Parking
Use the Moraine Park Discovery Center parking area on Bear Lake Road, opposite the Moraine Park Road intersection.
Overview
About Moraine Park Discovery Center Nature Trail
Why go
- A meadow and mountain view on a very short walk
- Plant interpretation adds interest to the hillside path
Heads up
- Too brief for anyone looking for a longer hike
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Rocky Mountain map
Full mapElevation8,123–8,195 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
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 Moraine Park Discovery Center Nature Trail, 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 trailhead
Moraine Park: Elk and a Former Resort0:00 / 0:31
“You're nearing Moraine Park, a broad meadow with Longs Peak and the Continental Divide beyond it. Stop for the open valley view and a chance of elk, especially in spring and fall.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Rocky Mountain Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- A New Rack Every Year
- Watch for the Coyote's Pounce
- Seeds Sealed for Years
- The Arapaho Elders' Mountain Journey
- 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.”
Trail guide
Hiking Moraine Park Discovery Center Nature Trail
A short hillside loopMoraine Park Discovery Center Nature Trail is a short loop on the hillside above the Discovery…
Moraine Park Discovery Center Nature Trail is a short loop on the hillside above the Discovery Center. Plan on about half a mile and 30 minutes. The mapped path climbs and dips across the slope, with about 90 feet of cumulative ascent; at just over 8,100 feet, even this easy walk can feel more effortful than the mileage suggests. It is a quick leg-stretcher for a valley view, separate from the much longer Moraine Park Loop.
Look over the meadowThe route follows dirt paths through grasses and pockets of pines.
The route follows dirt paths through grasses and pockets of pines. As the hillside opens, look across the broad meadow to the forested ridge and the Continental Divide beyond it. A few plant interpretation signs add interest along the way. Nearby paths continue into the wider network, so stay with the short loop around the Discovery Center if that is the outing you planned.
Start by the Discovery CenterBegin at the seasonal Discovery Center on Bear Lake Road, across from the Moraine Park Road…
Begin at the seasonal Discovery Center on Bear Lake Road, across from the Moraine Park Road junction. Its wildlife and area displays and Nature Store make a useful separate stop when open. From late May through mid-October, Bear Lake Road may require a Timed Entry+ reservation during certain daytime hours; check the current rule before driving in. Pets are prohibited on park trails.
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.
