Colorado · Hiking · Near Estes Park

East Inlet Trail

East Inlet TrailPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
13.3 mi
round trip
2,540 ft
climb
10,215 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun, Sep
best months

East Inlet Trail is a 6.7-mile out-and-back hike in Colorado, about 1.5 miles from the town of Grand Lake. The trail leads to the East Inlet area, and its out-and-back format lets hikers turn around at any point along the way. The route rises from about 8,392 feet to about 10,215 feet, with a total elevation gain of 2,540 feet. That makes it a hard hike, and it takes several hours to complete, depending on pace and how far you go. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Grand Lake show July highs around 76°F with lows near 40°F, while winter brings frequent snow days and highs around 30°F. Isolation Peak sits just 0.1 mile away, and the Grand Lake climbing area is about 1.2 miles off. Shadow Mountain Lookout trail is about 2.1 miles away, and Green Ridge Campground is about 3.2 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    East Meadow

    Campground

    Campground · 0.8 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Charlie’s Sports Bar & Grill

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 1 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Estes Park

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun, Sep

    Best time to visit East Inlet Trail

    Best months: June and September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      30° / 4°

      14 wet · 14 snow

    2. Feb

      34° / 6°

      13 wet · 12 snow

    3. Mar

      42° / 14°

      12 wet · 9 snow

    4. Apr

      49° / 20°

      11 wet · 6 snow

    5. May

      59° / 28°

      12 wet · 2 snow

    6. Jun

      71° / 34°

      11 wet

    7. Jul

      76° / 40°

      14 wet

    8. Aug

      73° / 38°

      15 wet

    9. Sep

      68° / 32°

      12 wet · 1 snow

    10. Oct

      55° / 23°

      10 wet · 4 snow

    11. Nov

      40° / 13°

      11 wet · 9 snow

    12. Dec

      30° / 5°

      14 wet · 13 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Grand Lake 1 Nw, CO, 2.5 mi away at 8,720 ft. The station sits about 1,500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors