Best time to go
Trail Ridge Road usually closes from mid-October to Memorial Day, and snow can disrupt access at other times. Treat Lake Irene as a seasonal stop and check current road status before you go.
Overview
About Lake Irene
Why stop
- A short lakeside loop and picnic tables make a restful break from the high road.
Heads up
- The small parking lot can fill on busy days.
Map
Where it is
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Full mapPlan your stop
Before you go
Best time to go
3 active Rocky Mountain alerts
- ClosureOld Fall River Road closed to vehiclesOld Fall River Road is closed to motor vehicles for the season.Official details
- ClosureSun Valley burn-area access remains closedThe area and trail west of Sun Valley Trail remain closed, including the route used for angler access to the Colorado River, because of impacts from the 2020 East Troublesome and Cameron Peak Fires;…Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Rocky Mountain Tour Guide
Your drive to Lake Irene, narrated.
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
Lake Irene: A Lakeside Picnic Break0:00 / 0:27
“You're nearing Lake Irene, a small lake in the spruce and fir forest beside Trail Ridge Road. This is a good place for a picnic break or a short walk away from the car.”
Plays as you drive up to Lake Irene in the Parkwolf Rocky Mountain Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Milner Pass: A Crossing Beside Poudre Lake
- Poudre River Trailhead: A High Meadow Walk
- A Marmot's Long Winter
- Farview Curve: Find the Grand Ditch
- 79 audio storiesacross Rocky Mountain’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Elk, Moose, Mountain Goat, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 136 trails, 88 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“…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
More about Lake Irene
Make this a quick breakLake Irene is a small subalpine lake beside Trail Ridge Road, about 4.
Lake Irene is a small subalpine lake beside Trail Ridge Road, about 4.7 miles south of Alpine Visitor Center. A picnic area sits a short walk from the water. It's a good stop for a little time away from the car: take the shoreline loop or eat at a table. The small paved lot has about a dozen spaces and can fill on busy days.
Walk the shorelineThe path starts beyond the picnic sites at the far end of the lot, drops to the lake's north…
The path starts beyond the picnic sites at the far end of the lot, drops to the lake's north shore, and circles the water. The complete walk from the lot is under a mile with little climbing, so it fits easily between longer stops. Subalpine fir and Engelmann spruce line the shore, with wildflowers around the lake in mid-summer. For a photo, wait for a calm patch of water and frame the trees with their reflections.
Picnic at altitudeThere are eight picnic tables and vault or composting toilets.
There are eight picnic tables and vault or composting toilets. There are no fire grates, but portable grills are allowed. At 10,680 feet, even a short walk can feel different if you're not used to the elevation; take your time and rest if you feel off.
Look across the roadSheep Rock rises across Trail Ridge Road, and bighorn sheep sometimes perch on its slopes.
Sheep Rock rises across Trail Ridge Road, and bighorn sheep sometimes perch on its slopes. One local account says the lake was named for a guest at Camp Wheeler, a rustic dude ranch run by Bob “Squeaky Bob” Wheeler in the early 20th century.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Rocky Mountain
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.
