Lily Lake

Distance: 0.9 mile loop
Elevation: 8,930 ft
Elevation Gain: none
Bathroom at Trailhead: Yes
Dogs: No, National Park
Date Hiked: 7 July 2013

Lily Lake with Mt. Meeker, Long's Peak, and Estes Cone in the background 

Lily Lake on the outskirts of Rocky Mountain National Park is a handicapped accessible stroll filled with views of Long's Peak, Estes Cone, and Twin Sisters. Suitable for families and older folks, I took my parents there and was agog at the baby ducklings, swooping Peregrine Falcons, and fluffy blue clouds. Just lovely.

Looking up at Lily Ridge, which is not in the park. There is a 1.7 mile trail that ascends the ridge.

Golden-mantled Ground Squirrels are always willing to pose for the camera. Just don't feed them!

While Lily Lake won't get your heart rate up, it will put you in a contemplate mood. From the numerous oil painters lining the shore and fishermen floating on their pontoons, it was obvious that others felt the same way.

Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata) along the trail

A log bench allows for repose along route. Twins sisters soars in the background. 

You get to Lily Lake from Highway 7 at the Twin Sisters Trailhead. There is a small parking lot at the lake itself and a larger one for Twin Sisters across the street. Cars whip by at bone crunching speed so be careful crossing the road. We arrived at 10:00 am and a half a hour later both lots and all the slots along the road were filled. Who were these people? Lilly Lake is not exactly in the main part of the park.

The smooth, gravel trail is suitable for all abilities.

These Mallard ducklings were a hit as they drifted near the shore.

One of the many painters we saw.

Golden-mantled ground squirrel

Learn about other Critters: Coyote, Mountain Goats, Marmots, Moose

Golden-mantled ground squirrel 

The Golden-mantled ground squirrel (Callospermophilus lateralis) is commonly mistaken for a Chipmunk because of the strips on its back. Chipmunks also have strips on their faces, which is one way to tell them apart. Chipmunks are also diminutive compared to the rotund and comical Golden-mantled ground squirrel.

Please pay attention to me, I am about to be cute and entertaining. 

Note the stripes across the back but not on the face. 

Undoubtedly bored with their diet of berries, seeds, fungi, nuts, and insects they are notorious beggars that will plague picnickers in populated areas like Rocky Mountain National Park. In fact, the specimen in this post was a trail clown posing for me as I made my way to Lake Haiyaha. I viewed its joyful frolicking in the dirt as a celebration of life and of summer. These squirrels hibernate most of the winter and summer is their time to eat, play, and reproduce. I would be frolicking in the dirt too!

My right cheek pouch is already full. That will be 4 Doritos please.

I will now roll in the dirt. Perhaps you will feed me when I am done.