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NatureWildlife & Farms

This Colorado Winter Wildlife Hike Will Spoil You For Life

Coyote Valley Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park offers a family-friendly, handicap-accessible winter hike with abundant wildlife sightings.

Updated Nov 25, 2022

Written by 

Annie Sandmeier

When the weather outside is downright cold, that doesn't matter, as we are Coloradans and require daily outdoor time! If you want to make the most out of your time outside, we recommend doing so by taking this winter wildlife hike that is guaranteed to spoil you for life. You'll quickly discover why it's one of the best winter hikes in Colorado.

We love to gush about Grand County any chance we get, so you best believe we were excited to discover that this beautiful area is home to one of the best winter hikes in Colorado...

A serene landscape featuring a pond surrounded by lush green grass and trees, with a deer standing in the background.
Wikimedia Commons/Brian W. Schaller

…the Coyote Valley Trail!

A person walks along a gravel path in a mountainous landscape, surrounded by trees and open fields.
AllTrails/Teryl Edwards

Spanning a short and sweet one-mile route, Coyote Valley Trail is an easy hike for the entire family and is also one of only two handicap-accessible trails in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Two hikers stand in a grassy field, gazing at snow-capped mountains in the distance under a cloudy sky.
TripAdvisor/MsBarbara

Located just 5.5 miles north of the Grand Lake entrance, Coyote Valley Trail features some of the most beautiful of scenery year-round, but the area manages to become even more alive in the winter!

A snowy landscape with evergreen trees and a stone bridge under a blue sky with fluffy clouds.
AllTrails/Sam G

What makes us love Coyote Valley? It is the ample wildlife sightings, with vary from elk...

A lone elk stands in a grassy field near a lake, with trees and buildings in the background.
AllTrails/Diana Tiggelaar

...to moose...

A moose and her calf walking through a grassy field with mountains and trees in the background.
TripAdvisor/Deb-n-MO

...and antelope.

Two pronghorn antelope stand in a snowy field, surrounded by sparse grass and a winter landscape.
Flickr/Michael Shealy

You are almost guaranteed wildlife sightings every time you visit!

A herd of elk resting in a grassy area near a lake, with mountains and trees in the background.
AllTrails/Diana Tiggelaar

And even if you don't spot some wildlife while you're here, the absolutely breathtaking scenery is reason enough to go on this winter hike in Colorado.

Snow-covered landscape with mountains in the background and scattered pine trees under a cloudy sky.
Sam G/AllTrails

Coyote Valley Trail can be reached from Grand Lake via Trail Ridge Road and is located about five miles into RMNP (just look for the trailhead sign).

Have you hiked this amazing trail? Did you spot any wildlife? Let us know in the comments below, and don’t forget to share photos from your outdoor adventures on our Colorado Nature Lovers Facebook group!

We think this is one of the best winter hikes in Colorado, but if you're curious to check out even more of our favorite winter hikes, you can read our previous article: 6 Easy Winter Wonderland Hikes Near Denver Almost Anyone Can Do!

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