The Spirit of the Rockies
www.thespiritoftherockies.net
Hike Profiles for Rocky Mountain National Park and Surrounding Areas
Dream Lake
Dream Lake is one of Rocky
Mountain National Park's
most popular destinations.
Just over one mile from the
Bear Lake parking area, the
lake is accessible by a short
hike, yet offers scenic views
throughout the hike. The
lake itself offers a picturesque
view of Hallett Peak and
Flattop Mountain.
Distance: 1.1 miles one-way

Lake elevation: 9,900 feet

Trailhead elevation: 9,475 feet

Net elevation gain: 425 feet

Bear Lake Trailhead

Rocky Mountain National Park
Dream Lake in spring
Major Trail Landmarks
Bear Lake (Adjacent to the Bear Lake parking lot)
Nymph Lake (0.5 miles one-way from trailhead)
Junction of Emerald Lake and Lake Haiyaha Trails (1.0 miles one-way from trailhead)
Principal Destinations Near Dream Lake
Emerald Lake (1.8 miles one-way from trailhead) - via Emerald Lake Trail
Lake Haiyaha (2.1 miles one-way from trailhead) - via Lake Haiyaha Trail
Backcountry Campsites Near Dream Lake
There are no designated backcountry campsites in this area
Bear Lake is a popular area 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 southeast of the
lake; the Flattop Mountain trail begins on the east side of the lake.

From Bear Lake, follow the Emerald Lake Trail past Nymph Lake. Remain on the trail toward
Dream Lake, and continue west (right) at the junction with the Lake Haiyaha Trail to reach Dream.
Sample photographs of the hike to Dream Lake
Trail leading from Bear Lake
Dream Lake and Hallett Peak
Longs Peak from the trail in spring
Deep spring snow near Dream Lake
Dream Lake topographic map
Principal summer trail marked by solid red line; unmaintained trail or route marked by dashed red line.
Map is oriented with north to the top of the map
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All photographs are property of Mike Amfahr and are protected by copyright laws.
Topographic map is property of and copyrighted by Maps a la carte, Inc., and is used on this site with permission.