Crazy. Lots of people fly fishing and paddle boarding at the lake! Light snow. Windy here and there. Hike - Estes Park, CO 2023 | ACTIVE February 16, 2023 Sprague Lake via Mountainside Dr. There were not many people at Sprague, surprisingly. From the trail head area, go to the left and take the trail towards Glacier Gorge. Easy trip around the lake, 11/11/2022 Travis, her, and a few other guests were watching downhill skiing on the side of the bowl of the lake. Website ymcaspokane.org. Sitemap Sprague is one of my favorite lakes in the park. Backcountry Office 970-586-1242 . You can also purchase a park-specific annual pass. Some slippery slopes, but all manageable. destination. Closed in the 1980s and reverted to the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. You could be hurt or issued a fine. MLS# 20-4365. Took the shuttle up to Bear Lake (with transfer at the Park & Ride) and hiked down from there to Sprague Lake. . Backcountry Office 970-586-1242 Lost & Found (Backcountry Office) 970-586-1242 Snowshoes not needed. Mostly Packed snow and some ice patches. ***bring spikes! There are 82 miles of paved roads, and 28 miles of unpaved roads. Sprague Lake We setup a hammock and chilled for lunch. 5. The first hike I went on. Very limited parking in RMNP, folks parking on the road. Parking (limited) & restrooms at the trailhead. The hike around Sprague Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park begins from the Sprague Lake Trailhead, located off Bear Lake Road roughly 5.5 miles from the turn-off at Highway 36. Gorgeous d. Barely any snow or ice. 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. 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. Floor plans are artist's rendering. Follow Highway 66 past the YMCA by about a mile. This is a popular trail for birding, hiking, and snowshoeing, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. The last mile before reaching the top, hikers will climb . Most direct from Estes Park (#1 on map) The Beaver Meadows Entrance provides quick access to Sprague Lake (pictured), Glacier Gorge and Bear Lake Deposit Photos. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Saving grace was 5G service to get timed entry tix (if you can actually navigate the site efficiently!). It's not too slick out in the sun, but it was a bit icy in places. heading back tomorrow to do 4 lakes and the falls. Beautiful trail on this early Tuesday morning. Great hike! Better panoramic views than the more popular Bear Lake walk. Copyright Overall a great day trip without having to reserve into RMNP. Categories Gym/Physical Fitness Center . Snowshoed it on January 2, 2023. This hike primary trail can be used both directions and has a easy overall physical rating. Traditionally Indigenous Territory Arapaho Cheyenne Nu-agha-tv-p (Ute) Great with kids. Great hike once you get past the up hill! Get a free Colorado national park trip planner for inspiring itineraries and essential information. It's about 3.4-miles going downhill for a short time, then it pretty much levels off as you reach Glacier Creek. Bear Lake to Sky Pond via Glacier Gorge Trail, Mills Lake, Black Lake, Frozen Lake Trail, Shelf Lake and Solitude Lake via Glacier Gorge Trail. At the beginning for this hike, you walk along Wind River which makes incredible sounds as the water tumbles down. YMCA of the Rockies is a campsite inside of Rocky Mountain National Park. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 27 min to complete. Address 12928 E Mansfield Ave Suite 3, Spokane Valley 99216. Took the shuttle bus to Bear Lake. Due to several parking areas being full I had to start from a different location than the George Gully trail head. Privacy Policy Getting there To get to the East Portal trailhead from the junction of US 36 and CO 66, just west of Estes Park, head 3.3 miles southwest going past the YMCA of the Rockies on CO 66 till it ends at a circular loop where there is limited parking. Beautiful day! However, we took hiking poles that made us steadier as we stepped down the rocky trail. Excellent trail. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. A different and lovely way to get to Sprague Lake in Rocky Mountain Park is by using the East Portal Trailhead. A nice walk. Stop by the Kawuneeche Visitor Center near the Grand Lake Entrance to get more information. This trail is relatively flat and in good condition. An hours drive from Boulder and two hours from Denver, the lively Estes Park is the closest town to the park on the east side of the park. gain 1.0 39:31 525 ft 2.0 25:39 105 ft 3.0 29:46 59 ft 3.1 24:15 Very windy today. Really windy & trail partially covered in snow. We look an upper loop that added some mileage and took us up above the lake before circling back around to lake level. While at the lake we ran into an old friend of mine from a few summers ago. Never approach or feed wildlife. Stay left, crossing the bridge and on to the shuttle bus pickup area to go back to the Park & Ride. A little snowy and some ice. Lots of horse poop from the horse tours that also use this trail. 