The Emerald Lake Trail is a popular day hike in Rocky Mountain National Park, located near Estes Park, Colorado.

The hike is suitable for families and offers scenic views of three lakes on the main trail (Nymph Lake, Dream Lake, and Emerald Lake), with additional optional lakes accessible via side trails (Bear Lake and Lake Haiyaha).

Wildlife sightings are commonly observed while en route to Emerald Lake, making it a suitable introductory trail for acclimation to the higher elevations in the Rocky Mountains.

This guide provides detailed information on the Emerald Lake Colorado hike, including obtaining permits and parking, locating the trailhead in the Rocky Mountain National Park, and other essential details for your trip.

Information about the Emerald Lake Trail: What you need to know.

What are some recommended accommodation options in Estes Park?

त्वरित तथ्य*

The distance of the round trip is 3.2 miles (5.2 km).The elevation gain is 650 feet (200 m).The initial elevation is 9,450 feet (2,880 m).The end elevation is 10,100 feet (3,080 m).The duration of the trip is approximately 2-3 hours.Difficulty:Easy

The stated statistics are solely for the roundtrip hike to Emerald Lake and do not include any optional side trails like Bear Lake or Lake Haiyaha.

What to know about the Emerald Lake Trail?

The Emerald Lake Colorado hike includes three alpine lakes, with the possibility of visiting two additional lakes if time allows.

The hike to Emerald Lake is moderately short and easy, suitable for all ages and abilities. The elevation may cause initial breathlessness but is beneficial for progressing to more challenging hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park.

A notable aspect of this hike is its flexible nature, allowing hikers to turn back at any point along the trail. Even if you don’t reach Emerald Lake, you’ll still encounter plenty of scenic views along the way.

The Emerald Lake Trail offers wildlife sightings as one of its attractions. The commonly observed animals here are elk, but there are also chances of sighting black bears, moose, deer, and other varieties of animals. Please note that pets are not permitted, and it is advisable to keep small children within your line of sight.

This hike is highly popular and often crowded, so it is advisable to begin early in the morning or late in the afternoon, and you’ll also need to obtain access permits for Rocky Mountain National Park. The process for obtaining these permits will be explained in more detail later in this travel guide.

The following sections will provide an explanation of each part of the Emerald Lake Colorado hike and what can be anticipated. It is considered to be a good beginner trail in RMNP.

The beginning of the trail to Nymph Lake is the first part of a three-part series.

The distance is 0.5 miles, with an elevation gain of 250 feet. The estimated time to complete the hike is 20-30 minutes.

The Emerald Lake Trail begins with a short climb to Nymph Lake, the smallest of the three lakes on the main trail. Initially, the path is paved but then transitions to dirt and rocks.

At the trailhead, there is a junction where you can go right to Bear Lake or left to the Nymph/Dream/Emerald Lakes. You can visit Bear Lake on the way back since it’s conveniently located near the trailhead.

After approximately 20-30 minutes of hiking, you will arrive at Nymph Lake, which contains lily pads. There is a comfortable bench where you can rest and pause from the trail.

During the early morning, we observed a group of elk crossing the hiking path. This seems to be a common occurrence at this lake.

The lake called Nymph is smaller in size compared to Dream Lake and Emerald Lake. It can be seen as a precursor to what lies ahead.

We observed multiple elk during our journey to Nymph Lake.

Nymph Lake connects to Dream Lake, forming part two of a three-part series.

The distance to cover is 0.5 miles with an elevation gain of 200 feet, and it can be completed in about 20-30 minutes.

The ascent from Nymph Lake to Dream Lake begins with a slight incline, but gradually levels out.

During this part of the hike, you will experience beautiful scenery and have a stunning view of Rocky Mountain National Park, extending all the way to Longs Peak.

The views of Rocky Mountain National Park are remarkable.

After approximately 20-30 minutes of hiking from Nymph Lake, you will encounter a junction with a sign indicating a left turn to reach Lake Haiyaha, or a right turn to reach Dream Lake and Emerald Lake.

After passing the sign, you will reach Dream Lake, which is larger than Nymph Lake and offers a view of Hallett Peak in the background.

Dream Lake

This is the third part of the video series showcasing the journey from Dream Lake to Emerald Lake in Colorado.

The distance is 0.6 miles with an elevation gain of 200 feet, and it will take approximately 20-30 minutes.

You can take a short hike from Dream Lake to Emerald Lake, which is the third and final lake on the main trail.

The final section of the trail is not significantly longer or steeper than the earlier sections, but it may appear slightly more challenging due to the effects of high altitude, which can make breathing a bit more difficult.

At this point, you will encounter green meadows with pine trees and chipmunks.

Scenery observed during the hike leading to Emerald Lake.

