Rocky Mountain National Park's Tonahutu Creek Trail

Tonahutu Creek Trail

Description:
The Tonahutu Creek Trail begins from the trailhead at its south end (8,577') and makes a 13 mile climb to its intersection with the Flattop Mountain and North Inlet trails at 12,195 feet. After a short moderate climb, the trail makes a level path to a point just prior to intersecting the trail from the Kawuneeche Visitor Center. It parallels Tonahutu Creek through a predominately lodgepole pine forest. You'll reach Big Meadows in another 3.3 miles near its intersection with the Green Mountain Trail. Traveling along the west side of the meadow, the trail passes the ruins of two cabins built by Sam Stone in 1900. Soon after passing the Onahu-Tonahutu Cutoff Trail, the trail turns east and leaves the Big Meadows area following along the north side of the creek. It travels through dense spruce forest, at one spot passing a large meadow, on its way toward Granite Falls. You get a good view of the falls from the trail. Above the falls it climbs the ridge about 100 feet above the creek and soon enters Tonahutu Meadows. It travels along the north side of the meadow and makes a long, sometimes steep, climb to its intersection with the Haynach Lakes Trail.

The trail breaks out of the forest into a narrow gulch about .25 miles above the Haynach Lakes Trail. Here it crosses Tonahutu Creek and climbs the ridge to Big Horn Flats. It is about 2.8 miles across the alpine tundra to the intersection with the Flattop Mountain and North Inlet trails. The trail passes close to Ptarmigan Point just before reaching the intersection.

Features:

Length:	13.0 miles (20.9 kilometers)
Elevation Range:	8,577' - 12,220'
Elevation change:	4,328 feet
Season:	Jun 15 - Oct 15
Difficulty:	Easy to moderate
Use:	Moderate
USGS maps:	Grand Lake , McHenrys Peak
Trailheads:	Tonahutu Creek, Green Mountain
Restrictions:	No pets are permitted
Suitable for mountain bikes:	No (not permitted)
Suitable for horses:	Yes

Vicinity Map

Altitude Profile

Directions:
Take Trail Ridge Road to the west entrance to the Park. Continue south to the road leading into Grand Lake. Turn left toward Grand Lake and then bear left at Tunnel Road across from the Mountain Food Market, just past the stables. Continue on Tunnel Road a short distance to a dirt road going to the left that leads to the water works building (about .25 miles). Turn right at the water works building and follow the narrow road to the parking area. The Tonahutu Creek Trail begins near the water works building.

This trail can also be reached via the Green Mountain Trailhead. It is located on the east side of the road about three miles north of the Grand Lake Entrance. Take Trail Ridge Road for about 37.7 miles to the trailhead from the Beaver Meadows Entrance. Hike 1.7 miles vis the Green Mountain Trail to the Tonahutu Creek Trail.

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