North Inlet Trail

North Inlet Trail is a long-distance hiking route in Rocky Mountain National Park on the west side near Grand Lake, Colorado. The route follows North Inlet Creek from the trailhead area and stays with the drainage through forests and meadows before gaining into higher terrain toward the Flattop Mountain area, where it connects with the Continental Divide corridor.

Expect a steady progression from creekside travel to a much steeper climb near the upper end. The route is treated as moderate overall, but the character changes: low-and-mid elevations feel like longer meanders along the drainage, then switchbacks and sustained climbing take over after North Inlet Junction on the way up toward Flattop Mountain.

Major “anchor” destinations on the North Inlet Trail corridor include Cascade Falls and Big Pool. These are common turnaround points for day hikes, and they also sit along the practical flow of the route for longer backpacking plans that continue past the lower feature areas.

At North Inlet Junction, the trail system expands into lake country: Lake Nanita Trail begins there toward Lakes Nokoni and Nanita (both at roughly the same elevation). For multi-day trips, camps in the North Inlet area function as base locations for accessing the lakes and nearby headwater terrain.

Camping and overnight logistics are handled through Rocky Mountain National Park backcountry permitting. There are designated camping areas in the North Inlet area (including sites such as Summerland and Pine Marten) that support itineraries reaching Lake Nokoni and Lake Nanita.

Day-use access can require additional RMNP permissions during the busier part of the year: timed entry is required for day hikes or trailhead parking between 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM from May through October, and a Rocky Mountain National Park Pass is required to hike in the park area.

More information: Rocky Mountain National Park CDT Loop: Day 1, North Inlet Trail - Rocky Mountain National Park, North Inlet Trail Guide - Rocky Mountain National Park