Bisected by the Continental Divide, the park is home to 60 peaks with summit elevations above 12,000 feet. Forests fill the valleys below these high peaks, where rivers carry snowmelt downstream and keen eyes may spy elk, moose, and bears in summer meadows.

The northernmost of Colorado's 14ers is also the only one found in the park, so it makes sense that Longs Peak is a popular destination for peakbaggers. The traditional path to the summit follows the Keyhole Route, a grueling 15-mile round-trip trek that gains roughly 5,000 feet in elevation and requires scrambling on exposed, rocky slopes and ledges. Those endeavoring to reach the top need to be prepared for a variety of weather conditions and the effects of high elevation.

The mighty river that eventually flows through the Grand Canyon gets its start here, high in the Rocky Mountains. Flowing down from La Poudre Pass, the Colorado River is narrow enough to rock-hop across in spots, its cold and clear waters a far cry from the sediment-laden rapids found downstream in Utah and Arizona. The Colorado River Trail heads upstream from Trail Ridge Road, winding through lodgepole pines that line the banks.

Glacier Creek tumbles 30 feet down a series of cascades, easily seen along the trail that climbs up to Loch Vale and its three alpine lakes: The Loch, Lake of Glass, and Sky Pond. Trailheads along Bear Lake Road provide access to Alberta Falls, but the Bear Lake area is one of the most popular spots in the park. Take a shuttle to avoid parking hassles, or time your hike to avoid weekend and midday traffic on trail.

It's easy to see how this lake got its name, ringed by sublapine forest and reflecting the craggy summit of Hallett Peak above. Getting this view requires a one mile hike up from Bear Lake with 425 feet of elevation gain. Take note: Bear Lake is one of the most popular spots in the park. Take a shuttle to avoid parking hassles, or time your hike to avoid weekend and midday traffic on trail.

This high mountain pass is home to the Alpine Visitor Center which, at 11,796 feet above sea level, is the highest visitor center in the national park system. Two roads climb to Fall River Pass from the park's eastern lowlands. Trail Ridge Road, is the main through route across the park and the highest continuous paved road in the country, topping out at 12,183 feet before descending to the pass. Old Fall River Road provides a quieter but unpaved ascent to the high country.

Tucked away from the park's most popular hiking trails and scenic views, Lumpy Ridge rises north of Estes Park and is a prime destination for rock climbers. If you're not a climber, there are still hiking trails that loop over and around the ridge. Hike up the eastern end to Gem Lake, a scenic pool nestled back in the rocky spires.

If summiting Longs Peak seems too tall a task but you still want to be close to this iconic mountain, the trail to Chasm Lake could be the perfect choice. It's still no walk in the park (4.1 miles one way; 2,500 feet of elevation gain), but it's not as taxing as reaching the top of the mountain and there's a marked trail for the entirety of the route. From the lake shore, you can admire the Diamond: the sheer eastern face of Longs Peak.