Welcome to Travel Tuesday! We’re still (virtually) in Colorado from my 2019 road trip and will be checking out another short hike–Sprague Lake Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park!
Sprague Lake Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park
Distance: 0.8 mile loop
Elevation: 32 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Admission: $35 (for entrance into RMNP)
Parking: Free (included in RMNP fee)
Trailhead Address: 40.3203800, -105.6077600
Sprague Lake is at 8700 feet elevation! The loop trail itself is pretty much flat the entire way and on hard-packed gravel, so it’s wheelchair-friendly and great for all ages.
There are benches to sit around at to just take in your surroundings and you get a gorgeous view of the Continental Divide when you get to the far end of the lake!
The most exciting thing that happened on this hike though was an elk(?) that came crashing through the forest to appear in front of us. For a short couple seconds, I thought we were gonna get run over by it, but it veered off and went into the lake (close to where someone was fly-fishing!).
I was not using the zoom feature on my camera.
To save you from wading through the marshy areas, there are boardwalks + bridges that you can walk across instead.
I love the reflection in the water! <3
- Check out my other Colorado hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park!
- What’s your closest encounter with wildlife?
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Looks gorgeous there. And how cool that you ran into an elk!
It was so cool getting to see one up close! :]
Omg my heart would have popped out of my chest if that happened to me. BUT HOW COOL!!! And what a beautiful place. <3
hahaha, it was cool (was also slightly terrified that it was gonna charge at us, but whew)! :D!
One thing I love about you is that you really get out into nature and enjoy it! This is something that I need to do more of in 2020 for sure.
Yay! I hope we both get to! :]!
Colorado is one of my favorite states to visit. So much to see and do in both winter and summer
I haven’t had a chance to check it out in the wintertime yet, but one of these days! (I definitely hope to go back soon! *-*)
Such a beautiful place! That last pic, with the reflection, is total perfection ;-)
Thank you! :]! I love that park so much!
Wow! What a memorable and beautiful experience. This looks like it was really fun way to spend a weekend.
It definitely was! :]
absolutely gorgeous! Colorado is just so amazing. How cool to be so close to those Elk! We sometimes “run into” cows, wild horses and occasionally a highland cow on some of our trails here. The regular cows and wild horses are never bothered by people; especially the cows, they just keep chewing their grass and look up at you like “whut?” haha!
It’s seriously such a beautiful place!
Highland cows are so adorable!! I love seeing em’ (and cows + horses too)! :]!!
This place looks amazing. Just walking and experiencing this beautiful nature fills you up with energy and positivity. Lucky you ;)
Very much agreed! I’m hoping I get to do more outdoor explorations again soon! :]!
That elk!!!! How beautiful.
I love your hike reviews and recommendations. I wish I could visit all these places.
We had some wild boar hoglets on the side of the road the other day. That was a little close :)
Aww, thank you! :] There are so many places on my list–I’m hoping I’ll get to go to/write about em’ all someday! :]