Rocky Mountain National Park may be known for rugged hikes like Sky Pond or Chasm Lake, but there are many shorter, flatter trials perfect for families! We’ve been traveling to Rocky Mountain National Park for years, and decided to put together this list of our favorite family friendly hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Bear Lake Nature Trail
Arguably the most famous spot in all of Rocky Mountain National Park is Bear Lake. It sits at the end of Bear Lake Road and serves at the starting point for many of Rocky Mountain’s most popular trails, but the well marked nature trail around Bear Lake makes for a great family stroll.
The trail is .7 miles or 1.1 kilometers and only gains an elevation of 100 feet. The packed gravel path is nearly wheelchair accessible. Markers along the trail describe the park’s geology, animal life, birds, and ecology. There are also plenty of benches with great views of Bear Lake and the majestic peaks that surround it.
Sprague Lake Nature Trail
Sprague Lake is located along Bear Lake Road, It was named for Abner Sprague who homesteaded here in the 1870s (nearby Alberta Falls is named after Abner’s wife). A half mile accessible trail that consists of packed gravel, boardwalks, and lovely bridges leads around the glacier carved lake. The lake is a popular spot for wildlife viewing and fishing for brook trout. Remember to pick up a fishing license before casting a line at Sprague Lake or in any of Rocky Mountain National’s Park’s streams or rivers.
Lilly Lake
This easy, accessible trail is only .8 miles with no noticeable elevation gain. It begins in the parking lot, just off Colorado Highway 7 south of Estes Park. The eastern edge of the lake is filled with marshy grasses. We saw a pair of muskrats here enjoying the sunset on our most recent hike around Lilly Lake. We especially enjoy hiking here at sunset when the rust colored cliffs on Lilly Mountain come alive.
Alluvial Fan
During the Flood of 1982, an earthen dam known as the Lawn Lake Dam collapsed leaving behind what we know today as the Alluvial Fan. A short .3 mile trail leads through the rubble to views of Horseshoe Falls cascading into the rubble.
Coyote Valley Trail
On the other side of the park in the Kawuneeche Valley, the Coyote Valley Trail takes hikers through a dense forest to an open meadow next to the Colorado River. Kawuneeche is the Ute word for Coyote, so the trail’s name is one of the most appropriate in the park. At only 1.25 miles with 0 elevation gain, this trial is popular with families of small children. This location is good for spotting wildlife including moose and elk. In fact, the National Park Service frequently hosts a ranger program here that discusses the challenges moose, which are not native to Colorado, pose to other species within RMNP especially the beaver population. Check the park website for information on ranger programs.
We hope you enjoy these fun family hikes on your adventure in Rocky Mountain National Park, and we hope you will visit our other Rocky Mountain National Park Pages!
Land of Liberty Explorers’ Guide to Rocky Mountain National Park includes information on our favorite hikes, where to spot wildlife, lodging, and more. For details on the hike to Sky Pond, see our blog post about the Sky Pond Trail or for slightly less challenging hikes, check out Gem Lake or Emerald Lake. Please also visit our main page for information about other great national parks and monuments at landoflibertyexplorers.com.
