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Details
Distance
0.67 miles
Elevation Gain
77.87 ft
Route Type
Loop
Features
Ada Accessible
Family Friendly
Lake
Forest
Bathrooms
Easy Parking
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About this place
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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Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and be sure to follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly.
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Hannah Ellis
9/28/2025
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Allison Cole
12/30/2022
Great during all seasons
I've walked around this lake during the spring, summer and winter. All four season offer a unique perspective to the lake. Winter was a ...
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John Clairmont
12/14/2020
Easy addition
My wife and I added this to an already packed day of hiking simply because it was so easy to get to on our ...
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Kyle C
10/22/2020
Easy Access
This lake is easy and handicapped accessed which is great but also makes it crowded. If you are planning on doing this early ...
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Lucas Bremer
Club
9/22/2020
make sure to get to the trail head before dawn.
This parking lot is one of the busiest in the Rockies and I always make sure to get here prior to sunrise to make sure I had a space.
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Jenna Mulligan
7/1/2020
Early light
Go for sunrise!
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Alex Trudeau Viriato
5/21/2017
Easy approach For Such A Pretty Lake
We finished our hike to Emerald Lake and before returning to the car we decided to quickly check out Bear Lake. It was worth ...
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Calvin Weibel
1/7/2017
Always a cool spot
This is a pretty scenic starting point for a lot of hikes in RMNP. Consider arriving early to avoid the crowds.
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Krista Coulter
12/26/2016
Beautiful In Winter
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 ...
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Matt Van Swol
12/19/2016
One of my favorites
One of my favorite things to do in CO, definitely a must see in RMNP
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Haley Baker
4/30/2016
Great to Share the Beauty of the Park
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 ...
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Billy DiMirra
3/15/2016
Bear Lake loop
One of my all time favorite hikes to do in RMNP. Its a shorter hike, with great views. The trail pretty much all year ...
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Hezi Layoun
2/29/2016
First Time at Bear Lake
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 ...
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