Much of the area around The Pool was scorched during the Fern Lake Fire in the fall of 2012. After passing Finch Lake, the trail makes its way to the higher, Pear Lake where Copeland Mountain appears to shoot straight from its shores into the sky. Backpackers should take all recommended precautions. The lake has a large … Enjoy your breakfast at your bivvy while you fish or in the comfort of the dinning room in the main house. You've got to be kidding me.. English (US) ... Lake Hopatcong, and Manasquan and Spruce Run Reservoirs. The trout in these lakes are generally larger than those found in the streams because they don't have to expend energy fighting the current and often have a … To reach the trailhead from Bear Lake Road, follow Moraine Park Road for a half-mile to an unmarked junction - just before reaching the Moraine Park Campground. There are many opportunities to get away from the crowds in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) and experience world class fly fishing in the remote wilderness of the popular RMNP that surrounds the small town of Estes Park. Sandbeach Lake and Creek * Spruce Lake * Timber Lake and Creek ** West Creek* Listed below are areas with restored native fish populations. The Fern Lake Trailhead is located 4.1 miles from the Beaver Meadows Entrance Station. Fern Lake was pretty fun, and not too difficult. Explore the most popular trails in my list Spruce lake-RMNP with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. The trail from Fern Lake to Spruce Lake is not maintained, and horses are not permitted. pass through a mixed forest of aspens, lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine, cottonwoods and willows, as well as a variety of wildflowers in the spring and summer. Fishing was popular with early settlers in the Rocky Mountains. A bear storage box is available. Although the trail is listed as unimproved on the park trailhead sign, it's fairly easy to follow for the most part. Upon arrival, I … The lake and many small streams along the way are loaded with Brookies. Enjoy a leisurely half-mile walk around Sprague Lake (elevation 8,200 feet). Print Trail At 1.7 miles you'll reach the Cub Lake Trail junction. The fire was all but fully extinguished when heavy snow arrived in mid-December. WEATHER. The unimproved Spruce Lake Trail undulates steeply on a sparingly marked course obstructed by deadfall, overgrowth, runoff and boulders. Use barbless hooks only. Less than 5 minutes to the gates at RMNP and just off the main road through Estes Park. A challenging route continues up Spruce Lake's inlet stream to Loomis Lake, one of the least visited destinations accesible from this trailhead: The Fern Lake Trail rolls gently beside the Big Thompson River through aspen and mixed pine to The Pool - Cub Lake - Fern Lake Trail junction (1.8 miles : 8,365'). On Wednesday, October 21, the East Troublesome Fire ran approximately 18 miles before it moved into the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park, where rapid evacuations began for the Grand Lake … There is one section of trail, more than a half-mile from the trailhead, and roughly one tenth-of-a-mile in length, that’s fairly rugged and takes a Immediately after the entrance station, turn left on Bear Lake Road and travel 2 miles to Moraine Park Road. Spruce Lake is probably alot more accessible in the summer months as well, with an unofficial trail right to it. Book your stay at Spruce Lake RV Resort. Always something fun to do – fishing, miniature golf, horseshoes, bean bag toss, yard games, and a playground are just some of the activities you can enjoy. Horses are also able to use this trail. The trail weaves through cottage-size boulders known as Arch Rocks to The Pool, a churning whirlpool below the confluence of Spruce Creek, Fern Creek and Big Thompson River. In 2003 two campers, in two separate tents, were bit and clawed by a black bear at this campground. However, Pear Lake, just 2 miles further up the trail, is a much better destination for anglers and offers spectacular views of the rugged peaks surrounding it. Spruce Lake RV Resort in Estes Park is rated 7.3 of 10 at Campground Reviews. This trail was mostly constructed and maintained by lodge keepers and local tourism boosters in the early 1900s. r/RMNP. My plan was to eat lunch, pitch the tent, and then head up the 0.8-miles from Spruce to Loomis Lake where we would fish during the afternoon. That all changed on November 30th when a fierce wind storm brought 70 mph gusts that pushed the fire 3 miles in only 35 minutes, and more than doubled its size as it raced across