mostly cloudy, with a high near 32. It sits at 8,688 feet elevation. This gorgeous, wheelchair and stroller accessible stroll is great for hikers of all abilities. Nice hike. https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/timed-entry-permit-system.htm. Lovely trail, ended up scrambling up to Emerald Mountain for the view, totally worth it! 100%. Abner Sprague would go down in Rocky Mountain National Park history once more when he became the first visitor to pay an entrance fee in 1939. Im not sure if this is because we are two of the youngest hikemasters, or that we worked on several projects last year with one another. I think that is one of the best things about being out on the trail: getting a chance to see old friends that share a passion. Register now About this event Event Reminder Description Both the trails had massive uphill climbs. Estes Park, CO 80517-8397 To reach the trailhead from Bear Lake Road, follow Moraine Park Road for a half-mile to an unmarked junction, just before reaching the Moraine Park Campground. Once you get up into the aspens it's easy cruising from there. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Want to report conditions for this trail? Such a beautiful hike! Sprague Lake Trail is a 3,520 ft green singletrack trail located near Estes Park Colorado. No need for snowshoes. Ari worked at one of the local liverys two summers ago and we ran into her shortly before we arrived. Read about the history of the lake before visiting. Half of this route is on road unfortunately; however if you can find a spot at the trail head, the total hike is only ~2mi, it is an out and back trail. However, if you are traveling in a car, Wild Basin is a wonderful area to explore with trails that reach eight lakes and three waterfalls. Come early! Travis, her, and a few other guests were watching downhill skiing on the side of the bowl of the lake. but it can also be stressful. Route: Out and back. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 14 min to complete. Never approach or feed wildlife. Stay on US 34 as it becomes Trail Ridge Road to enjoy a spectacular tour of the parks incredible landscapes. Sprague Lake Trailhead is a 459 ft green singletrack connector trail located near Estes Park Colorado. For more information, please see, Rocky Mountain National Park In an Emergency, contact the park's dispatch center at 970-586-1203, No conditions reported in the past 7 days. We came in late October and there was just enough snow for it to be pretty to look at without being a slog to crawl through. Not very crowded, and very peaceful lake. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Stay left, crossing the bridge and on to the shuttle bus pickup area to go back to the Park & Ride. Wonderful hike! The forest is denser at this point, dotted with burgeoning Charlie Brown Christmas trees and towering pines. This is a popular trail for birding, hiking, and snowshoeing, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Only saw 4 people on the trail on a busy summer Sunday! Pssst. The last mile before reaching the top, hikers will climb . Maybe a little snow and ice in places. A different and lovely way to get to Sprague Lake in Rocky Mountain Park is by using the East Portal Trailhead. Jan 2020. The day started off though with a group of deer keeping me company while I smoke my morning cigarette. Wow, Friday was a crazy last minute hike. The aspen leaves are yellow to golden. Located on Bear Lake Road, one mile west of the Park and Ride shuttle bus parking lot. This part of the trail is incredibly quiet and the day we went, we passed only a couple of other hikers on the trail, making this particular outing particularly rewarding and relaxing. Length: 4 miles. The Hike: Moraine Park Loop Trail in RMNP. Hard packed snow and ice the whole way. This hike primary trail can be used both directions and has a easy overall physical rating. Waterfall views are with it at the top. Lots of horse poop from the horse tours that also use this trail. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 56 min to complete. There are 355 miles of trails ranging from easy to strenuous. A different and lovely way to get to Sprague Lake in Rocky Mountain Park is by using the East Portal Trailhead. . Categories Gym/Physical Fitness Center . Ha! Beautiful views! In the winter these are especially fabulous. 1311. There are benches to sit and reflect from or watch fishermen catch fish. This is our second hike of the season together and Im finding that our styles complement each other well. