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Home , Dream Lake, East Inlet Trail, Fern Lake Trail, Grand Ditch, Lost Lake Trail, Lumpy Ridge

Rocky Mountain U.S. Department of Interior Rocky Mountain National Park Horses and Pack Animals 2014 Due to the 2013 Flood, those who use Rocky Mountain National Park’s backcountry may encounter missing foot bridges, missing trail segments, difficult water crossings and unstable slopes. Please ask a ranger, stop at a visitor center, or visit the park website, www.nps.gov/romo, for more specific, updated information.

Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) provides exceptional access to a wild landscape, and it is up to everyone to helpNPS photoprotect by John thisMarino spectacular but fragile place. The use of horses for recreation, as well as transportation, is deeply entrenched in western history. Horses have been part of Rocky Mountain National Park’s tradition since the park was established in 1915. Recreational pack animal use is balanced with other recreational uses, such as hiking, and with protection of park resources. Horses, mules, ponies, llamas, and burros are designated as “pack animals” and are permitted on park trails. Goats, dogs, and other animals are not designated as pack animals and are therefore not permitted on park trails.

Rules of the Trail To prevent resource damage, the park has some • Trails open to stock have hitchrails at popular guidelines and regulations regarding horse use. destinations. Stock users are encouraged to • Horses and other pack animals may be used only use these locations for extended stops. Loose on existing trails designated for stock use. herding of stock is not allowed, including • Horses and other stock are not permitted in auto hobbles. If it is necessary to stop for a short campgrounds or picnic areas. period of time in an area without hitchrails, a minimum impact technique should be used to • The riding of horses and other stock at a speed keep stock physically controlled and to lessen greater than a trot is not permitted. impacts to trees, roots and vegetation. • The maximum number of animals permitted in • To prevent resource damage, as well as one group (“string”) is 20 for day use. possible injuries to stock and riders/users, • Multiple strings must be separated by at least those sections of the Flattop, Tonahutu Creek, 15-minute intervals (1/4 mile). and North Inlet trails above tree line are • Crosscountry travel and off-trail use are not closed to all stock use annually from October allowed parkwide. 15 to July 31. • Tie up at least 200 feet from lakes and streams. • Seasonal closures of any trail to horse and • Users should clean up after their stock. pack animal use may be in effect at various • When approaching others, make your presence locations throughout the park when necessary known. for resource protection or safety reasons. Such • Use of stock-drawn equipment is not permitted. closures will be posted and published. Weed-Free Forage The spread of noxious weeds and exotic plant forage not certified as free of noxious weeds and species in the backcountry and wilderness is a seeds by a certified State or Agriculture serious and growing problem. Weed-free is defined Officer, is prohibited in RMNP. Possessing, as free from propagative plant parts or weed seeds storing, or transporting either certified or non- from plants identified in state and regional lists of certified weed-free forage beyond any park weeds published by the Department of trailhead within the boundaries of RMNP is Agriculture. prohibited. Keep the park weed-free by feeding stock weed-free The grazing of stock is not allowed. Backcountry food. To mitigate the spread of weeds, possessing, stock users must use feed in the form of pelletized storing, or transporting any hay, straw, mulch, or feed, hay cubes, or grain products.

Safety RMNP is a wilderness wonderland that does harbor to stay below tree line and avoid high rocky areas. hazards. Visitors with horses and other pack animals In the interest of public and stock safety due to can encounter water crossings, low branches, other narrow trails, steep terrain and visitor use levels, it people and stock on trails, and wildlife. Horses can is recommended that only well-broken, properly get spooked by packs and other gear used by hikers shod, gentle stock in good physical condition be and backpackers. used in the park. Be prepared for sudden changes in weather. Carry first aid supplies for yourself and stock. Dismount and move away from animals immediately if lightning and thunderstorms seem imminent. Try Trailheads These trailheads have room for horse trailers; some East Side West Side have hitchracks and ramps. Lawn Lake Trailhead East Inlet Along Wild Basin Road Green Mountain Roads Horses and other pack animals are not permitted on in the Wild Basin area park roads, except on • Road - to access • Road - between shuttle bus stop/ Beaver Mountain, Beaver Meadows, Moraine winter parking lot and Fern Lake trailhead - to Park, and Deer Ridge Trails reach • Bowen-Baker Road from paved parking area • McGraw Ranch Road to park boundary • Twin Sisters Trail Access Road • North Inlet Road to Summerland Park • Wild Basin Road - to access trails open to horses Temporary Closures North Fork Twin Sisters Area - stock closure The 2013 Flood caused several Dunraven Trailhead to park boundary on North Wild Basin trails to be temporarily closed Fork Trail - currently closed by US Forest Service Wild Basin Trail beyond Ouzel Falls - stock to stock. Closures due to the North Boundary Trail - stock closure closure (llamas may access the area above flood are subject to change Ouzel Falls including Ouzel Lake, Thunder based on conditions. Please Lawn Lake Trail - stock closure (stock can access Lake, Bluebird Lake via the Backcountry Site ask a ranger, stop at a visitor Lawn Lake via Black Canyon Trail using the Unimproved trail; horses, burros, etc., cannot use center, or visit the park Lumpy Ridge Trailhead) the Backcountry Site Unimproved Trail) website, www.nps.gov/romo, Ypsilon Lake Trail - stock closure for more specific, updated Finch Lake-Calypso Falls Trail intersection to information. Calypso Cascades - stock closure North Longs Peak Trail - stock closure Aspen Brook - stock closure

