Emerald Lake

From Coloradohikingtrails

Emerald Lake
A 3/4 mile continuation of the trail to Dream Lake, the trail to Emerald Lake offers streamside views of Tyndall Creek as it cacades through rocks and boulders, and at the stark landscape surrounding Emerald Lake.

Fast Facts Distance(Miles):  1.8 one-way from the trailhead Trail Surface & Condition:  Dirt, Rocky in Places Other Trail Users:   Ownership:  National Parks Best Seasons:  Summer and Fall Type:  Out-and-Back Beginning Elev (Feet):  9,420 Ending Elev (Feet):  10,100 Elevation Gain (Feet):  680 Difficulty Rating:  4.8 Bear Lake Trailhead GPS Coordinates:  Latitude: 40.312  Longitude: -105.646 Nymph Lake GPS Coordinates:  Latitude: 40.31035  Longitude: -105.6513 Dream Lake GPS Coordinates:  Latitude: 40.30957  Longitude: -105.657 Emerald Lake GPS Coordinates:  Latitude: 40.30985  Longitude: -105.6668

Emerald Lake with Hallett Peak in the Background

Trailhead Information

Bear Lake
Near To: Estes Park and Glacier Gorge Junction, Colorado

Driving Directions To Trailhead From Estes Park, continue west on Hwy 36 to the Beaver Meadows entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park. Just beyond the entrance, turn left and head south on Bear Lake Rd. for about 9 miles, until it dead-ends at the Bear Lake parking lot. The trailhead is at the end of the parking lot, between the shuttle bus stop and the ranger office. Restrooms available, no water. The Bear Lake parking lot will fill up on rare occasions. If so, you can drive back on Bear Lake Rd. to the Park & Ride shuttle bus parking area across from Glacier Basin Campground, where you can park your car and ride the shuttle bus back to the Bear Lake trailhead. See the Rocky Mountain National Park Shuttle Bus Information Page for shuttle bus stops and schedules.

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Bear Lake Elevation: 9,420' Maps & Images Lat: 40.312 Long: -105.646 Street map from Google Maps or Yahoo! Maps Satellite image from Google Maps or Microsoft Virtual Earth Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA

Trail & Hike Description

As this is a continuation of the trail to Dream Lake, refer to the Dream Lake trail description for details to that point.

From Dream Lake, the trail to Emerald Lake continues along the north shore of Dream Lake. There are several steep, rocky sections. One section is close to Tyndall Creek, where it has cut its way through the rock and is cascading towards Dream Lake. The trail continues through forest and boulders, until a final short but steep ascent takes you to Emerald Lake.

Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain rise abruptly from the shore of Emerald Lake, and the the edge of the lake is quite rugged and rocky; a more stark and somewhat ominous landscape compared to Dream, Nymph and Bear Lakes. There are no trails around the shore of the lake, since the surrounding mountains rise so steeply from the shoreline.

External Links & References

Suggested hike list on National Park Service Rocky Mountain National Park web site

Emerald Lake Picture Gallery

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Cascades on Tyndall Creek along Emerald Lake Trail

Emerald Lake with Hallett Peak in the background

Emerald Lake