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Outdoors East side, Rocky Mountain NP

Moraine Park

An outdoor spot in East side, Rocky Mountain NP, free to visit and worth about 45 minutes. Best time to go: Dusk, Sep–Oct.

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Moraine Park in East side, Rocky Mountain NP
Photo: Arnold Thallheimer, HABS photographer · Public domain

Why go

Wide meadow where elk gather, especially during the fall rut.

It is one of 9 curated places we feature in Rocky Mountain NP, alongside 2 activities, 2 outdoor spots and 2 sights. The closest of our other picks is Sprague Lake, 2.3 mi away as the crow flies. At about 45 minutes, it slots neatly between bigger plans.

Type
Outdoors · Nature
Neighborhood
East side
Price
Free
Time needed
45 min
Best time
Dusk, Sep–Oct

Nearby

The 6 closest curated picks in Rocky Mountain NP, measured as straight-line distance.

  1. 1
    Sprague Lake

    Easy, flat loop with mirror reflections of the Continental Divide.

    Outdoors · 2.3 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Bird & Jim

    Estes Park restaurant near the Beaver Meadows entrance, with seasonal mountain cooking and a patio.

    Food · 3.1 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Bear Lake

    Flat half-mile loop around a subalpine lake under Hallett Peak, and the trailhead for the park's classic hikes.

    Outdoors · 3.7 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Alberta Falls

    Easy 1.6-mile round-trip hike to a 30-foot cascade on Glacier Creek.

    Activity · 3.9 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Estes Park Brewery

    Estes Park's longtime brewpub, open since 1993, for post-hike pints and pub food.

    Drinks · 4.2 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    The Stanley Hotel

    1909 hotel that inspired Stephen King's The Shining; offers history and ghost tours.

    Sight · 4.9 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Moraine Park is a stop on our Colorado Rockies route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More to do in Rocky Mountain NP

Moraine Park is our only outdoors pick in Rocky Mountain NP; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Rocky Mountain NP guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Rocky Mountain NP run from 24°F in December to 75°F in July; May is usually the wettest month. For Moraine Park itself, we suggest: Dusk, Sep–Oct.

Modelled monthly averages for Rocky Mountain NP from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Rocky Mountain NP weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Moraine Park, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
Moraine Park, Colorado 80517, USA
Coordinates
40.35332, -105.60278
Destination
Rocky Mountain NP, Colorado

Moraine Park: quick answers

How much time do you need at Moraine Park?

Plan on about 45 minutes at Moraine Park. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Moraine Park?

Our pick: Dusk, Sep–Oct. Insider tip: Stay in the car or 75 feet away from elk in Sep–Oct.

Is Moraine Park free?

Yes, we list Moraine Park as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.

Where is Moraine Park?

Moraine Park is at Moraine Park, Colorado 80517, USA, in East side. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Moraine Park?

Moraine Park appears on Colorado Rockies, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Moraine Park to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Rocky Mountain NP.

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Also in Rocky Mountain NP

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.