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East Shore Trail to the Historic Lookout Tower on Shadow Mountain

Trailhead: East Shore

Distance: 5.2 miles (one-way)

Elevation Gain: 1,533 feet

Dogs Allowed: No

Bathrooms: No

Please note that the Fire Tower is closed to hikers and may not be climbed or accessed in any way.

Timed Entry Reservations are required to enter RMNP May - October.

Shadow Mountain Lookout Tower map

This challenging out-and-back trek leads to a historic fire tower in Rocky Mountain National Park, offering stunning views of the surrounding lakes and mountain ranges. The tower was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and is the last of its kind still standing in the park. The trail starts out flat alongside the serene shores of Shadow Mountain lake before angling upward through switchbacks of lodgepole pine forests before topping out just shy of 10,000 feet in elevation, where you’ll be rewarded for your efforts with 360-degree views of the Never Summer mountain range.

East Shore Trail to the Historic Lookout Tower on Shadow Mountain
East Shore Trail to the Historic Lookout Tower on Shadow Mountain
Grand Lake Area Chamber of Commerce

Chamber & Visitors Center

14700 US HWY 34, Grand Lake, CO 80447

PO Box 429, Grand Lake, CO 80447

970-627-3402

Sun-Mon: 10am – 3pm

Tue-Wed: Closed

Thur-Sat: 10am – 3pm

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