Ute Trailhead, Rocky Mountain National Park

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Ute Crossing is a small pullout on Trail Ridge Road where the Ute Trail drops onto open alpine tundra. No trees, big sky, and views toward Longs Peak and Moraine Park. It's quiet by Trail Ridge standards, and a good one if you want the high country without a long hike.

The trailhead sits on Trail Ridge Road inside Rocky Mountain National Park, about two miles west of Rainbow Curve. The lot is tiny, roughly eight or nine cars, with a bit more room along the road. The walk out to Timberline Pass is about four miles round trip, and it starts above 11,000 feet on exposed tundra. Take it slow. The air is thin and there's no shade and no shelter. The trail follows an old route used by Arapaho and Ute people moving between seasonal hunting grounds.

I'd get here early. The parking is the first hurdle, and afternoon thunderstorms up high are no joke, so the park suggests being off the tundra by noon. Bring layers even in July, because the wind never really quits. Stay on the trail so you don't crush tundra that takes years to recover. The road and this trail are only open when Trail Ridge Road is open, which usually means late spring to fall. Dogs aren't allowed on the trail, and timed entry applies in summer, so check the NPS site first.