Hike Profiles for Rocky Mountain National Park and Surrounding Areas

Lake Verna The hike to Lake Verna leads deep in to the East Inlet drainage in the southwest portion of Rocky Mountain National Park. The trail has numerous backcountry campsites for backpackers. Beyond Lake Verna, unmaintained trails and routes lead toward Spirit, Fourth, and Fifth Lakes, and Boulder-Grand Pass.

Distance: 6.9 miles one-way Lake elevation: 10,180 feet Trailhead elevation: 8,391 feet Net elevation gain: 1,789 feet East Inlet Trailhead Rocky Mountain National Park

Lake Verna

The red star in the map above shows the relative location of Lake Verna to RMNP boundaries (in green) and major roads (in gold)

Major Trail Landmarks Adams Falls loop trail (0.3 miles one-way from trailhead) Lone Pine Lake (5.3 miles one-way from trailhead)

Principal Destinations Near Lake Verna Spirit Lake (7.8 miles one-way from trailhead) - via unimproved trail past Lake Verna Andrews Peak (8.0 miles one-way from trailhead) - via off-trail route past Lake Verna Fourth Lake (8.4 miles one-way from trailhead) - via off-trail route past Lake Verna Fifth Lake (9.3 miles one-way from trailhead) - via off-trail route past Lake Verna Boulder-Grand Pass (9.5 miles one-way from trailhead) - via off-trail route past Lake Verna

Backcountry Campsites on the trail to Lake Verna East Meadow [PDF Link] - (1.5 miles one-way from trailhead) - elevation 8,550' - 2 individual sites Lower East Inlet [PDF Link] - (2.3 miles one-way from trailhead) - elevation 8,640' - 2 individual sites Cat's Lair [PDF Link] - (4.0 miles one-way from trailhead)- elevation 9,200' - 3 individual sites Gray Jay [PDF Link] - (4.9 miles one-way from trailhead) - elevation 9,650' - 1 group site Slickrock [PDF Link] - (6.0 miles one-way from trailhead) - elevation 10,000' - 1 individual site Solitaire [PDF Link] - (6.2 miles one-way from trailhead) - elevation 10,120' - 1 individual site Upper East Inlet [PDF Link] - (6.6 miles one-way from trailhead) - elevation 10,200' - 1 individual site Lake Verna [PDF Link] - (6.9 miles one-way from trailhead) - elevation 10,200' - 1 individual site

The East Inlet Trailhead is on the west side of the Continental Divide on the east side of the town of Grand Lake. Follow Highway 34 (Trail Ridge Road) to the turnoff for Grand Lake on Highway 278. Turn east toward Grand Lake, then bypass the main road through Grand Lake, following West Portal Road and signs toward the boat launch area. Continue to the trailhead, about 2.7 miles from U.S. 34, and along the eastern shore of Grand Lake, opposite the boat launch. From the trailhead, hike the East Inlet Trail past Adams Falls, and continue east along the main trail. After passing Lone Pine Lake at 5.3 miles, continue on the East Inlet Trail for 1.4 miles to Lake Verna.

Sample photographs of the hike to Lake Verna

East Inlet Trail along East Meadow

Looking east at Lake Verna

Reflection of Mount Craig in Lake Verna

Lake Verna

Lake Verna 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: Isolation Peak - Latitude: 40.226 deg. N - Longitude: 105.707 deg. W

CLICK HERE FOR THE PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION (PAGE ONE)

CLICK HERE FOR THE PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION (PAGE TWO)

LINK TO A PHOTO TRIP REPORT TO LAKE VERNA, ANDREWS PEAK & SPIRIT LAKE

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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.