Sheep Lakes
- nps.gov
- Estes Park
About
Sheep Lakes is a glacier-carved meadow in Horseshoe Park where bighorn sheep come down off the mountains to lick mud for minerals. If you want a wildlife stop that doesn't need a boot or a backpack, this is it, but it works best when you are patient.
Sheep Lakes is a few miles inside the Fall River Entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, with a pullout and parking right at the meadow and a dramatic view across Horseshoe Park. The Park Service says bighorn sheep are commonly seen here and in Horseshoe Park from May through mid August, when they come down to get nutrients from the mud. You may also see coyotes, ground squirrels, and elk. The nearest restroom is at the Lawn Lake trailhead, just west of the lot.
Be early and be quiet. Keep at least 75 feet from the sheep, which the Park Service says is about two bus lengths, and use binoculars or a long lens. Never feed or approach wildlife. Sheep aren't guaranteed, and that's fine, because the meadow is lovely anyway. During elk rut in fall the lot fills quickly, so show up early or expect to circle. I'd skip it if you're in a hurry. Pets aren't allowed on Park trails, so leave the dog at home.
