Lily Lake: Scenic and Accessible Park with Wildlife Viewing near Estes Park, CO

1134 reviews

Estes Park, CO 80517, USA

Lily Lake Introduce

Lily Lake, located in Estes Park, Colorado, USA, is a scenic and accessible park within the Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). While not a campground or RV park, it offers recreational opportunities relevant to those exploring the area.

Lily Lake offers the following features and services:

Scenic Lake Loop: A nearly mile-long loop around the lake provides a scenic and easy hike.
Lily Lake Overlook Trail: A trail leading to the Lily Lake overlook offers more elevation and distance.
Wildlife Viewing: The park is known for its diverse wildlife, including moose, elk, deer, and river rats.
Accessibility: The park is easily accessible and versatile for various activities.
Ample Parking: Plenty of parking is available.

However, it is important to be aware of the following potential requirements:

Park Pass Required: A park pass is required for hiking in RMNP.

Guests have reported positive experiences at Lily Lake, highlighting the scenic lake loop, wildlife viewing opportunities, and accessibility. The Lily Lake overlook trail provides an option for those seeking a more challenging hike. The park's versatility makes it suitable for events like elopements. However, visitors should ensure they have a valid park pass for RMNP. The park is ideal for those seeking a scenic and accessible outdoor experience with opportunities for wildlife viewing near Estes Park, CO.

Lily Lake is ideal for those seeking a scenic and accessible outdoor experience near Estes Park, CO.

Address: Estes Park, CO 80517, USA

Location

Colorado Larimer County Estes Park

Customer Reviews

4.0

1134 reviews

Through Lindsey's Lens

Dec 30, 2024

I shot two different elopement here this past year, one in January and one in September! I loved how versatile and accessible Lily Lake was for me and my couples and their families! I also appreciate that there was plenty of parking for the ceremony and a nice short loop around the lake!

Alyssa Cholewinski

Nov 15, 2024

Our favorite hike when ever we are in town. It is part of the RMNP so you should have a park pass to hike it. Around the lake is a little less than a mile. If it’s nice out we love to hike up and do the Lilly lake overlook which adds some elevation and distance to our walk. We’ve seen many animals here including moose, elk, deer, and river rats.

Choono

Aug 05, 2024

It is very nice to visit for lake and ALSO OVERLOOK. I highly recommend you to take Lily Ridge Trail that will be marked with a sign at the North or West part of the lake trail. This brings you to an overlook with totally different view to see other mountains. Overall, not stiff at all, so even children can follow without much trouble. Lake itself is very calming. I saw about three beavers swimming around, and one female elk. Surprisingly, I was able to see snow on early of May.

Ben Szutu

Oct 01, 2024

Beautiful lake just outside of RMNP, so you don't need time entry to visit. The path around the lake is an easy one mile flat path. There is also a more challenging trail that will take you to the top of the cliff. For even more workout, you can head down the Strom Pass trail and up to Estes Cone, which is about an 8 mile hike round trip with about 2000 feet of elevation change. You can usually find space to park in the parking lot across the high highway.

Rebecca Bourget

Sep 13, 2024

Hidden gem we stumbled upon and quickly became the highlight of our trip. You do need a RMNP pass to park at the lot. Easy beautiful walk around the lake. We did it at sunset and the views were amazing.