Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park

Bear Lake

Bear Lake Road is open year round, making Bear Lake itself one of the park's most popular destinations.

Plan Around Bear Lake

A good stop is not just something to read about. Once it belongs on the day, move into a saved trip and build the route around it.

Add to tripView park guide

Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.

Bear Lake Details

Bear Lake Road is open year round, making Bear Lake itself one of the park's most popular and easily accessible destinations. The subalpine lake lies in the shadow of Hallett Peak and the Continental Divide and is ringed by a short hiking path.

Difficulty

Low

Distance

N/A

Estimated time

Region

East Side

Nearby Parks Around Bear Lake

Compare nearby parks around Bear Lake when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.

5.8 mi away

Rocky Mountain

National Park · CO

163.1 mi away

Black Canyon

National Park · CO

178.3 mi away

Great Sand Dunes

National Park · CO

242.2 mi away

Arches

National Park · UT

253.7 mi away

Mesa Verde

National Park · CO

257.0 mi away

Canyonlands

National Park · UT

Nearby Points of Interest Around Bear Lake

Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Bear Lake while the map context is still fresh.

0.0 mi away

Bear Lake

This stunning lake is one of Rocky Mountain National Park's most accessible high alpine lakes.

0.0 mi away

Flattop Mountain

The ascending trail is challenging, and experiences a lot of quick elevation gains and steep climbs.

0.0 mi away

Dream Lake Trail

This is an easy trail, the first half is paved, and it is very popular with families and those looking for an excellent payoff without much effort.

0.0 mi away

Dream Lake

This high alpine lake is best when combined with the nearby Emerald and Nymph Lakes.

0.1 mi away

Odessa Lake

This high alpine lake is one of the park's best-kept secrets because of the access trail's difficulty.