Cub Lake

Cub Lake is a small natural lake in Moraine Park, ringed with lily pads and backed by rugged peaks. It’s a destination, not a roadside stop: the National Park Service lists it 2.3 miles one way from Cub Lake Trailhead, with 540 feet of elevation gain. I’d make the hike if you want a proper walk with a clear destination; the trail can also continue beyond the lake toward The Pool or Fern Falls for a longer outing.

The approach crosses the Big Thompson River, skirts the edge of Moraine Park past Beaver Ponds, then climbs through aspens to the water. That changing scenery makes the walk more interesting than a straight climb. Watch the meadows for elk, the lake for ducks, and keep an eye out for moose around the shore.

The trail passes the lake’s northeast corner before reaching a spot where you can get down to the water, so keep going if the first edge looks awkward. From shore, look west toward Stones Peak. Lily pads make a strong foreground; in autumn, yellow aspens add color to the slopes.

Cub Lake sits in country marked by the 2012 Fern Lake Fire. The fire started after an illegal campfire in Forest Canyon, then strong winds pushed it more than three miles in 35 minutes at the end of November. It eventually burned nearly 3,500 acres. Burned trees and aspen growth have changed the forest around the route and the lake’s backdrop.