Trip
Advanced Snowshoe – Lily Mountain
This EXPLORATORY out-and-back snowshoe hike ascends Lily Mountain just outside Rocky Mountain National Park, covering approximately 4 miles round trip with about 1,300 feet of elevation gain. The route climbs steadily at first, with the second half growing progressively steeper as we work our way toward expansive summit views of the surrounding peaks and valleys. Depending on conditions and group energy, we may explore alternative off-trail routes on our descent, adding a touch of adventure and route-finding to the return to the trailhead.
Contacts
- Sun, Apr 12, 2026
- Bobcats Section
- Snowshoeing
- Adults
- Challenging
- Mileage: 4.0 mi
- Elevation Gain: 1,300 ft
- High Point Elevation: 9,739 ft
- Maximum Wind: 9739 kts
- Pace: 1.3-1.8 MPH
- 7 (8 capacity)
- FULL (2 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
This EXPLORATORY out-and-back snowshoe ascent of Lily Mountain covers roughly 4 miles round trip with approximately 1,300 feet of elevation gain and should be approached as a strenuous winter effort rather than a casual outing. The initial miles offer a steady climb, but the upper half steepens significantly, demanding sustained aerobic output, solid traction management, and efficient pacing as the grade tightens and footing can become inconsistent. Participants should be prepared for a sustained uphill push with limited recovery terrain before the summit. On descent, we may evaluate snow stability and group capacity to determine whether an off-trail return is appropriate, which would require competent route-finding, controlled downhill travel in steep terrain, and comfort navigating variable snow conditions back to the trailhead. Our pace will be consistent with completing this hike in a reasonable amount of time. Overall ~4 miles and 1300 ft elevation gain. (Lily Mountain - CalTopo)
Carpool Place & Time: Meet at US 36 & McCaslin Blvd PnR-South 7:00AM for a 7:15AM departure (US 36 and McCaslin Blvd Park and Ride - South - Google Maps)
We'll carpool to the Lily Mountain trailhead (limited parking) (Lily Mountain Trailhead - Google Maps)
An additional carpool location further north is possible.
Required Equipment
Ten essentials and snowshoes are required. Trekking poles are recommended.