Colorado · Hiking · Near Estes Park

Sprague Lake

Sprague LakePhoto: NPS / public domain
Loop
route
Easy
difficulty
May–Sep
best months

Clear today

Weather is good · OpenWeather · checked 6 h ago

Is Sprague Lake open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Rocky Mountain National Park. It doesn't name Sprague Lake, so check the source for the area it covers.

  • Prescribed Fire Operations are Underway near Beaver Meadows Visitor Center

    Park closure covering Rocky Mountain National Park · NPS · Rocky Mountain National Park

As of · Source: NPS · Rocky Mountain National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Sprague Lake is an easy loop hike in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, managed by the National Park Service. The trailhead is Sprague Lake Trailhead, and the route loops back on itself, so it works well for a short outing or as a base for exploring the surrounding area. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Allenspark put July highs around 74°F with lows near 44°F, while winter highs stay around freezing. The trail has restrooms, and a fee is charged. Glacier Creek Trail starts about 0.4 miles away, and Glacier Creek offers canoeing about 0.6 miles off. Rocky Mountain National Park Glacier Basin Campground is about a mile away, and the RMNP Bouldering Areas are about 1.5 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Upper Wind River

    Campground

    Campground · 0.7 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Aspen Dining

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 2 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Matt Golon, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)

More in Estes Park

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Sprague Lake

    Best months: May–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      32° / 14°

    2. Feb

      35° / 15°

    3. Mar

      42° / 20°

    4. Apr

      46° / 23°

    5. May

      56° / 32°

    6. Jun

      69° / 38°

    7. Jul

      74° / 44°

    8. Aug

      73° / 43°

    9. Sep

      66° / 36°

    10. Oct

      52° / 29°

    11. Nov

      41° / 20°

    12. Dec

      33° / 14°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Allenspark 3nw, CO, 7.9 mi away at 8,500 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Sprague Lake LoopPhoto: Christian Collins, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Sprague Lake Loop

Next door

Sprague Lake Loop is a 1.68-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado.

HIKE

Astronomy in the Park at Park & Ride

~1 min drive

Astronomy in the Park Join us on the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park at Park & Ride Parking Area for an evening under the stars. The program begins at 8:30 p.m. and ends at 11 p.m. Astronomy in the Park will take place on the following days: Friday, June 27 Friday…

Mill Creek Basin TrailPhoto: Elmschrat, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Mill Creek Basin Trail

~3 min drive

1.73-mile trail in Colorado with 800 ft elevation gain and max elevation of 10,200 ft.

McHenrys PeakPhoto: InSapphoWeTrust from Los Angeles, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

McHenrys Peak

~3 min drive

Route to the summit of McHenrys Peak (13,241 ft) from Glacier Gorge Trailhead.

HIKE

Fern Lake Trail

~4 min drive

15 mi · Hard

Glacier Creek TrailPhoto: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Glacier Creek Trail

Next door

1.48-mile out-and-back hike along Glacier Creek in Colorado with 300 ft of elevation gain.

HIKE

RMNP Shuttle Stop - Bierstadt Trailhead & Parking

~1 min drive

Bierstadt Lake Parking Area and Shuttle Stop are Temporarily Closed Until Further Notice for the Construction of a New Vault Toilet The Park & Ride Shuttle Stop is the closest stop to Bierstadt Trailhead on the Bear Lake Shuttle Route. Park & Ride is located 1.5 miles…

Mill Creek-Cub Lake ConnectorPhoto: Elmschrat, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Mill Creek-Cub Lake Connector

~3 min drive

1.3-mile out-and-back trail with 403 ft gain and loss, reaching 9,079 ft.

Chiefs Head PeakPhoto: Juhele_CZ, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

Chiefs Head Peak

~3 min drive

Route to the summit of Chiefs Head Peak (13,520 ft) from Glacier Gorge Trailhead.

Glacier Creek TrailPhoto: christinejwarner, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Glacier Creek Trail

Next door

1.83-mile trail in Colorado with 400 ft elevation gain and creek crossings.