Sprague Lake Loop Trail Guide: Rocky Mountain National Park
Sprague Lake Loop is an easy hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. The trailhead is located off Bear Lake Road. This trail is great for families or those with mobility issues. It’s less than a mile long, has minimal elevation gain, and is wheelchair and stroller accessible. There are also plenty of benches along the beautiful loop.
My wife and I have hiked this trail a few times. The best time is early in the morning when the sun lights up the surrounding mountains. The last time we were there, we pulled in just after 9 am on a weekday in the middle of summer.
- Trail Name: Sprague Lake Trail
- Trailhead Location: Sprague Lake Road
- Distance: 0.8 Miles Roundtrip
- Difficulty: Easy
- Elevation Gain: ~35 Feet
- Type: Loop
- Features: Lake, Wildlife
- Dogs: No
The parking lot is not huge, but it does have quite a few spots. We had no problem finding a spot. The skies were moody, with dark clouds dotted with a few patches of blue here and there.
Hiking the Sprague Lake Loop
Heading down the trail, we crossed a small wooden bridge. Looking down at the stream, we saw dozens of trout swimming in the shallow waters. After a few photos of the trout, we took a left and decided to do the loop clockwise.
The views were incredible. The trail hugged the shore and offered clear, unobstructed views of Sprague Lake. To our surprise and pleasure, a giant bull moose was just hanging out lazily, enjoying breakfast. There is a fishing dock not far down the trail, a favorite photo spot. That day, a couple was getting married there. The moose made its way right behind the dock and was seemingly posing while the couple said their vows! Talk about awesome wedding pictures!
After taking probably too many photos, we continued down the trail to a view from the lake’s far end. Many consider this view one of the best in the park, especially in the mornings when the mountains glow.
From here, the trail enters a bit more of a forested area. Waterfowl are often seen along the marshy sections in this part.
Sprague Lake is named after Abner E. Sprague, who homesteaded in the area and operated a lodge along it. Sprague built the lake to improve fishing for his guests.
Today, the lake is only a few feet deep through and is, as we saw on our latest hike, a wonderful place to see wildlife.
How long does it take to hike Sprague Lake?
The entire hike took us about 45 minutes. But that said, enjoying watching the Bull Moose was, I bet, 20 minutes of that.
Where is Sprague Lake Loop located?
Sprague Lake Loop trailhead is located off of Sprague Lake Road. Head west on US-36 or Moraine Ave for about 3.5 miles to get there from Estes Park. Then turn left on Bear Lake Road. Continue driving down Bear Lake Road for 5.8 miles, then take a left onto Sprague Lake Road to reach the trailhead.