Trails North Fork North Longs Peak Trail - from Boulder Brook Horses and other pack animals - beyond hitch rail Junction to Glacier Gorge Trail may be used only on existing Bridal Veil Falls - beyond the hitch rail Storm Pass Junction to Estes Cone Summit trails designated for stock use. Mummy Range Wild Basin The following trails are closed Lawn Lake Trail - beyond hitch rail at east end of Backcountry Site Unimproved Trail - is open to to the use of horses and lake llama use, but closed to all other stock animals pack animals (exceptions are Ypsilon Lake Trail - beyond hitch rail at south end Bluebird Lake - beyond the hitch rail at east end provided, as indicated, for use of lake of lake of llamas). Mummy Pass Trail - beyond Mummy Pass Cr. Jct. Finch-Pear Lake Trail - beyond the hitch rail at Mirror Lake Trail - beyond Koenig hitch rail east end of Pear Lake Ute Trail Lion Lakes - beyond the junction with Thunder Upper Beaver Meadows to (open to Lake Trail llama use from Upper Beaver Meadows to Ute Lookout Mountain - from Meeker Park, Meadows campsites) Sandbeach, Lookout Mountain Trail Junction Fern Lake Area Ouzel Lake Trail - beyond the hitch rail near the Spruce Lake Trail northeast end of the lake Odessa Lake Trail - from Fern Lake Trail Junction Sandbeach Lake Trail - beyond hitch rail at north with Odessa Lake Trail end of lake Area Thunder Lake Trail - beyond the hitch rail in Bear Lake Nature Trail woods at the east end of the lake Emerald Lake Trail - including spur trails to West Side Trails and Nymph Lake Trail Lake Haiyaha Trail and connection to The Loch- Poudre River Trail - Chapin Creek to Milner Pass Mills Junction Chapin Creek Primitive Trail (cross-country Loch Vale Trail - beyond The Loch-Mills Junction route) Poudre River to Chapin Pass Mills Lake Trail - beyond hitch rail near The Loch- Mirror Lake Trail-beyond Comanche Peak Trail Mills Junction Junction Area Haynach Lake Trail - beyond Tonahutu Creek Boulder Brook Primitive Trail Trail (open to llama use from Tonahutu Creek trail Sprague Lake Nature Trail to Haynach Lake campsites) - beyond west end of Lake Verna Longs Peak Long Meadow-between Onahu Creek and Lily Lake and Lily Ridge Timber Creek Trails Jim’s Grove - from Battle Mountain Junction to All trails above except Thunder Pass Granite Pass Trail Willow Creek drainage to Long Draw Reservoir Chasm Lake - beyond hitch rail on Mills Moraine (unconstructed) Boulder Field - beyond hitch rail Timber Lake Trail, due to a landslide in 2011

Backcountry Camping Stock are allowed overnight in designated • Hitchrails are provided at all stock campsites with Stock stock campsites only. See http://www.nps.gov/ (posts at llama-only campsites), and stock romo/planyourvisit/stock_site.htm or call the must be securely tied to the hitchrail/post Backcountry Office, 970-586-1242, for conditions, overnight. No public corrals are provided. site availability, regulations and requirements. Highlining, hobbling, loose herding, Stock Site Regulations temporary corrals, and other means of confinement are not allowed. • Camp must be established in “stock camps” only. • Use stoves only. Fires prohibited, unless staying in a wood fire site with visible metal • Grazing is prohibited. Carry complete feed. fire ring (using dead and down wood only). • Backcountry stock camping party size is • Stock users are expected to clean up after limited to 6 people and 8 stock in designated their stock, including packing out any individual stock campsites. uneaten feed, spreading manure, and filling in • Backcountry stock camping party size is any holes caused by pawing. limited to 12 people and 16 stock at group stock sites. The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage. EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA L-HOPA-6/14