The Pool in Rocky Mountain National Park: An Easy Fern Lake Trail Hike
Trailhead: Fern Lake Trailhead, Moraine Park. Distance: 3.4 miles round trip (1.7 miles one way). Elevation gain: about 245 feet. Difficulty: easy. Getting there: the free Moraine Park Shuttle stops at the Fern Lake Bus Stop in season. Timed entry: a Bear Lake Road corridor permit is required 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the 2026 season (May 22 to October 18). See our Rocky Mountain National Park itinerary for how this hike fits into a longer visit.
The Pool in Rocky Mountain National Park
The Pool is an easy 3.4 mile round trip hike on the Fern Lake Trail, reaching a wide, calm bend where the Big Thompson River meets Fern Creek. It is 1.7 miles one way from the Fern Lake Trailhead in Moraine Park, with about 245 feet of elevation gain, and it is one of the shortest maintained trails on this side of the park. The trail follows the Big Thompson River through a mix of lodgepole pine and old burn scar from the 2012 Fern Lake Fire, so expect some open, sun exposed sections along with shaded stretches near the water.
Fern Lake Trailhead and Getting There
The Fern Lake Trailhead sits at the west end of Moraine Park, past the Cub Lake Trailhead. Parking at the trailhead itself is limited and fills early on summer mornings. The free Moraine Park Shuttle runs the Bear Lake Road corridor route in season, with a stop at the Fern Lake Bus Stop; for 2026 the shuttle runs daily from May 22 through October 18, roughly 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., with buses about every 60 minutes and the last bus leaving the Fern Lake stop at 7:30 p.m. Because Moraine Park sits inside the Bear Lake Road corridor, you need a Bear Lake Road timed entry permit to drive in or ride the shuttle between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. during the 2026 timed entry season (May 22 to October 18). Outside those hours, no permit is needed. Timed entry rules and dates change from year to year, so confirm the current season on the park's timed entry page before you go.
Along the Way: Arch Rocks
About 1.2 miles in, before you reach The Pool, the trail passes Arch Rocks: a pair of house sized boulders the trail squeezes between. It is a natural turnaround marker and a good spot for kids to climb around before the last push to the river.
Extending the Hike Past The Pool
A footbridge crosses the river at The Pool, and the trail keeps climbing from there if you want more. Fern Falls is 2.5 miles one way from the trailhead with about 645 feet of gain, a fair step up from the flat walk to The Pool. Fern Lake itself is 3.8 miles one way with about 1,375 feet of gain, a real climb rather than a stroll. Either extension turns this from a short family outing into a half day hike, and both stay on the same trail, so you can turn around at whatever point matches your legs and the weather.
When to Go
The lower trail near the river holds ice into spring on shaded, north facing sections, so early season hikers should carry traction. Summer afternoons bring thunderstorms most days, and since this hike stays below treeline the whole way, storms are less of a turnaround concern here than on the park's higher trails, though lightning near open burn areas is still worth respecting. The trailhead and shuttle stop are busiest from mid morning through early afternoon in July and August; an early start gets you a parking spot and a quieter river.
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The Pool in Rocky Mountain National Park: An Easy Fern Lake Trail Hike FAQs
It is 3.4 miles round trip, 1.7 miles one way, with about 245 feet of elevation gain from the Fern Lake Trailhead. NPS rates it as one of the easier trails in the Moraine Park area.
Yes. The free Moraine Park Shuttle stops at the Fern Lake Bus Stop in season. For 2026 it runs daily from May 22 through October 18, about every 60 minutes between 7 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
During the 2026 season (May 22 to October 18), yes: the Fern Lake Trailhead sits inside the Bear Lake Road corridor, which needs a timed entry permit between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. Outside those hours, no permit is required. Confirm current dates on nps.gov before you go, since timed entry rules change yearly.
A pair of large boulders the trail passes between, about 1.2 miles from the Fern Lake Trailhead and before The Pool. It is a popular turnaround point for families with young kids.
Yes. The trail continues to Fern Falls, 2.5 miles one way with about 645 feet of gain, or all the way to Fern Lake, 3.8 miles one way with about 1,375 feet of gain.
Yes. The grade is gentle, the distance is short, and Arch Rocks and the river at The Pool both give kids something to explore at the turnaround.
Yes. The worked day-by-day plan is Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary: 3 Days in Estes Park (3 Days), with the permits, the stays and the drive times already sorted. Tell us your dates and we will put it together for you and confirm what is genuinely open on those days. Asking is free: no card, no deposit, and nothing is held until you say yes.