Moraine Park. Please read this Disclaimer / Privacy Policy In the summer of 2000 Hearthstone Lake was drained to repair the water outlet structure. The lake is managed by Mark and Jamie,they keep a high standard maintaining the lake's beauty for your pleasure and enjoyment. Compare … Both are located in a mixed pine forest on the NE and NW sides of Fern Lake, respectively. Spruce Lake RV Park is an above average tourist trail RV park. With fishing shops, guide services, outfitters, and more, Grand Lake has everything you need for fishing the Colorado River Headwaters in RMNP! Spruce Lake RV Resort in Estes Park, Colorado: 98 reviews, 7 photos, & 16 tips from fellow RVers. The creek has heavy overgrowth and plenty of streamside boulders which make following the creek slow going. Spruce Lake and Cub Lake . @ document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); RockyMountainHikingTrails.com. It's believed the fire was sparked by an illegal campfire on October 9th. Thankfully neither camper was seriously injured during this extremely rare event. No bait or worms are allowed in catch-and-release waters. Stay close to and north of the stream until reaching the east edge of a scenic pond (4.75 miles : 10,155'), at which point you'll cross over its outlet and continue upstream to Loomis Lake (5.05 miles : 10,269'). When the fish are not feeding on the lake’s surface, it’s time to fish streamers. Also, if we wished, we could bushwhack another 0.8 miles above Spruce Lake to … Red arrowheads on trees provide additional guidance to each campsite from the main trail. No other permit is necessary; however, special regulations exist. Since the 1970s, the park has worked to restore native cutthroat trout populations. Watch Queue Queue Thunder Lake Wild Basin A long hike best suited for an overnight trip. All rights reserved. Route Info to Loomis Lake T rail is pretty easy to navigate until you get to the unnamed pond that sits between Loomis Lake and Spruce Lake. The plan is to visit Bear Lake, Helene, Odessa and Fern Lake. From the waterfall the trail resumes its climb, and ascends another 650 feet over the course of the next mile. Fishing is one of the most popular activities enjoyed in Rocky Mountain National Park. Bear Lake - Odessa Lake Via Fern Lake Trail [CLOSED] is a 8.3 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Estes Park, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as moderate. This season is fairly short as most of the lakes sit near 10,000 feet above sea level. No horses are permitted beyond this point. Our 888 acres of stunning Pocono Mountains woodlands, trails, and waterfalls are perfect for drawing closer to God and building relationships with others. Spruce Lake's abundant trout, isolation and light use make it an ideal choice for backpackers and solitude-seekers during peak summer months. Spruce Lake Campsite is a two-site camping area on the northwest side of remote Spruce Lake west of the Fern Lake Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park. Can anyone recommend a good lake to hike to? Reserve your getaway. Sport fishing is permitted in balance with efforts to restore and perpetuate natural aquatic conditions. Rocky Mountain National Park is a protected area where fly fishing activities are balanced with efforts to restore and perpetuate natural aquatic environments and life. Sites are level and wide for this type of campground. The lake is pleasant enough, and is a great destination if you're looking for a little solitude in this area of the park. Spruce Creek (middle) - RMNP - fishing in Estes Park, Colorado. I checked with the RMNP backcountry office about the Thunder Lake Trail and the backcountry campsites. Odessa Lake is a gorgeous intermediate level lake hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. Sprague and his wife, Alberta, operated their lodge -- formerly located near today's parking lot -- from 1910-40. Bathrooms are a bit worn, but are clean and attended often. Supplemental stocking is done only to restore native species. before using any information on this site. It remains so for visitors today. Spruce lake, a 6.5 acre lake filled with carp to over 40 lb's. Roughly one-tenth of a mile from the junction you'll pass the side trail that leads to the Fern Lake Individual Campground, which contains four individual sites. Once back at the junction you might as well make the short and easy hike up to Fern Lake, since you're only a couple hundred yards away. Any and all fish species taken must be immediately returned to the water unharmed. 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