Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park has no scarcity of fantastic hikes and the three.6-mile Emerald Lake path is among the greatest. It passes by three gorgeous alpine lakes (Bear Lake, Nymph Lake, and Dream Lake) earlier than ending on the clear, inexperienced waters of Emerald Lake. The colourful colour comes from daylight refracting off the glacial silt within the water.
We accomplished the Emerald Lake hike as a household whereas visiting Rocky Mountain over the summer season. Our household discovered it to be the most effective household hikes in Rocky Mountain that offers you probably the most bang to your buck: not too strenuous, however very rewarding. It’s an ideal alternative for all ages and mountaineering expertise.
On this put up, we share all the pieces it’s essential to learn about mountaineering the Emerald Lake path together with the place to begin, entry necessities, greatest locations to cease, and extra.
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Emerald Lake Path Fundamentals
- Size: 3.6 miles roundtrip
- Problem: Straightforward to reasonable in sections
- Path Kind: Largely packed filth, some rock and log steps
- Complete elevation achieve: 650 ft
- Max elevation: 10,110 ft
- Time wanted: 2-3 hours
- Allow required? A Park Entry Plus timed entry go is required for entry to the Bear Lake Trailhead from Could by means of September
- Canines allowed? No
Emerald Lake Path Map
Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park Timed Entry Necessities
In case you are touring to Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park between the months of Could and October, a timed entry go is required to enter the park. These passes assist to reduce visitors and congestion in the most well-liked areas.
The timed entry Park Entry Move is completely different out of your Nationwide Park Annual Move or entrance price.
There are two timed entry permits:
- The Park Entry grants entry to most areas of the park, however excludes the Bear Lake Hall the place the Emerald Lake hike begins
- The Park Entry Plus grants entry to all areas of the park together with the Bear Lake Hall and Emerald Lake trailhead.
Vital: In case you are tenting at Glacier Basin or Aspenglen Campgrounds OR have a reservation for a guided tour you don’t want the additional timed entry entry go. Campers at Timber Creek Campground will want a Park Entry Plus go for the Bear Lake Hall (which incorporates Emerald Lake).
Park Entry timed entry passes can be found on-line on a first-come first-serve foundation.
You will discover extra details about the time entry passes and find out how to get one on the Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park Timed Entry Allow System web site.
The place To Start Your Emerald Lake Hike
The Emerald Lake hike begins at Bear Lake Trailhead positioned off Bear Lake Street simply 20 minutes after getting into the park from the Beaver Meadows Entrance.
It’s one of the vital in style trailheads inside Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park.
To get to Bear Lake Street, enter the park from the east in Estes Park and drive roughly 0.2 miles till you see the signal main you to Bear Lake. Bear Lake Street is a winding paved 9-mile-long scenic path rising to over 9,000 ft in elevation. This space is named the Bear Lake Hall.
The Bear Lake Hall is residence to over 20 mountaineering trails, alpine lakes, waterfalls, fall foliage, and ample wildlife.
Bear Lake can get very congested and it’s extremely really helpful to park in one of many designated park-and-ride tons to take the shuttle bus to the trailhead. The buses are clear and ethereal and run each 10-Quarter-hour in the summertime months. And they’re free!
Emerald Lake Path Information
Beginning Your Hike from the Bear Lake Trailhead
When you arrive on the Bear Lake Trailhead, keep left and observe the marked indicators to Nymph Lake. There are vault bogs out there within the parking space.
Nymph Lake
Nymph Lake is a picturesque alpine lake surrounded by a dense forest and is probably the most accessible lake alongside this path.
The hike to Nymph Lake is comparatively straightforward for the reason that path is well-maintained and is ideal for hikers of all talent ranges.
From the trailhead, attending to Nymph Lake takes about an hour and is roughly a 1.1-mile round-trip trek.
Alongside the way in which, you’ll come throughout a number of small waterfalls and panorama modifications as you slowly achieve about 245 ft in elevation.
When you attain Nymph Lake, take your time to soak within the views of the mountains and the lake’s tranquil waters. It’s a great place for a fast break earlier than persevering with on to Dream Lake.
Dream Lake
The hike to Dream Lake from Nymph Lake is one other 0.6 miles alongside the identical path. It’s a steeper climb, gaining over 400 ft in elevation in simply over half a mile.
However it’s positively definitely worth the hike and when you arrive, it’s straightforward to see why it’s named Dream Lake- it’s spectacular!
