Signed into legislation by President Woodrow Wilson in 1915, The Rocky Mountain National Park Act established 415 square miles of protected natural mountain beauty for generations. Today, the park features over 300 miles of trails leading to high alpine lakes, glaciers, waterfalls, streams, wildlife, and more to fuel your thirst for outdoor adventure. On top of all of the scenery, camping at the National Park is some of the best in Colorado as the summer alpine environment provides cool, dry nights. One campground in particular, Moraine Park, is considered one of, if not the single best campground in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Moraine Park
The campground is in close proximity to Estes Park on the east side of the National Park and offers over 200 reservable camping sites such as group camping, walk-to-tent sites, and RV sites without hookups. Each campsite is equipped with a picnic table, fire ring with grate, and tent pad. The campground is seasonally staffed with facilities such as firewood/ice sales, potable water, a seasonal amphitheater, trash/recycling collection and more. Peak season temperatures will drop into the mid-40s so appropriate camping gear is recommended and booking your campsite ahead of time is advised.
Moraine Park is named after the two moraines that the glaciated meadow sits in between. Moraines are glacially formed accumulation of debris, such as rock and regolith. In this case, the park was formed when an ancient glacial lake silted up and drained, forming a flat meadow. The meadow supports grasses, willows, and aspens and the Big Thompson River flows through the valley from the Forest Canyon. The park is also a popular place to watch elk.
The Moraine Park museum along with the amphitheater are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The lodge was built in 1923 by a homesteader named Green MacPherson as the center of her private tourist development. The lodge was later purchased by the National Park Service in 1931 and turned into a museum. The museum now features interactive natural history exhibits on geological processes, glaciation, and ecology of the park. The amphitheater was constructed during the great depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
There are plenty of hiking, biking, horseback riding, fly-fishing and lake recreation opportunities closeby to the campground. Popular hiking trailheads nearby include the Bear Lake, Sprague Lake, Hollowell Park, Fern & Cub Lake, and the Upper Beaver Meadows locations. Lake Estes offers boating and kayaking opportunities. There is whitewater rafting nearby on the Cache La Poudre river, call us at 877-RAFTING to book. There is certainly enough to do to make for an awesome trip to the high country.
