Moraine Park
- nps.gov
- Estes Park
About
A wide, flat valley in Rocky Mountain National Park that glaciers carved out, with the Big Thompson River looping through it. Elk graze here and people stop their cars in the road to look. Don't be those people.
Moraine Park is inside Rocky Mountain National Park, along Bear Lake Road about five miles from the Beaver Meadows Entrance. It sits around 8,150 feet and gets its name from the two moraines, the ridges of glacial rubble, that frame it. You'll find the Moraine Park Museum, the Big Thompson River for fishing, the Moraine Park Campground, and the starts of the Cub Lake and Fern Lake trails. Summer visits typically need a timed-entry reservation plus the park entrance pass, so check nps.gov/romo before you go.
Go early morning or near dusk for wildlife. Pull into a real turnout, stay far from elk, and keep your voice down. Pets aren't allowed on trails in the park. Summer camping requires a reservation through Recreation.gov, and no walk-ups through the park's visitor centers. Midday summer is crowded, and Bear Lake Road is slow. If you want a short walk in the valley, ask a ranger what's open, since conditions change. Bring binoculars, a jacket, and patience.
