Last Updated on: 2nd June 2025, 10:05 am
Rocky Mountain National Park has no shortage of thrilling hikes, though Mount Ida is rather unique among them. After a short forested section, this hike is mostly above the tree line, giving you wide-open views for the majority of the trek. And the views from the summit are some of the park’s finest. In the following guide, we’ll be covering everything you need to know about hiking Mount Ida, including preparation tips and a detailed rundown of the hike itself.
For more general information on accommodation near Rocky Mountain, Timed Entry Permits and park entry fees, be sure to check the very end of the article.
About This Hike
THE BASICS: The hike to Mount Ida is an out-and-back hike that stretches out to about 9.5 miles (15.3 km) and with a total elevation gain of 2,411 ft (735 m).
As we’ll cover shortly, you can find the trailhead by Milner Pass, situated along the western part of Trail Ridge Road.
Not only is this a strenuous hike on its own, but it brings you up to an elevation of 12,874 ft (3924 m). As such, those coming from lower elevations will definitely want to do one or two warmup hikes before attempting this one.
Hiking Mount Ida is mostly straightforward, though you will encounter some rocky sections near the end that can greatly obscure the trail.
All in all, my hike to the summit of Mount Ida and back (including rest time) took me about 5.5 hours in total.
WHAT TO BRING: You’ll definitely want to wear proper hiking boots or trail runners, as the hike can get very rocky. Trekking poles are also a great idea, though this hike isn’t terribly steep.
Though I didn’t have much of a problem, Mount Ida is notorious for being windy and cold. As such, you’ll want to come prepared with multiple layers and even a warm hat and gloves.
Of course, you’ll also want to bring snacks, plenty of water, sunscreen and a camera.
RECOMMENDED APPS: You can find the full hike outlined on AllTrails, though you’ll need to pay for a subscription and download the offline version in advance.
Otherwise, the free offline map app Organic Maps should come in handy as well.
STAY SAFE: Rocky Mountain National Park is known for its afternoon thunderstorms that can occur suddenly, especially from around noon to 3 pm.
Therefore, when doing long and strenuous hikes that take you above the tree line, it’s imperative that you get an early start. It’s generally recommended that you’re at least back beneath the tree line by noon or 13:00.
This is especially important for hiking Mount Ida, which, as mentioned, is mostly above the tree line. Try starting by around 7:00 or 7:30.
Hiking Mount Ida
Finding Parking
The trailhead for Mount Ida is located by the parking lot for Milner Pass which is famous for being the location of the continental divide. It’s situated along Rocky Mountain’s famous Trail Ridge Road, several minutes west of the Alpine Visitor Center.
Trail Ridge Road, of course, is a destination in its own right, and you can learn more about it in our dedicated guide. But those intending to hike Mount Ida should head right to the trailhead without making any stops.
Most visitors will be coming from the east, and this is one of the furthest trailheads from Estes Park. In my case, I was staying all the way in Loveland, and I had to drive 1 hour and 45 minutes just to start the hike!
I made sure to leave especially early, arriving at the parking lot before 7:30. Luckily, there were still three available spaces in the small lot.
But if it’s full, you can find additional parking spaces a bit further east along Trail Ridge Road.
The Ascent
Just past the parking lot is the scenic Poudre Lake. And a lot of people come and park here just to look at the lake before moving on. The lighting, however, isn’t that great in the early morning, and it will look much prettier when you return around midday.
As mentioned above, it’s imperative to start your hikes at Rocky Mountain as early as possible, as you’ll want to be below the tree line by afternoon in case of a sudden storm.
And this is especially important for hiking Mount Ida, where a large majority of the hike is above the tree line.
With that said, the initial uphill portion of the hike that’s below the tree line was a bit longer than I anticipated. This is also probably one of the steepest and most tiring portions of the hike, with the exception of the final stretch.
Eventually, though, you’ll emerge above the trees and from this point on, you’ll get to enjoy the wide open vistas that the hike is famous for.
Beginning this hike in the morning, however, the lighting right ahead of you won’t be ideal, so expect to frequently turn around to appreciate the views behind you.
Fascinatingly, this is also the location of the continental divide. In other words, this area separates the flow of drainage and whether water flows into the Pacific or Atlantic.
