Sprague Lake Rocky Mountains

Sprague Lake Loop in Rocky Mountain National Park

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. The half-mile walks around the lake features with boardwalks and bridges with views of Flattop Mountain and Hallet Peak. The lake is popular for Brook trout fishing.

Sprague Lake Loop Hike

Colorado Sprague Lake is an easy loop hike with some stunning views of the mountains that make Rocky Mountain National Park famous. It’s a perfect hike in RMNP for young families because the trail is short, easy and has no real elevation gain. With diverse wildlife and a beautiful, peaceful lake, this is one of those spots you should not miss in RMNP. Explore the full Sprague Lake hiking profile below for trail map, driving directions, and all the details you need to enjoy this Colorado adventure in Rocky Mountain National Park.

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 this property which is now part of Rocky Mountain National Park. To access the 1/2-mile loop hike around Sprague Lake, cross the bridge near the parking area. 

Colorado Continental Divide:

A continental divide, according to National Geographic, is a naturally occurring boundary or ridge separating a continent’s river systems. Each river system feeds into a distinct ocean, basin, bay, or sea. Separating drainage basins or watersheds, a continental divide indicates precipitation that falls to one side of the divide will flow to one basin, while on the other side, precipitation will flow to another – often creating the distinct directional water flow.

Directions to Sprague Lake : Sprague Lake has beautiful views of the Continental Divide, a lovely picnic area, and an easy short trail around the lake that is great for family picnic and kids. To get to Sprague Lake from Estes Park, take highway 36 West and enter RMNP at the Beaver Meadows Entrance Station. Turn left on Bear Lake Road. Follow the road for about 6.0mi and turn left on Sprague Lake Road, following the signs. The road meets a dead end at the parking lot for Sprague Lake.

Nymph Lake Hike Rocky Mountains

Nymph Lake Hike in Rocky Mountain National Park

The hike to Nymph Lake begins from the Bear Lake Trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park RMNP, located at the end of Bear Lake Road, nine miles from the turn-off at Highway 36. Due to the extreme popularity of the area, you may want to consider using the free park shuttle to reach the trailhead during peak tourist season. Nymph Lake gives us an opportunity to take good photos of Hallett Peak reflecting in the water in summer days. 

·         Trail Features:            Lake Views, Fall Aspens, Nymph lake

·         Trail Location:            Bear Lake      

·         Roundtrip Length:                 1.2 Miles        

·         Trailhead Elevation:              9475 Feet       

·         Total Elevation Gain:             245 Feet         

·         Avg. Elev Gain / Mile:            462 Feet        

·         Highest Elevation:                 9710 Feet       

·         Trail Difficulty Rating:           Easy

Trail Description: Just beyond the trailhead the Bear Lake Loop splits off towards the right, while the trail to Nymph Lake branches off to the left. Most hikers will stop at Bear Lake to check out the beautiful scenes from the east shore before proceeding to their ultimate destination.

From Bear Lake the trail makes a steady climb up to Nymph Lake. At just over a half-mile from the trailhead hikers will reach the south end of Nymph Lake. This pleasant lake is ringed by pond lilies, while the shore offers an ideal spot for a family picnic in summer time.

In winter it is one of famous easy snowshoeing or winter hiking for beginners, Nymph lake will be completely frozen and topped with packed snow. So, it ends up resembling like gulch/open space with snow. All the lakes are completely frozen and able to walk on it.

Bear Lake Trailhead Hikes - One-way

1.       Bear Lake

2.      Nymph Lake – @ .5 miles

3.      Dream Lake – @ 1.1 miles

4.      Emerald Lake -@ 1.8 miles

If you continue further up on the trail for a short distance, we can see a nice view of Hallett Peak standing sentinel over the lake. From there, we can continue along to go Dream Lake and Emerald Lake, which is just under four miles round-trip, or stop for a picnic under the alpine trees of the forest.

Manitou Incline Hike Colorado Springs

Manitou Incline Hike in Colorado Springs

The Manitou Incline has been hailed as the holy grail of cardio for locals and athletes, alike.  Although it’s only one mile in length, the ascension averages a 41% incline (68% at its highest) and a 2,000-foot climb in elevation! That’s a lot of stairs! That’s even more than the Empire State Building! Needless to say, this hike isn’t for the faint of heart or heights.

