Deer Mountain

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Cave · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

A rugged run featuring sweeping views that climbs to the summit of Deer Mountain. Although this run does have a gradually more challenging ascent, the views more than compensate for the work to get to the summit.

There are some steep sections with switchbacks that make this a challenging run.

This is one of the more popular runs in the park as the views from the summit of Deer Mountain are definitely worth the climb to the top. The six-mile round trip run to the 10,013 ft. summit is a very doable run for most people.

Starting from the Deer Mountain Trailhead, begin on the Deer Mountain Trail. Stay right at the first junction which is shortly after the trailhead where the North Deer Mountain Trail branches to your left. The next junction will be approximately three miles in where you'll want to take a right onto the Deer Mountain Summit Spur which leads to the summit.

Given the amount of elevation change that occurs along this trail, there are some tight and steep switchbacks to navigate. The views of the surrounding mountains are spectacular along many portions of this trail - especially from the summit where you'll have a 360-degree view of the surrounding peaks of the Continental Divide, Estes Park, and Moraine Park.