Friday, May 8, 2026

Hiking to The Pool and Fern Falls in RMNP 2026

 Here is a look at Day 3 of 4 in Rocky Mountain National Park. 

We finally stopped for a photo at the park entrance sign. 
This was the Beaver Meadows entrance.
 
Seeing the animals never got old. 
 
Driving towards the Beaver Meadows park entrance.  As you can see in the distance, it was not a clear day.  There was a prediction for rain and snow that day.  I had a different hike itinerary but ended up changing it because of the uncertainty of the weather. 

We headed back to the Moraine Park area and parked at the Fern Lake Trailhead.  We started out hiking to The Pool. 

hitting the trail
This trail was mostly flat and took you through a forest with a creek that ran alongside the whole trail.  We loved listening to the water as we hiked. It was very peaceful.

Ben on the trail 
 
 
Can you guess what happened just as we started out on the trail?
It began to snow!!!  Snowflakes fell off and on the while time we were there.
 
I love purple! 
 
 
the creek running alongside the trail 
 

Ben 

Ben climbing rocks. 
 
 
 

1.7 miles later we arrived at The Pool
I had not really researched this trail so we did not know what to expect. It turned out to be a highlight of our trip.  We loved hanging out there!  The guys climbed all over the rocks and the logs over the water. Seeing the boys play and explore brought a smile to my face.  We spent close to an hour there just soaking it all in. It was a beautiful area!
 
 
The Pool 
 
The Pool  

 The Pool 
 
 
 The Pool with snowflakes falling

 
 The Pool 
 
 The Pool 
This was our anniversary eve. 

 The Pool 

Ben at The Pool   

David 
 
 
 The Pool 
 
Cruz at The Pool  

The bridge over The Pool   

 The Pool 

Ben at The Pool   

David and Ben playing on the logs.
 
David and Cruz playing on the logs. 

 
our family enjoying the views at The Pool 
This will be a hike I'm certain we'll repeat if we return. 
 
Fern Falls was just another mile up so we decided to hike on and see it. 

hiking from The Pool to Fern Falls 

 
 
 
Fern Falls 
 
 Fern Falls 

Ben at Fern Falls 
 
 
 Fern Falls  
 
David at Fern Falls 
 
 
 Fern Falls 
It did not snow on the hike up, but shortly after arriving the snowflakes began to fall. 
 
 Fern Falls 
 
 
 Fern Falls 
 
our family at Fern Falls 
 
 
snowing hard as we started the hike back down 
It was beautiful! 



If you look close, you'll see Ben up ahead on the trail. 

crossing the bridge at The Pool 

more rock climbing for Ben 

I miss this creek and its sound. 
 
 
our view as we drove back through Moraine Park 
 
 
 
It was cold and snowy when we left the trailhead.  We decided to drive and park at the Moraine Park Discovery Center and have our picnic lunch in the car.  From where we parked we had a great view of the valley below.

We drove into Estes Park and visited this coffee shop for coffee and hot chocolate.

warming up at Coffee on the Rocks
 
Before returning to the YMCA we made a loop back through the park starting at the Fall River entrance and coming out at the Beaver Meadows entrance. The boys fell asleep so we had a nice quiet drive. It was a fun and relaxing way to end the day.

The next day was our 30th wedding anniversary and our last day in the park. I'll share about that next.

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