Sprague Lake is located on the eastern side of Rocky Mountain National Park, along the scenic Bear…read moreLake Road Corridor. The lake sits at about 8,700 feet, with beautiful views of the surrounding peaks and the Continental Divide. The 0.7-0.8 mile loop around the lake is peaceful, scenic, and especially family-friendly. The trail is stroller accessible, which made it perfect for exploring with our baby. We loved the reflections on the water, the mountain backdrop, and the peaceful alpine setting. A wonderful, easygoing stop in Rocky Mountain National Park--especially if you're traveling with little ones and want beautiful scenery without a strenuous hike.

This lake has a nice scenic trail around it. The hike itself is half a mile long and easy to walk…read moreon. Sprague Lake is located off Bear Lake Road and has plenty of parking. It is a quiet peaceful lake to enjoy and is wheelchair accessible. Sprague Lake is one of the most popular places to fish at in Rocky Mountain National Park because it has an abundance of trout. I swung by here after spending most of my day at Bear Lake and enjoyed a nice walk around the lake after a long day. Sprague Lake is named after Abner E. Sprague who created this man-made lake. He once had a home here and opened a lodge for hunting and fishing. Sprague then added cabins to the property and made it a hotel in the early 1900's. This area eventually became a part of Rocky Mountain National Park.

We had so much fun strolling about the lake looking for moose and yay saw two. It made our day. We…read morespotted a lizard in the water which was also very special.

I enjoyed visiting Lily Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. Not only is it a pretty lake, it is a…read moregreat spot for bird watching and to see wildlife up close. The ground squirrels were fun and entertaining to watch. Because they are used to people feeding them, they come right up to you and beg. The short trail around the lake is easy and level. It is about 0.8 miles round trip and offers great views of Longs Peak, Mount Meeker and Twin Sisters. If you want something more challenging, you can jump on the Storm Pass Trail from here. Rocky Mountain Park requires a online timed entry reservation made in advance during peak season.

8.12.2025 I arrived at 7am on the dot to hike gem lake. I'm so thankful that I arrived early to…read moreavoid the crowds, and when I arrived to the lake I had the place to myself, the water was like glass and the sun was still not high in the sky which provided the most beautiful reflections off the lake which made for some wonderful photos. In all I enjoyed this hike very much, everything about it was very enjoyable. On the hike down I encountered a lot of people headed up at the 8 o'clock hour. So I feel I timed my hike perfectly.

Gem Lake Trail is a relatively short hike at 3.4 miles round trip. The parking lot allows for…read moreplenty of parking. This hike has a 830 feet elevation gain meaning that the 1.7 miles up the trail has a steady incline. The 1.7 miles down is all downhill. Once you reach the top, you will see Gem Lake. The last bit leading up to Gem Lake is a little steeper than the rest of the trail. Gem Lake is a rather small lake, although beautiful. There is also a bathroom near the top, although can't comment on the restroom since I didn't use it. The views are gorgeous. We went around 2:30pm and there is always a chance of showers around that time in June. I would recommend going earlier in the day if possible to capture the reflection in the lake more and to avoid possibly getting rained on. Highly recommend this trail.

Nice place to fish, get cooled down and for me hammock and read! My husband caught a handful of…read morefish near the power plant.

Beautiful lake in Estes park! There are lots of outdoor tables making this a great picnic spot…read more Also a great place for water sports on a warm day. It's even nice just to drive by and see the wildlife.

The last of the lakes on this trail, this is definitely not the least. Actually, I'm not sure I…read morecould even identify the lake that would be considered the "least" since they're all so beautiful. All of the lakes (Emerald, Dream, Nymph, and Bear) have their own unique charm, which is what makes this trail so amazing! I think basically everyone rests here when they make it since it's essentially all the way uphill to get to this point. There's not a lot of room at the lakeshore as it's full of boulders, but everyone settled in their spots no issues. As always, make sure that you have appropriate hiking footwear, a hat, plenty of water, and some snacks. There are no toilets at this lake, so also make sure you use the washroom at the trailhead. Pace yourself on this hike since the air is thinner due to elevation.

Our goal was to hike to Emerald Lake, and let me tell you... It was 100% worth it. On this 3.6 mile…read moreroundtrip hike, you'll also encounter Nymph Lake and Dream Lake. While they're both beautiful in their own right, neither one of them compare to the sheer beauty of Emerald Lake with the snowy mountains as a backdrop. As I said, it is a moderate hike. We started around 930am - would've been nicer to start earlier, but it still beat the full heat of the noon sun. There will be intermittent shade, but make sure you bring a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water. We visited in mid June. Once we neared Dream Lake, we started encountering snow on the ground. I used hiking sandals, and I was able to do it in those - just be careful. That being said, with the amount of snow that was on the trail to Lake Haiyaha was completely un-doable in my shoes. Once you reach Emerald Lake, find a place to sit and just take it all in. I could've sat there all afternoon, just being at peace with nature. Absolutely gorgeous. To get to Emerald Lake, you'll need access to Bear Lake Road. Just be aware that Bear Lake Road requires a reservation SEPARATE from the reservation to the national park. There's a big lot at the trailhead, but it gets filled up. They do have a park & ride a few miles away with plenty of shuttles ready to bring you in. If you're able to make the hike, hiking to Emerald Lake is wonderful. The hike itself is gorgeous, and the final lake is beautiful. Plan it in your schedule, and you will not be disappointed.

