Hiking

Emerald Lake Trail

Three alpine lakes on one easy hike, ending under the cliffs of Hallett Peak.

Colorado
5.1 km
2 min read

Photo: NPS Natural Resources · Public domain

Distance: 5.1 km · 3.2 mi
Elevation gain: +198 m · 650 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Time needed: 2–3 hours round trip
Route type: Out & back
Permit: Not required
Best season: June–October (a snowshoe route in winter)

Emerald Lake Trail guide: Bear Lake, Nymph and Dream lakes, Hallett Peak, distance, elevation, the Bear Lake Road reservation, the shuttle and the best time to start.

Overview

This is one of the most rewarding short hikes in the Rockies. From the Bear Lake trailhead it climbs gently past Nymph Lake, covered in yellow pond lilies in summer, and Dream Lake, a long, narrow lake below Hallett Peak, to a green-blue lake at the foot of sheer cliffs.

The round trip is about 5 kilometers with roughly 200 meters of climbing, but the trail starts at 2,888 meters, so take it slowly if you have just arrived from lower ground. In summer the Bear Lake Road has its own timed-entry window and its parking lot fills early; the free park shuttle from the park-and-ride lot is an easy alternative.

Emerald Lake: stops along the way

1

Bear Lake trailhead

A busy trailhead with an easy loop around Bear Lake itself.
2

Nymph Lake

A small lake covered in pond lilies, with Longs Peak in the distance.
3

Dream Lake

The most photographed lake on the trail, best at sunrise when the water is still.
4

Emerald Lake

A green-blue lake under Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain, the end of the trail.