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Deer Mountain

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate
 4.3 (46) RECOMMENDED ROUTE
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. …Front Range
  4. …Rocky Mountain National Park
  5. Trail Ridge Road
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“An out-and-back hike to the summit of Deer Mountain. ”

Kristen Arendt
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6.3

Miles

10.1

KM

Out and Back

9,994' 3,046 m

High

8,917' 2,718 m

Low

1,325' 404 m

Up

1,325' 404 m

Down

8%

Avg Grade (5°)

20%

Max Grade (11°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Cave · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Family Friendly Although summiting Deer Mountain might not be doable by every visitor, it's certainly the most attainable prominent peak in the park. Summit elevation 10,013'.

Overview

A rugged hike featuring sweeping views that climbs to the summit of Deer Mountain. Although this hike does have a gradually more challenging ascent, the views more than compensate for the work to get to the summit.

Description

This is one of the more popular hikes in the park as the views from the summit of Deer Mountain are definitely worth the climb to the top. The six-mile round trip hike to the 10,013 ft. summit is a very doable hike for most people.

Starting from the Deer Mountain Trailhead, begin on the Deer Mountain Trail. Stay right at the first junction which is shortly after the trailhead where the North Deer Mountain Trail branches to your left. The next junction will be approximately three miles in where you'll want to take a right onto the Deer Mountain Summit Spur which leads to the summit.

Given the amount of elevation change that occurs along this trail, there are some tight and steep switchbacks to navigate. The views of the surrounding mountains are spectacular along many portions of this trail - especially from the summit where you'll have a 360-degree view of the surrounding peaks of the Continental Divide, Estes Park, and Moraine Park.

Contacts

Land Manager: National Park Service - Rocky Mountain National Park

Shared By:

Kristen Arendt
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.3 from 46 votes

#1

in Trail Ridge Road

#265

Overall
  4.3 from 46 votes
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Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Trail Ridge Road

#63

in Colorado

#265

Overall
23 Views Last Month
7,270 Since Sep 24, 2015
Intermediate
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Photos

Milky Way from the park
Jan 8, 2015 near Estes Park, CO
Rocky Mtn Nat Park with permission from danhester
Jan 8, 2015 near Estes Park, CO
Image of the Fern Lake Fire.
Feb 9, 2015 near Estes Park, CO
Deer Mountain Summit
Aug 13, 2017 near Estes Park, CO
The famous 'Diamond.'
Sep 25, 2015 near Estes Park, CO
Deer Mountain trail run summit panorama
May 6, 2015 near Estes Park, CO

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Check-Ins

Sep 20, 2022
Patty Slattery
Sep 13, 2022
Sava prodanovic
1.5mi — 14h 30m
Jun 9, 2022
Junlong Liu
With Yinuo, Annuo, Fengxia 6mi — 5h 00m
May 18, 2022
Alexander Greene
6.3mi — 2h 31m
May 13, 2022
alex carlton
Someone got murdered here great view saw llamas hauling equipment up chipmunk jumped in my backpack — 3h 00m
Apr 4, 2022
Zoey Franzen
7.5mi — 4h 50m
Mar 15, 2022
christian tarazona
Harder with snow 6.3mi — 4h 30m
Nov 12, 2021
Sean Villagracia
6.3mi — 2h 48m

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