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Let me say upfront, this was NOT my intended destination. However, reservations for entering Rocky Mountain Park were full that day. This was suggested as an alternate. This is about 5 minutes from Downtown Estes Park, it is located in Hermit Park. You pay a fee of about $9 to get in, then drive slowly and carefully up this unpaved road for about 10 minutes (I think) until you get to the Kruger Rock Trailhead. I won't describe how many times I had to stop, hear my heart pounding and catch my breath in the thin air. Let's just say, there is about 1,000 feet of elevation up to Kruger Rock, which sits at the top. It is a hard hike for an older person like me, but even some young hikers had to take a stop and rest. Most frustrating is almost half the folks going up and down insisted on taking their dogs with them. It can be disconcerting since you don't know how a dog will react to you coming around a corner (some ignore you, others think they are on a wild 'hunt'). Beyond that the view are quite breathtaking as you get closer to the top. Let me be clear, once you get to the top, you still have to another 80 feet or so, through a 'crevice' within Kruger Rock itself, to get to the top of it. Only once you've climbed through that crevice, do you get a 360 degree view. I didn't like the 'loose' rocks within that crevice, so decided I'd had enough. But I have a photograph on here, that shows the thin (1 person at a time crevice) and people sitting on top of the rock itself. Note this is a wildlife area, for signs tells you that may encounter a bear. Which may be the only reason to bring an animal with you, as a bear deterrent. For the camera shots, was it worth it? Yes! Would I do it again? No! But it is awesome viewing up there. So try it! Bring water on a warm day.…
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Date of experience: August 2020
1 Helpful vote
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+1
Gorgeous hike! The payoff is fantastic! You can see all of Estes Park from the very top as well as great views of the Rockies. Dogs are allowed on leash. The very top is tricky to navigate and will require trekking over large rocks and a narrow pass but it is well worth the climb. Bring plenty of water if hiking during the summer. You pay for entrance (by card) at the entrance to the Hermit Park Campground-$9. Then you drive about 2 more miles to the trail head. There is a clean bathroom there as well.…
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Date of experience: July 2020
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Really great trail, moderate and good for my husband and I who don't really hike! The length is so worth it once you get to the summit of Kruger Rock. We would definitely recommend.
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Date of experience: July 2020
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+1
If you go to Estes Park to hike the mountains, give Kruger Rock a try. It's off the beaten path of RMNP, and frankly the trailhead is a bit hard to find even after you enter into its home of Hermit Park. We liked that it is dog friendly and presents a moderate challenge. Get an early start on warm days, bring plenty of water and wear good walking or hiking shoes. Once you make it to the top, the wooded slope becomes a rocky crevice. Squeeze through and you'll have the beautiful mountains in front of you and Lake Estes and its surroundings below. Well worth the effort! To replace the calories burned, treat yourself to a great meal at one of the many restaurants in Estes Park!…
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Date of experience: August 2019
1 Helpful vote
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Our small group of friends greatly enjoyed the hike to the summit of Kruger rock with abundant wild flowers all along the way. An early start allowed us to enjoy cooler temperatures on the ascent, which involves a significant gain in elevation. There are worthwhile perspectives over Estes Park and into the nearby mountains. This is a highly popular trail ski go early, and descend before afternoon threat of lightening. …
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Date of experience: July 2019
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