For example, nearby Beaver Creek takes water west into the Colorado River and ultimately into the Sea of Cortez, while neighboring La Poudre Creek flows into the Missouri River and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico.
Generally speaking, the trail above the tree line is gentler than the initial ascent. And while there are some steep parts, such as a big hill roughly halfway through the hike, your main challenges will likely be the altitude and the wind.
Considering how the peak is a whopping 12,874 feet (3,924 m), you’re going to find yourself over 11,000 feet fairly early on in the journey. Luckily for me, this was the last of my major hikes at Rocky Mountain National Park, and I was feeling pretty acclimated by this point.
But those who jump right into a hike like this from lower elevations are really going to struggle.
I learned this the hard way earlier in the year when I hiked Guatemala’s Acatenango – slightly higher than Mount Ida – with no way to acclimate beforehand.
As for the wind? The hike up Mount Ida is notoriously windy, and many of the reports I came across online complained of the wind and the cold.
But I was extremely lucky on this day, as it was hardly windy at all. And as you can tell from these photos, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, either.
As much as I enjoyed hiking Mount Ida, the views do get repetitive after a while. But as you make your way further and higher, you’ll be able to overlook some scenic lakes.
The first two-thirds or so of the hike feature an easily defined trail that you won’t have trouble keeping track of. But as you get closer to the end, the terrain gets very rocky, with the trail seemingly disappearing and reappearing under piles of rocks.
Not only will the hike get increasingly rocky and confusing, but the ascent gets steeper and steeper. Despite knowing the general direction of the summit, I found myself repeatedly checking AllTrails to make sure I wasn’t too far off the path.
While visitors shouldn’t walk on the fragile alpine tundra, I found that really hard to avoid at times.
After a long confusing section, the trail becomes better defined again, but the hike remains steep and tiring.
For quite some time, I had my eye on what I thought was the peak. But I eventually realized it wasn’t the peak at all, and I had to keep walking forward. All in all, hiking Mount Ida turned out to be a bit more challenging than I’d anticipated.
At 9.5 miles roundtrip, hiking Mount Ida definitely requires a lot of endurance. But the hike at least lacks a challenging scrambling section that you’ll encounter at the Sky Pond or Chasm Lake hikes.
With that said, the very final stretch is easily the toughest part. Not only do the rocks come back, but the slope will grow continually steeper. But just keep pushing yourself one step at a time and you’ll eventually make it.
Reaching The Summit
Admittedly, up until the end, I found the Mount Ida hike a little bit boring and repetitive. But the views from the summit changed my mind completely. In fact, I’d say that these were some of the most rewarding views I’ve ever encountered at a mountain peak.
But before fully taking in the views, it was time for a much-needed rest. Having not stopped anywhere for snacks on the way over, I was famished.
Looking at my watch, I realized that from the trailhead, the hike to the summit took me about three hours in total.
The summit is rather rocky and uneven, so you’ll need to be a bit careful. But standing atop the rocks, you’ll be greeted with incredible views surrounding you at nearly 360 degrees.
You’ll be overlooking scenic lakes, snowy mountain peaks, and the distant edges of Rocky Mountain National Park.
As mentioned, I was very lucky on this day to not have to deal with wind. But after seeing these views, I’m sure I still would’ve found hiking Mount Ida to be worth it regardless.
The Descent
After lingering at the top for a while and snapping photos from every conceivable angle, it was finally time to make the descent.
As one would expect, the descent is a lot smoother and easier, but you’ll still have to contend with the rocky portions, some of which can be even more annoying on the way down.
The lighting ahead of you will also be more ideal during the return trip, so don’t put your camera away just yet. On the way down, I repeatedly found myself stopping again and again for more photos.
All in all, I found Mount Ida to be less crowded than the hikes along Bear Lake Road – especially Sky Pond. But as mentioned, I got a pretty early start, and I passed more and more hikers making their ascent during my return journey.
Also note that the return trip isn’t fully downhill, as you will encounter hills that force you to briefly walk uphill again. But it’s not too bad overall.
Mount Ida is also a great place for wildlife spotting. In addition to the ptarmigan pictured above, you should also spot plenty of marmots.
At the time of my visit, they were fattening themselves up to prepare for winter hibernation, and it was always entertaining to see these chubby members of the squirrel family scurry and flop around the alpine tundra.