The turquoise-blue water displays the encompassing mountains and highlights Hallett Peak with stunning wildflowers lining the trail throughout the summer season months.
Dream Lake is a well-liked spot for fishing, wading, and picnicking and is taken into account one of many prettiest lakes in Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park.
Nonetheless, be ready for crowds, particularly throughout peak season. Attempt to plan your go to for mountaineering early within the morning or on a weekday for a quieter expertise.
Dream Lake can be a superb place to cease your hike if the little ones are tiring. There are many rocks to climb and funky streams to play in to make this an epic hike.
A number of households had been having fun with a snack on the encompassing massive boulders whereas taking within the view. The entire distance to Dream Lake from the Bear Lake trailhead is 2.2 miles roundtrip.
Tip: Whereas mountaineering from Nymph Lake to Dream Lake, look to your left to see glimpses of Longs Peak. This 14’er rises 14,259 ft excessive and is the tallest mountain inside Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park!
Emerald Lake
For these wanting to finish the hike and see all three of those stunning lakes, proceed on the path to Emerald Lake.
This part of the path has a variety of log stairs and is the hardest portion of the hike. You’ll attain an elevation of over 10,000 ft and mountaineering at this elevation could make you breathless when you aren’t acclimated to it. Take it sluggish and relaxation as wanted.
The gap from Dream to Emerald Lake is one other 0.6 miles. This part of the path gives gorgeous surroundings together with meadows, small waterfalls, streams, and wildflowers. Proceed to observe the path indicators to achieve Emerald Lake.
As soon as you’re feeling as when you don’t need to see one other stair in your life, you attain the picturesque panorama surrounding Emerald Lake. Right here hikers are met with views of Tyndall Gorge, Flattop Mountain, and glowing Emerald Lake.
The entire distance from the Bear Lake Trailhead to Emerald Lake is 3.6 miles roundtrip with an elevation achieve of 702 ft from the trailhead.
It’s a lot quicker heading again to the parking space because the path is generally downhill. Simply don’t overlook to go searching on the picturesque landscapes surrounding the path to get a distinct angle!
Total this hike takes wherever from 2-3 hours relying on stops and mountaineering talents.
Really useful Mountaineering Packing Checklist
Beneath are just a few of my favourite items of day mountaineering gear and proposals:
Suggestions for Mountaineering Emerald Lake Path
Earlier than setting off in your hike in Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park, take the following pointers into consideration.
Elevation Adjustments
The paths in Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park vary in elevation from 7,500 to over 12,000 ft. The hike to Emerald Lake has about 650 ft of elevation achieve roundtrip.
Anybody can expertise altitude points when coming from decrease elevations. Altitude acclimation takes time and might be completely different from individual to individual. Sometimes, it takes just a few days for the physique to acknowledge and start to adapt to larger elevations, however it might additionally take weeks.
With a purpose to stop signs of altitude illness be sure you drink loads of fluids, restrict alcohol consumption, don’t skip meals, and get loads of relaxation.
In case you discover any altitude illness signs like complications, dizziness, confusion, or nausea, search medical assist.
Solar Publicity
Ultraviolet gentle is extra intense at larger elevations as a result of thinner environment, that means there’s much less air for daylight to journey by means of.
Because of this, solar harm can happen extra simply at larger altitudes. It’s necessary to shield your pores and skin from UV publicity when you plan on spending time within the solar for an prolonged time period.
Making use of sunscreen with a excessive SPF ranking, carrying a solar hat that shields your face and the again of your neck, and carrying UPF clothes and sun shades to guard your eyes from dangerous UV rays are really helpful.
Climate Adjustments
Any time you might be mountaineering at larger elevations it’s important to be ready with layers of clothes. The temperature can differ considerably from the start to the top of a hike, particularly with elevation modifications.
Additionally, the climate circumstances can change quickly within the Rockies. Mountaineering with a packable waterproof jacket is all the time a good suggestion.
We started our hike with sunny skies and had been met with a random hailstorm on our descent from Emerald Lake.
It’s useful to be ready with an additional set of garments and light-weight sneakers in your automotive to alter into simply in case you might be met with inclement climate.
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Costume Proper For Your Hike
Searching for extra tips about visiting Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park? Try these posts:
Are you planning on visiting Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park? Is the Emerald Lake path in your agenda? What questions do you continue to have? Depart a remark under!
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