Historic Moraine Park in Rocky Mountain National Park

Historic Moraine Park

The meadows of Moraine Park were where Arapaho Indians once made ceremonial pipes.

Plan Around Historic Moraine Park

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Historic Moraine Park Details

The meadows of Moraine Park were where Arapaho Indians once made ceremonial pipes. Gold prospector Abner Sprague arrived here in 1875 and soon shifting from mining and panning to operating a guest house. Eventually, Moraine Park became home to several lodges, stores, summer cabins, and even a post office. Sprague Lake was dammed and expanded to improve fishing for lodge guests, and you can hike the half-mile Sprague Lake Trail around the edge of the 13-acre lake. A golf course was added by later owners in the 1950s, before the National Park Service acquired the properties, tore down all the buildings, and allowed the meadows to return to their natural state.

Difficulty

Low

Distance

N/A

Estimated time

Region

East Side

Nearby Parks Around Historic Moraine Park

Compare nearby parks around Historic Moraine Park when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.

1.4 mi away

Rocky Mountain

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167.5 mi away

Black Canyon

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181.3 mi away

Great Sand Dunes

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246.5 mi away

Arches

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258.1 mi away

Mesa Verde

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261.4 mi away

Canyonlands

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Nearby Points of Interest Around Historic Moraine Park

Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Historic Moraine Park while the map context is still fresh.

0.1 mi away

Mill Creek Basin

This easy, but less popular trail travels through a wide, charming valley and framed above by the towering summits.

0.2 mi away

Moraine Park Visitor Center

Features a natural-history exhibit, a bookstore, and an information desk.

0.2 mi away

Moraine Park Visitor Center

Features a natural-history exhibit, a bookstore, and other tourist information.

0.2 mi away

Artist and Preservation

Before the age of color photography, it was up to painters to capture the beauty of landscapes.

0.7 mi away

Bear Lake Road

Connects Upper Beaver Meadows and Bear Lake, where you'll find several popular hiking trails.