- Moraine Park is a wide-open plain carved out by glaciers thousands of years ago
- Located not far from the Beaver Meadows Entrance Station on Bear Lake Road
- Stop and enjoy the exhibits at Moraine Park Museum
- Fish the Big Thompson River
- From Moraine Park you can hike to Bear Lake
Overview
Moraine Park, Colorado is an expansive valley along one of the most scenic drives in Rocky Mountain National Park. Not only will you enjoy watching many kinds of wildlife, but also wildflowers bloom with an array of color in the spring.
Location/Directions
Take Highway 36 out of Estes Park, driving past the Beaver Meadows Entrance Station and taking a left onto Bear Lake Road. Moraine Park is 5 miles down Bear Lake Road after turning.
Contact information for Rocky Mountain National Park is 1000 Highway 36
Estes Park, CO 80517-8397, and the visitor information phone is 970-586-1206.
Seasons
Moraine Park is accessible all year, but various parts of the park close at certain times due to bad weather conditions. You can always contact the park to find out current closures.
Activities
- Moraine Park Museum
Discover some fascinating displays and exhibits at Moraine Park Museum. The exhibits on the wildlife of Moraine Park are educational and enlightening. You will really love the interactive displays on the geology of the Rocky Mountains, with a hands-on demo where you can make the surface of the land buckle and crack. - Fishing
Big Thompson River flows through Moraine Park and is a favorite spot for fishermen. The backdrop of the Rockies just adds to the pleasure of trout fishing here. - Hiking
Hiking the Moraine Park area takes you to some fabulous sights, like Mill Creek Basin, Fern Falls and Bear Lake. You’ll find two trailheads here for great trekking into the backcountry - Cub Lake Trailhead and Fern Lake Trailhead. - Horseback Riding
Riding the Moraine Park trails provides amazing experiences, from watching elk grazing, enjoying Ponderosa pines exuding the pleasant pine scent, seeing mountain streams tumbling over rocky beds. Wildlife is abundant and you may catch sight of a bighorn sheep, deer or coyote. Horseback riding through Moraine Park is like stepping back in time. - Camping
The Moraine Park Campground offers first-come, first-served camping from mid-September through mid-May, or reserved camping during the remaining months. At 8,150 feet, there’s nothing like sleeping under the stars, waking to view the lovely meadows and relaxing with the forest as a canopy.
Additional Info
The name “Moraine Park” comes from two ridges running side by side (moraines) that form the edges of the plain.
