Summary:
A delightful walk through meadows and aspen groves to a tranquil lake backed by Stones Peak.

Begin by crossing a couple of bridges – and immediately you will be compelled to stop to admire the stunning mountains beyond Big Thompson River. The trail undulates gently as it passes a wide expanse of meadow, thick with grasses and wildflowers in summer, where you may well see elk.

At about 0.5 mile/0.8 km, there is a very gentle climb as you bear right, rounding a rocky knoll and leaving the meadow behind. Here the mountains come into view again. Head through a jumble of large rocks in open woods, and pass a couple of ponds (with frogs croaking and very much alive with insect life). A few minutes later, after a short climb up some rocks, more marshy ground comes into view on the left.

The trail, still gently undulating, heads into open pine forest and past more meadows and marshy ground. At 1.5 miles/2.4 km it becomes rockier, and the steeper climb to the lake begins, through stands of aspen interspersed with denser forest offering welcome shade on a hot day.

5 minutes before the lake, a side path heads left to Cub Creek campground. Continue straight on, following narrow Cub Creek, and emerge from the trees into a clearing, where the gradient levels. Pass a second turning to the campground and the trail divides: the path to the left leads directly to the eastern end of Cub Lake in a couple of minutes; the right fork, the main trail, climbs to the right of the lake along the north shore.

Make for the north shore for the better views. Here there are plenty of large boulders at the lake edge, encouraging you to sit and stay awhile. The hills around the lake are cloaked with pine, the shoreline formed by grasses and rocks. Ducks bob on the gently rippling water, crowded with yellow water lilies in summer. And to the west is Stones Peak, particularly beautiful early in the year with its thick covering of snow.

Directions: From Denver, take US 36 (off I-25 north) through Boulder to the town of Estes Park, just outside the Park’s east entrance. Continue on the 36 into the Park to the Bear Lake Rd junction, 1 mile beyond Beaver Meadows visitor center. (Note – Trail Ridge Rd, which runs across the Park connecting the west and east entrances, is only open from the end of May to mid-October, weather permitting).

Trailhead: Parking area on Cub Lake Rd, near Moraine Park campground. Follow Bear Lake Rd for 1 mile and turn right towards the campground. After 0.7 mile, turn left onto Cub Lake Rd and proceed for 1 mile to the trailhead parking.

Length: 4.6 miles / 7.4 km

Trail Type: Out and back

Elevation Change: 540 ft / 165 m

Duration: 2.5 hours

Trail Condition: Clear and well maintained, easy to follow when snow-free.

Features: Meadows, lake, forest, wildlife.

Climate: Snow-free spring to late fall, but be prepared for changeable conditions at any time of year. Can be very hot in summer.

Accommodation: Moraine Park is the nearest campground, open all year for tents and RVs. Estes Park has plenty of accommodation, including motels and campgrounds with hook-ups.

Trail Notes: Beaver Meadows visitor center has topographic maps and trail information. If snowshoeing in winter, the route may be covered by drifts and hard to follow in places – check conditions with the visitor center.

Summary:
A climb to three mountain-framed lakes, ending at the rugged saddle beneath distinctive Hallett Peak.

From the top of the car park cross the bridge, turn left as directed by the sign, and bear right a few yards later at the fork. The wide, well-formed path climbs very gently through sweet-smelling pine forest, with occasional glimpses of mountains through the trees.

It is just 0.5 mile/0.8 km to the first lake, Nymph, surrounded by pine trees. The trail passes to the right of the lake to the north shore, from where there is a gorgeous view over the water – or ice if you are here early in the year – to the mountains, including Longs Peak (see main picture).

For the next 0.6 mile/1 km you continue climbing through open forest. There is a pleasant view of distant hills to the right, just before the trail turns sharp left, drops down briefly, then climbs again through open forest dotted with large rocks. Soon you are out in the open again, with superb mountain views to your left, particularly stunning in spring with the thick blanket of snow on the peaks.

