The 10-mile roundtrip hike to the top of Mount Ida might sound daunting. Let’s face it; it is.
But every step along the way makes the views from the top worth every huff and puff of energy.
The trailhead up to Mount Ida starts at Milner Lake and follows the Ute Trail through thick forest and uses several sets of steps to help with the elevation gain. This initial steep climb gains some elevation – starting at about 10,740 feet and climbing to about 11,100 feet in about 1.5 miles – before the trail splits.
Along this first 1.5 miles of trail takes hikers through cool forest and past small meadows full of gurgling streams and patches of alpine flowers. Look for heartleaf arnica and blue columbine in the shadows of the trees while paintbrush, elephant heads, bistort and purple fringe grow in the wet areas of the meadows. Pine grosbeaks, mountain chickadees, golden-mantled ground squirrels and pine squirrels may also make an appearance along this portion of the trail.
The trail to the left continues to follow the Ute Trail, which will quickly reach open tundra on its way to the Alpine Visitor Center along Trail Ridge Road.
For hiking to the summit of Mount Ida, follow the trail to the right. A sign gives a warning to hikers that the next 3.5 miles of the trail is exposed tundra on an unmaintained trail. Although the trail for most of the way was easy to follow as it is well worn, there are portions that travel over talus that can be hard to find.
As the path continues past the junction, it quickly reaches tree line, where views of the Never Summer Range to the west dominate the view.
From 2.3 miles to 4.9 miles, the trail navigates along ridges and paths of wide-open tundra. With some of the most stunning views available in the park, including the Crags to the north, the peaks of the Never Summer Range to the west, Grand Lake to the southwest and, along portions of the trail, views of Rock Cut many miles away along Trail Ridge Road, it is hard to tell if the trail takes a long time to complete because of the effort needed to complete it or for all of the stopping hikers will do to capture the grand vistas.
All along the tundra portion of the trail, look for mule deer below in the meadows along the edges of the forest. Yellow-bellied marmots scurry in the rock outcroppings that start sporadically at the beginning of the open tundra and become more frequent as the trail climbs in elevation. Once reaching the talus slopes along the top of the highest points, American pikas run in all directions, including between rocks below the trail. Watch where you place those feet but stop to enjoy a pika looking up at you from their hidden cavities between the rocks.
At 4.9 miles, there is some rock scrambling and the trail becomes difficult to follow. Prior to reaching this point, locate the mountain peak ahead in the distance with three small patches of snow and a rocky point with a sharp drop on the left side. This is the peak of Mount Ida. Keeping that in perspective can help guide hikers through the unmarked areas of the trail.
As the trail approaches the summit of Mount Ida, it forks into various game trails and social paths. The trail to the right goes lower but has a bit more climb at the end and more wildlife, including the potential for bighorn sheep. The trail to the left follows precariously close to the edge of a steep dropoff. If the fear of long drops don’t both you, safely take a look in this easterly direction where hikers will be able to see Rock Cut, Trail Ridge Road and a beautiful valley between with verdant meadows, small kettle ponds and lush vegetation that might hide wary wildlife.
For those looking to enjoy the remaining tundra wildflowers, this high elevation without the foot traffic closer to Trail Ridge Road reveals thick carpets of plant life, including alpine avens, dwarf clover and a short variety of paintbrush that can survive in the harsh conditions of the alpine tundra.
After reaching the summit of Mount Ida, return on the same path back to Milner Pass and Poudre Lake.
Plan for a long day on this trail. Depending on your physical abilities and tolerance for elevation, this long, arduous trail can take 10 hours or more.
Because of the exposure along this trail, hikers should start early so they can be finished before afternoon storms roll in, usually starting by late morning or midday. Also, because of the elevation gain – the peak of Mount Ida is 12,881 feet – be prepared for rapidly changing weather conditions by bringing hat, gloves and layers of clothing, including a jacket.
The trail to Mount Ida is within Rocky Mountain National Park and therefore a timed entry reservation is required to enter this area of the park from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. as well as a park pass any time of day. The trailhead is accessible along Trail Ridge Road, which closes periodically in the summer for weather and for the season typically in mid-October.
For more information about hiking in RMNP and entry passes, visit nps.gov/romo.
