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| Hiking | 10.84 Miles |
3,302 AEG |
| | Hiking | 10.84 Miles | 9 Hrs 11 Mns | | 1.47 mph |
| 3,302 ft AEG | 1 Hour 48 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | This was a fantastic trail if a bit of a slog uphill. The hike starts off from the immensely popular bear lake trail head. Get there early to ensure you get a spot in the huge lot that fills up quickly. After starting the hike going a short distance around the circumference of Bear lake (where hordes of people are hiking, even at 5a!!),the Hallett peak trail branches off to the right. And pretty much right away, the uphill starts. And pretty much you are going up hill the entire time. First on very long switchbacks in the forest. And then eventually, you break out above the tree line to a rocky, barren existence. Before the treeline, there are some cool views looking down of beautiful emerald lake below. There is also another lake off in the distance in the other direction
Not too many people on this trail, which is a nice change. I think most people are interested in seeing waterfalls and alpine lakes. I was happy for the solitude! What a nice break from the crowds on literally every other trail.
The slow climb upwards, ever upwards, continues. The coolest part about this section is the plethora of pika!! I love the pika! They are so very cute! They are peeking out from the rock piles alongside the trails and chattering to each other! It is super cute! We also saw a family of marmots - big mama and a bunch of babies playing! This really made this section of the hike!
After a while you come upon a horse hitching post, and then shortly thereafter a trail junction. For Hallett peak, you bear left. This area is still very Rocky, and you can see Hallett peak close by. In this broad, flat section, the Tindall glacier is off to the left. It is marked with a sign. You cannot see it from the trail up to Hallets peak until you start your final Ascent. In this area, the trail is really a worn route through a sea of rocks that are marked by cairns. This is even more true at the base of the peak proper. There is no true trail beyond a route marked by cairns. This being said, it was easy to follow. Though not as popular as other rmnp hikes, still a lot of people come here. After a short, steep accent, you are at your final destination! Hallets peak! There are phenomenal 360 degree views. The peak is entirely loose rocks.
I was able to get a cell signal here even though I had no service anywhere else in the park.
We had the summit to ourselves, which was blissful! After a quick snack and enjoying the views, we retraced our steps back to the Trailhead. We ran into some brief light rain on our way down, but nothing big
This was a much better hike than I was expecting, mainly due to the pika and marmots, plus the stunning views from the peak. It was definitely a bit of a slog, but totally worth it!  |
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