Bear Lake
4.5
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- PackUpNGoNowDavie, Florida373 contributionsEasy Walk to Beautiful Bear LakeI am not a hiker so Bear Lake was perfect for this newbie to Rocky Mountain National Park. It is a very short easy walk to Bear Lake - from there you can walk around the lake or do more challenging hikes. We were there with friends on a Friday afternoon a day before the "first snow of the season." The large parking lot was full at 3:30 p.m. so I cannot imagine what it is like during the high season. Beware - we saw a park ranger giving out tickets to cars parked outside the lot.Visited October 2023Traveled with friendsWritten November 5, 2023
- Skeney57Sydney, Australia24,737 contributionsCold at Bear LakeOn our second visit to Bear Lake and it was just as cold as before! The lake was still frozen solid, and the paths were tricky to navigate due to recent heavy snow falls. But we still enjoyed the brisk conditions and were surprised at the many trekkers all heading out on the various trails, most with snowshoes or ice cleats. As we found it was very slippery in parts on the pathways around the lake and my runners weren't up to the task! Can't wait to visit when it's a bit warmer & shorts frienly!Visited March 2024Traveled with friendsWritten May 3, 2024
- Pitt-DuqPittsburgh, Pennsylvania940 contributionsOutstandingIt is a wonderful place to take a hike for all ages. We took a hike around the lake and there was some snow and ice on the path. It was still enjoyable. Make sure you check the NP website to see what requirements are for entry. You may need a permit.Visited May 2024Traveled with familyWritten May 28, 2024
- DannyWassermanVirginia Beach, Virginia4,584 contributionsBear Lake is a nice stroll !!We enjoyed our time at Bear Lake!! We took the leisure walk around the lake and had plenty of photo opportunities and we saw a little bit of wildlife. There are benches to sit down and enjoy yourself. Its a nice respite to the totality of RMNP. This is a must see and do.Visited June 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten July 4, 2024
- RetiredTravelerTNNashville, Tennessee3,994 contributionsBeautiful Blue LakeBear Lake is a gorgeous blue lake on a sunny day. The short trail around the lake is level and easy for those with some mobility limitations. Travelers must do some planning to visit the Bear Lake area of Rocky Mountain National Park. Check the park website for information regarding timing and permits. We parked in the overflow lot one day and took the shuttle to the trailhead. Another day, we were able to park at the Bear Lake parking lot to take a different trail. The Bear Lake area has several opportunities for trails to lakes, views, and a waterfall.Visited June 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten July 30, 2024
- James K12 contributionsBeautiful…bring a poncho just in caseWe took the hikers shuttle in from Estes Park. So much better than waiting in lines! Then we took the shuttle to Bear Lake where we hiked to Dream Lake before we had to turn around due to a storm. Great hike and just right for our mid-western hiking experience.Visited August 2024Traveled with familyWritten August 4, 2024
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csaturn5
Mount Pleasant, SC6 contributions
Apr 2021
Our family of 4 (kids ages 10 and 8) booked the Emerald Lake snowshoeing tour in April of 2021. Our guide was Floyd and he went WAY above and beyond what we ever could have imagined. Our 8 year old was experiencing extreme altitude sickness and he was so patient, so kind and even let us use his shower at his home to help clean her up. Amazing. After that situation, he got us into the park and continued to be incredibly patient and understanding of our situation. He got in the snow and taught my kids how to use his snow saw, helped them learn how to make "pinwheels" by rolling the snow down a hill and was so empathetic with our need for frequent rests for our 8 year old. I highly, highly recommend this tour and Floyd!!!! It was a gorgeous hike. The views cannot be beat. We traveled through several places on our Colorado trip and these views were truly unbeatable!! Floyd, if you ever read these, THANK YOU again!!!!! So so grateful for our experience.
Written May 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anthony
New York City, NY1,007 contributions
Sep 2022
Judging from the amount of people and the need for reservations, Bear Lake is one of the most popular sites in RMNP and definitely worth a visit. The scenic path around the lake is relatively easy to walk around and only has limited elevation changes. If the water is still, you can get nice reflections of the nearby landscape. At the trailhead by the parking lot, volunteers are stationed to answer any questions and there are vault toilets.
