North Longs Peak Trail

North Longs Peak Trail is a point-to-point hike in Rocky Mountain National Park that climbs from the Loch Vale Trail area east of East Glacier Knob to Granite Pass, where it connects into the Longs Peak – Keyhole Route corridor.

Route character is consistently uphill: it crosses Glacier Creek early via a high bridge, then continues through a forested stretch before the forest thins and the tread steepens into long switchbacks.

Above treeline, the landscape shifts to alpine terrain with jumbled rockfields; after the steeper switchback section, the trail steepens noticeably again and remains rugged as you work toward the pass.

One commonly mapped approach uses Bear Lake / Glacier Gorge access: you hike to the North Longs Peak Trail from nearby Glacier Gorge/ Bear Lake Trailheads via Glacier Creek or Boulder Brook, then follow North Longs Peak Trail up to Granite Pass.

The trail is infrequently used compared with the main Longs Peak routes, making it a workable option for hikers who want to reduce crowding while still tackling a tough, high-elevation climb.

Mapped as long-distance and unpaved, the trail is described as having difficult footing in the upper sections and generally good trail visibility along the route.

More information: Booking, Longs Peak (14,255 ft) - Outdoor Trail Maps, Hiking to Longs Peak Summit - RootsWeb