Sight · Rocky Mountain National Park
A high alpine lake worth the long hike.
Overview
Map
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Rocky Mountain Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Rocky Mountain National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Rocky Mountain audio tourRecorded for this place
Bear Lake and a Shorter Mountain Walk“You're coming up on Bear Lake, where a short path from the parking area reaches the water beneath Hallett Peak. I'd stop even if you're not planning a hike.”
Plays as you drive up to Odessa Lake in the Parkwolf Rocky Mountain Tour Guide.
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“…No cell service for majority of the day but had continuous access to the app - the maps, the tour guide as you drive is amazing. Highly recommend purchasing the subscription.”
Guide
Odessa Lake is a high-country lake at 10,020 feet, tucked at treeline beneath Little Matterhorn with Notchtop and Flattop on the skyline. It’s a rewarding destination if you want a long day in the mountains; it’s no quick pullout.
From Bear Lake Trailhead, the approach is 4.1 miles one way, or about 8.2 miles out and back. Allow 3 to 5 hours. You gain about 1,180 feet and lose 640 on the way in, so you’ll climb some of that descent again on the return. The lake is high enough that a steady pace is a better plan than racing the clock.
Bear Lake Trailhead is at the end of Bear Lake Road. If the lot is full, use another established lot or the shuttle when it’s available; roadside parking can get your car towed.
The lake sits at treeline, with Notchtop and Flattop rising behind it. The Fern Lake approach passes Fern Lake and The Pool before the final stretch; in spring, waterfalls can add to the walk.
For a wide photo, keep some shoreline in front of the water and the pointed peak above it. That gives the lake a sense of scale; a tight crop of the water loses the mountain setting.
No food service is identified at the lake, so bring what you need. Water is available at the outlet on the east side, but it must be boiled or adequately treated before drinking.
Wildlife
3,124 sightingsElkMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
1,601 sightingsMooseMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
19 sightingsMountain GoatMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
19 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
30 sightingsGolden EagleMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
270 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 11 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Rocky Mountain. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ModerateEmerald Lake Trail3.4 mi · 2.5 hr · 2.5 mi awayThree alpine lakes, then Hallett Peak and a waterfall.
EasyBear Lake Loop0.6 mi · 30 min · 2.5 mi awayA short lakeside loop with Hallett Peak in view.
ModerateLake Haiyaha Trail4.2 mi · 3.5 hr · 2.5 mi awayA boulder-lined alpine lake beyond Nymph and Dream lakes.ChallengingBear Lake to Fern Lake Trailhead9.2 mi · 7 hr · 2.5 mi awayTwo lake detours, then a long descent to Fern Falls.
ModerateBear Lake to Two Rivers Lake and Lake Helene Trail6.3 mi · 3.5 hr · 2.5 mi awayTwo high lakes, faint spurs, and a close view of Notchtop.ChallengingOdessa Lake Trail from Bear Lake8.2 mi · 5.5 hr · 2.5 mi awayA long climb, then Odessa Gorge opens to the lake.
ModerateBierstadt Lake from Bear Lake Trailhead4.4 mi · 3 hr · 2.5 mi awayA Bear Lake climb to a lakeshore under the Continental Divide.
ModerateFour Lakes Loop5.7 mi · 4 hr · 2.5 mi awayFour lakes and Alberta Falls on a high country loop
Sight · 0.7 mi awayFern LakeA demanding hike ends at a high lake beneath three named peaks.
Sight · 0.7 mi awayLake HeleneA tucked-away alpine lake beneath Notchtop’s sheer rocky wall.
Sight · 1.5 mi awayFern FallsA tiered waterfall marks a natural halfway goal on Fern Lake Trail.
Sight · 1.7 mi awayEmerald LakeThree lakes in, the trail ends beneath steep mountain walls.
Sight · 1.9 mi awayThe PoolA lively river pool makes a good shorter Fern Lake Trail turnaround.
Sight · 2 mi awayDream LakeA mile from Bear Lake, Hallett Peak fills the skyline.Sight · 2.2 mi awayLake HaiyahaA mountain lake tinted green by a 2022 rockslide.
Sight · 2.3 mi awayBear LakeA classic alpine lake, with Hallett Peak just beyond the shore.Parkwolf’s Rocky Mountain ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
