Bear Lake—Flattop Mountain—Tyndall Glacier—Grand Lake; 16.5 miles., Flattop Trail. Time: on foot, i day; on horseback, 6 hrs.

This partly improved trail, which follows a route laid out years ago by the Indians, is the shortest route across Rocky Mountain National Park from east to west.

Branching west from FERN LAKE TRAIL (see Trail Tour 5), 0 miles, i mile north of Bear Lake (see Trail Tour 3), Flattop Trail crosses a narrow forest burn and ascends the steep but even slopes of BIERSTADT MORAINE. From a long switchback, 1.3 miles, overlooking (L) Dream Lake, is a view to the south (L) of HALLETT PEAK (12,725 alt.), a barren stone mass flanked by the white expanse of Tyndall Glacier; to the north (R) looms Flattop Mountain. The trail pursues a winding course through heavy timber, emerging briefly into a clearing with a view of the north face of Longs Peak (see Trail Tour 1); here is (R) a trail marker.

The ascent to timberline, 2.5 miles, is rapid. As the forest thins, the trail crosses a grassy meadow dotted with high mountain shrubs. The trail, marked by cairns, swings to the edge of a deep glacial gorge walled in by sheer cliffs that drop away to the green waters of Emerald Lake far below; at the head of the gorge lies Tyndall Glacier (see below).

North of the gorge is an almost continuous rise to the SUMMIT OF FLATTOP MOUNTAIN (12,300 alt). The trail, still marked by cairns, is noteworthy for its fine views of mountains and lakes. To the east are the rolling foothills around Estes Park; to the south, the spire of Longs Peak; to the southwest, the jagged peaks of the Gore Range in a purple haze; to the west and north, the Never Summer and Mummy Ranges.

The trail reaches the head of TYNDALL GLACIER (12,200 alt), 45 miles, where ice of unknown depth spreads along the shattered mountain walls.

Left from the glacier a poorly marked trail crosses broken rocky slopes along the southern edge of the gorge to the SUMMIT OF HALLETT PEAK (12,725 alt.).

At 5 miles, the highest point on the trail, is the junction with the Tohahutu Creek Trail

Right on this circuitous route, which leads through a wild region, to GRAND LAKE VILLAGE, 17 miles (see Tour 3).

The zigzag trail descends abruptly, 6 miles, to cross grassy meadows of the highlands; thick willow growths give way to towering pines. A sign, 7.3 miles, points the way across a stream to a SHELTER CABIN (not open to public), maintained for Park Service employees.

The trail proceeds through dense forests along the valley of the North Inlet of Grand Lake to a junction with a side trail, 8.9 miles.

Left on this trail, which crosses a swampy meadowland, fords a tributary of the North Inlet, and passes an unnamed lake, 12 miles, to LAKE NANITA (fishing), 2.4 miles, just below timberline.

At 9.5 miles is a junction with a side trail.

Left on this trail to LAKE NOKONI, 2 miles, another excellent fishing spot.

Flattop Trail continues down the valley of the North Inlet, passing (L) CASCADE FALLS, 12 miles. At 14.9 miles is the junction (L) with a secondary road, which the route now follows, crossing the boundary of the Rocky Mountain National Park, 16 miles.

The trail terminates at GRAND LAKE VILLAGE, 16.5 miles (8,369 alt., 200 pop.) (see Tour 3).