After approximately 20-30 minutes of hiking from Dream Lake, visitors will reach Emerald Lake Colorado, a highly regarded lake within Rocky Mountain National Park.

The water has a clear emerald color, and if you arrive early in the morning (before the wind picks up), you can observe stunning reflections on the surface of the lake.

The lake appears transparent, with Hallett Peak boldly loom behind it.

There is an optional trail from Dream Lake to Lake Haiyaha.

The distance is 0.8 miles with an elevation gain of 325 feet, and it can be completed in 30-40 minutes.

If you would like to continue your hike after visiting Emerald Lake, you can backtrack to Dream Lake and follow the side trail to Lake Haiyaha, which is clearly indicated by a wooden sign.

You should be aware that the trail to Lake Haiyaha is longer and more challenging compared to the other three lakes you have already completed. It involves uphill terrain in both directions.

Despite the challenges, Haiyaha is a pleasant lake that is worth visiting if you have the extra time and energy.

One can enjoy scenic views of Rocky Mountain National Park on the way to Lake Haiyaha.

The trail to Haiyaha offers scenic views of Rocky Mountain National Park and attracts a moderate number of hikers, although it is less crowded compared to other lakes.

Lake Haiyaha has a bright blue hue and is surrounded by large boulders that can be challenging for navigation. To get a close-up view of the lake, one must navigate through this boulder field.

After visiting Lake Haiyaha, it is necessary to backtrack to Dream Lake, and then return to the Bear Lake trailhead.

Initial glimpses of the lake

Lake Haiyaha

Bear Lake Loop (Optional)

The distance of the roundtrip is 0.7 miles with an elevation gain of 50 feet. The estimated time for completion is 20-30 minutes.

After visiting Emerald Lake, it is recommended to also visit Bear Lake, conveniently located by the trailhead. This lake offers photo opportunities without the need for hiking.

To complete a full loop around Bear Lake, it typically takes about 20-30 minutes of walking. The path is mostly flat, making it suitable for individuals of all ages and abilities.

The Bear Lake Loop is a relatively short and easy hike in Rocky Mountain National Park, with numerous opportunities for picturesque photography. In the morning, stunning reflections can be observed on the lake.

Bear Lake

प्रवेश शुल्क

To visit Rocky Mountain National Park, you are required to have both a national park pass and a timed entry permit, which also applies to the Emerald Lake trail as it is part of RMNP.

The national park pass can be easily obtained online or in person. Both annual and daily passes are available. For more details and current fees, please refer to the RMNP website.

A timed entry permit is necessary to access the Emerald Lake Trail. This requirement is in place to control the number of visitors at RMNP. However, there are some exceptions to this rule if you arrive early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

For further information on the timed entry permit and how to obtain it, please refer to the RMNP website.

There are views of Hallett Peak behind Emerald Lake.

The Emerald Lake Trailhead provides directions on how to reach the destination.

The Emerald Lake hike begins at the Bear Lake trailhead, situated at the end of Bear Lake Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.

The GPS coordinates are 40.312007745083704, -105.64600936235149.

The Google map below can be used for navigation to the parking area, which is located a 45 minute drive from the town of Estes Park or 2 hours from Denver, Colorado.

The trailhead known as Bear Lake is also the starting point for the Emerald Lake Trail.

ट्रेलहेड की स्थिति

The road from Estes Park to the Bear Lake trailhead is paved and in good condition, so no special requirements are necessary to reach it.

Upon entering Bear Lake Road, visitors will encounter a booth where National Park Service rangers are present to check entry permits. At the trailhead, there are various amenities including information signs, vault toilets, trash bins, a water bottle filling station, and a trail map.

The trailhead has a large parking lot with over 200 car parking spaces. Due to the hike’s increasing popularity, the parking fills up rapidly. If the parking lot is full, visitors can utilize the Park & Ride shuttle bus service offered by NPS.

अमेरिकी राष्ट्रीय उद्यान विनियम

The Emerald Lake trail follows the regulations typically seen in U.S. national parks as it is located within Rocky Mountain National Park.

Please remember to maintain the cleanliness of the trail, exhibit consideration for fellow hikers, and ensure that no traces are left behind. Thank you and have a pleasant journey.

यात्रा का सर्वोत्तम समय

The Emerald Lake Colorado hike is enjoyable at any hour, but many people prefer going in the early morning.

Finding parking for this hike can be challenging due to its popularity. However, going in the morning allows you to avoid some of the crowds and heat. Additionally, the hike offers great photography opportunities with reflections on the lakes.

The Emerald Lake hike is open year-round, with the recommended visitation months being from May to October. It is advised to check the current trail conditions on the RMNP website prior to your visit.