As you enter a wide clearing with Hallett Peak directly ahead, you arrive at a trail junction. Continue ahead for Dream Lake, now no more than 5 minutes away. After climbing 430 ft/131 m from the trailhead, your reward is to sit on the rock at the lake’s edge, with Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain forming an imposing backdrop. And just below the saddle of these mountains, 0.7 mile/1.1 km away, is your final destination: Emerald Lake.

The increasingly rocky trail passes to the right of Dream Lake along its north shore and, as it climbs, runs close to Tyndall Creek. Head through an area of forest and huge boulders, before a final short climb takes you to the edge of Emerald Lake, dominated by Hallett and Flattop. It is a stark, yet impressive, scene.

An alternative return
Descend to the trail junction at Dream Lake. Instead of retracing your steps on the path ahead to return to the trailhead, turn right for a longer route into the high country. It is 1 mile/1.6 km and a climb of 320 ft/98 m to Lake Haiyaha. From there, you can continue on a loop that accesses trails to Loch Vale and Mills Lake, before descending to Bear Lake via Alberta Falls and Glacier Gorge.

Off-season hiking
Because of the popularity of the Bear Lake area, you should make a very early start if hiking in summer. Before or after the closure of Trail Ridge Rd it is much quieter. We climbed up to Dream Lake in mid-May and, although still snow-covered, the trail was passable to hikers (poles and gaiters are useful). The reward was complete solitude. At this time of year the track remains completely obscured in most places, and there are no blazes, but you can usually rely on the footprints of others to show the way. A topographic map and compass should be carried, and be sure to check conditions with the visitor center before setting out.

Directions: From Denver, take US 36 (off I-25 north) through Boulder to the town of Estes Park, just outside the Park’s east entrance. Continue on the 36 into the Park to the Bear Lake Rd junction, 1 mile beyond Beaver Meadows visitor center. (Note – Trail Ridge Rd, which runs across the Park connecting the west and east entrances, is only open from the end of May to mid-October, weather permitting).

Trailhead: Bear Lake parking area, at the end of 9-mile Bear Lake Rd. Due to the popularity of this area, a shuttle bus runs in summer from a parking area 5 miles along Bear Lake Rd.

Length: 3.6 miles / 5.8 km

Trail Type: Out and back

Elevation Change: 605 ft / 184 m

Duration: 2 hours

Trail Condition: Well maintained and easy to follow.

Features: Sub-alpine and alpine lakes, mountain views, forest.

Climate: Heavy snow in winter – the trail is snow-free only in summer and fall. Be prepared for changeable conditions at any time of year.

Accommodation: The nearest campgrounds for tents and RVs are Moraine Park and Glacier Basin, both off Bear Lake Rd. Estes Park has plenty of accommodation, including motels and campgrounds with hook-ups.

Trail Notes: Obtain topographic maps and trail information at Beaver Meadows visitor center. Be aware of altitude – it is over 10,000 ft at Emerald Lake. If snowshoeing in winter, check routes and conditions with the visitor center and do not go beyond Dream Lake due to the risk of avalanche.

Summary:
A definitive Rockies trail, encompassing a gushing waterfall, a pristine lake and magnificent mountain views.

In the next 5 minutes the wide, well-graded path crosses two log bridges as it heads through open forest, with glimpses of mountains through the trees. Climb gently through beautiful forest dotted with boulders, and soon the roar of the river greets your arrival at the rim of Glacier Gorge, with its beautifully colored rock walls.

Briefly move away from the rock-strewn Glacier Creek as you continue through forest, but you soon rejoin it and it is then only another minute or so of gentle climb to Alberta Falls, gushing forcefully between huge boulders, framed by pine and aspen.

The trail bears right, away from the falls, and as you climb the hillside along long switchbacks the mountains open up around you. In a few minutes the roar of the river hits you again, and soon comes into view, making its way down the hillside.