With the mandatory timed entry to Bear Lake Road, we got lucky to secure a time to explore this…read morearea of Rocky Mountain National Park. This was our first stop on our hike heading into the forrest and it was an easy climb. These falls are loud and proud plus incredibly pretty. The falls thunder down Glacier Creek due to the heavy snowmelt. It's definitely a favorite spot for many people as it's only 1.6 miles so it's easy to access. Remember to pace yourself due to the altitude. I witnessed lots of huffing and puffing from people having to stop and catch their breath. We stayed long enough to take some pics and watch the falls and then moved on. Plenty of seating all around the falls for everyone. It's great short hike for those that just want to feel like they are "out there". Views are truly epic as is the entire park. Parking earlier in the day can be challenging. I recomment arriving very early or come later in the afternoon to secure a spot. Remember to pack in, pack out and LEAVE NO TRACE.

We picked this hike on our 1 day visit to RMNP and it was a great choice. It's a short 2 mile…read moreround trip from the Bear Lake parking area. This was our first time in park and we came in late May so did not expect all the snow and the slush on the trail so that was really awesome. Lots of elevation change as you climb up and down the trail and several small bridges that traverse all the small mountain springs. We saw a few blooming flowers, blue jays,chipmunks, and we spotted a baby rainbow trout hiding in a little pool in one of the springs. Incredible views of the Rocky Mountains and one you get to the falls it's a nice place to take a nice relaxing break in the many rock formations. Great hike.

Bear Lake is the signature trail to do at Rocky Mountain National Park, and for this very reason,…read moreit's extremely crowded! I opted to eat a light, quick breakfast, and hit the road early in the morning to beat out the crowds. That way, I could enjoy lunch back in town in Estes Park too. To help manage crowding, if you're planning a visit you might need a timed entry + bear lake road reservation depending on the season you're visiting. This is not something you want to do on the fly unless you want to risk not being able to visit. This stroll isn't very long and it gives amazing views of forests, mountain peaks, and of course Bear Lake. Continue on the trail to Nymph, Dream & Emerald Lakes. I would say that these hikes are definitely worth the effort!

Bear Lake is located on the eastern side of Rocky Mountain National Park, in the popular Bear Lake…read moreRoad Corridor. It was absolutely beautiful, with the lake surrounded by dramatic mountain peaks and a peaceful alpine setting. We spotted adorable chipmunks and beautiful blue-feathered birds along the way, which made the experience even more memorable. The roughly half-mile walk around the lake was manageable with our baby in a stroller and was a wonderful family-friendly way to experience the park. A beautiful and easy-to-enjoy stop that I would definitely recommend when visiting Rocky Mountain National Park!

We were driving around Estes and my husband had to make some business calls on our vacation. So he…read morestopped to do this by this lovely lake .. so I would have some place pretty to look around while he did some work calls and emails. I walked around with my camera .. and climbed the rocks .. the rocks here are porous. I am not a fan or heights and not a rock climber but the rocks here are easy to climb. there is a camp ground.

Nymph Lake is absolutely stunning. Trees surround it, and it was full of lily pads and lily flowers…read moreblooming. I could easily imagine nymphs and faeries darting around in such a scenic area. It's a unique view in a beautiful location. This is the second lake after Bear Lake if you're following the trail. I would say that Bear Lake is very accessible, but if you have the endurance to make the hike up to Nymph Lake, it's very rewarding! The rest of the lakes (Dream & Emerald Lakes) are also very pretty, but they're far steeper and longer away. This is the sweet spot if you are short on time or don't want to do the entire hike. As always, make sure that you have appropriate hiking footwear, a hat, plenty of water, and some snacks. There are no toilets at this lake, so also make sure you use the washroom at the trailhead.

If you're hiking to Emerald Lake, Nymph Lake is the first of 3 lakes you will encounter on the…read moretrail. A moderate 0.5 mile hike, Nymph Lake is nice - but comparing it to what you'll experience further along the trail, Nymph is like a "starter lake" - they keep getting grander the farther along you go. If you don't want to go farther than Nymph Lake, it's still a pretty spot to stop and enjoy. The worst part of the hike for me was that first 0.5 miles. Was still a bit rough the entire way, but it didn't compare to that beginning. Located on the Bear Lake Road, you will need separate reservations to access the road in addition to the reservations to enter the park. The trailhead of Nymph Lake is at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead at the end of Bear Lake Road. It is a large parking lot, but some of Bear Lake's best hikes are all accessible from this parking lot. If it's full, they do have a park & ride location and the shuttle will bring you into the lot. It does get hot and there is not shade throughout the trail. So make sure to bring plenty of water, a hat, some sunscreen, and (of course) some food. But don't forget to pack in and pack out! Highly recommend hiking to Nymph Lake and all the way to Emerald Lake if you can.

We took our maiden voyage in our pop-up camper here and we'd stay here again. Everything was…read morereally clean, well kept, the staff was friendly, and the views were good. The only reduction in stars is because, like others have said, you are right on top of everyone else. It's basically a line of parked campers, but as long as you know what you're getting that's fine. Everyone else was friendly and quiet after hours, and as long as you're mostly using it as a base camp for off site adventures it's not a problem. Also, the pool is supposed to be heated but was pretty chilly. Like I said, we'd go here again. Each site has a fire pit, picnic table, ours had hookups. Most importantly, the bathrooms are clean, new, and well kept. As long as you know you'll be up close with your neighbors and won't have shade trees it's a good place to go.

This was an AMAZING campground for a trip to RMNP! We saw so many elk and mule deer right from the…read morecampgrounds majestically roaming free. It was truly magical. Our campsite was perfect and up at the far / left end of the campground site. We had picturesque views at all hours of the day. The bathroom closest to our campground was just the potty portion, but there was a full bathroom just down the drive with showers and sinks and such. Our fellow campers were kind enough to rescue our tents and pin them down with rocks while we were out hiking (thank you, kind humans!). Our whole experience here was wonderful, and I would definitely return next time I'm in the area. The RV spots to be fair (as other reviewers mention) were more lackluster. The tent sites, especially at the outer edges, are where it's at!!