The 0.7-mile Sprague Lake Trail, a lollipop loop around 13-acre Sprague Lake, is one of the most popular and busiest trails in Rocky Mountain National Park. The trail follows the perimeter of the spacious lake, offering stunning views of the Continental Divide peaks to the west. It’s perfect for families, kids, and seniors since most of the trail is flat, with an elevation gain of only 20 feet, and has a hard-packed gravel surface making it wheelchair- and stroller-accessible. As you hike, watch for wildlife along the trail, including moose, beaver, and ducks. Abner Sprague homesteaded the area in 1874 and built a dam on Glacier Creek, forming his namesake lake.
Pro Tips
Begin your Sprague Lake adventure at the Sprague Lake Trailhead on the south side of Bear Lake Road about five miles from U.S. 36 and just west of Glacier Basin Campground and the Park & Ride lot. Turn onto Sprague Lake Road and follow to the trailhead parking lot. Start the trail on the northeast side of the parking area. The trail crosses a foot bridge, and reaches a junction. Go either right or left and follow the wide, level trail around the lake. Signs scatter along the trail giving interpretative information about area history, geology, and natural history. The best mountain views are on the east side of the lake. Allow an hour to leisurely hike this 0.7-mile-long trail.The parking lot at Sprague Lake Trailhead is busy, especially on weekends. Plan to arrive early to nab a parking spot. To avoid parking hassles, take a free shuttle bus from the Park & Ride lot across Bear Lake Road from Glacier Basin Campground. The shuttles run frequently so you won’t wait long. Check the park website, visitor centers, shuttle stops, and park newspaper for updated maps and shuttle schedules.Sprague Lake is a photographer’s dream with a long row of mountain peaks-including Hallett Peak, Flattop Mountain, and Otis Peak-lining the western horizon. Get to the lake at sunrise and hike out to the northeast edge of the lake to snap perfect photos of alpenglow gilding the mountains reflecting in Sprague Lake’s still water. This iconic scenic view is captured on many postcards.Sprague Lake is one of the park’s most popular fisheries, with a healthy population of brook trout. The shoreline is easily accessible, especially for kids, and there are handicapped-accessible fishing areas. The lake’s inlet stream by a footbridge just past the trailhead is a spawning area for trout in autumn so you’ll see lots of fish crowding Glacier Creek.Recommended season(s): Year-round.
–Stewart M. Green
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