Bear Lake

Estes Park, Colorado

4.6/5

based on 13 reviews

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Details

Distance

0.67 miles

Elevation Gain

77.87 ft

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by Outbound

Bear Lake is an iconic lake in Rocky Mountain National Park with year-round photography access.

Bear Lake is a popular tourist destination in Rocky Mountain NP, but when the sun is low in the sky or the stars are out you'll find the big crowd are gone. The lake is beautiful at sunrise and sunset but especially photogenic in the fall or at winter's end. While it doesn't have the darkest night skies it can still serve as an excellent location to watch meteors or photograph star trails above Hallet Peak. The area is also frequented by wildlife and you might capture an elk harem, flock of turkeys, or lone fox.

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Features

Photography

Hiking

Bathrooms

Easy Parking

Family Friendly

Forest

Lake

Scenic

Wildlife

ADA Accessible

Bear Lake Reviews

Explorer

Calvin Weibel

Explorer

Bear Lake

01/07/17

This is a pretty scenic starting point for a lot of hikes in RMNP. Consider arriving early to avoid the crowds.

5.0

Krista Coulter

Wanderer

Bear Lake

12/26/16

This is a wonderful lake to visit during the Winter months if you're wanting to see the snow-covered mountains but don't want to hike to see them. The roads are generally well-maintained even after the snowstorms. After parking in the lot, it's just a few hundred feet to the lake and it's breathtaking after a snowstorm. Great for families with small children or elderly adventurers. If you are more interested in getting a bit of a workout, continue on to Nymph Lake about a half mile up, Dream Lake just a bit further from that and finally Emerald Lake at the top. Hiking boots are fine for Bear Lake but anything further you may want to consider snow shoes to make your trek easier. We rented ours from Estes Park Mountain Shop for $5 a day and it was well worth it.

4.0

Explorer

Matt Van Swol

Explorer

Bear Lake

12/19/16

One of my favorite things to do in CO, definitely a must see in RMNP

5.0

Explorer

Haley Baker

Explorer

Bear Lake

04/30/16

If I have family in town that has never been to RMNP but isn't necessarily up for a "hike," I take them to Bear Lake. Its a gorgeous spot that has a mostly handicap accessible path and incredible views of Long's Peak. It's such a great place to share the beauty of the park without the strain of hiking somewhere further away.

5.0

Explorer

Billy DiMirra

Explorer

Bear Lake

03/30/16

One of my all time favorite hikes to do in RMNP. Its a shorter hike, with great views. The trail pretty much all year is easy to access and easy to complete. I highly recommend it!

5.0

Hezi Layoun

Beginner

Bear Lake

02/29/16

Hiking to Nymph and Bear Lake was such an awesome experience. Being a first-timer in RNP, I was breathless be holding the stunning and majestic views. Even the drive to the trail head was an event; I stopped when I could to take in the scenery. The trail to Nymph Lake was clearly marked and lead me through fresh-smelling forest. Bear Lake was a bit larger than Nymph.

4.0

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Flattop Mountain Trail

Watch the sunrise from above treeline with great views below and to the south. This is my favorite place to view the sunrise is from just above the emerald lake overlook. The Bear Lake area is very crowded, but an early morning ascent of Flattop Mountain will provide ample opportunities for solitude! To catch the sunrise, begin at the Bear Lake trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park. From t...

Bear Lake to Fern Lake Trailhead

On this Rocky Mountain hike you’ll explore 4 picturesque mountain lakes and a 60 foot waterfall. Completing this hike requires familiarizing yourself with Rocky Mountain National Park’s free shuttle system. Hikes along Bear Lake Road are some of the busiest in the park. Trailhead parking lots fill up early in the morning, so avoid the trouble and use the shuttles. To access Bear Lake trailhead...

Dragon's Tail Couloir Climb

Start your day at the Bear Lake parking lot, and head out on the short 2-mile approach that winds uphill past Nymph and Dream Lake. After arriving at Emerald Lake, skirt around the shore on the left side to reach the bottom of the couloir, clearly visibile on the far side of the lake.The 1500 ft climb starts gradually and increases in steepness as the couloir narrows towards the top, reaching s...

Ptarmigan Lake via Bear Lake Trailhead

The hike to Ptarmigan Lake has plenty of elevation gain for mountain lovers and views for miles from the Continental Divide. If you want to reach this spot for sunrise you'll need a very early start in the morning, but that also means you won't have to use the shuttle system to Bear Lake. The last half mile of the hike is off-trail so make sure to watch your step and practice Leave No Trace Pri...

Nymph Lake via Bear Lake Trailhead

While not as popular as Dream Lake, Nymph Lake is just as beautiful. The hike to Nymph Lake is an easy hike just over 1 mile. You start from the Bear Lake Trail head and can go further on to Dream Lake and Emerald Lake if you want to. Both Dream and Emerald Lakes are also stunning and very photogenic as well. Nymph Lake is a great spot to capture the reflection of the still water and beautiful ...

Flattop, Hallett, Andrews Loop

Bear Lake to Flattop Mountain The trail starts at Bear Lake, where you get a view of Hallett Peak (12,713 ft) which will be the highpoint of your hike. After a short walk on the Bear Lake Trail, take the path to the right. After 1/2 a mile, take a trail left to the north. 1/2 a mile later, stay left at the trail intersection. If you follow the signs to Flattop Mountain, you should have no pro...

Bear Lake

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Bear Lake Reviews

Leave No Trace

Nearby

Flattop Mountain Trail

Bear Lake to Fern Lake Trailhead

Dragon's Tail Couloir Climb

Ptarmigan Lake via Bear Lake Trailhead

Nymph Lake via Bear Lake Trailhead

Flattop, Hallett, Andrews Loop

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