The Manitou Incline is one of the most popular hiking trails in Colorado. The Incline is steep. It gains over 2,000 feet of elevation in less than one mile. The base of the Incline is located in Manitou Springs near the base of the Barr Trail and across the street from the Cog Railroad. The Manitou Incline is considered one of the highest sets of stairs in the world! This trail is rated Extreme.

The trail is rated as difficult and recommended for physically active people and advanced hikers only. Downhill use of the Incline is strongly discouraged. Please descend on Barr Trail.

The Manitou Incline Trail Facts to know:

·         Difficulty level: Extreme (we promise we’re not kidding)

·         Length: about .9 mile / 1.4 km (plus nearly 3 miles / 4.8 km down Barr Trail)

·         Elevation Gain: 2,020 ft / 615 m

·         Base Elevation: 6,530 ft / 2012 m

·         Summit Elevation: 8,550 ft / 2606 m

·         Total Stairs: 2,744

·         Average Grade: 41%

·         Steepest Grade: 68%

·         Annual Visitors: An estimated 70,000 annual visitors ranging from 7-70 years old.

·         Average Time: Seasoned Incliners and Olympic athletes may summit in under 30 minutes, but most hikers complete the Incline in 1 hour or longer.

 

Manitou Incline Free Parking:

For the closest parking, we recommend the Iron Springs Chateau Melodrama for $10. 444 Ruxton Ave, Manitou Springs, CO 80829.

For free parking, take the shuttle at Hiawatha Gardens Parking Lot located at 10 Old Man’s Trail.

Colorado Springs The Garden of the Gods

The Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado Springs

Garden of the Gods Park is a registered National Natural Landmark. It has the dramatic views, 300' towering sandstone rock formations against a backdrop of snow-capped Pikes Peak and brilliant blue skies. Pikes Peak hovers in the backdrop of these magnificent, sandstone rock formations.

It is One of the must see and explore the Geological formations and Known for its massive red rocks sticking straight out of the ground, in Colorado Springs is Garden of the Gods. It is a public park located in Colorado Springs, and free to visit. It was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1971.

Activities at Garden of the Gods:

• Biking/Hiking: Multi-use trails open to bikers and joggers.
• Horseback Riding: Some trails are open to horses.
• Scenic Drives: The park is easy to tour in your car.
• Birding - A variety of birds can be seen in Garden of the Gods Park.
• Rock Climbing - Rock climbing is permitted in the park.

Different trails to explore the Garden of the Gods:

1. Perkins Central Garden Trail, this is an easy, 1 1/2 mile roundtrip path, with less than a 30 foot rise. This trail is in the heart of the Park at the base of the highest rock formations.
2. Ridge Trail, a moderate, 1/2 mile loop, with less than 100 foot rise in elevation. This path gives you the feeling of being among the rocks.
3. Siamese Twins Trail is an easy 1 mile roundtrip, with less than a 150 foot rise. There is a unique view of Pikes Peak through the natural window of the twins.
4. Chambers/Bretag/Palmer Trail, is a moderate, 3 mile hike with less than a 250 foot rise. Nearly circling the entire Park, this trail covers rolling, rocky terrain away from the traffic.
5. Scotsman/Buckskin Charlie Trail, is a moderate trail that loops through the Park. Enjoy the distant views of the Central Garden formations from these rolling, rocky trails. 

History and Geological formations:

The Garden of the Gods' red rock formations were created during a geological upheaval along a natural fault line millions of years ago. Archaeological evidence shows that prehistoric people visited Garden of the Gods about 1330 BC. At about 250 BC, Native American people camped in the park; they are believed to have been attracted to wildlife and plant life in the area and used overhangs created by the rocks for shelter. Many native peoples have reported a connection to Garden of the Gods, including Apache, Cheyenne, Comanche, Kiowa, Lakota, Pawnee, Shoshone, and Ute people.