The trail again leads to the right, away from the river (the way is perfectly clear in summer, but it can be tricky to find the right route here when the ground is blanketed with snow). Round a small hill, then continue climbing, with a high rocky knoll to your right.

1.4 miles into the hike, you reach a trail junction. Take the right fork, signed to Mills Lake and Loch Vale. As you climb from the junction, the view ahead is filled by magnificent black mountains, covered with snow and scattered pine trees. The path levels, allowing you to fully enjoy the majestic scenery, mesmerized by the high mountains that form a long wall to your left.

At 1.9 miles, the trail splits three ways. Take the left fork, signed Mills Lake – there is now just 0.6 mile to go. Head into the forest and just beyond a horse tethering post cross a log bridge. Climb a little, following the brook below to your left for a time. After 10 minutes of undulating trail, and a bridge crossing over Glacier Creek, a final stiff climb takes you onto rock slabs just a short distance from the lake. Ahead is the magnificent spread of mountains that give the lake such a dramatic backdrop.

Continue across the level rock (the route marked by cairns in a couple of places) and soon you will be sitting on the north-east shore of the lake, marveling at its unparalleled setting, framed by conifers, huge granite boulders, and towering peaks.

Hiking options from Mills Lake

* Continue around the east shore of Mills Lake and south along Glacier Creek for 2.2 miles/3.5 km one way to Black Lake, an additional climb of 690 ft/210 m.

* Retrace your steps 0.6 mile to the three-way trail junction. Here you can take a 1.9 mile/3 km unimproved trail that climbs 420 ft/128 m to Lake Haiyaha, from where you can descend on a loop back to Glacier Gorge Junction via Dream Lake.

* Alternatively, turn left at the three-way junction for the trail to Loch Vale, which climbs to more spectacular lakes: The Loch in 0.8 mile/1.3 km one way and 380 ft/115 m climb, and Sky Pond a further 1.9 miles one way and 720 ft/220 m. This is another highly recommended route.

Off-season hiking
Because of the popularity of the Bear Lake area, you should make a very early start if hiking in summer. Before or after the closure of Trail Ridge Rd it is much quieter. We climbed up to Mills Lake in mid-May and, although still snow-covered, the trail was passable to hikers (poles and gaiters are useful). The reward was near complete solitude. At this time of year the track remains completely obscured in most places, and there are no blazes, but you can usually rely on the footprints of others to show the way (although these may not always be reliable and route-finding can occasionally be tricky). A topographic map and compass should be carried, and be sure to check conditions with the visitor center before setting out.

Directions: From Denver, take US 36 (off I-25 north) through Boulder to the town of Estes Park, just outside the Park’s east entrance. Continue on the 36 into the Park to the Bear Lake Rd junction, 1 mile beyond Beaver Meadows visitor center. (Note – Trail Ridge Rd, which runs across the Park connecting the west and east entrances, is only open from the end of May to mid-October, weather permitting).

Trailhead: Glacier Gorge Junction parking area, near the end of 9-mile Bear Lake Rd. Due to the popularity of this area, a shuttle bus runs in summer from a parking area 5 miles along Bear Lake Rd.

Length: 5 miles / 8.0 km

Trail Type: Out and back

Elevation Change: 700 ft / 213 m

Duration: 2.5 hours

Trail Condition: Maintained and easy to follow when snow-free.

Features: Lake, mountains, cascades and streams, forest, gorge.

Climate: Heavy snow in winter – the trail is free of snow only in summer and fall. Be prepared for changeable conditions at any time of year.

Accommodation: The nearest campgrounds for tents and RVs are Moraine Park (open all year) and Glacier Basin, both off Bear Lake Rd. Estes Park has plenty of accommodation, including motels and campgrounds with hook-ups.

Trail Notes: Obtain topographic maps and trail information at Beaver Meadows visitor center. Be aware of altitude – Mills Lake is just below 10,000 ft. If snowshoeing in winter, check routes, conditions and avalanche risk with the visitor center.