I finally made it to the forested section which, while still a small portion of the overall hike, was just as monotonous as I’d remembered. But reaching the end, I was greeted with a gorgeous view of Poudre Lake.
It was around 13:00 by the time I made it back, meaning I’d been hiking for 5.5 hours in total. Though it wouldn’t rain that day, this would’ve been a good time to make it back in case of an afternoon storm.
For those heading back east, you’ll have to make the long drive across Trail Ridge Road again before reaching Estes Park.
If you have limited time at Rocky Mountain, you could perhaps squeeze in some of the road’s highlights following your Mount Ida hike. But ideally, you’ll have a full day set aside to enjoy Trail Ridge Road and its many overlooks and side trails.
Additional Info
Presently, Rocky Mountain National Park is implementing a Timed Entry Permit System during the peak summer season (specifically May 24 – Oct 24) to reduce overcrowding.
Compared to many other National Parks, however, this system is a lot more flexible, as it’s only in place from 9:00-15:00.
However, if you plan on doing any of the hikes along Bear Lake Road, you’ll need to reserve a special version of the permit known as Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road. These permits are required to access Bear Lake Road from as early as 6:00, so they’re especially important to obtain.
From my experience, compared with securing permits for Glacier National Park, I had no issues getting all the permits needed for Rocky Mountain on the day they went on sale. Still, it would be wise to purchase them as soon as possible so you don’t experience any major disappointments.
You can purchase the permits online here.
Both versions of the permit go on sale on the first day of the month before the month you plan on visiting the park. For example, if you plan on visiting any time in August, Timed Entry Permits for that month will go on sale on July 1.
The most convenient base for Rocky Mountain National Park is the town of Estes Park, located just to the east. Most of the park’s significant hikes and landmarks are also located in the east of the park, so staying in Estes Park would allow you to get an early start.
Furthermore, it’s quite a charming town with plenty of restaurants and amenities to choose from. However, in regards to hotel prices, the town is far from budget-friendly.
Popular mid-range options include Olympus Lodge and Coyote Mountain Lodge. Those with bigger budgets might want to consider private lodgings such as the Fall River Casita or Old Man Mountain.
But if Estes Park is out of your budget, what are the next best options?
One option is the town of Lyons, which is about 30 minutes southeast of Estes Park. I originally booked a hotel here, but had to cancel due to a slight scheduling alteration. I did drive through Lyons at one point, and while it seems like a fine base, it does seem a bit lacking in terms of restaurants and shops.
Ultimately, I ended up staying in the city of Loveland at the Travelodge by Wyndham. The positives of Loveland are that it’s a sizable town with plenty of hotels, shops and restaurants to choose from. And the hotels are surprisingly affordable.
The main downside is the distance from the park. Each morning, we had to drive through a scenic yet winding canyon, with the journey to Estes Park lasting nearly an hour, not to mention additional driving to that day’s trailhead. Nevertheless, it was still nice to be able to stay near Rocky Mountain for such a cheap price.
The town of Grand Lake is just outside the southwest boundary of the park, and it seems to be a lot more affordable than Estes Park. But with the exception of a hiking Mount Ida, using Grand Lake as your base would mean you’d have to do a lot of driving each day – mainly down Trail Ridge Road. As thrilling as that road is, it’s probably not something most visitors would want to have to deal with daily.
At the time of writing, Rocky Mountain National Park costs $30 per vehicle per day, or $35 per vehicle per week (learn more here).
US National Parks parks typically charge per vehicle rather than per person. However, if you’re traveling by bicycle instead, Rocky Mountain will charge you for an individual pass which costs $25, while those on motorcycles will be charged $30.
Considering how many National Parks and National Monuments there are to see in the Southwest alone, the best option for most will be to buy an ‘America the Beautiful’ Annual National Parks Pass.
These cost $80 for the year. In most cases, you’re already saving money by just visiting four National Parks/Monuments anywhere in the country within a full year.
What’s more, is that only one person in your vehicle needs to have the pass. Additionally, seniors can buy the pass for just $20. So if you have someone over 62 in your party, just have them get the annual pass and everyone else will be set.
As for where to get the pass, you can purchase it in person at most National Parks or Monuments. But you can also order it in advance online.