![](https://www.tumblr.com/widgets/share/tool?posttype=photo&canonicalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fgrunschev.com%2Fkoken%2Falbums%2Fshadow-mountain-lookout%2F&content=https%3A%2F%2Fgrunschev.com%2Fkoken%2Fstorage%2Fcache%2Fimages%2F000%2F386%2F2016-10-16-120154%2Flarge.1556310090.jpg&caption=%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%3Ca href="https%3A%2F%2Fgrunschev.com%2Fkoken%2Falbums%2Fshadow-mountain-lookout%2F" title="Shadow Mountain Lookout"%3EShadow Mountain Lookout%3C/a%3E%3C/strong%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ETrailhead%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E+East+Shore%3Cbr%3E%0A%3Cstrong%3EDistance%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E+5.4+mi%3Cbr%3E%0A%3Cstrong%3EElevation+Change%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E+1%2C503%27%0A%0AThe+trail+doesn%27t+actually+enter+RMNP+until+you%27ve+been+hiking+for+half+a+mile.+The+first+mile+and+a+quarter+or+so+%28both+inside+and+outside+the+Park%29+skirts+along+the+shore+of+Shadow+Mountain+Lake.+At+the+Shadow+Mountain+Lookout+trail+junction%2C+make+a+left+turn.+The+trail+goes+along+the+top+of+a+ridge+for+a+while%2C+then+around+to+the+east+side+of+a+knob.+After+contouring+along+a+slope%2C+the+trail+resumes+climbing+to+the+tower.%3C/p%3E){kind=link}
Shadow Mountain Lookout
Trailhead: East Shore
Distance: 5.4 mi
Elevation Change: 1,503'
The trail doesn't actually enter RMNP until you've been hiking for half a mile. The first mile and a quarter or so (both inside and outside the Park) skirts along the shore of Shadow Mountain Lake. At the Shadow Mountain Lookout trail junction, make a left turn. The trail goes along the top of a ridge for a while, then around to the east side of a knob. After contouring along a slope, the trail resumes climbing to the tower.