Horseshoe Park Overlook

Horseshoe Park Overlook at Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado is an easy 0.1-mile out-and-back walk that features stunning views of the Horseshoe Park meadow and the winding Fall River below.

This is not a hike and just barely a walk, but leads visitors out to a rocky outcropping that features stunning views of the mountains that surround Horseshoe Park below. You can also spot Sheep Lakes in the valley below and Fall River as it cuts and winds its way through the meadow.

Due to this overlook's altitude at 8,700-feet above sea level, it's a great place for visitors to take-in the natural beauty while also taking short walks to acclimatize.

Pets
Dogs are not allowed.

Parking
Hikers will find a small parking lot at the coordinates provided along Trail Ridge Road. The lot is large enough to fit a dozen vehicles as of June 2024.

Timed-Entry Reservations
Between the months of late May through early October you must purchase a timed-entry pass to visit Rocky Mountain National Park. If you wish to visitor and hike anything off of the Bear Lake Road, you must purchase a dedicated Bear Lake timed-entry pass. You can find more information about timed entry on the park's website.

Warnings
Elevation sickness: This trail brings hikers through terrain at 8,700-feet above sea level. Around the 7,000-foot mark above sea level, hikers may start to experience symptoms of elevation sickness including headache, muscle aches, shortness of breath, among other warning signs. In order to avoid elevation sickness it's recommended to ascend to higher elevations and take short walks to acclimate over the course of several days before taking a long or physically-demanding hike. At any time you feel elevation sickness kicking in, that's the time to turn back and head for lower altitude or the parking lot.