I unexpectedly have a day off tomorrow, any suggestions? Don't know the park at all!

May not be the best place tomorrow for a hike in the park proper. Bear Lake is closed and some other near by areas. Could be a bit smokey. :O
http://www.eptrail.com/estes-park-news/ci_21748272/conditions-hampering-efforts-fight-fern-lake-fire-rocky


Having said that, a good little hike that snakes in and out of NPS/USFS land with great views of Longs Peak is Twins Sister.
http://www.protrails.com/trails/view/64

Just an FYI, it is not supposed to be the best weather tomorrow:
http://weather.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/iwszone?Sites=:coz033

Bad for hiking...good for the fire! :)

(Suggest the nearby Wild Basin for lower elevation hiking if that is the case and you don't mind rain and light snow. Sand beach lake could be a good one http://www.protrails.com/trails/view/58 )

It looks like you can now drive to the Bear Lake parking lot, Mags. As of yesterday. Given that, a nice hike would be from Bear Lake to Odessa Lake and back. A fun hike in Wild Basin is to Ouzel Lake and back. But I'm with Mags--it'll probably be crappy weather tomorrow--wind and 50% chance of rain.

Figures the one day I have off in forever and it's gonna be fiery rain out. Thanks for the suggestions and info!

Nothing like fiery rain to ruin a good hike!

"I've seen fire...I've seen rain".

Ah, Mr. James Taylor, have you seen both at the same time?!?!! :D

Edited by PaulMags on 10/12/2012 10:12:54 MDT.

Looks like there are sill closures (at least according to the RMNP website)


http://www.nps.gov/romo/naturescience/currentfires.htm


Probably best to call either way.

Edited by PaulMags on 10/12/2012 10:13:52 MDT.

Yeah, Mags, they must have made that closure decision this morning, or maybe late last night. Your Twin Sisters idea seems to be the best one now, or somewhere around James Peak.