To drive to Bear Lake, you will need a timed reservation slot late spring to early fall. Best to check RMNP’s website for the latest details. The timed slot gives you a window to enter Bear Lake Road but does not restrict when you need to leave. Slots fill up very quickly. Once you do get in, you can drive to the park & ride and take the shuttle bus to Bear Lake or drive to Beak Lake directly. However, the parking lot at Bear Lake often fills up and you may be forced to then drive back to the park & ride and take the shuttle. On the 2 days we visited Bear Lake, we noticed there were a handful of spots for those who tried their luck.
To drive to Bear Lake, you will need a timed reservation slot late spring to early fall. Best to check RMNP’s website for the latest details. The timed slot gives you a window to enter Bear Lake Road but does not restrict when you need to leave. Slots fill up very quickly. Once you do get in, you can drive to the park & ride and take the shuttle bus to Bear Lake or drive to Beak Lake directly. However, the parking lot at Bear Lake often fills up and you may be forced to then drive back to the park & ride and take the shuttle. On the 2 days we visited Bear Lake, we noticed there were a handful of spots for those who tried their luck.
Written December 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lifetraveler1
Atlanta, GA171 contributions
Apr 2021
This was my departure day from Denver and I wanted to visit the Rocky Mountains for a few hours. Left early in the morning and it took about 1hr and 45minuts to get from my hotel near Denver Airport, to the entrance of the park.
Although I arrived at the park by 730am, on a Sunday, there was already a small waiting line to drive through the entrance. If you only have a short period of time, the best objective is to head towards Bear Lake. The road up to the lake has some great views and vistas and allowed me to get some great photographs, as I am a nature photographer. The parking lot for Bear Lake surprised me, in that it was already about 85% full, when I got to it around 815am or so. The visitors were clearly excited and everyone was in a good mood.
What shocked me, is that I was expecting to see snow capped mountain peak, green forest and a shimmering lake in front of me. What I found was a 'frozen' lake, with a snow covered lake that people were willing to walk across from one side to the other. Not quite that brave, but I did take about 20 steps out onto to it, and yes, it was cool.
Summary- If you only have a short period of time, Get out of Denver early and head for Bear Lake, the views you get going up and down are worth it.
Although I arrived at the park by 730am, on a Sunday, there was already a small waiting line to drive through the entrance. If you only have a short period of time, the best objective is to head towards Bear Lake. The road up to the lake has some great views and vistas and allowed me to get some great photographs, as I am a nature photographer. The parking lot for Bear Lake surprised me, in that it was already about 85% full, when I got to it around 815am or so. The visitors were clearly excited and everyone was in a good mood.
What shocked me, is that I was expecting to see snow capped mountain peak, green forest and a shimmering lake in front of me. What I found was a 'frozen' lake, with a snow covered lake that people were willing to walk across from one side to the other. Not quite that brave, but I did take about 20 steps out onto to it, and yes, it was cool.
Summary- If you only have a short period of time, Get out of Denver early and head for Bear Lake, the views you get going up and down are worth it.
Written May 12, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steve5863
Avon, OH12,812 contributions
Oct 2019
Bear Lake is a beautiful subalpine lake surrounded by pines, aspen groves, ablaze with color in early October, and an easy, accessible 0.5 mile (0.8k) loop trail with essentially no elevation gain. I really enjoyed this beautiful location and visited the lake and walked the trail several times during my visit. Accessed from the very popular Bear Lake Trailhead, if you want to find parking, come early or late in the day, preferably midweek, otherwise you will likely need to take the shuttle from remote parking about 3 miles (4.8k) away.
