Hike to Emerald Lake

Take Highway 36 out of Estes Park, CO towards RMNP (rocky mountain national park) entrance. After paying an entrance fee you will go a short distance to Bear Lake road where you will take a left. From there you will go until the road ends, which is where you will find Bear Lake Trail Head. Starting at an elevation of 9475 ft above sea level the view is extraordinary. Since it is higher in elevation the weather tends to be a bit breezy! For the hike, total gain in elevation is around 770 ft and a round trip of just over 3 miles. This is a very popular trail so traffic is almost guaranteed but enough room for a comfortable hike. There are connecting trails throughout the hike, so make sure to watch for sign that lead you towards Emerald Lake.