The Spirit of the Rockies www.thespiritoftherockies.net

Hike Profiles for Rocky Mountain National Park and Surrounding Areas

Spirit Lake

Spirit Lake, located in the East Inlet valley of Rocky Mountain National Park, is a remote lake accessible by an unimproved trail beyond Lake Verna. Due to its long distance from the East Inlet Trailhead, this lake is most commonly visited by backpackers using a campsite for an overnight trip along the East Inlet Trail.

Distance: 7.7 miles one-way Lake elevation: 10,290 feet Trailhead elevation: 8,391 feet Net elevation gain: 1,899 feet East Inlet Trailhead Rocky Mountain National Park

Looking east from Spirit Lake

Major Trail Landmarks Adams Falls loop trail (0.3 miles one-way from trailhead) Lone Pine Lake (5.5 miles one-way from trailhead) Lake Verna (6.9 miles one-way from trailhead)

Principal Destinations Near Spirit Lake Fourth Lake (8.2 miles one-way from trailhead) - via unimproved trail beyond Lake Verna Fifth Lake (9.5 miles one-way from trailhead) - via unimproved trail beyond Lake Verna Boulder-Grand Pass (9.5 miles one-way from trailhead) - via unimproved trail beyond Lake Verna

Backcountry Campsites Near Spirit Lake Gray Jay (4.9 miles one-way from trailhead) - 1 group site Slickrock (6.0 miles one-way from trailhead) - 1 individual site Solitaire (6.2 miles one-way from trailhead) - 1 individual site Upper East Inlet (6.6 miles one-way from trailhead) - 1 individual site Lake Verna (6.9 miles one-way from trailhead) - 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. Stay on 278 and bypass the main road through Grand Lake, following 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 5.5 miles, continue on the East Inlet Trail for 1.4 miles to Lake Verna. Follow a faint unimproved trail as it leads along the north shoreline of Lake Verna and then east to Spirit Lake.

Sample photographs of the hike to Spirit Lake

View south from Spirit Lake

Spirit Lake

Lake Verna topographic map

Principal summer trail marked by solid red line; unmaintained trail or route marked by dashed red line. Map is oriented with north to the top of the map

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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.