Sight · Rocky Mountain National Park
A tiered waterfall marks a natural halfway goal on Fern Lake Trail.
Overview
Fern Falls is a roughly 60-foot, multi-tiered waterfall on Fern Creek, 2.5 miles up Fern Lake Trail from the trailhead. It makes a satisfying turnaround before Fern Lake, but it is still about a five-mile hike out and back, with roughly 645 feet of climbing to reach the falls. If you want a shorter goal on this route, this is the one.
Parkwolf’s verdictA waterfall worth turning around forMap
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Rocky Mountain Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Rocky Mountain National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Rocky Mountain audio tourRecorded for this place
Fern Lake Trailhead: Turn Around at The Pool“You're nearing Fern Lake Trailhead, where The Pool makes a good shorter turnaround.”
Plays as you drive up to Fern Falls in the Parkwolf Rocky Mountain Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“…No cell service for majority of the day but had continuous access to the app - the maps, the tour guide as you drive is amazing. Highly recommend purchasing the subscription.”
Guide
From Fern Lake Trailhead at the end of Moraine Park Campground Road, the path follows the Big Thompson River past Arch Rocks and The Pool, then climbs by switchbacks toward Fern Creek. It alternates forest with open views into Big Thompson Valley. Parking near the trailhead is limited, so don't assume you'll find a space right away.
The trail reaches the base of the upper cascade, where Fern Creek drops over several rocky tiers. Visitors often mention the cool spray as a welcome pause on a warm hike. For a photo, frame the upper falls from the end of the trail; the lower cascades continue down steep ground without an easy approach.
The complete Fern Lake route was established by 1906 and served park visitors and people traveling from Estes Park. During the Great Depression, Civilian Conservation Corps crews built stone walls and helped shape the route; much of that work remains. The trail joined the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. Fern Lake also drew skiers in the 1920s, with Colorado Mountain Club winter outings held there from 1916 through 1934.
Wildlife
3,124 sightingsElkMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
1,601 sightingsMooseMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
19 sightingsMountain GoatMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
19 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
30 sightingsGolden EagleMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
270 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 11 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Rocky Mountain. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ModerateFern Falls Trail5.1 mi · 3 hr · 2 mi awayArch Rocks and The Pool earn the long walk to Fern Falls.
ChallengingGrace Falls Viewpoint Trail12 mi · 7.5 hr · 2 mi awayA long high-country hike for a view of Grace Falls.
ChallengingLoomis Lake Trail10.3 mi · 6.5 hr · 2 mi awayA 10.3-mile lake hike with an unmaintained final stretch.
ModerateFern Lake Trail7.6 mi · 4.5 hr · 2 mi awayA 7.6-mile return to Fern Lake passes The Pool and Fern Falls.
EasyThe Pool Trail3.4 mi · 1.8 hr · 2 mi awayA short river walk to a lively, boulder-lined confluence.ModerateSpruce Lake Trail9.4 mi · 6 hr · 2 mi awayFern Falls and a mountain lake reward the rough last climb.
ModerateCub Lake–The Pool Loop6.1 mi · 3.5 hr · 2 mi awayPair a lily-covered lake with a creek-carved pool.
ModerateOdessa Lake via Fern Lake Trail9.8 mi · 6 hr · 2 mi awayTwo alpine lakes, a cascade and a serious climb from Fern Lake.
Sight · 0.5 mi awayThe PoolA lively river pool makes a good shorter Fern Lake Trail turnaround.Sight · 0.9 mi awayFern LakeA demanding hike ends at a high lake beneath three named peaks.
Sight · 1.3 mi awayCub LakeA lily-covered lake at the end of a varied Moraine Park hike.Sight · 1.5 mi awayOdessa LakeA high alpine lake worth the long hike.
Sight · 2.1 mi awayLake HeleneA tucked-away alpine lake beneath Notchtop’s sheer rocky wall.
Sight · 2.6 mi awayBear LakeA classic alpine lake, with Hallett Peak just beyond the shore.
Sight · 2.6 mi awayEmerald LakeThree lakes in, the trail ends beneath steep mountain walls.
Sight · 2.6 mi awayDream LakeA mile from Bear Lake, Hallett Peak fills the skyline.Parkwolf’s Rocky Mountain ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
