Lake Nokoni - 19.6 Miles Round-Trip

Lake Nokoni (10,773') is located 9.8 miles from North Inlet Trailhead on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park. It fills a large, steep-walled bowl carved from Ptarmigan Mountain (12,324') in the upper reaches of an isolated NW-SE valley.

Trail Map | Photo Gallery

This long but moderate trail follows North Inlet Creek 7.45 miles before splitting off on a 2.35 mile, 1190' climb to the lake. Camping is not permitted at Lake Nokoni or nearby Lake Nanita, which limits traffic and gives each a decidedly natural feel.

Ten backcountry campsites along the way offer staging points for reaching the lakes, though Nokoni is accessible in a day for strong hikers with an early start (see map for all campsite locations).

Visitors will enjoy miles of fishable streams, large meadows, abundant wildlife and stops at Cascade Falls, The Big Pool and North Inlet Falls on the hike to Lake Nokoni:

The trail begins on a level dirt road across private property to the edge of Summerland Park (1.2 miles : 8,530’). It narrows onto single track and arcs NE around large meadows partially veiled by thin bands of timber.

The trail undulates mildly into a lodgepole forest badly marred by pine beetles, though the herbaceous layer and creek corridor remain healthy and verdant.

It rises nominally to Twinberry Backcountry Campsite (2.93 miles : 8,740’), then high along the north valley wall before leveling back to the creek and a spur for Cascade Falls (3.4 miles : 8,845’).

Social trails branch down to viewing areas of the cascade; exercise caution when scrambling about this slick area. The trail continues above the falls around a large meadow, a great place to step out and scan for wildlife (4.0 miles : 8,950’).

It reaches a bridge over Big Pool (4.8 miles : 9,080’), where the powerful North Inlet is funneled through a narrow granite chute and slows into a large swirling pool. This scenic area is a fine turnaround point if not aiming for the lakes.

Travel quickens on mild grades along the creek through damaged swathes of forest, with more frequent intervals of healthy spruce and fir deeper in the backcountry.

The trail skirts another large meadow complex (6.0 miles : 9,295’) to Grouseberry Backcountry Campsite (6.3 miles : 9.315’), North Inlet Group Site (6.4 miles : 9,330’) and a bridge over Ptarmigan Creek (6.65 miles : 9,345’).

A faint social trail splits NE up Ptarmigan Creek to Wardance Falls and its source at Bench Lake.

The main trail continues east to Porcupine Backcountry Campsite (6.75 miles : 9,378’), past which it climbs away from the creek on switchbacks to the Lake Nanita Trail Split (7.45 miles : 9,585’).

Here the North Inlet Trail veers NE on a 4.6 mile climb to Flattop Mountain (12,234’) on the Continental Divide, and the Lake Nanita Trail drops south to a scenic bridge across North Inlet Falls (7.6 miles : 9,515’).  It rises to the Pine Marten Backcountry Campsite (7.8 miles : 9,590’), the last and closest campsite to the lakes.

Grades steepen considerably on long switchbacks with emerging views of the Divide, peaks over the Nokoni-Nanita basins and Lake Solitude valley below.

It eases only upon reaching a bridge over the Lake Nokoni outlet (9.8 miles : 10,773’). Exploration is limited by steep walls and rugged terrain, though large rock slabs and outcrops offer nice perches around the lake. Lake Nanita is just 1 mile away at virtually the same elevation, but requires a 300' climb over the east shoulder of Ptarmigan Mountain, and again on the return.

Even if not aiming for Lake Nanita, consider continuing a short distance up the switchbacks for aerial views of the Nokoni basin and valley below.