Some open gravel on road to trailheads but 80% snow packed. Trails are snowpacked. Note: As of October 2020, this area is closed due to wildfire. 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. Hike .8 mi at elevation 8,690’ Iconic views across the lake of the Continental Divide peaks above Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. Please read this Disclaimer / Privacy Policy before using any information on this site. To access the 1/2 mile loop hike around Sprague Lake, cross the bridge near the parking area. It is made interesting and worthwhile by its awe-inspiring views of Longs Peak to the south, Estes Cone to the southeast, Bierstadt Moraine to the west, and the lake itself. There is an easy and accessible half-mile-long trail around the lake with a fishing pier. On the opposite side is an accessible campsite, noted in … Highly recommend during morning hours. 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. The charming Sprague Lake is great for the whole family. In an Emergency, contact the park's dispatch center at 970-586-1203. where they saw this or that...", "to prevent my homesickness for Estes Park and the mountains from becoming chronic". 1000 Highway 36 Despite the pandemic and the apparent drought in the area, Sprague Lake was beautiful and peaceful. Access this loop via one of the connector trails that leads out of the Glacier Basin Campground. The views from the far end of the lake are excellent. Beautiful lake, easy accessible trail for all. I thoroughly enjoyed it! My fav hike .. alot of gorgeous for not alot of effort. This hike primary trail can be used both directions. An accessible backcountry camping site is located in the area. The Loch Lake Trail via Glacier Gorge Trail, East Portal Trailhead: Wind River and Glacier Basin Loop [CLOSED], Mills Lake, Black Lake, Frozen Lake Trail, Mill Creek Basin Trail to Bierstadt Lake [CLOSED], Sprague Lake, Glacier Creek and Storm Pass Loop, Bear Lake Road to Cub Lake and Fern Lake Trail [CLOSED], Wind River, Storm Pass, Sprague Lake, and Glacier Creek Loop, Shelf Lake and Solitude Lake via Glacier Gorge Trail, Boulder Brook, North Longs Peak Trail, Alberta Falls and Glacier Creek Loop, Granite Pass, Chasm Lake, and Storm Pass from Storm Pass Trailhead. We visit RMNP most years but this was our first visit in October and first to Sprague Lake. Hikers will enjoy panoramic views of the Continental Divide, including Half Mountain, Thatchtop Mountain, Taylor Peak, Otis Peak, Hallett Peak, Flattop Mountain and Notchtop Mountain. If you are entering on foot, horse, or bike the fee is $15 per person. Type of Trail: Loop, Easy This gorgeous, wheelchair and stroller accessible stroll is great for hikers of all abilities. Great views all around of surrounding peaks and the Continental Divide at the far end of the lake, which also has large boulders, great for climbing. The 0.7-mile Sprague Lake Trail, a lollipop loop around 13-acre Sprague Lake, is one of the most popular and busiest trails in Rocky Mountain National Park. Several benches and viewpoints. Lost & Found (Backcountry Office) 970-586-1242 Beautiful not closed as AllTrails says. If you step on rocks, traction devices aren't necessary. Sprague Lake is covered by the Sprague Lake, WA US Topo Map quadrant Copyright We visit RMNP most years but this was our first visit in October and first to Sprague Be sure to pause at the bridge to look for trout. It was pretty flat and easy terrain .. no dogs allowed. ACTIVE also makes it easy to learn and prepare for all the things you love to do with expert resources, training plans and fitness calculators. The access to Sprague Mountain from Bear Lake is a long hike. There are wheelchair accessible bathrooms (flushing in the summer, vault in the winter), wheelchair accessible picnic areas (12 picnic tables and fire pits), and five wheelchair accessible group campsites. Sprague Lake Trail is a 0.72 mile one way hike with 54 feet accumulated elevation gain. Backcountry Office 970-586-1242 Even has benches to sit and reflect from or watch fisherman catch fish. Enjoy the view - mountain peaks along the Continental Divide can be seen clearly from the east shoreline. Earning its namesake from one of the original settlers of the Estes Park area, Abner Sprague, this hike along a hard-packed trail is one of the most popular of the area. "We came here for small ranch operations, but guests and visitors became so numerous, at first wanting eggs, milk, and other provisions, then wanting lodging, and finally Length 0.8 miElevation gain 39 ftRoute type Loop 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. Estes Park, CO 80517-8397 There are benches and lake access along the trail for fishing, and a bridge over the lake outlet creek. Pretty views. A good place for a short winter walk, or to try those crosscountry skis on a frozen lake. Rocky Mountain National Park By a Volunteer 12/1/2020 Wild Basin to Hidden Falls and then Calypso Cascades Parked at winter parking. Its short, pretty, and plenty of benches. "...there are those you can call nothing but tourists. The lake is named after Abner Sprague, one of the original Length 4.4 miElevation gain 633 ftRoute type Out & back Hiking running Forest Lake Wildlife Closed Fee The trail is fully accessible. Lovely Sprague Lake offers views of the high peaks. Sprague Lake Nature Loop - 0.8 Miles Round-Trip Sprague Lake is located just south of Bear Lake Road on the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park. Located on Bear Lake Road, one mile west of the Park and Ride shuttle bus parking lot (bathrooms available). Although the park sign at the trailhead states that the trail is a "half-mile walk" around the lake, the length is actually closer to nine-tenths of a mile. Trail Ridge Road Information Recorded Message 970-586-1222 (available 24 hours a day, updated when conditions and/or road status change) Sprague Lake Trail hiking trail in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Located 27 miles northwest of Boulder Colorado. ISA - designated parking and fully accessible restrooms are available as is a fully accessible picnic area. Just off Sprague Lake is a Jeep trail! 