Upper Beaver Meadows, Montane meadow in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, US

Upper Beaver Meadows is a montane meadow in Rocky Mountain National Park where Beaver Brook runs through a valley kept open by grazing wildlife. Two routes start from a dirt road: a 2-mile road along the north side of Beaver Creek and a 1.5-mile trail that crosses the stream and follows the south side at the base of the moraine. Pine and Douglas fir grow only on the slopes, because the valley floor is too moist for trees.

The East Troublesome Fire in 2020 significantly altered the landscape, burning sections of the forest and meadow and changing the appearance of the area. Today the ecosystem shows signs of recovery, with new growth appearing in previously burned zones.

The meadow draws photographers and nature observers who come to spot mountain bluebirds, towhees, and other wildlife typical of high-altitude habitats. The open grasslands and forest edges create viewing opportunities throughout the year.

Upper Beaver Meadows is reached via a dirt road off Bear Lake Road, near the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center. The dirt road is closed to vehicles during most of the winter; when it is closed, hikers can walk it to reach the Upper Beaver Meadows trailhead. From the trailhead, a 2-mile route follows the road along the north side of Beaver Creek, while a 1.5-mile trail crosses the stream and runs along the south side of the meadow at the base of the moraine.

The meadow sits at the upper limit of the montane ecosystem, where a high water table keeps the valley floor too moist for pine and Douglas fir, so trees grow only on the slopes. The park has fenced a former aspen grove that elk had mowed down; inside the fence, new shoots from older roots have grown into a dense stand.