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. 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. It also happens to be one of the most scenic hikes in Colorado. Its thin in places, and the water is definitely flowing underneath. Difficulty: moderate. This is a pleasant half-mile walk around Sprague Lake (elevation 8,700 feet). Only went to the unnamed lake and back to Sprague. "there are those you can call nothing but tourists. Bing Maps has a collection of great trails with directions to trail heads as well as photos. A Timed Entry Permit will cover one vehicle and all passengers in the vehicle. Sprague Lake via Mountainside Dr. You can get to the Fall River Entrance by driving 5-10 minutes on US 34 west from Estes Park. 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. The trail is about 6 miles each way. This is a very popular area for fishing, hiking, and snowshoeing, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. About This Property. Perfect bluebird skies, cool temps and very few people out. First Name. Today was the first of two days off and I went for two hikes today. Campground Reservations 877-444-6777 Packed snow and clear trails in some spots. 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. Sprague Lake is located off Bear Lake Road, one of the most popular areas in the park for a short hike. You are just minutes from Greenwood & Myers Mortuary is the first choice for many families when they are seeking funeral services in Boulder. is: contains: Weapon. While you can elope anywhere around the lake, the dock is the perfect spot to avoid having hikers in the background of your photos. Sprague also undoubtedly appreciated the breathtaking views of the Continental Divide, which are best seen from this trail at the far end of the lake. 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. Dirt/gravel. You'll need to leave pups at home dogs aren't allowed on this trail. A little icy in the shaded areas. Elevation gain: 1,282 feet. Views are great around the lake and its mostly flat, easily accessible from the lake parking. East Portal to Sprague Lake. The lake is popular for Brook trout fishing. ft. house located at 2165 Karen Pl, Redding, CA 96001 sold for $325,000 on Dec 5, 2020. 2023 Active Network, LLC and/or its affiliates and licensors. Trail Ridge Road Information Recorded Message 970-586-1222 (available 24 hours a day, updated when conditions and/or road status change) Quite snowy and slick, we made it with just hiking boots but yak tracks or poles would have been helpful, Lots of snow, wouldnt not attempt without spikes and poles. (LogOut/ Want to report conditions for this trail? Very rocky be careful of twisting youre ankle or cutting yourself. In the winter, this is an popular snowshoeing and ranger walk area. Wonderful views with no people once you cutover. Friday Wow, Friday was a crazy last minute hike. You'll need to leave pups at home dogs aren't allowed on this trail. Trail had 3 to 5 inches of new snow with barely a tack to follow, but the orange trail markers helped. Enjoy beautiful views of Estes Valley and Twin Sisters at the summit of Lily Mountain. Such a beautiful hike! Both the trails had massive uphill climbs. Lots of snow on the trail, didnt need snowshoes though, as well trodden. The lake is beautiful. Susan and I share a passion for beaver ecology, so while at the lake we took the time to scope out the beaver habitat in the nearby wetlands. Sold: Vacant land located at Lot 23 Fieldstone Pl, Augusta, ME 04330 sold for $68,500 on Jul 9, 2021. Lots of snow on the trail, didnt need snowshoes though, as well trodden. On the east side of the park lies the Beaver Meadows Entrance, the most direct entrance from Estes Park, Colo.,which lies right outside Rocky Mountain National Park. It sits at 8,688 feet elevation. The trail was doable today without snowshoes or micro spikes but that can change quickly with new snow expected tonight and high winds. Due to the extreme popularity of the Bear Lake Road area, you may want to consider using the free park shuttle to reach the trailhead during peak tourist season. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 16 min to complete. Walked around Christmas Day, 12/25. Sprague Lake is a 13-acre lake named after Abner Sprague, an early resident of the Estes Park area who ran a game lodge on the this property which is now part of Rocky Mountain National Park. Windy here and there. Kayaks on Sprague Lake Jennifer Probert Gem Lake The side trip up Emerald Mountain made the trip hard, but the spectacular view made it absolutely worthwhile! 3 bed 2 bath 1728 sqft. (LogOut/ You wont find major grocery stores here, although you can drive 25 minutes to Granby and shop at the enormous City Market. 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