Cub Lake Trailhead
- nps.gov
- Estes Park
- Open now · open 24 hours
About
Cub Lake is one of the best walks in Moraine Park, a meadow stroll that climbs into forest and ends at a lake ringed with dead trees from the 2012 Fern Lake Fire. Fall is when I'd go, for elk and gold aspen, and moose are always a possibility.
The trailhead is in Moraine Park, inside Rocky Mountain National Park, at about 8,080 feet. From Bear Lake Road, turn onto Moraine Park Campground Road and follow the signs to the stables and trailheads. The Park lists Cub Lake at 2.3 miles to the lake with about 540 feet of gain, and other guides put the round trip near 4.8 miles. You cross open meadow, then climb through forest. Dead trees from the 2012 Fern Lake Fire line the lake. Parking is limited, and in summer there's a free Moraine Park shuttle route.
Go early, or in fall for the elk and aspen. It's also a popular snowshoe and ski route in winter. If you see a moose, give it a lot of space. Summer timed entry covers the Bear Lake Road corridor, so check nps.gov/romo before you drive in. No dogs on Park trails. Bring water, and stay on the trail through the wet stretches so the meadow doesn't get trampled.
