Each season brings unique opportunities to Rocky Mountain National Park, but a late-spring visit provides an impressive blend of experiences. The temperature is pleasant, there are ample wildlife spotting opportunities, and crowds are thinner. The melting snow reveals impressive features, from lush meadows filled with vibrant wildflower blooms to gushing rivers and cascading waterfalls. Read this article to discover things to do in Rocky Mountain before the season ends.
Beaver Meadows Visitor Center is Your Best Starting Point
Accessible from Estes Park, Beaver Meadows Visitor Center is on Rocky Mountain’s main entrance and operates year-round. You can get the park information through maps, brochures, and the park’s rangers. Plus, it’s the perfect place to be if you plan to get around the Rocky Mountain National Park on the park shuttle.
Explore Alberta Falls
The spring snowmelt means Alberta Falls’ flow is at its peak. The unique blend of fresh air, spectacular scenery, and the dramatic flow makes hiking to this waterfall an unforgettable experience. The trail leading to the waterfall meanders through aspen and pine forests, allowing you to spot various wildlife before marveling at the magical sight of the falls.
Enjoy the Scenery and Serenity Surrounding Lily Lake
Lily Lake is among the most stunning features in the Rocky Mountain National Park and makes for a perfect family spring adventure. The scenic, easy trail to the lake is doable with kids. If you spend a few hours driving to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain, this hike is an excellent opportunity to stretch your legs and enjoy the beauty and serenity of Lily Lake. The colorful wildflower blooms along the lake create impressive photography opportunities.
Impressive Photography Opportunities Await at Bear Lake
You don’t want to miss Bear Lake’s unbeatable photography opportunities. Nestled 9,475 feet above sea level, this gorgeous alpine lake is known for its breathtaking scenery, including panoramic Longs and Hallett Peaks vistas. The lake’s surface is also known to offer stunning reflections of the surrounding snowy landscapes, making it a unique place to capture epic photographs.
Hike Deer Mountain
Unlike Rocky Mountain’s higher-elevation hikes, Deer Mountain is less snowy in spring. The moderate hike offers a brilliant mix of scenery, from dense forests to rugged rocky areas. Upon reaching the summit, you’ll be rewarded with sweeping views of Estes Park, Longs Peak, Upper Beaver Meadows, and Moraine Park.
Discover Horseshoe Park
Horseshoe Park is a wondrous gem of nature. Various wild creatures thrive in the park thanks to its diverse habitats, including lush meadows and wetlands. It’s a popular grazing spot for bighorn sheep and elk, which you can spot in spring. The park’s wetland habitat is a sanctuary for various birds.
Head to Chasm Lake
Enjoying a scenic location at the base of the iconic 14er, Longs Peak, is the high-alpine Chasm Lake, a must-do late-spring hike. It’s one of the most breathtaking lake hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park, thanks to its incredible blend of scenery, from subalpine forest to alpine tundra to the gorgeous views of the park’s highest peak and the lake itself. The hike is strenuous, but the sweeping views you get make it worth the effort.
Hike Chasm Falls
Created by Fall River, Chasm Falls is among the Rocky Mountains’ most magical waterfalls, and a must-see in spring. You’ll enjoy impressive scenery along the hike, from wildflower blooms to wildlife. The sight of the waterfall gushing down the rocks into the narrow chasm, the rushing river, and the lush surroundings will blow your mind.
Hike Sprague Lake
Sprague Lake is among the scenic Rocky Mountain wonders you can see year-round, with each season bringing unique experiences. In spring, you’ll enjoy various adventures, from hiking the scenic loop trail to the lake to incredible wildlife spotting opportunities and listening to the beautiful sounds of different song birds.
Hike Fern Lake
Fern Lake hike meanders along the Big Thompson River through diverse scenery and terrain, from serene forests to rocky areas. The trail begins at the Moraine Park Area and offers excellent views of Fern Falls, Notchtop Mountain, Little Matterhorn, and the lake. The lake and its surroundings guarantee plenty of recreational opportunities, including fishing and picnicking.
Discover Nymph Lake
Nymph Lake is a beautiful, serene lake known for yellow lily pads covering its surface during warmer months. The lake’s scenic surroundings, including Hallett Peak, often reflected on its surface, make it a perfect spot for taking beautiful Insta-worthy photographs. Moreover, it gives access to Dream and Emerald Lakes, other natural wonders worth your time in spring.
Don’t Miss Camping at Aspenglen Campground
Camping at Aspenglen Campground is one of the best late-spring vacation experiences in Rocky Mountain National Park. Its location near the Fall River Entrance means it’s easily accessible. Its proximity to numerous scenic trails makes it a convenient place to stay as you immerse yourself in the park’s rugged beauty. The campground is the only one operating year-round. In spring, limited campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Drive the Trail Ridge Road
Trail Ridge Road typically reopens in May, making it the perfect late springtime experience in the Rocky Mountains. Driving the road offers an impressive blend of adventures, from the breathtaking snow banks along the way to wildlife spotting opportunities to vibrant wildflower blooms. At 12,000 feet above sea level, it’s America’s highest continuous highway, with unbeatable views, scenic hikes, and jaw-dropping attractions.
Hike Ute Trail
Ute Trail operates when the Trail Ridge Road is open, which makes it the perfect late springtime activity. It’s a historical trail that follows portions of the ancient paths used by the Ute people thousands of years ago. Beyond its historical significance, this trail boasts diverse, picturesque scenery, with panoramic vistas at nearly every turn. Kawuneeche Valley and the Continental Drive are among the places you’ll see from there.
Explore Black Lake
Located in the Glacier Gorge portion of Rocky Mountain National Park, Black Lake is a beautiful place to be in late spring. If you visit the park for its fishing opportunities, this lake is among the top spots to consider. Please ensure you bring a Colorado Fishing License, which is required for all visitors aged 16 and above.
