Bear Lake and Vicinity

Bear Lake is one of the most popular places to visit in Rocky Mountain National Park, and for good reason. It is one of the few alpine lakes accessible by road. It is also a popular trailhead, offering hikes and climbs to more dramatic locations. A short trail leads from Bear Lake Trailhead to Glacier Gorge Junction, useful if the parking lots are full at either trailhead.

Maps:

• Middle Park, including Moraine Park and Bear Lake (453K JPG)

Major Trails:

Bierstadt Lake Trail:

• This short trail climbs up Bierstadt Moraine, and eventually leads to Bierstadt Lake. In the autumn, this trail offers excellent views of the changing and colorful Aspen.
• From this trail you can visit the following: Bierstadt Lake, Bierstadt Moraine.

Dream Lake Trail:

• This popular trail heads into Tyndal Gorge, at the base of Hallett Peak. The trail is not particularly difficult, and very scenic.
• From this trail you can climb the following mountains: Hallett Peak (technical from this trail!)
• From this trail you can visit the following: Dream Lake, Emerald Lake, Nymph Lake, Pool Of Jade, The Base Of Tyndal Glacier.

The Flattop Mountain Trail:

• This trail climbs the eastern slope of Flattop Mountain, offering easy access to the Continental Divide.
• From this trail you can climb the following mountains: Flattop Mountain, Gabletop Mountain, Hallett Peak, Knobtop Mountain, Notchtop Mountain, Otis Peak, Powell Peak, Ptarmigan Point, Snowdrift Peak, Sprague Mountain, Stones Peak, Taylor Peak.
• From this trail you can visit the following: Bear Lake, Bighorn Flats, Ptarmigan Lake, Ptarmigan Pass, Sprague Pass, The Top Of Tyndall Glacier.

Lake Haiyaha Trail:

• This trail forks off of the Dream Lake trail, and offers access to Chaos Canyon. No trail enters Chaos Canyon, and any visit to Chaos Canyon or Chaotic Glacier is a rough climb (though you can climb Hallett Peaks and Otis Peak via Chaotic Glacier).
• From this trail you can visit the following: Chaos Canyon, The Bottom Of Chaotic Glacier, Lake Haiyaha.

Odessa Lake Trail:

• This trail forks off of the Flattop Mountain Trail, roughly one mile from the trailhead. It then travels north, around Flattop Mountain, and eventually down the side of Joe Mills Mountain to Odessa Lake. Past Odessa Lake, for the sake of clarity, the trail becomes the Fern Lake Trail (see Moraine Park Area).
• From this trail you can climb the following mountains: Joe Mills Mountain, The Little Matterhorn, Notchtop Mountain (technical from this trail), Mount Wuh.
• From this trail you can visit the following: Bear Lake, Lake Helene, Marigold Lake, Marigold Pond, Odessa Lake, Round Pond, Tourmaline Lake, Two Rivers Lake.

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