Alluvial Fan Trail 2.0

Location: Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Hike stats: 0.5 mile RT, 60 feet elevation gain

This past October, I made a last minute decision to visit Rocky Mountain National Park and to experience it as a “typical visitor,” or someone who drives through the park, stops at the overlooks and visitor centers, and maybe does a few shorter, “easier” hikes. As the lone hiker in my immediate family, I usually try out a few different hikes in each park that I think they would enjoy - you know, for after I drag them kicking and screaming into nature. No joke, I have a video of my family in front of a gorgeous waterfall in Tennessee and you can hear my sister say, “I was forced to come here.” I did eventually convert her and now she is asking to visit the parks out west. Anyway, this particular Sunday was perfect for a leisurely day as I was incredibly sore and tired from the intense hikes I had done the previous two days.

Fall Drive Through the Park

After making my way up to the Alpine Ridge Visitor Center (the highest visitor center of the entire NPS by the way!), I told the ranger my plan and asked if he had any suggestions for family-friendly hikes. He told me that the Alluvial Fan Trail had just reopened the week prior after a major renovation and said that it was a park favorite. Not only was it gorgeous, he said, but it was ADA-accessible. I grabbed one of the cafe’s delicious hot chocolates and slowly made my way down to the trailhead located right by the entrance to the Old Fall River Road.

This trail is a point-to-point trail that connects two parking lots at the East and West Trailheads. I chose to start at the East Trailhead, mostly because I really had to pee and wasn’t sure what the bathroom situation would be at the other lot #priorities.

The trail is in and of itself spectacularly designed. The ground was firm but easy on the joints, and the trail was lined with dazzling white boulders that were quite aesthetically pleasing, especially against the mountainous backdrop. The trail meanders through an old boulder field that was created after a dam on the Roaring River failed in 1982, sending a massive flood of boulders and other debris that deposited here.

The trail is also known for a beautiful waterfall that fans down a massive slab of rock. It was particularly stunning this day because the waterfall was surrounded by trees showcasing their fall colors. I was able to see the waterfall from both a wooden bridge that crosses the creek and closer up at a designated overlook.

The fact that the Alluvial Fan Trail is accessible is particularly special because the NPS followed the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA), which has stricter standards than those of the more well-known ADA. The trail in most parts has a grade between 5 and 8.33, with one short section by the East Trailhead having a grade of 19.5. Grades are only allowed to go for 50 feet before encountering a landing. The trail is also about 5 feet wide and uses FilterPave material so that, while sturdy enough for wheelchairs, it is also permeable enough that water can drain in an environmentally-friendly manner. Another mindful feature of the trail is that the views are equally accessible to those in wheelchairs and to those who are short. I have often noticed in the parks that, even though a trail may be “accessible” to wheelchairs, they all too often have a railing obscuring a viewpoint right at eye level or something to that effect. The designers of the new trail noticed that the original overlook of the waterfall was less-than-ideal for wheelchair users, and so they adjusted the height of the overlook accordingly. While I don’t use a wheelchair myself, I would probably recommend that wheelchair users and those with mobility problems start at the West Trailhead. The grade here at the beginning is more gradual vs. the short but steep section at the start of the East Trailhead.

I really enjoyed strolling along the trail and marveling at the combination of the water features, the mountains, the fall colors, and just the overall level of craftsmanship that went into making this hike so lovely. I highly recommend it to anyone who visits the parks, even those like me who tend to go for the “big” hikes!

Bonus:

For a nearby adventure, there is a small picnic area on the left just before you get to the trailhead with a social trail that leads back to a small creek. If you’re there in the fall, it’s a great place to leaf peep and perhaps enjoy a moment to yourself.