The Citadel–East Gemstone, 8 sights
11.6 mi · ▲ 3,385 ft · 5 hr 34 min
The Citadel–East Gemstone, 8 sights is an 11.6-mile out-and-back in Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, CO. The route passes The Citadel, East Gemstone, Almost East Gemstone Peak and Gem Lake. It climbs 3,385 ft, with sections as steep as 41% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 51/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
The Citadel–East Gemstone, 8 sights
11.6 mi · ▲ 3,385 ft · 5 hr 34 min
Elevation 7,733–9,121 ft
Out & Back · Rocky Mountain National Park
Trailhead: 40.39283, -105.51241
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 80°F / low 54° · precip 12% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 7:31 PM
No dogs on part of this route
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Lumpy Ridge Road, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Lumpy Ridge Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.6 miTurn left onto Black Canyon Trail, heading NW.
- 0.9 miBear right onto Book Area Climbing Access, heading W.
- 50 ftBear left onto Black Canyon Trail, heading W.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Pear Climbing Access, heading W.
- 0.5 miReach The Citadel, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.5 miSharp right onto Black Canyon Trail, heading S.
- 1.9 miSharp right onto Dark Mountain Trail, heading N.
- 1.6 miContinue straight onto Cow Creek Trail, heading E.
- 0.7 miContinue straight onto Gem Lake Trail, heading E.
- 2.6 miPass East Gemstone.
- 50 ftPass Almost East Gemstone Peak.
- 50 ftPass Gem Lake.
- 1.5 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.1 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Good to know
- No dogs on part of this route
More from this trailhead
- East Gemstone–Almost East Gemstone Peak, 3 summits 3.3 mi · ▲ 1,071 ft
- Lumpy Ridge Trail via Black Canyon Trail 4 mi · ▲ 502 ft
- East Gemstone–Almost East Gemstone Peak, 4 summits 7.5 mi · ▲ 1,773 ft
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Hikes near Estes Park, Colorado