Moraine Park Loop

This is a roughly 4.8-mile loop from Moraine Park Trailhead around a broad meadow in Rocky Mountain National Park. It follows the Big Thompson River, reaches Fern Lake Road and Cub Lake Trailhead, then returns along South Lateral Moraine Trail and the meadow’s southern edge. The mapped line measures 4.47 miles while the detailed route description lists 4.8; treat the total as approximate. A longer loop from the Discovery Center and a shorter campground-road loop are separate routes. Allow about 2½ hours, and remember that the whole walk is above 8,000 feet even though the climbing is modest.

From the parking area, pass the gates and take the narrow path beside the river before turning northwest along the meadow. At the fork, stay left to continue the circuit; turn left onto Fern Lake Road at about 0.9 mile and follow it for roughly 1.1 miles to Cub Lake Trailhead. Continue left there, cross the Big Thompson, then take the unmarked South Lateral Moraine Trail at about 2.6 miles. The return crosses the meadow’s south edge past oxbows and wetlands; several faint forks rejoin, and a service road leads back to the start near mile four.

The open valley is the main draw: the route looks across wet meadow and river bends toward Snowdrift Peak and Stones Peak, with Longs Peak visible to the south. The southern trail follows the base of the moraine that gives the park its name, a landform left by glacial activity. Elk use the meadow, especially in spring and fall, so keep a wide distance and stay on designated paths through sensitive habitat.

The route is generally gentle, but several turns are unmarked and the road section has vehicle traffic; start early if you want to finish that stretch before traffic builds. Cub Creek can be hard to cross without wet boots during spring runoff or after heavy rain. Dogs are not allowed on park trails. Bear Lake Road access may require a timed-entry reservation during designated hours in the late-May-to-mid-October season; check current park rules before you drive.