Snowshoeing/Winter Hiking to Emerald Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park
This moderate snowshoeing tour is a must do in the winter!
Enjoy 50% off this tour for tour dates in November/December 2024
Location
Meet in Estes Park, Colorado. Details will be provided after booking.
Description
Emerald Lake
Intensity: Moderate
Mileage: 3.2 miles round trip
Starting elevation: 9,475 ft.
Elevation gain: ~700 ft.
Trail Time: 3.5 - 4 hours
Highlights: 4 sub-alpine lakes, iconic mountain views, pristine wilderness, wildlife
Description: Rocky Mountain National Park is absolutely stunning in the winter. Everything looks different in different seasons and Emerald Lake is a must-see in winter conditions. This tour is perfect if you’re moderately fit, but not used to the high elevation. After we leave the trailhead we'll pass by 3 other sub-alpine lakes on the way to Emerald. These include Bear Lake, Nymph Lake, and Dream Lake each of which provide their own unique charm and views. The trail leads us through a forest of pristine pine and aspen with stunning views of Long's Peak (14,256 ft) and the rugged wilderness of Rocky Mountain National Park.
This is a popular trail, so you ask why you need a guide? Hiking in the snow in the mountains is completely different than hiking in summer conditions. Many people never make it to Bear Lake (250 ft from the parking lot) because they weren't prepared for the snow and ice. Femme Trek will provide micro spikes and trekking poles and show you how to use the gear so that your winter experience is unforgettable.
After booking, you'll receive an email with details like meeting place and time, and tips on how to prepare and what to bring.
NOTE: Since November and December are during the shoulder season, we'll encounter winter conditions on the trail, but most likely not enough snow yet for snowshoes, but icy/snowy enough for micro spikes. Please know that we start early in the day in order to get parking at the Bear Lake Trailhead. The parking lot is typically full by 6:30 am on weekends, a little later during the week.
Rates per person (includes micro spikes and trekking poles)
$125 through December 31, 2024 (normally $249)
Guides do accept tips and they are greatly appreciated since every tour is customized for your group. 10-20% is customary.
Group Size
Minimum 2
Maximum 9
Ages 18 and up.
If you're solo, please email us with your desired dates and we'll do our best to put you on a tour with other ladies.
If there are more than 9 women in your group, please email info@femmetrekltd.com.
Plan Your Stay
Please go to Visit Estes Park to plan your stay.
What’s included/What’s not included
What's included:
- An experienced guide leading, teaching, and motivating you all the way.
- You're in good hands with Femme Trek guides! Our guides are trained in Wilderness First Response, First Aid and CPR, and have wilderness survival skills training. We also carry a device to reach emergency services with the click of a button in case of emergency.
- Microspikes and trekking poles.
- Coaching on how to use the gear.
- Email coaching before the hike on how to prepare, how to dress, etc.
- A guide who will be present with you and not run ahead to leave you and your group slogging along by yourself. Tours are customized based on the group.
- White glove customer service where we take care to answer questions and make sure you know what to expect and are prepared for the hike.
- Coffee, tea, hot chocolate.
- Hot drink.
What's not included:
- Gratuity.
- Entrance fee to Rocky Mountain National Park.
- Transportation to and from the trailhead.
- Water/snacks.
- Warm clothing and rain gear.
- Sturdy hiking boots.
Highlighted Points of Interest What you'll see or experience as part of Snowshoeing/Winter Hiking to Emerald Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park
- Rocky Mountain National Park
Booking Terms and Conditions
Booking Terms and Conditions for Day Hikes and Snowshoeing Tours
Payments
Payment in full is due at the time of booking for day hiking and snowshoeing tours.
Refunds/Cancellations
A refund minus a $50 administrative fee will be given if a client cancels a trip with 7+ days’ notice.
A 50% refund will be given for trips if a client cancels with 48 hours’ notice.
No refund will be given for trips cancelled within 48 hours of trip date.
In the event the trip is cancelled by Femme Trek a full refund will be issued. Since Femme Trek has only one guide, trips may be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances such as guide injury, illness, family emergency, or any other reason not listed here. In this case, a full refund will be issued to the client. However, Femme Trek is not responsible for expenses incurred due to trip cancellation including but not limited to flights, hotel, rental car, meals, or any other travel expenses incurred.
Itinerary Changes
We at Femme Trek will do everything possible to honor the trip itinerary you booked with us. However, itineraries are subject to change due to hazardous weather conditions, wildlife, forest fires, park and trail closures, unsafe trail conditions, illness, unforeseen incidents, clients not physically able to hike or other reasons not listed here. If an itinerary needs to be changed, we’ll do everything possible to provide a comparable experience. No refunds will be given for itinerary changes for any reason.
Right to Refuse Service and Release from a Tour
Femme Trek reserves the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason without a refund. This policy is implemented for the safety of the guides and the group.
Femme Trek guides will wait no longer than 5 minutes at the meeting point to collect clients. If a client(s) shows up to the meeting location more than 5 minutes late without notifying the guide, the tour will leave without the client(s) and no refund will be issued. If the client notifies the guide that she will be more than 10 minutes late, the client will be issued a credit, not a refund. The tours start at a certain time for many reasons, mostly for parking to avoid a longer hike, and so that the group is finished with the hike before dangerous thunderstorms come in.
If a client chooses to leave the tour early before they group is back to the trailhead (for example they are enjoying the wilderness and want to linger longer), she/they will need to sign out with the guide. The guide will prepare a paper detailing the reason why the person wants to be released from the tour, date/time, and location. The client(s) will be asked to sign this paper. No refund will be issued.
Reasons for Femme Trek refusing service include, but are not limited to a client showing up drunk and/or hung over, not being prepared for the hike (incorrectly dressed or not bringing enough food and/or water for the trip length), a client insisting on drinking alcohol on the tour, a client refusing to follow the instructions of the Femme Trek guide thereby putting the group in danger, inappropriate behavior, not turning around if the guide advises it due to dangerous conditions or trip time, and any other reasons not listed here. The Femme Trek guide will give the client 2 verbal warnings. If the client doesn't change the behavior, they will be notified that they are being released from the tour and Femme Trek is no longer responsible for them. The Femme Trek guide will file an internal report detailing the incident, warnings issued, and time and place the client was released from the tour. Femme Trek will ask for witnesses to also file a report with Femme Trek.