12/2/2020 Gem Lake Trail was icy in spots, and clear in other spots. The surface is mostly compacted fine aggregate. Likely to be windy, pack a coat. There are benches to sit around at to just take in your surroundings and you get a gorgeous view of the Continental Divide when you get to the far end of the lake! The 0.7-mile Sprague Lake Trail, a lollipop loop around 13-acre Sprague Lake, is one of the most popular and busiest trails in Rocky Mountain National Park. West Coast Trail (us) More information Sprague Lake Trail is a 0.8 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Estes Park, CO that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. Atfter a couple of miles, leave the trail and proceed north for about a mile to Sprague Pass at the head of Spruce Canyon. By Wendy Rigby | wrigby@eptrail.com | Estes Park Trail-Gazette July 27, 2020 at 5:10 p.m. I highly recommend hiking this trail in the morning, especially if you wish to go home with some great photos of the mountains reflecting off the 13-acre lake. 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. Talk to the rangers about what other Jeep trails you can access within the park or look into a touring company to take you. Like other reviews, the first .5 miles is all uphill but our 7 & 9 year olds did great. Visitor Information 970-586-1206 (Daily 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mountain Time, recorded information after hours) Sprague began building a homestead in Moraine Park in 1874. Great trail! A beautiful easy lake trail with wonderful snow top Mountain views. Benches and fishing platforms are located along the trail. Lake is frozen and many people and a ice fishing hut were on the ice today. For more information, please visit https://www.nps.gov/romo/index.htm Rocky Mountain National Park-Bear Lake Road -Sprague Lake Enjoy a leisurely half-mile walk around Sprague Lake (elevation 8,200 feet). Boardwalks and bridges have been built over the marshy western side of the lake to take you back to the parking lot. View the magnificence of the Continental Divide, enjoy the sheltered coves and marvel at the lake and beaver ponds. However, in 1910, seeking "to prevent my homesickness for Estes Park and the mountains from becoming chronic", Abner Sprague and his wife would build another guest lodge in the Glacier Basin area. There is a delightful 3/4 mile easy hike around the Lake with a bounty of lovely views. The trail is primarily used for hiking and running. The lake is popular for Brook trout fishing. settlers in the Estes Park area. Such a nice easy walk with great views of the mountains! Rocky Mountain National Park charges a fee to enter. Sprague Lake itself is a wonderful brilliant mountain lake that is the centerpiece of this hike. This level hardened gravel trail encircles the lake, and features educational exhibits. Fees are $25 per vehicle/motorcycle. The trail follows the perimeter of the spacious lake, offering stunning views of the Continental Divide peaks to the west. The USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) publishes a set of the most commonly used topographic maps of the U.S. called US Topo that are separated into rectangular quadrants that are printed at 22.75"x29" or larger. There are plenty of benches and lookouts over the lake to stop and reflect. from Bear Lake. Sprague Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park: Address, Phone Number, Sprague Lake Reviews: 4.5/5 Nice but not great due to the direction of the sun this time of year. 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. Easy trail with scenic views of Hallet Peak. Sprague Lake is peaceful and calm with sunrise light. Easy half-mile walk around Sprague Lake (elevation 8,700 feet). Plus there is so much wildlife - ducks, birds, geese, deer and every once in a while a big ole’ moose… Sprague also undoubtedly appreciated the breathtaking views of the Continental Divide, which are best seen from the half-mile-long trail at the far end of the lake. Sprague Lake Trail is a 65 m singletrack connector trail located near Estes Park Colorado. Along the way the loop trail offers several benches for visitors to kick back and enjoy the peaceful scenery. About 9 miles from Beaver Meadows, 3.5 mi. Lots of benches along the way and nice spots to get some cool photos! Sprague Lake . The loop trail itself is pretty much flat the entire way and on hard-packed gravel, so it’s wheelchair-friendly and great for all ages. This is a great first hike to do in the Rockies. Ample parking; an accessible backcountry camping site is located in the area. The trail follows the perimeter of the spacious lake, offering stunning views of the Continental Divide peaks to the west. All of Rocky Mountain is open. Campground Reservations 877-444-6777 ACTIVE is the leader in online event registrations from 5k running races and marathons to softball leagues and local events. There is a delightful 3/4 mile easy hike around the Lake with a bounty of lovely views. The Sprague Lake Loop Trail has a maximum elevation of 8,747 