In looking to hike one of my Colorado bucket-list trails, the Instagram-famous Dream Lake, I made the rookie mistake of not planning far enough in advance.

While the new permit system at Rocky Mountain National Park works to decrease crowds, it also reduces the efficiency of my decisions made in Wanderlust as I booked a campsite in the area of the park before securing the necessary permit to the Bear Lake parking lot that would have gotten me access to Dream Lake. 

Although my dreams of hiking Dream Lake were crushed, as one door closed, another opened. We found a modest hike near our campsite with similar mileage — the Doe Creek Trail in Arapaho National Forest.

The trail begins by welcoming you to a lush meadow, littered with columbines at the time of our adventure in early July.

Just under a mile in, you’re met with a fork in the road. Venturing left onto Doe Creek East Trail N9.4 will take you deeper into the meadow, and mud, before beginning a short ascent up the ridge line.

I recommend taking a right onto Doe Creek Trail N9.3 if you’d like to keep your socks dry for most of the trek.

If you choose the latter, the ascent is steep, but to the point. About half a mile up, a second decision has to be made — to continue up the ridge or cut across to the other side of the loop and shorten the hike.

We chose to continue our climb, heading up on the Doe Creek N9.7 trail. As the trail flattens out around the 3-mile point, vistas of snowcapped mountains on either side were a welcomed treat.

Making your way back down the ridge line is easier on the knees if you choose to take the loop in this direction, as the majority of descent is through switchbacks.

Trip log: 3.7 miles, 469 feet elevation gain.

Getting there: The trailhead is close to the Arapaho Bay portion of Arapaho National Forest. From U.S. 34, travel along Arapaho Bay Road and follow County Road 6 for roughly 4 miles to reach the pull-off at the trailhead.

FYI: The trail is muddy in the spring and summer, icy in winter; wear proper shoes. In the summer months, bug spray is a must.