The Spirit of the Rockies www.thespiritoftherockies.net

Hike Profiles for Rocky Mountain National Park and Surrounding Areas

The Saddle

The Saddle is a remote pass in the northeast portion of Rocky Mountain National Park. It is the low point on the ridge between Hagues Peak and Fairchild Mountain, and can be reached by a narrow but easy-to-follow unimproved trail leading from Lawn Lake.

Distance: 8.3 miles one-way Pass elevation: 12,398 feet Trailhead elevation: 8,540 feet Net elevation gain: 3,858 feet Lawn Lake Trailhead Rocky Mountain National Park

View toward Lawn Lake from The Saddle

Major Trail Landmarks Junction of Lawn Lake and Ypsilon Lake Trails (1.3 miles one-way from trailhead) Junction of Lawn Lake and Black Canyon Trails (5.6 miles one-way from trailhead) Lawn Lake (6.2 miles one-way from trailhead) - end of maintained trail Junction of unimproved trails to Crystal Lake and The Saddle (7.0 miles one-way from trailhead)

Principal Destinations Near The Saddle Crystal Lake (7.7 miles one-way from trailhead) - via unimproved trail beyond Lawn Lake Fairchild Mountain (8.8 miles one-way from trailhead) - via unimproved trail beyond Lawn Lake Hagues Peak (9.0 miles one-way from trailhead) - via unimproved trail beyond Lawn Lake

Backcountry Campsites Near The Saddle Lawn Lake (6.2 miles one-way from trailhead) - 5 individual sites

The Lawn Lake Trailhead is located on the east side of the Continental Divide in the northeast portion of Rocky Mountain National Park. The trailhead is located just off U.S. Highway 34 in the Horseshoe Park area. To reach Horseshoe Park, drive on Highway 34 west of Estes Park to the Fall River Entrance Station. Continue west past the station for just over 2 miles to where the highway turns south beyond Sheep Lakes, and turn right (west) on to Fall River Road. The trailhead parking area is just 0.1 mile after this turn, on the right (north) side of Fall River Road. The trailhead can also be reached from Highway 36 at Deer Ridge Junction by taking Highway 34 north to Horseshoe Park, and turning left (west) on to Fall River Road. From the trailhead, hike the Lawn Lake Trail for 6.2 miles to Lawn Lake. Continue on the trail along the north side of Lawn Lake, as the path narrows but continues as a visible trail. This trail splits west of Lawn Lake, with the left-hand trail leading southwest to Crystal Lake and the right-hand trail leading to The Saddle. Follow the narrow right-hand trail through alpine meadows and tundra to The Saddle. This approach may necessitate a crossing of a very shallow stream without a bridge, depending on the season.

Sample photographs of the hike to The Saddle

Fairchild Mountain and Crystal Lake cirque

Mummy Mountain from near The Saddle

Hagues Peak from The Saddle

View south to Fairchild Mountain

The Saddle 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.