Hike to Emerald Lake
3.5 miles
650 ft gain
- Out-and-Back Trail
Added by Whitney James
Emerald Lake is easy to access from the Bear Lake Trailhead. If you get there early in the morning, parking is free. This is a great spot for sunrise views of surrounding peaks.
Anyone who has been to Rocky Mountain National Park, or any national park for that matter, knows they get CROWDED. One of the best ways to beat the crowds are to arrive before the sun comes up (or stay after it goes down). That's how we opted to do Emerald Lake in RMNP.
After spending the night near Chasm Lake below Longs Peak, we entered the park via Estes and parked at the entirely empty lot for Bear Creek. This is a very popular snowshoe route in winter and short hike in every other season, and arguably one of the most scenic areas of the entire park.
The hike is only 3.5 miles roundtrip, with 650 feet elevation gain. You'll top out at 10,110, and with this altitude comes high winds at almost any time of year. The trail passes Bear and Dream Lakes, offers stunning views of Longs Peak to the South (if it's a clear day), and can be linked together with several other trails, like the one leading off to Haiyaha Lake. Tyndall Creek runs beautifully next to the trail to Emerald, and is worth some photos in and of itself. Once you reach Emerald, 12,713-foot Hallett Peak commands your attention. If you're as lucky as we were, you'll be the only ones there.
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Overall rating:
The hike when you think of RMNP
This trail and the lakes included on it are what people most often think of when they think of RMNP. Make sure to get to the parking lot at Bear Lake at dawn or risk not finding a space. Trail starts off easy and then becomes more moderate until you reach the end.
5.0
Favorite Hike
I don't know what it is about this hike that keeps me coming back, but it is my all time favorite. It's definitely crowded, so getting up there for sunrise is worth it to have some solitude and time to set up your hammocks before the crowds get there.
5.0
6/5
A great morning hike. Get out and enjoy the morning air while avoiding a lot of the crowds that take this popular trek in the afternoon
5.0
Great Hike Through a Trio Of Lakes
This is a perfect hike, passing Nymph Lake and Dream Lake. Dream Lake was my favorite but Emerald Lake has a grander view of the rocks and peak. You can scramble up some boulders to the left of the lake and get an amazing view of the hike you just accomplished. It's a great place to relax and eat some lunch. My son and I hung out by the water, skipped rocks and enjoyed the crisp air and beautiful views. The hike is fairly easy, my two year old son was able to do most of it on his own.
5.0
Awesome winter hike
I did this hike in late January when the snow was deep and the lakes completely frozen (looked like meadows not lakes), it was excellent! We wore microspikes on our shoes and enjoyed sliding around a little on the downhill bits. Many people were there in snowshoes or even skis. In the winter there are several trail options people have taken, all lead to Emerald Lake. We arrived middday so the morning rush people had left and we got great parking and plenty of solitude on the trail.
5.0
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