Fern Lake Trail

Fern Lake Trail is an 8-kilometer hiking path in Rocky Mountain National Park that runs from Moraine Park along the Big Thompson River to Fern Lake. The route moves through forest sections and more open mountain landscapes with several waterfalls and natural rest spots.

The trail was renewed in 1933 by the National Park Service with help from Civilian Conservation Corps workers who built retaining walls and changed the path alignment. This maintenance shaped the route that hikers still use today.

The trail shows how early visitors explored the mountains, with old lodges that housed people until the 1960s. These places shape how hikers perceive and use the route today.

Access via Bear Lake Road requires timed permits between May and October, so plan ahead. The parking area fills quickly, so arriving early makes sense.

An 18-meter waterfall at Fern Falls splits the hike in half and offers a natural stopping point. People often turn back here for a shorter walk instead of continuing to the lake.

Location: Larimer County

Inception: 1933

Architects: National Park Service

GPS coordinates: 40.35492,-105.63028

Latest update: December 14, 2025 09:42