Sprague Lake is located on the eastern side of Rocky Mountain National Park, along the scenic Bear…read moreLake Road Corridor. The lake sits at about 8,700 feet, with beautiful views of the surrounding peaks and the Continental Divide. The 0.7-0.8 mile loop around the lake is peaceful, scenic, and especially family-friendly. The trail is stroller accessible, which made it perfect for exploring with our baby. We loved the reflections on the water, the mountain backdrop, and the peaceful alpine setting. A wonderful, easygoing stop in Rocky Mountain National Park--especially if you're traveling with little ones and want beautiful scenery without a strenuous hike.

Well maintained trail, easy hike, beautiful view, and saw some mule deer and trout. Definitely…read moreworth it as you explore the rest of the park.

A great place to stop to see the scenery just after you pass the hairpin curve going up. the view…read moreis spectacular. There is also a place where you can climb up and get an even better view.

After a full day of driving on Old Falls River Road and Trail Ridge Road, this was a nice stop to…read moremake to look back and recap my day. I drove the full loop around this park and made several stops along the way. Here at Many Parks Curve, you get a full panoramic overview of Rocky Mountain National Park. It is a very beautiful view. I had some cloud coverage which always makes photos look better. They call it "Many Parks" because Moraine Park, Upper Beaver Meadows and Horseshoe Park are all visible at this viewpoint with Deer Mountain and Longs Peak in the background. I could even see parts of Estes Park. It is such a breathtaking view and one of my favorite viewpoints. I stood here for some time and took it all in. There is parking near the viewpoint and an overflow lot on the other side of the road. The viewpoint itself is located at a sharp turn on Trail Ridge Road. There is a long platform to walk on that has a guardrail. Keep an eye out for cars going around the curve as you cross the road.

The Alluvial Fan in Rocky Mountain National Park is a cascade of water flowing down through a…read moreboulder field. It is located off the Old Fall River Road about three miles west of the Fall River Entrance Station. Both the East and West parking lots provide access to the Alluvial Fan. I parked in the East lot and hiked the easy 0.7-mile out-and-back trail that leads to the bottom of the cascading waterfall. The West parking lot has picnic tables and allows access to the top of the waterfall. There are more boulders to climb on this route. There is a 56-foot long bridge that crosses over the river that allows access to the East side. The Alluvial Fan was formed in 1982 when a dam breached at Lawn Lake and brought down tons of water, trees, boulders and other debris into the valley. This fan-shaped area was formed as a result of all of the debris that was deposited. Today, it is a beautiful waterfall that cascades over a field of boulders. I took my shoes off and enjoyed walking and soaking my feet in the crystal-clear water. The surrounding valley and mountain views make it a nice area to relax and enjoy. The Old Fall River Road closes during the winter season.

The Medicine Bow Curve vista is just west of the Alpine Visitor Center on Trail Ridge Road. You…read moreonly need a short time to enjoy the view from this curve. Parking is just a few spots off the side of the road. I made a quick stop here after spending some time at the visitor center. You can see the Medicine Bow Mountains and the state of Wyoming in the horizon at this lookout area. If you look down in the Valley below, you can see the Cache la Poudre River. If you want to explore this area a little more, there is a short dirt trail that wraps around the mountainside heading north.

Beyond this point on the road, the elevation drops, and you head down to the town of Grand Lake…read more The drive is also lovely, with good opportunities for hiking along the way, so of course, if you have time to continue, then head on. If you're on a limited timetable, this is a great half way point to stop, giving you time to see more of the rest of the park. Take in the views down into the valley from Medicine Bow Overlook, and then turn around for a well-deserved coffee break at the Alpine visitor center.

I was able to visit Chasm Falls over the summer. To get here, you have to drive on the Old Fall…read moreRiver Road that starts at the winter closure gate near Endovalley. This gravel road is one-way and only opens in the summer. The road eventually ends up at the Alpine Visitor Center. It is a 11-mile winding scenic road with Chasm Falls being a few miles into the drive. Chams Falls is a beautiful waterfall and is a short walk from the parking lot. The parking lot only holds a small number of cars. There is a viewing platform that you can watch the waterfall from. The waterfall drops 25 feet through a narrow granite chasm. There are also gorgeous views of a narrow canyon to the east of Chasm Falls. When Old Fall River Road is closed in the winter season, you can walk or bike the roughly 2 mile trail up and back to Chasm Falls from the winter closure gate. There is parking near the Endovalley Picnic Area.

This mountain pass in Rocky Mountain National Park lies on the Great Continental Divide. It is…read morelocated off of Trail Ridge Road at an elevation of 10,759 feet. Milner Pass is named for railroad promoter T.J Milner. He surveyed a rail route across the divide that would have gone from Denver to Salt Lake City. The railroad was never built due to the national park being established in 1915. There are restrooms near the parking lot and a large sign showing exactly where the divide is. The Great Divide separates drainage to the Atlanta Ocean from the Pacific Ocean. There are two hiking routes that start from the Milner Pass parking lot. The Ute Trail is a four mile hike that ends at the Alpine Visitor Center. Poudre Lake is on the way and makes for a great scenic photo opportunity. There is also Milner Pass Trail. The trail descends into a pretty valley and I was able to hike a portion of it. Trail Ridge Road closes every year in the winter.

Great dog park, volunteers leave toys and water in the winter when the tap is shut off. Locals and…read moretheir dogs have all been very friendly as well! BUT BEWARE OF THE BEACH. there is some water access outside of the dog park area but still kinda part of the dog park? idk. well, we let our sweet, very active , border collie - cattle dog mix out to play in the water but there are these stupid, medium-size landscaping rocks butted along the edge of the water and while sprinting back from fetching a ball, our pup tore his CCL because his foot got caught in between the rocks :((( probably will never go back because i'm traumatized, but it is a great dog park with kind volunteers and super cool locals

We always stop at the off the leash dog park on our way in and everyday were in Estes Park. Our…read moredogs love playing and running around meeting other furry friends. Beautiful views

"Roof of the Rockies."…read more I stopped at every viewpoint on Trail Ridge Road when I was driving through Rocky Mountain National Park. It is the highest continuous paved road in the United States (48 miles). Rock Cut Overlook has an elevation of 12,110 feet and has parking on both sides of the road. They call it Rock Cut because of the large boulder that had to be cut into for the highway to go through. What I like about this stop is the amazing view of the mountains across the street. One of the mountains has a tarn inside of it. Tarns are small, mountain lakes or pools that formed in glacial basins or cirques. There is a short half mile trail called Tundra Communities Trailhead that you can walk on. It begins at the Rock Cut parking lot. Stay on the paved trail to protect the fragile tundra plants all around. It takes years for them to grow back. Trail Ridge Road is only open during the summer season.

The amazing snowy mountain views just keep coming with Rock Cut Overlook, you might spot the elk…read moreherd grazing on the grass nearby. From here Tundra Communities Trail starts (depending on the weather). Most people have never experienced the tundra wilderness before, which makes the opportunity to hike along this trail such an incredible and eye-opening adventure! Some amazing plants and animals have adapted to live and thrive up here. The Tundra Communities Trail is 1-mile roundtrip and paved with interpretive signs along the way. Be advised that pets are not permitted on this trail.