Fern Lake Trail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Fern Lake Trail
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Colorado
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, Colorado |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1933 |
| Built by | Estes Park Protective & Improvement Association Public Works Administration Civilian Conservation Corps |
| Architect | National Park Service |
| MPS | Rocky Mountain National Park MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 05000074 |
| Added to NRHP | February 28, 2005 |
The Fern Lake Trail is a popular hiking path in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. It stretches about 4.8 miles (7.7 km) from Moraine Park in the east to Fern Lake in the west. The first part of the trail follows the Big Thompson River. This trail is special because it shows how tourism grew in the park. It also highlights the important work done by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Contents
Discovering the Fern Lake Trail
The Fern Lake Trail is a beautiful route for hikers. It takes you through amazing mountain scenery. The trail starts in Moraine Park. Then it leads you all the way to Fern Lake. Along the way, you'll see the Big Thompson River.
A Trail with a Long History
People started using this path informally in the late 1880s. They wanted to reach a spot called "The Pool." This was a wide part of the Big Thompson River. A small lodge was there even before Rocky Mountain National Park was created in 1915.
Between 1907 and 1912, the Estes Park Protective and Improvement Association made the trail better. They even built a new bridge at The Pool. Just two years later, the trail was rebuilt again. This time, the goal was to make sure it wasn't too steep. It also made it easier to reach Fern and Marguerite Falls.
Winter Fun and Trail Improvements
In the 1920s, Fern Lake became a very popular spot for skiing in winter. There was even a lodge there for visitors. From 1933, the trail got another big upgrade. This work lasted for three years. It was done by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC was a group that helped young men find work during the Great Depression. They built strong retaining walls and changed the trail's path. This made it even better for hikers.
Lodges and Legacy
The Forest Inn at The Pool closed in 1951. The Fern Lake Lodge closed a bit later, in 1960. For a summer in 1958, the famous folk singer Judy Collins and her husband Peter Taylor ran the lodge. They offered a nice place for hikers to rest. The Park Service tore down the lodge in 1968. They wanted to remove private businesses from inside the park.
The Fern Lake Trail is important for two main reasons. First, it shows how early tourism developed in the park. Second, it's a great example of the construction work done by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Because of its history, the Fern Lake Trail was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 28, 2005.
