Lily Lake

Lily Lake is a small mountain lake beside Colorado Highway 7 in Rocky Mountain National Park. A dam enlarged the natural lake, and today the easy shoreline loop, wetlands, and big peak views make it a good stop for a leg stretch or picnic. The main circuit is about 0.8 mile and mostly level. If that sounds too easy, Lily Ridge Trail adds a short, steeper climb above the lake.

The route follows shore and wetlands past benches. It is hard-packed gravel, mostly level, and described as accessible. Lily Ridge branches off the loop and climbs close to 200 feet for a broader view, but it is not wheelchair-accessible. You can keep this visit to a quick stroll or give it a little more time for the spur.

From the north shore, look for Estes Cone, Mount Meeker, and Longs Peak above the water. The lake and ridge make this a photo stop, too: try a late-day view across the water when the surface is calm enough to reflect the mountains. Reflections depend on wind and water conditions.

Lily Lake began as a natural lake, then a dam built in 1915 enlarged it from about 14 acres to about 17. It also sits at the headwaters of Fish Creek, which runs roughly five miles toward Lake Estes and drops about 1,500 feet along the way.

The lake has been stocked with greenback cutthroat trout, a federally threatened fish, and visitors often look for birds and other wildlife around the shore. Sightings vary, but the short walk gives you time to notice the wetlands as well as the lake.