The outstanding geologic features of the park are the ancient sedimentary beds of deep-red, pink and white sandstones, conglomerates and limestone that were deposited horizontally, but have now been tilted vertically and faulted into "fins" by the immense mountain building forces caused by the uplift of the Rocky Mountains and the Pikes Peak massif. The following Pleistocene Ice Age resulted in erosion and glaciation of the rock, creating the present rock formations. Evidence of past ages can be read in the rocks: ancient seas, eroded remains of ancestral mountain ranges, alluvial fans, sandy beaches and great sand dune fields. 

Rock Formations to explore around the park:

• Kissing Camels rock formation at Garden of the Gods Park 
• The Three Graces - Red Rock Formation
• Photochrom of the Cathedral Spires
• Steamboat Rock and Balanced Rock
• Sentinel Spires
• High Point Overlook
• Mesa Overlook

How to Reach the Garden of the Gods:

Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center - the main entrance of the park

1805 N. 30th Street in Colorado Springs. 

Other Nearby Attractions to see

• Pikes Peak Highway: 10 miles away, Approximately 15 minutes’ drive to the park entrance
• Manitou Incline: 7 miles away,
• Cave of The Winds Mountain Park: 6 miles away,
• The Broadmoor Seven Falls: 5 miles away

Bear Lake Natural Trail Rocky Mountain

Bear Lake Natural Trail Rocky Mt National Park

Bear Lake is a scenic trailhead and destination in Rocky Mountain National Park. Sitting at an elevation of 9,450 feet (2,880 m), the alpine lake rests beneath the sheer flanks of Hallett Peak and the Continental Divide. Several trails, from easy strolls to strenuous hikes, start from the lake. The Bear Lake Road is open year-round, though it may temporarily close due to adverse weather conditions. An ample parking lot is provided close to the lake.  The Bear Lake Road is approximately 10 miles long and starts close to the Beaver Meadows Entrance station of the Rocky Mountains National Park.

Bear Lake Nature 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. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and birding and is best used from March until November.

 

·         Trail Features:                  Scenic Lake Views, Fall Aspens        

·         Trail Location:                  Bear Lake - Glacial Lake       

·         Roundtrip Length:                       0.8 Miles        

·         Trailhead Elevation:                    9475 Feet       

·         Total Elevation Gain:                   45 Feet

·         Avg. Elev Gain / Mile:                  113 Feet          

·         Highest Elevation:                       9520 Feet

 

Since this is a nature trail the park recommends hiking the loop in a counter-clockwise direction in order to follow along with an interpretative guide, published by the Rocky Mountain Conservancy. It provides natural, geological and historical information for the 30 marked spots along the 0.8-mile route.

The Bear Lake Loop in Rocky Mountain National Park is located at the end of Bear Lake Road, 9 miles from the turn-off at Highway 36. Due to the extreme popularity of the area you may want to consider using the free park shuttle to reach the trailhead during peak tourist season.

Bear Lake Rocky Mountains

Bear Lake Rocky Mountains

Bear Lake is a scenic destination in Rocky Mountain National Park. It is located at an elevation of 9,450 feet the alpine lake rests beneath the sheer flanks of Hallett Peak and the Continental Divide. Several trails, from easy strolls to strenuous hikes, start from the lake and runs near the base of Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain.

The Bear Lake Road is open year-round, though it may temporarily close due to adverse weather conditions. An ample parking lot is provided close to the lake. The Bear Lake Road is approximately 10 miles (16 km) long and starts close to the Beaver Meadows Entrance station of the Rocky Mountains National Park. The lake was formed during the ice age by a glacier.

Bear Lake Nature Loop Trail is around 1 mile heavily trafficked loop trail, that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and birding and is best used from March until November. In winter it is easy snow shoe hiking.

Ice measuring 500 feet thick moved across Bear Lake basin between 15,000 and 30,000 years ago. Originating in the uppermost valley heads, glacial ice eroded high basins, called cirques, and quarried the sheet granite cliffs of Hallett Peak. Rock debris from these glaciers formed the ground moraines, or ridges, that surround Bear Lake.

The lake was formed during the ice age by a glacier. Several moraines can be found downhill of Bear Lake.

How to Reach : The Bear Lake Loop in Rocky Mountain National Park is located at the end of Bear Lake Road, 9 miles from the turn-off at Highway 36. Due to the extreme popularity of the area you may want to consider using the free park shuttle to reach the trailhead during peak tourist season.