Alpine Lakes Loop--3 mi. RT. Easy to moderate. Access: Just north of Wheeler Peak Campground.
With an elevation gain of only about 400 feet, this is a relatively easy and accessible trail, especially popular with families. However, keep in mind that those not accustomed to the 10,000-foot elevation may find any activity tiring. The loop can be hiked in either direction, passing through forests of spruce and pine trees, as well as meadows dotted with colorful wildflowers. Teresa and Stella Lakes are shallow and clear, and the reflections of snowcapped peaks are often seen in their smooth surfaces.
Bristlecone Pine Trail--4.6 mi. RT. Easy to moderate. Access: Near the Wheeler Peak parking area.
Those who want to take a relatively easy hike through a unique forest will enjoy this trail. It goes through a grove of bristlecone pines and then on to a view of an ice field and what is believed to be a rock glacier--a rock-covered permanent mass of ice moving very slowly downhill. Distance to the bristlecone pine grove is 1.4 miles one-way, and the ice field is another 0.9 mile. During summer, rangers often lead hikes to the bristlecone grove. Elevation is about 10,000 feet.
Lexington Arch--1.7 mi. one-way. Moderate. Access: About 18 mi. south of the visitor center off a dirt road; ask park rangers for specific directions and current road conditions.
This six-story arch is a bit out of the way, but the splendidly framed views through its 75-by-120-foot opening prove an ample reward. After driving into Utah and then following a dirt road, you will find yourself hiking a sunny path that takes you past wildflowers, mountain mahogany, fir, and pinyon. The easy-to-follow trail ends at the arch, which is unique because it has been carved from limestone, not sandstone as is usually the case in the American West. Some geologists believe it is not really an arch, but a natural bridge; the difference being that arches are formed by wind, rain, and ice, while bridges are created by the eroding force of streams and rivers.
Mountain View Nature Trail--0.4 mi. RT. Easy. Access: Outside the visitor center.
This is a self-guided loop, with a brochure available at the visitor center that provides information on plants, animals, and geology. The short trail is popular among those with 20 to 30 minutes to wait before their guided cave tour.