ft., a minimum elevation of 8,704 ft. and an elevation range of 43 ft. Good views of the Continental Divide. Short loop around the lake. I’ve marked the exact location of the ceremony dock on this Google Map, but you can input Sprague Lake to … Very easy no elevation hike. Located on Bear Lake Road, one mile west of the Park and Ride shuttle bus parking lot. August and June are the best Good for acclimation with the high elevation. Sprague Lake is a scenic lake in Rocky Mountain National Park, located on the south side of Glacier Creek, about two miles south of the Hollowell turnoff. Very flat. This shallow, 13-acre lake is a remnant of a resort once owned here by Abner Sprague, an expert guide and host. The National Park Service purchased the property in 1932, but gave the Sprague's a twenty year lease before razing the buildings in 1957. The property was sold to James Stead around 1900, and remained in business as the Stead's Ranch and Hotel until 1962. Climb for 4.4 miles to Flattop Mountain and take the Tonahutu Trail, which descends crossing Bighorn Flats. You can also purchase a park specific annual pass for $70. Those that go tearing from coast to coast and back again on their vacations are tourists. All rights reserved. The lake is completely frozen. When they reach home from their travels they are not certain 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. Easy .8 mile hike around the lake .. gorgeous mountains. Sprague Lake Trail. Absolutely amazing views. This one was located in the current parking area for Sprague Lake. Accessibility: The surface is hardened gravel and the trail is mostly flat with an estimated average grade of 2% and a max grade of 6%. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. His ranch would eventually become a resort that was used for hunting, fishing, dude ranching, and even golfing. A Stunning Alpine Lake & Wildlife On Your Big Day If you’re at Sprague Lake just at the right time, the water is like glass and the mirror reflection of the mountains is exquisite. Sprague Lake Trail is a 1.3 kilometer heavily trafficked loop trail located near Estes Park, Colorado that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. Just before Rocky Mountain National Park was established in 1915, Sprague dammed the far end to create better fishing for his lodge guests. A wheelchair-friendly loop, the surface is packed gravel and level around the entire lake. Trail may be slippery due to ice and snow in the winter or after thunderstorms in the summer. The half-mile walk around the lake is wheelchair accessible and features boardwalks and bridges with views of Flattop Mountain and Hallet Peak. Description This trail is a short, straightforward loop around Sprague Lake. Fisherman may also want to note that Sprague Lake is a popular destination for brook, brown and rainbow trout fishing. Sprague Lake hike is an easy trail in Rocky Mountain National Park offering amazing views of the area. Nice easy walk around the lake with some good mountains in the background. Shallow, 13-acre lake was part of a resort once owned by Abner Sprague, an expert guide and host. The hike is easy and quick. The trail has low grade and cross slope. I was having real issues with altitude sickness so it was nice to do a easy hike. Despite the pandemic and the apparent drought in the area, Sprague Lake was beautiful and peaceful. @ document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); RockyMountainHikingTrails.com. Stop at the pier at the far end of the lake to take in the views. Sprague Lake [CLOSED] is a 4.4 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Estes Park, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The route is virtually flat, travels over a hard packed gravel surface, and is considered to be wheelchair accessible and suitable for the entire family. In the meantime the Sprague's would move to Loveland. demanding full accommodations, that we had to go into the hotel business or go bankrupt from keeping free company!". There is also an accessible backcountry campsite nearby. Visitors will enjoy an easy loop around this scenic upper-montane lake with panoramas of the Continental Divide that include Hallett Peak (12,713'), Otis Peak (12,486') and Taylor Peak (13,153'). Sprague Lake Trail is a 0.8 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Estes Park, Colorado that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. 1,071 m green singletrack trail. It is typically at least three feet wide. Abner Sprague would go down in Rocky Mountain National Park history once more when he became the first visitor to pay an entrance fee in 1939. Sprague Lake is at 8700 feet elevation! Just shy of a mile in length, the Sprague Lake Loop circumnavigates the placid waters at a comfortable grade that is doable for the whole family. The one-half mile hard packed gravel trail encircles the lake. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Sprague Lake is located seven miles from the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, off Bear Lake Road. We were there at 6:45 am for sunrise photos. The Sprague Lake trail is a pretty, ½ mile, generally flat trail around Sprague Lake. Sprague Lake It’s about a thirty-minute walk on this level trail, perfect for children or those with disabilities. Area is closed due to ice and snow in the background charming Sprague Lake views. A delightful 3/4 mile easy hike benches for visitors to kick back and enjoy peaceful., please visit https: //www.nps.gov/romo/index.htm Rocky Mountain National Park, off Bear Road! 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