Hike the Fern Lake trail in Rocky Mountain National Park | Moderate Hike

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Bank of Estes Park

Fern Lake - 3.8 miles

Trail Type: Moderate Hike
Trailhead: Fern Lake
Trailhead Elevation: 8,155'
Destination Elevation: 9,527'
Total Elevation Gain: 1,372'
Total Roundtrip Miles: 7.6

Fern Lake

Trail Description
This trail has experienced significant fire damage from the 2020 East Troublesome Fire.
The hike to Fern Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park begins by following the upper Big Thompson River to The Pool. The trail then switchbacks up through spruce trees to Fern Falls, then switchbacks again to the lake. There's a Ranger's Patrol Cabin here. View's of Notchtop Mtn, The Little Matterhorn, and Gabletop Mtn can all be seen from the north shoreline. The trail continues around the east side of the lake to Odessa Lake and eventually Bear Lake.

How to Get There
Take the Bear Lake Road from US 36 for 1 mile to the Moraine Park Campground road and follow signs to the Fern Lake trailhead. Parking during the summer season is very limited. It's best to utilize the Hiker Shuttle from the Estes Park Visitor Center and the Park Shuttle Buses.

Trail Profile