Written September 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Geoman59
Saint Paul, MN226 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
The Bear Lake trails made up our favorite hike at RMNP. We went to the trails our first day and could not find a parking spot at the trailhead so we decided to hike other potions of the park. We went back on day 2 (at dawn) and noticed a sign that said the parking lot was full but decided to drive to the trailhead anyway. Upon reaching the parking lot we could see the lot was not even halfway filled. Going to the trails at dawn had many benefits including open parking, less crowded trails, and excellent lighting for taking pictures. I would suggest getting up early to visit these trails, they shouldn’t be missed! If you must come later in the day, take the shuttle.
Written October 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KhimLee
Hillsborough, CA349 contributions
Sep 2020
Was in RoMo NP for a day trip and Bear Lake was the last stop for us. It is easily accessible from the parking lot and therefore pretty crowded. But the lake itself is large enough people are spread out along the rim. Beautiful scenery, backdrop of the mountains with spruce and rock outcroppings framing the perimeter. It takes about 30 min to walk around the lake and most people go on to the Emerald/Dream Lake trail. Multiple spots for gorgeous pictures. Highly recommended.
Written September 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
princessebird
Fort Worth, TX213 contributions
Jul 2020
Every guidebook out there says that Bear Lake is a must do. It's apparently the most visited place in RMNP, and based on the crowds, I believe it. But, at least for our group, Bear Lake was merely okay. It's a small lake with nice peaks around it. We walked around it easily in about 40 minutes. It reminded us of Silver Lake in Utah. Don't get me wrong; it was nice. But if you are willing to hike a bit more, there are other places that are more breath-taking. Also, it is a very crowded path, and only about 50% of the people on this path wore masks. It was difficult to distance. We arrived around 3:30, and the sign at the park and ride said that the Bear Lake lot was full, but we took a chance, and there were about 15 open spaces to park on a Friday afternoon.
Written August 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HuskerTraveler2
Lincoln, NE1,227 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
Remember to buy your timed entry pass ($2) from the National Park website weeks in advance. Website said masks are required on the shuttle from the parking lot; however, the ranger at the gate said that is only necessary for non-vaccinated people. We went up Bear Lake Rd about 10 minutes early than our pass and they did allow us in. There was parking at the Lake, so we didn't take the shuttle.
Written June 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jay W
Beaver Dam, WI360 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
Our family decided to wake up early and drive into RMNP for sunrise. We arrived at Bear Lake when it was still dark out and waited until sunrise (before sunrise, it is very cold, so wear multiple layers!). Mother Nature gave us a cloudy sunrise but it did clear later. The lake was still beautiful though! The parking lot was full by 7 AM.
Written June 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Donald C
United States213 contributions
Sep 2021
What an experience! The views are spectacular throughout the park and we were able to see many elk and other wildlife.
We came in through the Beaver Meadows entrance. We stopped at the discovery center which has a small gift shop. From there we decided to take a short hike by Fern Lake and made it to "The Pool" The area was burned the year prior, so many of the trees were black and dead, but the grasses were making a comeback. The pool is a nice rest stop and turn-around point.
On the way back out we came across a herd of elk resting in the pines. The first elk we saw was a smaller male, probably 150 yards away from the main herd. When we came upon the main herd, the dominant male was about 25 yards from the trail. We stopped (to gawk and for safety reasons) and saw probably 15-20 females in the pines. He was absolutely huge! (At least 12 points on his antlers!)
We made it back to the car and drove over to Bear Lake. We hiked part way around the lake. It's really a pretty site and worth the time to visit.
We were limited to just one day at the park, so we headed back home. All in all, it was a spectacular trip. I want to go back and spend more time exploring and taking pictures. It's worth the adventure.
Since this is under the Bear Lake heading, the time to spend there is more than 3 hours.
We came in through the Beaver Meadows entrance. We stopped at the discovery center which has a small gift shop. From there we decided to take a short hike by Fern Lake and made it to "The Pool" The area was burned the year prior, so many of the trees were black and dead, but the grasses were making a comeback. The pool is a nice rest stop and turn-around point.
On the way back out we came across a herd of elk resting in the pines. The first elk we saw was a smaller male, probably 150 yards away from the main herd. When we came upon the main herd, the dominant male was about 25 yards from the trail. We stopped (to gawk and for safety reasons) and saw probably 15-20 females in the pines. He was absolutely huge! (At least 12 points on his antlers!)
