What is your fitness level, what elevation are you coming from, how strenuous do you want, what do you want to see? Your going to spend 3-4 hours driving through the park, unless you hurry and I don't think your going to have much time for hiking.
When hiking in the mountains get a weather report before you start and plan for possible unexpected afternoon thunderstorms. You don't want to be above treeline in lightning. Most of the storms come from the west side of the mountains so you may not see them coming. Be sure to take water and other basics. Snow is a possible in September also. Make sure you get a map and check the trail descriptions. Also visit mikes hikes for descriptions of most or all of the trails there.
Bear lake is a very easy and scenic trail that goes around high altitude bear lake.
There's another trail, not sure of the trail, but you start at bear lake and go up to flattop mountain and then hike along the top of the mountain. Once you get there hike over to Hallett peak. This is more strenuous with about 3k feet elevation gain. Recommend starting very early in the morning, ie at or before sunrise.
There is a short fairly easy hike from just before bear lake that goes to Alberta Falls. It's a roaring falls that's pretty cool. Be careful around the edges of the river. The trail goes on past the falls and connects to other trails.
There is a trail in the south east corner of the park that starts at wild basin trailhead. It follows a river up to Copeland falls. Further up it branches to the left and goes to Calypso falls, Ouzel falls and if you keep going bluebird lake i think. If your blasting through the park it may be out of the way.
Fern lake trail is nice. The lawn lake trail is supposed to be nice, but I think there is a lot of elevation gain. On the west side there is the colorado river trail and the north inlet trail near grand lake. Stop and see the beaver ponds if you have a few minutes and stop at the boulder field (you'll know it when you see it).
If you go to maroon belles you can hike around the lake as far as you want. If you make it around the lake you can continue on the trail to the second lake. The belles are rumored to be the most photographed spot in colorado.
There are tons of trails in the national forests and you will be spending a lot of driving through them. If you see one that looks interesting stop and check it out.
Think about just spending three nights in Estes Park or two in Estes and head down the west side to Frisco/Dillon or Breckenridge. Estes is literally right at the entrance to the park. There's so much to see and do around frisco/dillon, breckenridge isnt far, vail isn't far, there's loveland pass, Leadville and the mines. The drive from Estes Park down to 70 on 7, 72, 119 is very scenic, then take 6, the old road through the mountains into golden. You probably save some time from Vail taking 9 out of Dillon up to 40. The pass on 40 over to Winterpark is OK, but most of the trip from 70 to Grand Lake is kinda boring for Colorado if you ask me. I'd go the shortest way.
Vail is going to be an expensive stay, the best western in Frisco is nice and much cheaper. For food I really like the ore house (steak) in Vail. They have a tram you can take up the mountain. You can hike down if you want. If you stay in frisco there are some places to eat downtown. There's a pub that's really good there, I think it's Ollies.
When hiking in the mountains get a weather report before you start and plan for possible unexpected afternoon thunderstorms. You don't want to be above treeline in lightning. Most of the storms come from the west side of the mountains so you may not see them coming. Be sure to take water and other basics. Snow is a possible in September also. Make sure you get a map and check the trail descriptions. Also visit mikes hikes for descriptions of most or all of the trails there.
Bear lake is a very easy and scenic trail that goes around high altitude bear lake.
There's another trail, not sure of the trail, but you start at bear lake and go up to flattop mountain and then hike along the top of the mountain. Once you get there hike over to Hallett peak. This is more strenuous with about 3k feet elevation gain. Recommend starting very early in the morning, ie at or before sunrise.
There is a short fairly easy hike from just before bear lake that goes to Alberta Falls. It's a roaring falls that's pretty cool. Be careful around the edges of the river. The trail goes on past the falls and connects to other trails.
There is a trail in the south east corner of the park that starts at wild basin trailhead. It follows a river up to Copeland falls. Further up it branches to the left and goes to Calypso falls, Ouzel falls and if you keep going bluebird lake i think. If your blasting through the park it may be out of the way.
Fern lake trail is nice. The lawn lake trail is supposed to be nice, but I think there is a lot of elevation gain. On the west side there is the colorado river trail and the north inlet trail near grand lake. Stop and see the beaver ponds if you have a few minutes and stop at the boulder field (you'll know it when you see it).
If you go to maroon belles you can hike around the lake as far as you want. If you make it around the lake you can continue on the trail to the second lake. The belles are rumored to be the most photographed spot in colorado.
There are tons of trails in the national forests and you will be spending a lot of driving through them. If you see one that looks interesting stop and check it out.
Think about just spending three nights in Estes Park or two in Estes and head down the west side to Frisco/Dillon or Breckenridge. Estes is literally right at the entrance to the park. There's so much to see and do around frisco/dillon, breckenridge isnt far, vail isn't far, there's loveland pass, Leadville and the mines. The drive from Estes Park down to 70 on 7, 72, 119 is very scenic, then take 6, the old road through the mountains into golden. You probably save some time from Vail taking 9 out of Dillon up to 40. The pass on 40 over to Winterpark is OK, but most of the trip from 70 to Grand Lake is kinda boring for Colorado if you ask me. I'd go the shortest way.
Vail is going to be an expensive stay, the best western in Frisco is nice and much cheaper. For food I really like the ore house (steak) in Vail. They have a tram you can take up the mountain. You can hike down if you want. If you stay in frisco there are some places to eat downtown. There's a pub that's really good there, I think it's Ollies.
