Mt Ida is located 4.8 miles from the Poudre Lake Trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park. Visitors will enjoy spectacular alpine landscapes and panoramic views across the Never Summer Range, Gorge Lakes and lightly traveled interior mountains of the Continental Divide.

Despite its classification as a cross-country route, the Mt Ida Trail is well defined most of the way

A mature ram's horns can weigh over 30 lbs, measure over 30" in length and 15" in diameter

The Gorge Lakes include Azure Lake (foreground) and Inkwell Lake

The trail dips to a saddle at 3.4 miles with terrific views across an alpine terrace above Forest Canyon

Looking southwest over Julian Lake, separated from the Gorge Lakes by Chief Cheley Peak

Just east of Milner Pass, Poudre Lake feeds the headwaters of the Cache La Poudre River

Light colored portions of the trail are comprised of finely crushed granite called grus

Looking south from Mt Ida (12,889') down the connecting saddle to Chief Cheley Peak (12,504')

At high elevations, marmot may hibernate from October - April in burrows that reach 20' deep

Steep, unstable cornices make dropping into the Gorge Lakes basin a precarious endeavor

No trails lead into the Gorge Lakes valley

A ram's horns help determine rank within the herd, but they'll deliberately shorten them by scraping on rocks if they grow to impede vision

The Gorge Lakes are comprised of 8 main lakes and numerous outlying tarns

Tundra flats framed by the Never Summer Range on the hike to Mt Ida

Bighorn sheep males form small bachelor herds in the summer before joining females for the autumn rut

The trail clears treeline at about 1.2 miles, beginning an exposed 3.6 mile stretch to the summit

Elk cows can reach 400 - 800 pounds and over 4' at the shoulder

The final 1.3 miles rise steadily through indistinguishable, talus-strewn tundra