Summer sees plenty of traffic here, so fall is the better season if you want the forest to yourself. While you might not break a sweat with fewer than 500 feet of elevation gain, you can extend the outing by connecting to the History Rock or Blackmore trails. Panoramic views of the Tetons stretch across both Bradley and Taggart Lakes, making this one of the park’s most scenic lake hikes. One thing to know for a fall trip: the northern segment of the Taggart Lake Trail is closed through November 15, 2026 for rehabilitation, so the usual loop isn’t fully connected. The Fern Lake Trailhead sits in Rocky Mountain National Park’s Bear Lake Road Corridor, which needs a timed-entry reservation on top of the park entrance pass through mid-October.