We made it back to the car and drove over to Bear Lake. We hiked part way around the lake. It's really a pretty site and worth the time to visit.
We were limited to just one day at the park, so we headed back home. All in all, it was a spectacular trip. I want to go back and spend more time exploring and taking pictures. It's worth the adventure.
Since this is under the Bear Lake heading, the time to spend there is more than 3 hours.
Written November 26, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How far in advance should one make a reservation for a summer visit?
Written December 28, 2022
fv1989
Windsor, Colorado
18,155 contributions
You are not permitted to kayak at Bear Lake. From the RMNP official fishing brochure - "Float tubes and other non-motorized watercraft are allowed on all lakes except Bear Lake; all vessels are prohibited on Bear Lake. The operation of motorized watercraft is prohibited on all park waters." RMNP disinfecting requirements may also apply for other lakes in RMNP.
Written July 26, 2020
Where is the best place to fish in Rocky Mountain National Park?
Written October 15, 2019
Where is the best place to fish in Rocky Mountain National Park?
Written October 15, 2019
Hello
I am thinking of visiting 2 days in Rocky. Do I take 35$ 1 week pass online? or 2 separate 25$ passes for 2 separate days?
Ignore my knowledge on this.
Thanks,
Sudheer
Written August 30, 2019
JustPeachy17
Atlanta, Georgia
If I understand the question correctly, I think you should pay the $35 for the 1-week pass. If you know you are going to visit the park on 2 separate days (within a week), the only alternative is to pay $50 total for the 2 passes. I think you should save yourself the $15 and get the longer pass.
Written September 1, 2019
What are the best places to go now in memorial day weekend near estes park considering the snow condition of this year(24-27th May 2019). Help from anyone who has visited places like Bear lake, Emerald lake, Moraine Park, Horseshoe Park etc is highly appreciated.
Written May 21, 2019
fv1989
Windsor, Colorado
18,155 contributions
You may not be aware that TripAdvisor has a Colorado Travel Forum where questions such as yours are routinely answered in more detail than can be provided here. Replies to your question can include helpful links to maps and links to additional information. Links are not permitted here. There are numerous posts on the Colorado Forum about visiting RMNP and Estes Park over Memorial Day already. I suggest that you go to the Colorado Forum and scan the topics in the Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park Forums. I will send you a private message with the links you need.
Written May 22, 2019
I’m wanting to snowshoe or XC ski in this area. Is there an outfitter nearby?
Written March 1, 2019
fv1989
Windsor, Colorado
18,155 contributions
Estes Park Mountain Shop rents everything you need for both snowshoeing and cross country skiing. Several places in town have snowshoe rentals including Warming House, Kirk's Mountain Adventures and Outdoor World.
Written March 3, 2019
I will be in Colorado second week of November. Bear lake is at the top of my list to see/do. Will it more than likely be snow covered by then? What should I expect?
Written October 7, 2018
it is very possible to have snow at that time, it will still be beautiful. Ck rd conditions and bring water and snacks and layer your cloths, a good pair of hiking boots and of course a camera. i always have an extra pair of shoes and socks in case my feet get wet, also sunglasses- if there is snow and sunshine it can be really hard on your eyes.
Written August 30, 2019
Some hotels and resorts actually have a shuttle to Bear Lake if I understood correctly.There may also be public transportation to the site. Also, once you get into the park, you can be shuttled to the entrance from various parking lots. I can not post a link due to the restrictions of Trip Advisor, but google "Shuttle Bus Routes Rocky Mountain National Park" and look for one that has nps.gov in the answers.
Daily service: May 26 to October 8
Schedule Every 10–15 minutes from 7 am to 7:30 pm
Makes stops at
Park & Ride
Bierstadt Lake Trailhead
Glacier Gorge Trailhead
Bear Lake
Written October 4, 2018
Thanks a lot! I'll be there around October 17th. I'm hoping this will be the case for me!
Written August 20, 2018
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