Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
A Bear Lake climb to a lakeshore under the Continental Divide.
Overview
Map & elevation
Plan your hike
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 trailhead
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 this trailhead in the Parkwolf Rocky Mountain Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“…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.”
Trail guide
From Bear Lake Trailhead, this 4.4-mile out-and-back crosses the Bierstadt Moraine to the north shore of Bierstadt Lake, then returns the same way. Allow about 3 hours and expect roughly 630 feet of total climbing. A 2.0-mile Bear Lake-to-lake figure describes the one-way corridor; this outing includes the return and the short shore approach to the view.
Follow the east side of Bear Lake, then take the right fork toward Bierstadt Lake and Mill Creek Basin at about half a mile. The trail climbs through aspens to the moraine crest near 0.7 mile, where Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain appear through gaps in the trees. Beyond the crest, it descends gradually through evergreen forest, with a few boulder-strewn sections. At about 1.2 miles, keep right at the Mill Creek junction.
Around 1.8 miles, turn left onto the lake loop for its north shore; keep right at the Mill Creek Basin spur. A short side path just before 2.2 miles reaches the northeast shore. The lake sits among pines and sedges, and the north shore opens to the Continental Divide from Longs Peak and Chiefs Head through Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain. Turn around after the view. For photos, leave some water and sedges in the foreground so the skyline reads as a lakeshore, not just a row of peaks.
Bierstadt Moraine is a ridge of glacial debris. The lake is named for landscape painter Albert Bierstadt, who visited the area in 1876 with the Earl of Dunraven; Dunraven commissioned a large painting of Estes Park and Longs Peak. The aspen grove along the approach makes fall a good time to catch changing color.
Bear Lake starts at 9,475 feet, so this moderate walk can feel harder than its mileage suggests. The lot often fills by 9 a.m. Bear Lake Road may require a timed-entry reservation during busy-season hours, and the seasonal shuttle serves the trailhead from Park & Ride. There are no stores or food services at Park & Ride, so pack what you need. Pets are prohibited on park trails; trained service animals are allowed.
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 · At the trailheadThree alpine lakes, then Hallett Peak and a waterfall.
EasyBear Lake Loop0.6 mi · 30 min · At the trailheadA short lakeside loop with Hallett Peak in view.
ModerateLake Haiyaha Trail4.2 mi · 3.5 hr · At the trailheadA boulder-lined alpine lake beyond Nymph and Dream lakes.
ChallengingBear Lake to Fern Lake Trailhead9.2 mi · 7 hr · At the trailheadTwo lake detours, then a long descent to Fern Falls.
ModerateBear Lake to Two Rivers Lake and Lake Helene Trail6.3 mi · 3.5 hr · At the trailheadTwo high lakes, faint spurs, and a close view of Notchtop.ChallengingOdessa Lake Trail from Bear Lake8.2 mi · 5.5 hr · At the trailheadA long climb, then Odessa Gorge opens to the lake.
ModerateFour Lakes Loop5.7 mi · 4 hr · At the trailheadFour lakes and Alberta Falls on a high country loopModerateDream Lake Trail2.2 mi · 1.5 hr · At the trailheadA steady climb to a classic alpine lake below Hallett Peak.
Sight · 0.2 mi awayBear LakeA classic alpine lake, with Hallett Peak just beyond the shore.
Sight · 0.3 mi awayNymph LakeA short uphill walk to summer lily pads and mountain views.
Sight · 0.7 mi awayDream LakeA mile from Bear Lake, Hallett Peak fills the skyline.
Sight · 0.7 mi awayAlberta FallsA short, uphill hike ends at a thunderous waterfall.Sight · 1 mi awayLake HaiyahaA mountain lake tinted green by a 2022 rockslide.
Sight · 1.2 mi awayEmerald LakeThree lakes in, the trail ends beneath steep mountain walls.
Sight · 1.5 mi awayThe LochAfter a real climb, alpine peaks mirror across the lake.
Sight · 1.5 mi awayBierstadt LakeMountain reflections reward the steep walk in.Parkwolf’s Rocky Mountain ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
