Fern Lake Trailhead
- nps.gov
- Estes Park
- Open now · open 24 hours
About
Fern Lake is a good one for people who want a long day in the woods with water along the way. The trailhead is at the end of Moraine Park. Go early. Plan on a full day.
Fern Lake's trailhead sits at about 8,155 feet, reached from Highway 36 by Bear Lake Road and then the Moraine Park Campground road to the end. The NPS lists Fern Lake at 3.8 miles each way with roughly 1,375 feet of gain, so you're looking at a 7.6 mile round trip. That's a strenuous day for most people. In summer the free Moraine Park shuttle ends at the Fern Lake stop, which beats circling for parking.
Start early, because the lot fills and the afternoon sky in July can turn on you. From late May to mid October you'll need a timed-entry reservation for the Park, and Bear Lake Road corridor hours carry their own rules, so read the NPS page before you go. Winter changes everything: snow and ice settle in, so bring traction and check conditions. Pack layers, water and a headlamp, and skip the dog. Pets aren't allowed on any trail in Rocky Mountain National Park.