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. I highly recommend hiking this trail in the morning, especially if you wish to go home with some great photos of the mountains reflecting off the 13-acre lake. No snowshoes needed but micro spikes are quite helpful due to icy conditions on most of the trail. 2 Bedroom 1 Bath 2nd Floor Apartment in 4 plex. The trail is essentially level and it has several viewing locations with benches. Nice experience with no one else on the trial today. Nice views on a clear day. That road ends at the East Portal. Lots of people today just casually strolling or taking photos. (Mount Kisco, N.Y.) 1956-current, January 06, 1973, Page 5, Image 5, brought to you by Chappaqua Library, and the National Digital Newspaper Program. Located on Bear Lake Road, one mile west of the Park and Ride shuttle bus parking lot (bathrooms available). great walk. Sprague Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park is located on Sprague Lake Road off Bear Lake Road in Estes Park, Colorado 80517 in Larimer County. Visitor Information 970-586-1206 (Daily 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mountain Time, recorded information after hours) Entrance Sign to Rocky Mountain National Park Photo: Depositphotos. Its proximity to the charming town of Grand Lake make it even more alluring. Privacy Settings Nice quiet neighborhood and covered parking. Perfect short trail that is handicapped accessible with gorgeous views all around. 2023 Active Network, LLC and/or its affiliates and licensors. This is a popular trail for birding, hiking, and snowshoeing, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Sprague Lake is located off Bear Lake Road, one of the most popular areas in the park for a short hike. Parked at Storm Pass lot and headed to Sprague Lake. Ample parking; an accessible backcountry camping site is located in the area. When I saw her I was excited to see an old friend and play catch up. Sitemap The route is virtually flat, travels over a hard packed gravel surface, and is considered to be wheelchair accessible and suitable for the entire family. Trail Ridge Road (highway 34), crosses the park and rises to 12,183 feet, with ten miles of road above tree . Because the entrance is so accessible from Estes Park and open year round, it is the most popular. Estes Park, CO 80517-8397 Started at the YMCA and hiked to Shuttle stop at Tuxedo Park. (LogOut/ Did not have crampons/trax or poles. ***bring spikes! Id say better than Bear Lake. Hike of the Week: East Portal Trailhead to, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Frozen Dead Guy Days live music and entertainment lineup announced, Estes Womens Monument given prestigious history award, Perspectives: Watched by Howard P. Hanson, Wrestling coach addressed Board of Ed about firing, Hike of the Week: East Portal Trailhead to Sprague Lake, YMCA offers special rates for the Frozen Dead Guys Festival. - Conveniently located near Pines and 32nd Avenue, this apartment has newer carpet, flooring, trim, and painted recently. Great trail to the beautiful Sprague lake. With dark approaching we made for the Y, with darkness falling about us as we arrived on site. ***bring spikes! FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Snowshoed it on January 2, 2023. Short but very sweet. This means a C hike is the prerequisite for an A hike*; a D hike is a prerequisite for B hike; an E hike is a prerequisite for a C hike, and an F hike meets the requirements for D Hike. But the hiking was good and the trail was dry. Definitely windy make sure to layer up and some areas of deep snow, trekking poles help with not losing balance but a lot of people hiked around without the use of poles. 1 mile (1.6 km) past the Tuxedo Park parking area, the road will reach a sharp bend to the left. Nicely maintained path. Overview. is: contains: Last Name. Sprague lake to unnamed lake. Try this 7.1-km out-and-back trail near Estes Park, Colorado. Campground Reservations 877-444-6777 Arrived around 1pm on a Sunday and there were two parking spots left. Continue south along Bear Lake Road. Dirt/gravel. In peak months, rangers will block the road if the lot is . With benches placed strategically so you can enjoy views of Flattop Mountain and Hallet Peak, this is a great place to stop and have a snack. 3 bed 2 bath 1728 sqft. The beginning, like other reviews read, was the hardest part. Today was the first of two days off and I went for two hikes today. Sprague Lake is one of the most beautiful designated wedding locations in Rocky Mountain National Park. Super busy, had to park next 4 miles down. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. A wheelchair-friendly loop, the surface is packed gravel and level around the entire lake. However, in 1910, seeking "to prevent my homesickness for Estes Park and the mountains from becoming chronic", Abner Sprague and his wife would build another guest lodge in the Glacier Basin area. Save up to $10 on this event with ACTIVE Advantage! Saw a few elk. Along the way the loop trail offers several benches for visitors to kick back and enjoy the peaceful scenery. There were not many people at Sprague, surprisingly. The trails and perfect shape today. This lake offers a handicap-accessible hiking trail that goes around the lake. Gem lake isn't exactly a 5 star destination in the winter, but the hike itself is amazing. Want to report conditions for this trail? Easy trip around the lake, 11/11/2022 Closed in the 1980s and reverted to the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. insights, ACTIVE Works is the race management There are 82 miles of paved roads, and 28 miles of unpaved roads. 1000 Highway 36 It was a little over 4 miles and fairly flat. Stunningly beautiful out today. Excellent trail. I have a knee injury and the small bit of elevation allowed me to do this. Snow is packed and easy to walk with only boots or light traction devices. Sprague Lake is accessible year-round, and especially beautiful in winter when the lake is frozen over. Terms of Use Stay on Glacier Creek trail past the lily pond, then east of the Sprague Lake area, past Glacier Park camping area, past Bible Point, and down the livery area. This is a very popular area for hiking and running, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. If you are looking for a great hike with wildlife, breathtaking scenery and a peaceful view of one of Rocky Mountain National Parks most scenic lakes, consider taking the East Portal Trailhead to Sprague Lake. Rocky Mountain National Park charges a fee to enter. Little bit of snow. Amazing views and lots of trout and Salmon sightings in the clear shallow streams and edge of the lake. However, we took hiking poles that made us steadier as we stepped down the rocky trail. from Bear Lake. Along the way you'll pass the Fern Lake shuttle stop. Barely any snow or ice. There are several routes off the main trail that would require snowshoes. Very windy today. Great sunny day, but very windy. This is a very popular area for fishing, hiking, and snowshoeing, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. This is a very accessible and easy walk for good winter time views of Hallets peak, a frozen Sprague Lake, and the surrounding winter environs. Top ways to experience Sprague Lake and nearby attractions Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park Tour from Denver Winter and Spring 134 Recommended Bus Tours from 118.47 per adult Winter / Spring Private Rocky Mountain National Park Guided Tour 16 Recommended Adventure Tours from 140.63 per adult (price varies by group size) Sprague Lake itself is a wonderful brilliant mountain lake that is the centerpiece of this hike. While you can elope anywhere around the lake, the dock is the perfect spot to avoid having hikers in the background of your photos. Gorgeous views, easy hike. The hike was energetic and lively, yet small. from Bear Lake. Perfect bluebird skies, cool temps and very few people out. Lake is great to walk on though! The lake has superb views and even a moose came and said hi!! This is an excellent hiking route that can be done in an hour or two. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. There are plenty of benches and lookouts over the lake to stop and reflect. Betasso Preserve Trailhead discounts - what to see at Boulder County - check out reviews and 5 photos for Betasso Preserve Trailhead - popular attractions, hotels, and restaurants near Betasso Preserve Trailhead It is crowded around the lake as I found out you can drive up to it instead of hiking but that takes all the fun out of it Ha! Elevation gain: 1,282 feet. Snowshoes not needed. Plenty of parking in the lot, even when we returned at 1pm. Packed snow and clear trails in some spots. Follow a well-kept and non-challenging walking trail around the lake's edge to appreciate the magnificent mountain vistas. Super simple, highly groomed well maintained dirt / hard packed trail around Sprague Lake. So in all of two minutes we decided to take an evening hike off to Sprague. That is handicapped accessible with gorgeous views all around star destination in the States! 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