll be standing at an elevation of 12,324 feet. The views from this expansive plateau are simply outstanding. Towards the south is 12,713-foot Hallett Peak, towards the north is 12,129-foot Notchtop Mountain and the Mummy Range, and looking towards the northwest is 12,363-foot Ptarmigan Point with the Never Summer Range in the far off distance.
If not interested in hiking the additional seven-tenths of a mile, and climbing another 389 feet to reach the summit of Hallett Peak, you will have the option of hiking roughly one-quarter of a mile south towards the Tyndall Glacier, which will give you a spectacular view of the Tyndall Gorge. Hopefully it goes without saying, but it would be an extremely bad idea to step foot anywhere near the glacier.
Hikers should always be aware of lightning risk while hiking in the Rocky Mountains, especially at higher elevations. As a general rule of thumb you should plan to be off the summit before noon in order to avoid the notorious afternoon thunderstorms that frequent the Rockies during the summer months. Hikers should also be prepared for extreme sun exposure, wind, cool temperatures, and rapidly changing weather conditions while on the trail. Make sure you have the proper gear with you, and know what safety precautions you need to consider beforehand.
