Majestic Rocky Mountain National Park is an immensely popular tourist destination that many locals avoid during peak season. For the 2021 season, the park is planning to a timed entry system from 5/28/2021 through 10/11/2021. Off-season is still busy but can offer a more leisurely experience if you get a little creative with when you visit. We recommend visiting on a weekday, even in the off-season.
The current published policy on watercraft is buried at the bottom of the park's fishing regulations, and allows non-motorized crafts on all park waters except Bear Lake. There are a handful of nice paddleboarding lakes in the park that are both close to a road and area not Bear Lake. The park has specific fishing regulations for different water bodies within the park, so carefully review the fishing page if you plan to bring a rod. A parks entrance permit ($25/daily) or annual pass is required for all waters and trails.
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| Lake Estes with Lumpy Ridge beyond |
Estes Park--the eastern gateway to Rocky Mountain--also features a pleasant paddleboarding destination in Lake Estes. Lake Estes is a great backup plan for days when parking or entry to Rocky Mountain proves difficult, or when conditions higher up are less pleasant. With a larger water surface and rentals available, it's also a great destination on its own. Scroll to the end of the post for info on Lake Estes.
Lily Lake
Possibly the most accessible lake in Rocky Mountain National Park, Lily Lake is next to State Highway about 7 miles south of Estes Park. Driving to Lily Lake does not require passing through an entrance station. However, the parks service still requires display of an daily or annual pass to recreate here. Finding parking here is not a sure bet, and it can be crowded even on the weekdays. If the lake is crowded, it might be best just to go to Lake Estes instead.
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| Lily Lake, with Mt Meeker, Longs Peak and Estes Cone beyond |
Lily Lake can also make for a relaxing mid-day float after an early morning hike of Twin Sisters Peaks on the opposite side of Highway 7. An advantage to this strategy is being able to park early when spaces are more available but actually getting on the water when temperatures are warmer.
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| Lily Lake |
Lily Lake
Location Info: [key]
Scenery: 4
Shoreline Interest: 1
Non-motorized
Use: High
Fee: $25 RMNP pass
Access: Paved
Elev: 8750; natural
Weather
Sprague Lake
Sprague Lake
Photogenic Sprague Lake is accessed from a short spur off the notoriously busy Bear Lake Road. While there are many charming lakes in this area of the park, Sprague is the only one (besides Bear Lake) that is accessible by vehicle. Due to the popularity of this area, it's probably best to attempt a visit in the late spring or fall, or very early in the morning.
Poudre Lake
Poudre lake occupies an unexpected location just east of the Milner Pass summit. Adjacent to the continental divide, the lake actually defines the headwaters of the Poudre River. The saddle that Poudre Lake lies in can funnel and amplify even a slight breeze, so it works better as a opportune diversion while traversing the park than a destination. That said, it's a unique way to experience the heights of the park when conditions are calm. The water surface is plainly visible from Trail Ridge Road; if parking is full or conditions are windy, Lake Estes and Grand Lake await at either end of the road.
Lake Irene
Tiny Lake Irene is a 0.2 mile hike from Trail Ridge Road opposite Poudre Lake. Lake Irene doesn't have a large water surface, but it is tucked into a hidden valley next to Milner Pass and offers another chance to spend time on the water in a serene setting.
Lake Estes
Lake Estes sits at an elevation of 7475 and enjoys generally milder weather than the higher elevation lakes in the park. A boat permit, which is required to launch both non-motorized and motorized vessels, can be purchased for $5/boat at the Lake Estes Marina. All watercraft must launch from the Marina--near the northeast corner of the lake--which is accessed from Highway 34 just east of town. The larger, eastern part of Lake Estes is generally more exposed to breezes in the valley. The western inlet is more protected, calmer and flanked by parkland. Lake Estes is large enough to create choppy waters in a light wind, but conditions can be easily scoped from Highways 34 or 36 alongside the lake.
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| Lake Estes |
Lake Estes
Location Info: [key]
Scenery: 3
Shoreline Interest: 3
Use: Moderate-high
Fee: $5/watercraft
Access: Paved
Full elev = 7475;
Use: Moderate-high
Fee: $5/watercraft
Access: Paved
Full elev = 7475;
The Rocky Mountain National Park region boasts some very scenic--if compact--water bodies to stand-up paddle on. There are even more options for those willing to do a short hike to the water. The biggest challenge is avoiding busy times, which requires a solid commitment to visiting in the early morning/weekday/off-season. The waters are cold are conditions can change quickly, so review our safety tips and wear a PFD!
Please feel free to add observations of current conditions to the comments!
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