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Outdoors Bear Lake Road, Rocky Mountain NP

Sprague Lake

An outdoor spot in Bear Lake Road, Rocky Mountain NP, free to visit and worth about 45 minutes. Best time to go: Sunrise.

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Sprague Lake in Bear Lake Road, Rocky Mountain NP
Photo: Charles M. Sauer · CC BY-SA 3.0 · license

Why go

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

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 Alberta Falls, 2.1 mi away as the crow flies. At about 45 minutes, it slots neatly between bigger plans.

Type
Outdoors · Nature
Neighborhood
Bear Lake Road
Price
Free
Time needed
45 min
Best time
Sunrise

Nearby

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

  1. 1
    Alberta Falls

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

    Activity · 2.1 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Bear Lake

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

    Outdoors · 2.3 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Moraine Park

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

    Outdoors · 2.3 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Bird & Jim

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

    Food · 4.4 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Estes Park Brewery

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

    Drinks · 5.4 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    The Stanley Hotel

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

    Sight · 6.2 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Sprague Lake 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

Sprague Lake 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 Sprague Lake itself, we suggest: Sunrise.

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 Sprague Lake, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
Sprague Lake, Colorado 80517, USA
Coordinates
40.32009, -105.60423
Destination
Rocky Mountain NP, Colorado

Sprague Lake: quick answers

How much time do you need at Sprague Lake?

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

When is the best time to visit Sprague Lake?

Our pick: Sunrise.

Is Sprague Lake free?

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

Where is Sprague Lake?

Sprague Lake is at Sprague Lake, Colorado 80517, USA, in Bear Lake Road. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Sprague Lake?

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

Add Sprague Lake 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.