Hollowell Park Loop

Hollowell Park Loop is a 10.2-mile circuit from Hollowell Park Trailhead through Moraine Park, Cub Lake and Mill Creek Basin. It starts across the open meadow, follows a long ridge-side section, reaches Cub Lake, climbs the ridge beyond it and descends through Mill Creek Basin. With about 1,630 feet of climbing between roughly 8,300 and 9,440 feet, this is a strenuous full-day hike, not the picnic area's short easy stroll. Plan around six hours. The first and last third-mile share the access trail; the middle makes the loop.

The described counterclockwise route leaves the meadow, then follows a narrow path above Bear Lake Road through sagebrush and montane forest. At about 2.1 miles it turns onto a bridle path and climbs to South Lateral Moraine. The trail moves between trees and open ground with views across Moraine Park's wetlands, oxbows and meadows. Where the lower route splits and rejoins, the right-hand branches are the easier choices. Cub Creek comes at about 4.4 miles; spring runoff or heavy rain can make it hard to cross without wet boots.

Cub Lake arrives around mile 6.3. Dead trees still ring the shore after the 2012 Fern Lake and 2020 East Troublesome fires; from the shoreline, look west toward Stones Peak. Past the lake, the Mill Creek route climbs about 820 feet in just over a mile to the ridge. This is the hardest sustained section. The descent toward Mill Creek is gentler, with views of Longs Peak and the Continental Divide.

Around mile 8.25, the trail drops into Mill Creek Basin, where it passes a grassy meadow, creek crossings and a backcountry campsite before following Mill Creek toward Hollowell Park. At the start, the picnic area has a pit toilet and tables but no trash cans. No day-use drinking-water point is listed for the route, so carry enough water. Dogs are prohibited on Rocky Mountain National Park trails.