Contents
Bear Lake | Area Introduction
Bear Lake, located in the northeastern part of Rocky Mountain National Park, is one of the most popular areas in the park, known for its abundance of scenic hiking trails. Many visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park opt for a day trip to Bear Lake alone. The lake is conveniently close to Estes Park, the bustling town near the park’s entrance. To drive to Bear Lake, you can enter through the Beaver Meadows entrance. On the way to the Bear Lake Trailhead, you’ll be driving along the scenic Bear Lake Road, which is especially beautiful in the fall. Alternatively, you can stay in Estes Park and take a free shuttle into the park, which stops at the Bear Lake station.
Find a stay in Estes Park
Trails | Bear Lake Trailhead
If you want to explore the highlights of the Bear Lake area, your journey begins at the Bear Lake Trailhead. The free shuttle stops here, but if you're driving, be aware that the parking lot fills up quickly, so it's best to arrive early in the morning. From the trailhead, you'll find signposts directing you to the main attractions around Bear Lake. One recommended route is the Bear Lake Trail to the right, which loops around Bear Lake. If you have more than two hours, you can head left on a 2-mile one-way trail that passes by four beautiful lakes.
Attractions | Bear Lake
We first headed to Bear Lake. The 0.6-mile Bear Lake Trail loops around the lake, making it an easy hike. While there are some slight inclines, the trail is mostly flat, making it suitable for all ages.
Halfway through the trail, we realized we were walking counterclockwise, while most people were walking clockwise. In about 0.2 miles clockwise, you'll reach a major viewpoint with sweeping lake views, and the scenery doesn't change much beyond that point. So, if you're in a hurry, you can walk the 0.2 miles and then turn back. However, the entire 0.6-mile loop is quite short and offers stunning views of fall colors, snow-capped mountains, and forests, making it well worth completing the loop.
Attractions | Nymph Lake
After finishing the Bear Lake loop, if you still have time, it's recommended to return to the trailhead and head left on a longer trail. This trail is about 2.2 miles one way and passes by four picturesque lakes, from Nymph Lake to Emerald Lake. The trail is slightly more challenging than the Bear Lake Trail, with an elevation gain of about 200 feet between each lake. Though the climb isn’t difficult, the higher elevation may make it feel more strenuous, so pace yourself.
The first lake you’ll encounter is Nymph Lake, which looks like a large lotus pond. We stopped here for a picnic, enjoying the clear skies and vibrant fall colors.
Attractions | Dream Lake
From Nymph Lake, the trail continues uphill toward the second lake, Dream Lake. As you ascend, the scenery becomes increasingly beautiful, and this section of the trail reminded me of a glacier-less version of Glacier National Park’s Iceberg Trail—the views are simply stunning.
At this point, the incline becomes steeper. Although the trail isn't particularly difficult, we did see a few hikers with injuries—one person was being carried down the trail after twisting their ankle, and another had fallen into the water. It's easy to get distracted by the breathtaking scenery, but remember to watch your step!
Dream Lake is quite large, and during times of high water, there may even be a waterfall. Although there wasn’t one when we visited, the view of the U-shaped valley and the lake’s green waters was still incredibly satisfying.
Attractions | Emerald Lake
Continuing another 200 feet upward, you’ll reach the final stop, Emerald Lake. This section of the trail is a bit steeper, with a series of steps leading up to the lake. At an elevation of 9,939 feet, you may find yourself more winded, so be sure to regulate your breathing. Even though we had spent the previous night in the park, my body still hadn’t fully adjusted to the high altitude.
Emerald Lake has a similar mountain backdrop to Dream Lake, but its emerald-green waters are even more striking. Be mindful of the wind near the lake’s edge and watch your footing.
Attractions | Haiyaha Lake
To reach Haiyaha Lake, you’ll need to take a side trail branching off from the main path to Emerald Lake. This detour adds about 1.2 miles round-trip. The trail to Haiyaha Lake is a bit more challenging than the previous sections, which may explain why it’s less crowded. Along the way, the fall colors were lovely. During our visit, a ranger strongly recommended we check out Haiyaha Lake, mentioning that a recent landslide had turned the lake’s water a unique milky color.
On the trail to Haiyaha Lake, you’ll be treated to views of the two lakes below—Nymph Lake on the right and Bear Lake on the left.
When we finally arrived at Haiyaha Lake, the milky green water was indeed unique and beautiful. The lake itself isn’t easily accessible, as you have to scramble over rocks to get close to the shore, but the effort is worth it. If the lake hadn’t taken on this special color, it might have been a spot to skip, but in its current state, it’s a must-see.
Glacier Gorge | Alberta fall
Next, we headed to Glacier Gorge, the second major trailhead in this area besides Bear Lake Trailhead. The shuttle stops here as well, but parking is extremely limited—there are reportedly only 5 parking spaces, making it even less convenient than Bear Lake Trailhead.
In our opinion, the fall colors along this trail were the best we’d seen that day, earning our top ranking for the day’s scenery. After already hiking nearly 10 miles, we only planned to hike to Alberta Falls, a 1.2-mile round-trip. If you have more energy, this trail can also take you to Mills Lake, another beautiful destination. Despite being an easy hike with gentle slopes, we were a bit worn out from the earlier trails. Fortunately, the beautiful views along the way kept us going.
Finally, we reached Alberta Falls, where Glacier Creek tumbles dramatically over the rocks. The waterfall was more impressive than we had expected, making it a perfect way to end the hike.
Further reading
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