Hike Profiles for Rocky Mountain National Park and Surrounding Areas
Deer Mountain

A popular hike with easy trailhead access from Highway 34 or 36 near Estes Park, Deer Mountain offers great
panoramic views of Rocky Mountain National Park from its summit and several overlooks along the trail.
Distance: 3.0 miles one-way

Summit elevation: 10,013 feet

Trailhead elevation: 8,920 feet

Net elevation gain:1,093 feet

Deer Ridge Junction Trailhead

Rocky Mountain National Park
Deer Mountain from Beaver Meadows
The red star in the map above shows relative location of Deer Mountain to RMNP boundaries (in green) and major roads (in gold)
Major Trail Landmarks
Junction of trail to Aspenglen Campground (0.1 miles one-way from trailhead)
Junction of spur trail to the summit (2.8 miles one-way from trailhead)
Principal Destinations Near Deer Mountain
There are no other major hiking destinations near the Deer Mountain Trail.
Backcountry Campsites Near Deer Mountain
No campsites exist on the Deer Mountain Trail.
The Deer Ridge Junction Trailhead is on the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park. From the Beaver
Meadows Entrance Station on U.S. Highway 36, head west on Bear Lake Road, bypass the Moraine
Park turnoff, and continue west through Beaver Meadows. Continue driving to the area of the junction
of Highways 34 and 36 at Deer Ridge Junction, about 4 miles from the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center.
For Highway 34 access, follow the highway for about 4 miles from the Fall River Entrance Station.
Parking for the Deer Mountain Trail is along the roadside near the junction of the two highways.

From the trailhead, follow the trail as it leads to a junction with a trail to Aspenglen Campground. Stay
right (east) at this junction toward Deer Mountain, following the trail through many switchbacks as it leads
to the broad summit ridge. The grade of the trail lessens on the ridge, leading to a junction where a spur
trail leads to the summit. Take the spur trail to the right (south) for 0.2 miles to the summit.
Sample photographs of the hike to Deer Mountain
Summit view, looking south
Ypsilon Mountain from the trail in December
Mummy Range view from the summit
Trail view above Horseshoe Park
Deer Mountain topographic map
Principal summer trail marked by solid red line; unmaintained trail/route marked by dashed red line.
Map is oriented with north to the top of the map

USGS Quad Map: Estes Park - Latitude: 40.379 deg. N - Longitude: 105.584 deg. W
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LINK TO A PHOTO TRIP REPORT FOR DEER MOUNTAIN
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All photographs are property of Mike Amfahr and are protected by copyright laws.
Topographic map is property of and copyrighted by Maps a la carte, Inc., and is used on this site with permission.