• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Uncover Colorado Logo

  • Blog
  • Activities
    • Year-round
      • Brewery Tours
      • Casinos & Gaming
      • Colorado Brands
      • Federal Lands
      • Food & Dining
      • Ghost Towns
      • Gondola & Chairlifts
      • Hot Springs
      • Mine Tours
      • Museums
      • Paintball
      • Public Parks
      • Scenic Drives
      • Shopping
      • Sports Teams
      • State Parks
      • Train Rides
      • Transportation
      • Wildlife
      • Zip Lines & Aerial Parks
    • Spring, Summer & Fall
      • Amusement Parks
      • ATV Rentals
      • Biking
      • Boating
      • Camping
      • Drive-In Theaters
      • Fishing
      • Golf Courses
      • Hiking
      • Horseback Riding
      • Rock Climbing
      • Tubing & Paddling
      • Waterfalls
      • Whitewater Rafting
    • Winter
      • Cross Country Skiing
      • Dog Sledding
      • Ice Climbing
      • Ice Fishing
      • Ice Skating
      • Skiing & Snowboarding
      • Sleigh Rides
      • Snow Tubing
      • Snowmobiling
      • Snowshoeing
  • Events
    • January
    • February
    • March
    • April
    • May
    • June
    • July
    • August
    • September
    • October
    • November
    • December
  • Lodging
    • Budget Hotels
    • Historic Hotels
    • Luxury Hotels
    • Bed & Breakfasts
    • Cabins & Glamping
    • Casinos with Lodging
    • Dude Ranches
    • Hot Spring with Lodging
    • Wineries with Lodging
    • Campgrounds
  • Towns
  • Trip Planner
  • Search
  • Blog
  • Activities
  • Events
  • Lodging
  • Towns
  • Trip Planner
Poudre Lake, Colorado
Poudre Lake, Colorado. Photo: Kent Landerholm

Poudre Lake – RMNP, Estes Park

FacebookTwitter

In Rocky Mountain National Park along Trail Ridge Road, Poudre Lake serves as the headwaters of the Cache La Poudre River. It’s located just east of the Great Continental Divide at Milner Pass.

Poudre Lake is a popular, scenic stop for national park visitors traveling between Grand Lake and Estes Park. It sits at about 10,000 feet in elevation and can only be reached when Trail Ridge Road is open. There are several pull-offs on the north side of the road and one large parking lot just south of Poudre Lake at the Forest Canyon Overlook.

Activities at Poudre Lake

Poudre Lake, Colorado
Poudre Lake, Colorado. Photo: Kent Kanouse

As it’s located on the continental divide, Poudre Lake is surrounded by panoramic views with dramatic mountain and sweeping pine forests. Visitors should bring a jacket as this high-evaluation area is subject to stronger winds and lower temperatures than most other parts of the park. In fact, Poudre Lake freezes completely in the winter, so fish cannot survive in the water.

Camping: Read about the camping near Estes Park and RMNP.

Hiking: There are numerous hiking trails close to Poudre Lake.

  • South of Poudre Lake, hikers can travel east along the Ute Trail over Forest Canyon Pass to reach the Alpine Visitors Center.
  • Alternatively, the Poudre River Trail begins on the north side of Poudre Lake, which gradually descends along the river, eventually exiting the park.
  • Lastly, the Continental Divide Trail can be accessed from Milner Pass, where hikers can climb up to the 12,489 foot Specimen Mountain, which overlooks Poudre Lake.

Wildlife: While enjoying the views, visitors of Poudre Lake often spot wildlife such as marmots, pika, elk, bighorn sheep, eagles, and others. A safe distance should be maintained and it is never okay to feed wildlife in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Poudre Lake, Colorado
Poudre Lake, Colorado. Photo: Kent Kanouse

Details

Address: Poudre Lake, Trail Ridge Rd, Estes Park, CO 80517

Phone: 970-586-1206

Season: Access via Trail Ridge Road (May to October)

Hours: 24/7

Fees: Daily fee or National Parks Pass required

Maps: Rocky Mountain National Park Map

Website: nps.gov/romo/index.htm

Primary Sidebar

Join our Colorado travel community

Enter your email below and grab our free locals' guide and monthly what's up designed to help you live your Colorado life and uncover fun things to do. —and never miss out again.

Recent Posts

  • Fly Directly to these Colorado Ski Resorts with Airports Nearby
  • Things to do in February in Colorado
  • 15 Summer County Fairs in Colorado
  • 20 Cool Colorado Winter Activities To Try
  • 5 Reasons to Visit Mesa Verde this Winter

Footer

Get In Touch

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Resources
  • Disclaimer
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter

Disclosure: Uncover Colorado is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Things To Do

  • Travel Blog
  • Colorado Activities
  • Colorado Events
  • Colorado Towns
  • Colorado Hotels
  • Colorado Restaurants
  • Colorado Transportation
  • Made in Colorado

Cheers! Mile High Happy Hour shares showcases Denver neighborhoods' restaurant happy hours.

Winter Activities

  • Federal Lands
  • Ghost Towns
  • Hot Springs
  • Ice Skating
  • Ski Resorts
  • Snow Tubing
  • State Parks
  • Train Rides

Copyright © 2023 · Uncover Colorado | Sitemap | Advertise