The Bear Lake Loop Trail is an easy, scenic walk with great views of the beauty that Rocky Mountain National Park has to offer.
Bear Lake Loop Trail Basics
Under 1 Hour
0.5 Miles Round Trip
Loop
20 Feet
Duration: Under 1 Hour
Bear Lake Loop is a pretty short walk that can be done in under one hour.
Distance: 0.5 Miles Roundtrip
To go around the lake on the loop trail is about half a mile around Bear Lake.
Type: Loop Trail
Bear Lake Loop Trail is, as the name states, a loop trail. That means you will start at the Bear Lake Trailhead, choose one direction to walk, and end up back at the trailhead.
Elevation Change: 20 Feet
The elevation change is very minimal on this scenic hike around Bear Lake.
Season: Any
There’s a vast difference between the Bear Lake Loop Trail during the winter months and the summer months. In the winter, you will have to deal with snow and ice along the roads and on the trail. Don’t try to walk on the lake, as the ice is not always as thick as it seems.
During the summer months, timed entry reservation holders can enjoy the mild temperatures in the Bear Lake area.
Time of Day: Any
Sunrise and sunset are both very popular times to go on the Bear Lake Loop. During sunrise, the light hits the surrounding mountain peaks and brings out a variety of colors. At sunset, you can often get gorgeous reflection views of the lake.
Amount of Shade: Moderate
For parts of the trail, you’ll be walking through the pine, spruce, fir, and aspen forests. These trees give ample shade while you are underneath them.
Difficulty: Easy
Bear Lake Loop Trail is an easy trail that’s accessible to anyone. It is packed gravel with a very slight incline.
What Makes Bear Lake Loop Trail a Great Hike?
Walking along the trail offers spectacular scenic views of Bear Lake, Hallett Peak, and the Continental Divide. We enjoyed walking this easy, marked path around the lake. While the popularity of this destination is unrivaled throughout the park, we didn’t run into too many people along the walk. However, this could be because we were there in October of 2020 when a lot of people still weren’t traveling.
Scenery on the Bear Lake Loop Trail
Start of the Trail
When you start the trail, you will be walking on a short spur through the forest that will take you to the edge of the lake. From here, decide which direction you want to walk around the lake.
On the Trail
Along the eastern shore of the lake, you’ll have views of Hallett Peak over the lake. Around the north side of the trail, a view of Half Mountain in front of Longs Peak comes into view.
End of the Trail
The trail ends back where you started since this is a loop trail. Take the short spur back to the parking area.
Notable Places on the Hike
Walking along the path, you may notice many dead or dying lodgepole pines. They are succumbing to an infestation of mountain pine beetles that have swept through the Rocky Mountain region.
Make sure you stay on the correct path as the trail for Flattop Mountain intersects Bear Lake Loop Trail.
Bear Lake Loop Trailhead Information
Park Name: Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park is in the northern central region of Colorado, just 55 miles north of Denver. The park is over 400 acres of mountains, alpine ridges, meadows, streams, and large and small lakes. To get to Rocky Mountain National Park, fly into Denver International Airport (DEN) and rent a car to drive about 2 hours to the park, going through Estes Park.
During peak season, from the end of May through mid-October, the park uses a timed entry permit reservations system. Every vehicle entering the park has to have a permit in addition to paying their entry fees. It's a good idea to get a permit as soon as they open for the season. To go to Bear Lake Loop Trail and the Bear Lake Road Corridor, you'll need the regular entry permit + Bear Lake Road. Otherwise, you can enter the park before 5 AM or after 6 PM.
Finding the Trailhead
After parking in the parking lot, or exiting the shuttle bus, the trailhead is at the end of the parking loop. It's between the shuttle stop and the ranger station.
Nearest Restrooms
There are vault toilet restrooms at the Bear Lake Trailhead.
Parking Area
The parking lot for Bear Lake Loop Trail is at the end of Bear Lake Road. From the Beaver Meadows Entrance Station go about 0.2 miles on Trail Ridge Road then turn left towards Moraine Park. Take Bear Lake Road 9.2 miles to the end of the road. Bear Lake Road is about 1.5 miles from the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center.
Other Trails at this Trailhead
From the Bear Lake Loop Trail, you can go on a side path to Flattop Mountain Trail and Bear Lake Stock Trail or try one of the other popular high elevation trails such as Emerald Lake Trail, and Bear Lake Glacier Gorge Trail.
Markers Along the Trail
If you walk the trail counter-clockwise, there is an interpretive guide published by the Rocky Mountain Conservancy that you can purchase at the trailhead. It has 30 marked spots along the trail.
Tips for Bear Lake Loop Trail
- Make sure to stop at other locations in the Bear Lake area such as the Moraine Park Discovery Center, Sprague Lake, the Glacier Gorge Trailhead, and Bierstadt Lake.
- Other lakes to explore in the area include Mills Lake, Dream Lake, Nymph Lake, and Emerald Lake.
- Make sure you have the appropriate timed entry pass and enter the Rocky Mountains at your set times.
Accessibility Information for Bear Lake Loop Trail
Packed Gravel
Paved
Trail Type: Packed Gravel
Bear Lake Loop Trail is made of packed gravel with very slight inclines. The trail would be a perfect trail for those in wheelchairs or pushing strollers.
Parking: Paved
The parking area is a paved loop with a few handicap-accessible spots. Just remember the Bear Lake parking area fills quickly so try to arrive early.