Hike Profiles for Rocky Mountain National Park and Surrounding Areas

Bear Lake Lake elevation: 9,475 feet - Trailhead elevation: 9,475 feet - Net elevation gain: Negligible Bear Lake Trailhead - Rocky Mountain National Park - Distance: 0.5 mile loop trail

The lakeshore trail at Bear Lake is the most- visited trail in Rocky Mountain National Park, due to the convenient access from Bear Lake Road and the easy walking the level loop trail provides.

RMNP boundaries in green / major roads in gold

Red star shows location of Bear Lake

Major Trail Landmarks Emerald Lake and Glacier Gorge Connector Trail junctions (at west end of Bear Lake parking lot) Flattop Mountain Trail (begins on northeast side of Bear Lake along the lakeshore trail)

Principal Destinations Near Bear Lake Dream Lake (1.1 miles one-way from trailhead) - via Emerald Lake Trail Emerald Lake (1.8 miles one-way from trailhead) - via Emerald Lake Trail Lake Haiyaha (2.1 miles one-way from trailhead) - via Emerald Lake Trail to Lake Haiyaha Trail Lake Helene (2.9 miles one-way from trailhead) - via Flattop Mountain Trail to Odessa Lake Trail Odessa Lake (4.1 miles one-way from trailhead) - via Flattop Mountain Trail to Odessa Lake Trail Flattop Mountain (4.4 miles one-way from trailhead) - via Flattop Mountain Trail Hallett Peak (5.0 miles one-way from trailhead) - via Flattop Mountain Trail to an unmaintained route

Backcountry Campsites on the trail to Bear Lake No campsites exist on or near the trail around Bear Lake

The Bear Lake Trailhead is on the east side of the Continental Divide. From the Beaver Meadows Entrance Station on U.S. Highway 36, head west about 0.2 miles and turn south on Bear Lake Road (toward Moraine Park). Follow Bear Lake Road a little over 9 miles to the large parking area where Bear Lake Road ends. Bear Lake is just west of the parking lot. The Emerald Lake trail begins just southeast of the lake; the Flattop Mountain trail begins on the east side of the lake.