Dream Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park

Dream Lake

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

Plan Around Dream Lake

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Dream Lake Details

This high alpine lake is past Nymph Lake and along the way to Emerald Lake, along the trail from Bear Lake Trail. The area is extremely popular, and can be crowded even outside of the peak season, but it is nonetheless worth visiting. Located near the base of Hallett Peak, the clear, cold, clean lake is surrounded by spectacular scenery: towering granite cliffs, distant snow-capped peaks, sparse subalpine vegetation. The lake's shores are easy to reach using the well maintained, trail, and the large boulders and shoreline provide ample opportunity to explore, fish, and relax.

Difficulty

Moderate

Distance

1.1 miles

Estimated time

1 hour

Region

N/A

Nearby Parks Around Dream Lake

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

5.9 mi away

Rocky Mountain

National Park · CO

163.0 mi away

Black Canyon

National Park · CO

178.3 mi away

Great Sand Dunes

National Park · CO

242.1 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 Dream Lake

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

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Flattop Mountain

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

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Odessa Lake

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

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Bear Lake

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

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Bear Lake

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

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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.