Lava Cliffs

Free — you'll pick up right here.

Watch this trail

Sign up to watch it — saving subscribes you to gate, closure and report changes.

Colorado

Lava Cliffs

No verdict for this trail

We won't guess. Here is exactly what we do and don't know.

What we do know

Inside Rocky Mountain National Park
National Park unit boundary is mapped — agency alerts for it feed this page automatically.
Boundary data
Access via US 34: Trail Ridge Road
Road status feeds from the state DOT 511 network.
State DOT 511 · 28 d ago

Nobody's filed a report here yet — be the first.

Here's your day, mapped

Lava Cliffs

AI-suggested draft · review before you go

Building your full AI plan…

Meals

Building your meal plan…

Gear for the day

Building your gear list…

Elevation & route

No elevation data on file for this trail.

More about this trail ↓

Photos

Directions & GPX

Get Directions

Permits & access

Managing agency: National Park Service

About this trail

Lava Cliffs features a rare section of volcanic rock in Rocky Mountain National Park. This area is the result of a lava flow that traveled from the Never Summer Range around 28 million years ago. Many years later, glaciers moving through the area cut open the hillside and revealed the lava cliffs seen today. Look closely for sightings of wildlife perched along the cliffs. Prairie Falcons and American Pipits can be seen in the area. In mid-summer, look to the valley beneath the cliffs for elk enjoying the cold, alpine air. Note: Trail Ridge Road closes from here west to Colorado River Trailhead mid-October to Memorial Day. Extreme weather can change the status of Trail Ridge Road at any time—be ready to adjust your travel plans if needed, and always check the weather before you start your drive. Altitude Warning: Altitude sickness affects many visitors every year. Symptoms include headache, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, vomiting, and even unconsciousness. Altitude can also aggravate pre-existing conditions like heart and lung disease. Take your time, drink water, eat, and rest. The only cure for altitude sickness is to go down to a lower altitude. Help keep wildlife wild. Never approach or feed wildlife. Animals that learn people are a source of food can become aggressive or stop hunting or foraging on their own. Keep your distance - it's the law! You could be hurt or issued a fine.

Add to a trip & share

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Gore Range Overlook

~2 min drive

Get spectacular views of Rocky Mountain National Park’s highest peaks! Gore Range Overlook offers views of the Never Summer Mountains, and the Gore Range. From this western-facing pullout, the flat top of Long’s Peak is in sight - the highest peak at 14,259 feet in t…

Ute Trail

~2 min drive

9.2 mi · Moderate

Timber Lake Trail

~9 min drive

5.8 mi · Easy

Tonahutu Creek Trail

~13 min drive

27 mi · Hard

Trail Ridge Store

~2 min drive

At 11,796 feet, the Alpine Visitor Center is the highest visitor center in the National Park Service! Usually only open from May to October, it is chilly even in the heart of summer, so make sure to bring layers or even a hat. Located on Trail Ridge Road in the alpin…

Colorado River Trail

~9 min drive

A moderate 3.66-mile lollipop trail in Colorado featuring a combination loop and out-and-back route.

Colorado River Trailhead

~9 min drive

The Colorado River Trailhead is the access point for many trails in the northwest corner of Rocky Mountain National Park. From this location, park visitors can explore a variety of trails. For a simple excursion, hike 0.5 miles to find the Colorado River. This point…

Baker Gulch

~13 min drive

12 mi · Hard

Medicine Bow Curve

~3 min drive

Medicine Bow Curve provides a great location to view the northernmost areas of Rocky Mountain National Park. Looking to the horizon, visitors will see the Medicine Bow Mountains and the state of Wyoming. The Cache la Poudre river can clearly be seen flowing through t…